Chapter 21

Celeste

The sun had already dipped beneath the horizon by the time I arrived at Fiona's house. The golden hues of dusk greeted me, and with every step towards her front door, I could feel my heart pounding against my chest.

Today was finally the day of the ball. Jack had bought my excuse, and our plan was in motion.

It was sure to be a tumultuous night, what with having to call my brother every hour and send him the pictures that Fiona and I took ahead of time, but it was a sacrifice that I was willing to make for the sake of getting the chance to attend the ball… and see Matt.

Matt still had no idea that I was coming. I was too afraid to text him in case he talked to my brother and they somehow put two and two together. Hopefully, he didn’t have another date lined up; but if the texts he sent me were any indication, it seemed to me that he didn’t.

I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he finally saw me there. In my mind, it was like a fairytale. I imagined his eyes widening as I slowly and gracefully made my way toward him, the smile spreading across his face, the mischievous look in my eyes as I teased him and told him that I decided to come after all, just to see him.

After tonight, though, we would likely never speak to each other again. As much as it broke my heart, I knew that it had to be this way. I would have to block him and never be that version of myself from then on out… I already planned to throw my mask away.

But right now, I wouldn’t think about it. For now, I would just enjoy the shred of freedom that I got to experience, even if it was all based on lies.

“You’re late!” Fiona exclaimed as she flung open the door, her own face glowing with excitement. Her dark eyes twinkled as she pulled me inside, a cascade of giggles between us.

I glanced around her room; suits of every hue hung on the closet door, makeup sprawled across her vanity, and shoes strewn around the room. The mess was a testament to our shared excitement for the ball.

“Sorry, I was making sure Jack didn’t suspect anything,” I explained, my fingers lightly touching the dress I had hidden away. Fiona had it laid across the bed, waiting for me. It was a dark blue, a gentle shade that reminded me of twilight.

Fiona beamed, her smile infectious. “Let’s get you ready!”

Hours seemed to pass in mere minutes. Fiona helped me with my makeup—smokey eyes with a hint of shimmer, light blush to accentuate my cheeks, and a deep red lipstick that made my lips pop. As I watched myself transform in the mirror, I barely recognized the reflection staring back at me.

My hair, which was usually a messy bun or simple ponytail, now cascaded down in soft waves. Fiona carefully tended to it, snipping here and there with scissors to remedy the awful haircuts that my brother gave me, then working out all of the frizziness so that it had a luster to it that I didn’t even think possible.

“Wow,” Fiona said, her eyes widening as she finished with my hair. “Your hair is a lot longer when the curls are relaxed.”

“Really?” I turned around in the mirror, my own eyes widening now. Fiona was right; my hair, which was normally shoulder length, now reached down to almost the middle of my back. It looked beautiful; a warm caramel brown, shiny and soft to boot.

Fiona nodded. “From now on, you have got to practice doing your hair,” she said. “I don’t care what your brother says. He has no say over how you take care of your own hair.”

I forced a weak smile, but I knew that Fiona’s words meant nothing at the end of the day. My brother would never let me walk out of the house looking like this, and I think Fiona knew that.

But the crowning moment was the dress. Slipping into the blue gown, I felt like a different person. The dress hugged me in all the right places, flaring out gracefully around my knees and coming to a stop around my ankles, where I wore strappy heels.

“You look…” Fiona searched for the right word, eyes wide, “stunning, Celeste.”

“Thank you,” I whispered, feeling a sudden warmth in my cheeks. I felt pretty, a rare feeling for me.

With one final touch, Fiona handed me my mask. Delicate lace that would conceal enough of my face to be mysterious, but not so much that it would be obvious I was hiding.

“I thought this might help,” Fiona winked.

“Perfect,” I murmured, tying the mask behind my head. It was a safety net, a small assurance that I might go unnoticed.

Then, remembering my ace card, I reached into my bag and pulled out a pair of colored contact lenses. Instead of my recognizable heterochromatic brown and green eyes, tonight they would be a deep shade of blue to match my dress.

With everything in place, Fiona and I made our descent. We were two girls, ready to take on the world—or at least a ballroom.

The venue was more extravagant than I had ever imagined. The entrance was adorned with gold and silver, massive chandeliers hung from the ceilings, and the walls shimmered with fairy lights. The gentle hum of conversation was accompanied by a live band playing in the background.

“Remember,” Fiona whispered, leaning closer to me, “stay calm and just enjoy the night.”

It sounded easier than it felt, especially when I caught the glances of people as we walked in. Murmurs echoed around us, and I could feel the weight of their stares. It was clear they were trying to figure out who the masked girl was.

“Come on,” Fiona urged, pulling me towards the main hall. My feet felt like lead, but with Fiona's encouragement, I continued.

Suddenly, I stumbled over the hem of my dress, causing a few suppressed giggles from onlookers. My cheeks flared with embarrassment. The last thing I wanted was attention.

“Hey, it's okay. Just a little misstep,” Fiona reassured, smoothing out my dress. But my gaze was already searching the crowd.

And there he was—Jack. He looked dapper in a crisp suit, a drink in hand, his focus on a girl beside him. Thankfully, he was drunk enough to be lost in his own little world, and his gaze never found mine.

“We should avoid him,” Fiona muttered, pulling me in the opposite direction.

The music played, and couples danced gracefully around the room. My nerves began to settle, and the rhythmic beats started to have a calming effect on me.

Suddenly, I felt a tap on my shoulder. Turning around, my heart skipped a beat. It was Matt, looking more handsome than ever.

The tailored suit he wore fit him perfectly, and his hair was combed neatly to one side, revealing those deep blue eyes of his.

“May I have this dance?” he asked.