The Blade in the City

The Betrayal

Alex had just gotten off the dance floor with Josh feeling so happy. She was so glad he had asked her to dance with him, she had always thought it was going to be Susan, and what had he meant when he whispered 'I was always planning on choosing you', could he really feel the same way about her as she felt about him? She had just turned to ask him if he wanted to go for a walk when Susan came up to them and grabbed Josh by the shoulders. She took Josh onto the dance floor and began dancing with him. Alex could see them whispering to each other, she also noticed that Josh didn't look too pleased to be dancing with Susan. Alex turned to Lee who was standing next to her offering her chocolate.

"Thanks" Alex said, she watched as a guy named Ryan came up behind her, Ryan asked Ashleigh to dance. Alex watched as the pair made their way onto the dance floor and began to dance, Ashleigh was a surprisingly good dancer, very well balanced when twirling. Glancing around Alex found Josh and Susan in the middle of the dance floor. They were just swaying, then out of nowhere they were kissing. In the middle of the dance floor, in front of everyone. All of those hopes and dreams were snapped inside of Alex, everything she thought they had was crushed and stomped on in front of her. He obviously just asked her to dance to be polite, she had to get out of there, she couldn't watch those two together. Alex made her way squeezing past people in her large gown, she walked to the glass doors before glancing back at the dance floor, she could see Susan smiling at her from over Josh's shoulder, it was the cruelest thing she had seen. Alex hurried out of the ballroom and into the gardens. The gardens were lit with fairy lights strung over the roses, it was a pretty sight but all Alex could think of was getting as far away as possible. Alex walked through the twisting paths of the gardens, walking past several couples making out, they didn't seem to notice her as she walked by. Alex just averted her eyes. She continued through the fair lit garden, walking alone down the paths, Alex came to a small grove of trees at the end of the garden, she continued on. Before long Alex came upon the river with its stone bridge, the railing had arches cut out underneath causing arches of the moonlight to be illuminated over the bridge from the low hanging silver moon. Alex rested her arms over the stone railing and looked out down the river. The moon hung low, reflecting on the flowing river, it was beautiful and peaceful. It looked like it was straight out of a painting. Alex was trying not to think too much; she just wanted to enjoy the solitude, she could think about Josh later when she wasn't at the ball. Alex relaxed a little, listening to the water flow beneath her made her relax. There was a soft breeze rustling the leaves in the trees creating its own mesmerising sound and sending a chill down her back. Alex breathed out and let herself be taken by the sounds. She didn't know how long she was resting there, but it was long enough for Josh to come up behind her.

"I thought I would find you here" Josh said softly. Alex turned to see him standing behind her.

"Okay don't speak" Josh said, "let me explain, I don't know what you saw but I can almost certainly tell you it's not what you think."

"I don't know what to think, Josh" She whispered.

Josh sighed and said, "I know, let me explain" He looked to her for some kind of agreement to allow him to begin speaking.

"Okay" Alex said, "explain yourself"

"Well as you know I danced with you, which I really wanted to do to the point where I was nervous to ask you to dance, then after the dance Susan roughly took me onto the dance floor and began saying stuff like, she's not right for you I am, it was a load of rubbish and I tried to tell her but she wouldn't listen. She continued to talk rubbish like that making me frustrated and annoyed meaning I didn't see the kiss coming," Alex didn't know if she believed Josh yet, she still felt so hurt by him, "then she was kissing me and I was trying to squirm out of her grip but she was really strong, then after the dance I took her to the seats and persuaded her to get us drinks before I took off looking for you." He said this last part softly, "I wanted to be with you tonight" He was looking at the ground feeling ashamed of something.