The next day was going to be hectic but fun. We had to go shopping for we had to buy our party attires.
Mom: Asteria, get up!!!! It is already 9.
me: 5 minutes more, Mom...
Mom: No, not even a second more. You are getting up or else you won't be allowed to go shopping today.
me: Ughh, Okay.
This is something I hate till now, getting up from the bed. It is really difficult for a night owl like me. I can stay up till late at night. Once I got out of my bathroom with my bathrobe on, I saw my mom stood with a childish, colourful, full sleeves top.
me: Mom what??
Mom: You are wearing this to the shopping mall.
me: Eww no, this is too jolly for me and it is too childish.
Mom: Oh, so you are employed, it seems. You are only a 15 y/o kid.
me: Mom, I am not a kid anymore and I am not wearing this to the shopping mall. I will look like a joker.
Mom: You won't look like a joker, because you already are one of them. No, I am sorry, my bad. You are a complete circus. ( And she laughed at her own joke)
me: Such a nice joke. Now go. I have to wear my "joker" costume too.
She left my room, still laughing at her own joke. I quickly stuffed that stupid top inside the closet and took out a nice yellow hoodie which went with my favourite black jeans. I tied my hair up in a high ponytail letting it slightly curl up at the end and completed my look by applying a coat of my strawberry lip balm just to ensure my lips don't get dry. My whole get-up went with a pair of yellow sporty sneakers.
Mom: Huh... Care to listen to me once??
me: Nope, dear.
Mom: Have your breakfast...
me: No mom, not in a mood. Please.
Mom: What? How in the world are you my child? I wasn't this disrespectful to my mom...( that stereotypical line that every mom in the world uses as her greatest weapon.)
me: Okay, I am sorry but I am really not in a mood to eat. Moreover, I am getting late. Naomi and Sofia have already started texting and calling me.
Mom: Oh dear, okay but be safe.
me: Mom, I am not a kid and Sofia's mom is going with us. So don't worry. Bye, mom. ( I hurried out towards the main gate)
Mom: Okay, Honey. Bye, Take care and enjoy. (she shouted behind the closed front door).
I reached the square where we had decided to meet. We were six of us. Naomi, Seb, Sofia, Reece, Sophia's mom, and me. We reached the shopping mall. There were many beautiful dresses. Naomi and Sofia were busy choosing their gowns when my eyes went on a beautiful- shoulders red velvet ballgown that had a black aesthetic royal art on it. It was truly heart-stealing. I quickly asked the shop owner about its price and luckily it was within our budget. I was quite happy and proud at the same time to be the first one to take notice of it. I made my way to the trial room to change.
After fifteen minutes of struggling, I turned myself to face the trial room mirror. I was really surprised at the sight for I saw a confident girl standing in front of me. The dress perfectly hugged her curves and she looked stunning. I could have never imagined myself in such a look. That was it. I had decided. I would take this. No more selections for me.
Naomi: Hey Asteria!!! Did you fall asleep inside the room?
Sophia: Yeah come out, we have to try too and I want to see you in that dress.
Both of them shouted from outside the trial room. I sighed and open the door. As soon as I stepped out, they both gasped in astonishment.
Naomi: Wow, girl!!! You look stunning!!! You will surely steal all the attention.
Sophia: Oh my god, babe. You are gonna kill us with your looks.
me: Oh come on stop it. I am sure, you both are gonna look prettier than me in your dresses.
Both of them tried their respective gowns and looked like princesses. Sophia had chosen a crystal violet fish tube gown and Naomi chose a shiny black mermaid gown. We were very happy with our dresses and heels and came out of the shop with huge smiles plastered on our faces. At the cafe, all six of us met again. Sophia's mother was already on her third coffee by the time we three reached there while Seb and Reece walked into the cafe with two huge bags. Silly boys, they stalked us for which colour we were going to choose and selected matching tuxes, and then told us that it was just a mere coincidence. Seb had selected a black body-fitting tux with shimmering black satin borders as he wanted to twin with Naomi while Reece had selected a red shiny tux with a white shirt to twin with me.
It was all very fun. We then went to a shop that sold party items to buy masks according to our dress's colours for it was going to be a masquerade ball. I was getting habituated to live without Carsten and at that time I believed that all the memories related to him should fade away. He hadn't talked with me for five months and there was no way he would come back in my life. So I just tried to forget him when I suddenly felt someone was following us as we were walking towards the parking lot. I paused to take a look but there was no one behind.
Reece: Hey!! Any problem?
me: uh..no. No problem.
Reece: Yeah so let's go.
me: Yeah.
As we reached home, Seb and Reece started talking about a funny woman, whom they met at the shopping mall and everyone started discussing what was going to happen the next day's party. The feeling was so exciting.
Naomi: Hey Sophia!!! You didn't tell us anything about your partner.
Sophia: Oh sorry, I forgot. Actually, he isn't from our school and I won't tell you much about him now. You all can directly meet him tomorrow.
Naomi: Okay, fine girl. (Looking at her watch) I think we should leave now.
Seb: Indeed we should. Bye, Steph.
Sophia: Okay, bye Asteria, bye everyone.
Naomi: Bye.
Reece: Can't wait to see you tomorrow. ( he winked at me)
me: Even I can't.( I replied with a smile)
Reece: Bye(blushing)
Me: Bye everyone.
The evening went by and I crept under my duvet still wondering about the fun we would have the next day. The next day was going to be a busy day too. I was excited but somehow the excitement faded away as soon as I thought that there would be Reece and not Carsten. The hand which would grab my waist would be belonging to Reece and not Carsten. No matter, how hard I tried to forget him, at the end of the day, I still loved him and missed him.
The next morning I got up and quickly took a bath and freshened up. I put my casual tops and jeans on and rang a call each to Naomi and Sophia, who were already waiting for me at the parlour along with Sophia's mom. The day was amazing. Facials, manicures, pedicures, and lunch at the restaurant all were so much fun. Then we got into our party attire and waited for our turn for make-up. It was almost 5:30 pm by then. The party was scheduled to be started at 7. I was patiently waiting for my turn and my excitement was increasing. Finally, it was my turn. Till the makeup and hairstyling weren't completed, I wasn't allowed to see the mirror. After they completed it, they turned my chair such that I was facing the mirror. Honestly, I looked beautiful, especially that red matte lips. Ahh, I loved the look. In fact, all three of us looked absolutely gorgeous. We thanked our stylists and make-up artists as we were about to leave for the party.
It took us 15 mins to reach our destination. The hotel was beautifully decorated with aristocratic interior designs. Before entering, we put on our masks. As we stepped into the hall, we saw a huge crowd of hundreds of couples dancing. The site was so amazing and the atmosphere was so peaceful. The lights became dim and I felt someone holding my hands. It was Reece. Even if half of his face was covered with the mask but I could tell that he really looked stunning in his red tux.
Reece: Miss Asteria Brown, would you like to dance with me?
me: Sure, why not. ( I smiled)
He held my waist with one hand and intertwined his fingers with mine with the other. We slowly danced along to the slow music when suddenly I felt as if someone gripped my arm and pull me towards him. No, it wasn't Reece...