The Hooded Girl (on hold)

||Chapter 26||

Cecelia

I walk out of my bathroom out into my room to see a white garment cover placed on my bed. I walk over to unzipping the top to reveal a sparkling bronze gold dress. My eye widen as I realise how extreme this dress was going to be. I quickly zip it back up and rush to my moms room.

"Mom" I say rushing into her room "Yes dear?" She asks turning to look at me as she pins her hair into a bun. Her dress was just as extravagant as mine but atleast hers looked like a second skin mine looked like it screamed I DONT BELONG HERE.

"What's this dress?" I ask her confused "Isn't it gorgeous I thought since we would be attending an event as the Karmicheals we might as well and besides the theme was liquid gold the dress suits it perfectly" I'm about to protest wearing it when I see how happy she was. It's not that I didn't like it I loved it I just didn't want to come off...pretentious.

After a very short deliberation I decided to slip into it even if I felt uncomfortable. I make sure to skip it on feet first not wanting to ruin my pinned up curls.

I look in the mirror and straighten out my dress. I tilt my head before smiling at myself. I had to admit I looked good even if it didn't feel like me at all.

I walk over to my vanity applying the lightest make up I could not wanting to overdo it before unpinning my blonde curls. I take one last 360 before walking over to Livs room.

I smile as I see how cute she looked.

She looked so excited to leave "Hello Ms Olivia" I say twirling her around as she giggles "Cece you look like a princess no...like a queen" she says to me all starry eyed "then you must be the princess" I say booping her nose. "Are my girls ready to go" I jump as I hear my fathers voice "Daddyyyy" Liv squeals as she runs past me "Ah my baby" he says picking Liv up "You look beautiful munchkin" he says holding her as she giggles "And Ms Cecelia Elena" he says smiling at me "Dad" I say walking over to him embracing him and Liv in a group hug "I've missed you" I say hugging him "I've missed my girls so much" he says as mom walks in "Aw I need a photo" she says looking as beautiful as ever "and there's my queen" he says lacing his free arm around mom giving her a light peck "Ewww" Liv and I say scrunching our faces to eachother "Oh hushhh" my mom says stroking Livs face "Cecelia you look beautiful darling I love it" she says turning to me her eyes now watering "I will not cry" she says fanning her eyes "Aw mom you're gonna ruin your make up" I say fanning her now also "Make up oh darling your make up I haven't seen you wear make up like this in so long" she says now getting even more emotional.

I shake my head not realising how much me dressing like this meant to her. Well to be fair I did dress like the undertaker most of the time. "The car is ready" Sergio says reaching the top of the stairs "Ah yes thank you Sergio" my dad says placing Liv back on the floor. She smiles up at me and I take her hand as we follow my parents out of Livs room "Molto bello" Sergio says giving Liv and I a hug as we approach him. He then follows us down the bannister towards the car.

We take the larger car with my mother, Liv, and I at the back while My father and Sergio chat away at the front. We eventually after much anticipation and sweaty palms arrive at the grandè lerovx hall.

The pillars were lit and the carpets were layed out. I almost roll my eyes at how cliche the whole place looked. It screamed I'm better than you in 5 different languages.

I take a deep breath before walking in hand with Liv beside my parents. My father draped his arm on my mother's waist as we say our goodbye to Sergio and walking up the golden carpet as we're photographed 'It's James and Lily  Karmichael' I hear people murmur as we enter. Luckily for me Olivia and I were behind our parents making our arrival a lot less jaw dropping.

I do however notice he lingering stairs as I follow Liv to the 10 tier rack full of cans for her to overdose on. I smile as I help her reach the sour candies on the higher shelves. Suddenly another little boy walks over and begins yanking on my dress "Can I have that one in blue" he says pointing at Livs lolly "Of course-" I'm cut off by a guy who I'm assuming was his older brother "Hey Tyler don't tug on the pretty lady's dress alright" he says turning the little boy to him. Tyler lets out a huff "Here you go" I say handing him a blue flavoured sour lolly "Thank you..." his eyes widen as he looks up at me "You're preeeetty" he says smiling at me "Why thank you" I say smiling back at him "Hey don't talk to my sister" Liv says getting defensive of me the little boy freezes and begins walking back slowly "Matt" he whispers causing the older guy to crouch down to him "What is it" Matt whispers back "I think I'm in love" I giggle overhearing their conversation "You're 5 I don't think you can be in love and she's a little too old for you" Matt whispers back "Oh that one is to old for me but that one" he says looking down at Liv "is not" he says smiling at her "Liv I think he likes you" I whisper to her "Ew no way" she says scrunching her face at me "Way" I say nodding my head at her. She remains skeptical as Tyler makes his way towards us "You wanna make an ice cream sundae with me?" He asks Liv as he fiddles with his fingers. Liv looks up at me as if I'm meant to give her the answer I shrug my shoulders looking down at her "I guess" she says all nonchalant. He attempts to hide his excitement "Adorable" I say to who I'm assuming was named Matt "Why thank you I'm not used to girls being so forward with me" he jokes. I snicker finding it a little funny "No but really why is it not so simple at our age?" He asks a we follow Liv and Tyler through the dessert bar "Why can't it be?" I ask "Is that a question or a proposal" he says smiling at me "A joke" I says shaking my head "How unfortunate" he says winking at me "Matthew Phillips I don't believe we've had the pleasure" he says extending his hand "Cecelia..." I hesitate on the last name I'd take for the introduction "Melroe" I finish the sentence "So Cecelia Melroe why have we not cross paths until my sweet toothed little brother tugged on your dress?" He asks with a devilish smirk "Maybe fate was waiting for an opportunity to present itself" I say now feeling more like Cecelia than Elena at this moment "Matt" I hear a girl call from behind me. I follow Matt's gaze and turn to see Klowi in a droopy silk gold mini dress with stroppy heels and white diamonds "Yes Klowi" He says looking annoyed "Tell mom and dad I'm ditching I need to go check up on River" she says before walking away "Ladies and Gentlemen my sister" he says with an annoyed smile "Ahh should've known" I say concentrating my eyes on Liv and Tyler "And what does that mean?" He asks "Oh no I just meant your last name I should've realised the relationship and considering I've never seen you around school before I should've known" I reply hoping I hadn't offended him in anyway "Oh right so you go to Northdale" he asks picking up two flutes of champagne from one of the waiters silver platters "Unfortunately" I say taking a small sip "Why's that unfortunate" he says also taking a sip "I'm taking you haven't met your sisters friends" I say raising a brow "Oh right I forgot" he says with a chuckle "I forget she hangs out with this those sorts" he says shaking his head before taking another sip "As if she's so innocent" I say also taking a sip. I was definitely feeling a lot more Cecelia tonight "Trust me my sister no saint but I can attest to the fact she's not at all what she must seem at school" he says scanning the room "let's just say the company she keeps isn't a reflection of who she is" he says shrugging his shoulders. I nod my head even thought I wasn't even the least bit convinced of anything he was saying.