Chapter 26

Celeste

While I was busy at the ball, the winter weather picked up. The atmosphere inside the warm greenhouse garden was a facade, just like my mask.

Now, as I walked back to Fiona’s house, the icy wind whipped around me and the fresh snow crunched under my feet, causing the hem of my dress to become damp. Every sound was muffled by the snow, casting the world in a heavy silence.

But I didn’t feel any of that, because with every step towards Fiona’s house, the crushing weight of the evening bore down on me more than the snow and the wind.

Tears blurred my vision, causing the snowflakes in the air to morph into shimmering white stars. The realization that the fairytale, the brief respite from my daily life, had come to its end was more crushing than I had anticipated. I felt as though I had been suspended in a beautiful dream, only to be jolted awake by the cold slap of reality.

Of course Matt would choose Sabrina over me. She was a bitch, but she was a hot and beautiful bitch. For all I knew, they were in cahoots together the whole time, and I would wake up in the morning to pictures of me all over social media, revealing my lies.

Maybe I deserved it for thinking that I could ever be a pretty girl. I should have listened to Jack from the beginning… I should have never gone against his word. He always knew what was best for me.

Suddenly, the mask that had been my shield for the night just felt suffocating. In a surge of emotion, I tore it off, the elastic snapping sharply against my fingers. I looked at it in my hand; the very thing that had given me the courage to be someone who I wasn’t. I hated it.

Without thinking, I crumpled the mask in my cold fingers, feeling a combination of satisfaction and sorrow fill my chest as I felt the lace and plastic break beneath my grip.

The snow around my feet became littered with sequins, and in a final burst of anger, I threw the mask down, then kicked a mound of snow over the mess and kept going, resolving to let the snowplows bury it further and carry it away to some unknown place in the middle of the night.

The familiar outline of Fiona’s house was a beacon in the dark, guiding me back to a semblance of safety. As soon as the door clicked shut behind me, I reached for my phone and immediately called Fiona, who was probably wondering where I went.

“Hello?” she answered, her voice distorted by the loud music in the background.

“Fi, it’s me,” I murmured, trying to steady my trembling voice.

“Celeste? Where are you? I've been looking everywhere for you.”

“I’m at your place. I had to leave. I couldn’t stay there anymore,” I confessed, my voice breaking.

There was a pause. “I’m sorry, Celeste. The dance just ended. I’ll be there soon. Hang tight,” Fiona reassured me.

“Be careful,” I said, glancing nervously out the window. “Jack said he’s going to come by on his way home to ‘check on me’. Make sure he doesn’t see you.”

“Okay. I will.” Fiona sounded a little exasperated, but said nothing more about it.

The moment the call ended, a profound exhaustion settled over me.

I slowly began to peel off the gown, the layers of fabric slipping off, pooling at my feet like a discarded dream. The chill of the room contrasted sharply with the warm mask of makeup on my face, and I headed to Fiona’s bathroom to wash it away.

Every stroke of the washcloth was a bitter reminder of the version of me that had existed for only one night.

With each swipe, the glamorous Mystery Girl faded, replaced by the plain, ordinary version of myself. As the water swirled with color down the drain, I could feel the heaviness of reality sink in.

I was just Celeste again; no longer the belle of the ball.

Just as I was about to put the washcloth down, I caught a glimpse of my bare neck in the mirror. Panic bubbled up instantly. My necklace—it was missing! A frantic search confirmed my worst fears. I must have lost it somewhere in the snow during my hurried escape from the ballroom.

My knees gave way, and I found myself sitting on the cold tile floor, tears brimming. It wasn’t just a piece of jewelry; it was a cherished heirloom, a tangible link to the past. The only thing that I had that belonged to my mother.

The sound of the door opening pulled me from my daze. Fiona’s voice echoed from the living room. “Celeste? You here?”

“In here, Fi,” I responded, quickly wiping away my tears.

She rushed into the bathroom, concern evident on her face as soon as she saw me. “Hey, you okay?”

“I’m fine,” I whispered, unable to meet her gaze. “I just lost my mom’s necklace.”

Fiona knelt beside me and wrapped her arms around my shoulders.

“We’ll look for it tomorrow,” she promised. “But for now, how about some junk food and movies? Nothing better than that to mend a broken heart.”

Grateful for the distraction, I nodded, allowing her to lead me to the couch. She quickly set up an array of our favorite films, while I raided her kitchen for snacks.

As we settled in, Fiona glanced sideways at me. “You know, you looked so stunning tonight. Like someone out of a fairy tale. And Matt couldn't take his eyes off you.”

I shook my head, the night’s events flashing before my eyes. “It was just... a one-time thing, Fi. I’ve decided not to see him anymore. I’ll be blocking him after tonight.”

Fiona looked puzzled. “Why? He seemed smitten with you.”

“It doesn’t matter,” I said, turning my attention back to the screen. “It would never work anyway. He would have to find out eventually who the girl was behind the mask, and he’d never want me as I am. That girl tonight was just a facade.”

Fiona’s eyes narrowed. “I think you’re wrong about him,” she said, turning toward me on the couch.

“Look… I know I was skeptical when you first told me, and I know I tried to talk you out of it because he’s your brother’s friend. But after how sweet he was to you at the gym, I don’t think that he would be as mad as you think. I think he likes you just fine the way you are.”

I shook my head. “Just drop it, Fiona.”

My friend’s cheeks flushed red, and I instantly regretted my choice of words. I quickly took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “I didn’t mean it like that. Really. I appreciate how much effort you put into making this night work for me, but I just can’t continue this with Matt. It’s just… not a good idea.”

Before Fiona could press further, a knock at the door interrupted us. My heart began to pound in my chest, and I turned to look at the door.

Through the window, we could see the silhouette of my brother standing by the door. I had been expecting him, of course; but I wasn’t expecting to see a second figure. A male figure.

He wasn’t alone.

And I recognized those broad shoulders and that dark head of hair in an instant.