Page 69 of Swamp Princess

Chapter Twenty-Eight

The Christmas ball has finally arrived. I stand in the mirror looking at myself. Haven came over and fussed with my hair until it was pulled up into a tight bun with loose curls hanging around my face. The makeup she applied is light, but it brings out all of my facial features, making them more striking than I ever could have imagined.

“Haven, I can't believe how talented you are with makeup.” I smile at her in the mirror as I move my dress around, making it swish around my feet.

“It wasn't hard. You're incredibly beautiful and you should know that.” She stands next to me in her own gorgeous dress, and I take her in.

“Don't forget how beautiful you are.” I remember everything she told me, and I can't stop thinking about how she told me she wished that her life was different. It goes to show that even people with money are not happy, and she's so kind through it all.

I feel like there's more going on than what she's actually told me. There's a sadness that's sitting behind her eyes that unless you know her well enough, you would never see, though I come from that type of sadness, so I recognized that the moment I met her.

Everything I thought about this world changed the moment I stepped foot in this school. I have to make it through two more years, and I’ll graduate and be able to go far away from all the mess that this has brought me so far.

The year is almost over for school, and the summer is not looking any better for prospects. I have a goal in mind and that involves getting a summer job, and maybe even having my mother forcefully admitted into rehab. If I can do that, I can clean up the trailer and have some money to make the trailer a better place to live for us.

The thought makes me happy. I want to make the trailer into a home, not the falling apart mess that it currently is.

“Come on, we need to finish, and I have a surprise for you.” Haven’s eyes sparkle with excitement. “I waited until you left and got you these.” She holds up the most beautiful dangle earrings I ever seen. They are the same color of the dress and add to the appeal.

“Oh, Haven, this is incredible. You didn't have to do this.” I put them on and I catch my breath. For the first time in my life, I look like a fairy princess. My eyes start to water as I stare at myself in the mirror.

“Don't you dare cry. We spent far too long on our hair and makeup for you to mess up your makeup. Cry after the ball.” Haven chuckles a little and bumps me with her hip. “Remington will be here soon to gather us, and I'm sure his friends will be with him too.

I'm not looking forward to that, and the closer it gets to time, the more nervous I get. My clothing, as much as I hate to deny it, is an armor in itself. Being in clothes like this, I am completely out of my element and feeling a little bit more vulnerable than normal.

“Do we really have to walk down with them?” If Haven hadn't done all this for me, honestly, I probably would have tried to walk by myself, but she was adamant that every proper lady be escorted.

“Yes, and it will be fine. It's only for a few moments from your room to the dining hall, and then he can seat you at your table and you're free of them for the rest of the night, unless you get paired with one of them for the dancing.”

I didn't even think about that. Mr. Brooks told us that he will inform us of our partners as we come into the dining hall. We will all be presented as a class and the waltzes will start right away which means that right now, the dining hall is filling up with all the contributors, school staff, and other students.

I am more nervous than I am showing which I guess is good. The knock on the door sets my nerves going and I have to take deep calming breaths as I watch as Haven goes to the door. The moment she does, I see the three kings of the school waiting in the doorway.

My breath catches and I want to smack myself with wanting to look at them and take them in. Each of them is wearing a very expensive three-piece suit, and it hugs and molds to every inch of their very muscular body, making my mouth water.

Kingston has a dark blue button up underneath his very dark suit. Loyal is wearing sky blue which brings out the color of his gorgeous eyes, and Remington is wearing a blue that is in between the other two guys. Each of them smile at Haven. Each one of them takes turns giving her compliments on her outfit and then all at once, I feel their eyes turn to me. For that moment, I feel incredibly beautiful and it feels like time has stopped, and I'm the only thing in their world.

Their eyes drink me in and I turn and give them a soft smile. So many emotions cross their face but one sticks longer than the other, and that's the look of guilt for what I don't understand.

“I guess I will be the one escorting you tonight.” Kingston steps forward and offers his arm. I nervously take it and follow Remington and Haven out the door. “You look beautiful,” Kingston whispers to me. Again, the feeling that something bad is going to happen tonight starts to sink into my brain and no matter what I do, I can't shake it.

We nervously walk toward the dining hall and I see that it's already filled with what looks to be over one hundred people. The atmosphere is meant to be calming and elegant, and with the constant conversations that I can overhear, I can see that most people here are familiar with each other.

“Wow, Brinley, you look incredible.” Just as I'm stepping up to the entrance of the dining hall, I hear Blaise’s voice behind me, and it kind of shocks me since he hasn't spoken to me in a while.

Turning, I look at him and see his girlfriend on his arm but at this point in time. Nothing else matters as I take my eyes over him. His three-piece suit doesn't look as expensive as the other guys, but it fits him just as nicely. It molds to every part of his body, showcasing the strength of his arms and the power of his legs.

He is wearing an emerald green undershirt with a black tie, and it brings out every dark feature of his. The sharp movement of his eyebrows, his plump lips, and the new diamond stud earrings I see in his ear. Blaise is simply breathtaking, and at this point, I don't care if I'm kissing his girlfriend off by staring. He was mine first.

“You clean up rather nicely, too.” He knows I want to say more than that; I can tell by the smirk he gives me. For just one tiny second, it feels like things are back to normal and it's enough for him to call me to walk through the doors of the dining hall.

“Brinley, perfect. Your partner for tonight will be Blaise.” Mr. Brooks announces as we step past the threshold of the dance floor, and my heart seems to soar out of my body. I couldn't have asked for anything better.

Trying my hardest not to giggle, I nod my head and smile at him as Kingston leads me to a table with my name on it.

* * *

Being in Blaise’s arms is like a dream come true. He moves flawlessly around the dance floor and never stumbles on a step.

---