Chapter 22

Celeste

The opulent ballroom swirled around me, a kaleidoscope of color, music, and laughter.

But at that moment, time felt suspended. Matt’s piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, hand outstretched. “May I have this dance?”

For a split second, my mind raced to find an answer, but my heart knew it had only one. “Of course,” I replied, allowing my fingers to slide into his strong grasp.

Matt's fingers curled around mine, his gaze piercing into my masked face, the world melting away into nothing but the two of us. The swell of the music rose, and as we moved to the rhythm, there was a palpable tension in the air.

His grip was firm, yet gentle, leading me effortlessly across the floor, our steps matching perfectly.

“I thought you said you weren’t coming,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What changed?”

I shrugged. “My mind changed,” I lied. “That’s all.”

“Well, I’m not complaining. I’m just happy to see you again.” He smirked, that familiar smirk I’d seen countless times. “You know, there's something familiar about you. The way you move, the sound of your laughter."

I took a deep breath, enjoying the anonymity the mask offered. “Perhaps we’ve crossed paths in another life,” I quipped, feeling bolder than I ever had around him.

Slowly, my secret identity began to seep through. I was no longer Celeste, but I was rather now the Mystery Girl in the blue dress.

The rest of the world seemed to blur. The music, a haunting waltz, filled the vast ballroom, setting the backdrop to our dance. His confident steps led me seamlessly, pulling me into spins and gentle twirls.

I marveled at how naturally our bodies synchronized; it felt like a choreographed dance, one we'd practiced for ages.

However, as we gracefully weaved through the crowd, I couldn’t shake off the sensation of eyes on us.

The weight of whispers, surreptitious glances, and subtle nudges grew palpable. Every time we neared a cluster of party-goers, their conversations seemed to dip into hushed tones, their attention diverted towards us.

The dazzling lights above seemed to shine like spotlights, exaggerating our presence on the floor.

Matt, in his suave demeanor, either didn’t notice or chose to ignore the stares. He looked deeply into the eyes of the masked woman in front of him, seemingly lost in the puzzle of my identity.

“You really are a good dancer,” he murmured. “I can’t imagine having a better partner to dance with.”

I blushed. But despite the mask that shielded most of my face, I felt exposed. It was as if everyone in the room was in on a secret, one that only Matt was unaware of.

The soft blue fabric of my dress swished around me, drawing attention to our pairing, while the mask I wore evoked whispers of intrigue.

Who was the masked lady? Why was she dancing with Matt?

I tried to shake off the anxiety, to lose myself in the music, in the moment, and in the nearness of Matt. But with every step, turn, and glide, the awareness of being the evening's spectacle was ever-present, adding a thrilling yet nerve-wracking layer to an already complex night.

The crescendo of the music built, and Matt, with practiced grace, dipped me low. Our faces hovered dangerously close, the warmth of his breath mingling with mine. The urge to reveal my identity, to bridge the gap and press my lips to his, was overwhelming. But I resisted, pushing back gently.

“We should...take things slow,” I murmured, my heart pounding against my ribcage as my palm delicately pressed into Matt’s chest.

His eyebrows furrowed in confusion, clearly not expecting the resistance. But his confusion made way for another smirk.

“Alright, Mystery Girl. Slow it is.” He straightened, pulling me up with him. “But I must say, you look absolutely enchanting tonight. It’s nice to see you in the light, and not in a dark bathroom.”

I couldn't help but smile. “I could say the same for you,” I said.

As our dance came to a close, my phone began to buzz insistently in my clutch. Panic set in. I didn’t even have to look to know that it was Jack. The song ended, and I quickly stepped away, leaving Matt standing there looking confused.

“I’m sorry,” I said, putting on my best show of being nothing more than a lady who needed to powder her nose. “I need a moment. I promise I’ll be back.”

Matt nodded, and I excused myself, wading through the sea of people toward the bathrooms while my phone buzzed incessantly.

The restroom was a vision of luxury, marble floors reflecting the chandeliers overhead. I rushed into a stall, my heart racing, where I ripped off my mask. Dialing quickly, I waited for my brother’s voice.

“I thought we agreed on a FaceTime call every hour,” he said, his voice nearly drowned out by the music in the background. He wasn’t looking at the screen as he was too distracted by the girl at his side, but I kept the phone angled toward my forehead just in case.

“I’m sorry,” I said, trying to sound calm and collected. “We lost track of time watching a movie. I didn’t see your call.”

A long pause, then a sigh. “Whatever.” He hung up without another word.

Relief washed over me. Two more hours, I told myself. Two more hours to live this dream. After that, it would all be over; but for now, I could at least revel in my little victory, in the fact that I had made it this far already.

I slipped my mask back on. As I was about to leave the stall, the restroom door swung open, and familiar voices filled the air. Sabrina’s shrill laugh echoed in the bathroom, making my stomach drop.

“...I mean, did you see that chubby girl in the gaudy blue dress? Trying so hard to be mysterious with that silly mask. It’s laughable,” she sneered.

Another voice chimed in, likely one of her sycophantic friends. “Oh, totally! And with that figure? Someone should’ve told her to wear something... well, less revealing.”

Laughter rang out, and my heart clenched. I recognized those voices, the biting tone all too well. They were talking about me.

Sabrina continued, her sneer practically emanating through the stall door. I quickly hiked up my dress to conceal the fabric as I heard their heels clicking across the tile, and saw them stop by the sinks through the crack in the door. Sabrina stood over the sinks, leaning toward the mirror as she preened herself.

“It’s sad, really,” she said with a sarcastic sigh. “She probably thinks she’s the belle of the ball, but everyone’s just talking about how desperate she looks. I mean, who wears a mask to a ball these days?”

More giggles. “Imagine if she actually thought someone like Matt would be interested in her! He’s probably just dancing with her out of pity.”

I gripped the edges of the stall, my face burning. This night was supposed to be different. A chance to escape the constraints of my life, to be free, even if only for a few hours. And yet, even in this dream-like setting, the cruel realities of my life still found a way in.

Holding back tears, I waited, listening intently as their conversation continued.

“Well, I’ll just say one thing,” Sabrina said, turning around to face her friends. I swore she could see me through the crack in the stall door, but if she did, she made no indication. Not yet, at least.

But from where I cowered, I could see a sly smile spread across her face.

“What is it, Brina?” one of the other girls asked.

Sabrina chuckled. “I know who this ‘Mystery Girl’ is.”