Within the Walls of Kingsbury Prep (Kingsbury Prep #1)

22: The Events of the Midnight Ball

I awake, completely happy for the first time in my life. We all had fun last night: my friends, my mum, Roman. I never imagined I could have this many people in my life who care about me and my happiness. It's only ever been me and mum, so even her loving and caring for me seemed a lot but now I know how wrong I was. It's a great feeling to be loved: to always have someone to talk to when you're feeling lonely or upset; to have inside jokes with friends that make you laugh for what feels like years. I'm so lucky to have my friends and my amazing mum. I now have Roman too. He may be trouble most of the time, but I know he has my back and I have his: always.

"Someone looks very cheerful this morning." Lola states, peering over the top bunk at me.

"Well why wouldn't I be? Last night was amazing. I have amazing friends, a boyfriend..." I pause giving her time to register what I've said.

"A boyfriend?" Lola practically screams.

"Who has a boyfriend?" Angelica sits up in bed, looking like a zombie.

"Millie."

"Oh my God." Angelica leaps out of bed and runs over to mine. Harley and Georgina follow her.

"Spill everything!" Georgina urges.

I take them on a journey through all of last night's events: Charity and Charles being dicks as per; Althea's advice; Roman's speech; our kiss. I see their facial expressions change as I recount my night.

"Millie, I'm so happy for you." Harley smiles at me.

"I still don't like him." I look at Lola. "But, if you're happy, that's all that matters."

"Thanks guys, it means a lot. Enough about me though, tell me about your night's."

Angelica beams from ear to ear as she eagerly tells us about her night.

"After walking into the ball, feeling very conscious and self-aware, I stood to the side waiting for you all to join me. Feeling very on display, I began to play with the detailing on my dress, as though to hide myself from watchful eyes. It wasn't until a few minutes later that I realised, a gorgeous boy was stood beside me. He introduced himself as Julien Harrow, as in Harrow Hotels, and complimented me on my dress. I went completely giddy, it's never happened before, I'm normally confident around others but from the start he turned me to mush. He disappeared off to his friends when you all joined me but came back when we had the commencement dance. We spent a lot of time together over the night, he kept disappearing but I didn't mind: I was besotted. Still am, to be honest. He walked me back to the dorm at the end of the evening. He said he'd see me around some time, I hope that is the case."

"She's in love," Georgina mocks in a dreamy voice.

"Oh, shove of," Angelica pushes her off the bed, Georgina landing with a thud.

"Literally," I laugh.

"Well, while you were getting wifed up." Lola looks at me pointedly. "You missed Harley. She was a right firecracker."

"Harley? No way." I turn my attention to the petite ginger.

"I was just having fun." She replies shyly.

"She was having the time of her life. Dancing her little socks off. Dancing with boys." Lola winks.

"With boys?" I tease.

"I never told you the best part. I noticed Charles watching me while I was dancing, it was creepy. Anyway, when I went to get myself a drink, he came up to me and stood obnoxiously close. I just ignored him, didn't want to give him the satisfaction of talking to him. He told me I looked very pretty and he was 'in awe' of how I was letting myself go. I still didn't respond but I did laugh, loudly. He claimed he was telling the truth and suggested we have a dance together. He then whispered something in my ear which is just too horrid to repeat so I stamped on his foot with my heel and walked away."