Contrary to his partner, Joseph's mood was sinking low with every step he took.
He had already scanned the whole hall but there wasn't any sign of the person he wanted to be with the most. That was right. There was no sign of Aria anywhere.
Joseph continued to go over the whole ball room as he descended, but only to be more disappointed.
Finally, when the two of them were almost down the stairs, Joseph sighed as Jacob whispered in his ear, "Isn't Aria here? Where could she be?"
"How would I know where she is?! I'm probably not important enough for her to show up on my birthday." Joseph snapped as his face darkened.
Jacob was about to deny this statement when he was mysteriously separated from Joseph. The two had finally come down and all the people had crowded around Joseph and elbowed him out of the way.
Jacob looked dejectedly at Joseph in the middle of the big crowd. He could clearly tell that Joseph was hurting because he had not seen Aria and he wanted to be with him. To console him and tell him that Aria might have been overwhelmed by the crowd, but he shouldn't for minute think that Joseph was not important enough for her.
Jacob was getting ready to plunge in the crowd when a tap on his shoulder stopped him. He turned around to see Helen, smiling at him.
Jacob felt his breath leave his body and his heart speed up as he gazed at Helen.
"Hii Jacob. I can tell you must look very handsome." Helen said, a faint blush creeping on her cheeks.
Jacob also felt his cheeks heat up as he gave an awkward chuckle and said, "I think your guess is wrong. But I can tell for sure that you look breathtaking."
Helen mumbled a thanks and silence settled between them. After a few seconds, Jacob looked worriedly towards Joseph and spoke, "I wonder if he is all right."
"He'll be fine. He's used to it. Say Jacob, can I talk to you about something?" Helen replied, something clearly on her mind.
Jacob turned his head upon hearing Helen's tone and said, "Sure. Go on."
After a few minutes....
Helen could barely control her excitement as she said, "So meet you after the ball. You'll come to my window right?"
Jacob nodded, a little excitement mixed in his embarrassed face, "I'll tap three times."
Helen nodded and was about to head away from him when Jacob caught her hand.
Helen turned around and asked, "What?" the blush on her cheeks deepening.
Jacob let go of her hand and coughed awkwardly before saying, "Make sure to borrow some clothes from Aria. Your dresses are hardly useful for sneaking out."
Helen nodded and the two parted ways.
While his sister and friend were making plans for sneaking out in the night, Joseph was barely holding all the sarcastic replies that came into his mind as the people in the party asked him stupid questions.
His natural short temper was flared due to Aria's absence. He could not believe that she found him so unimportant that she had run away the first chance she had gotten away from Helen.