Penelope's POV
I held two skirts up in front of the mirror and continued to gesture. The pale, skinny girl in the mirror had attractive features, yet she appeared shy and anxious. I was still unsure which option to take. Mia groaned before saying, "You can look at these dresses for an hour, and they won't be cheaper, but the store is closing."
"I know, Mia, but this cheaper dress is too… too revealing, too low on the chest." I put the halter dress on my right chest, just covering my nipples, and if I moved a little bigger, it would definitely move down, leaving me completely naked.
Mia made an eye roll. "You are overstating things. It sits at least 2 inches above your nipples. Trust me, it will not strip you nude. Best of all, this outfit costs $100 less."
I breathed out a sigh. Mia was correct. The price of this outfit was quite appealing, even though the other dress met my expectations. I mean, 2 inches less cloth saved $100, and any smart person can make wise choices.
"It won't expose my tits, will it?" I stared into the mirror, concerned.
Mia waved her hand. "Don't worry, we're only going to the dance tomorrow, not the hurdles."
Doubtfully, I changed out of my $100-too-expensive attire and walked with Mia to the checkout desk. I'd been monitoring Mia for the past few days, and she didn't appear unusual, at least not in the way she gave me away.
"Tomorrow," Mia said nonchalantly, handing me the clothes the shopkeeper had packed. "Will your stepbrother be here tomorrow?"
"What?" I asked. "You mean Austin?"
"Yes. Isn't Emma going to the ball too? He loves his sisters so much; surely he'll take her to the Hotel Versailles?"
I suddenly recalled Austin's humiliating question in my ear and became irritated. I coldly replied, "I don't know."
Mia seemed astonished by my sudden coldness. She gave me a quizzical look but eventually stayed mute. She turned her head away.
Before heading home, I rolled up my clothes and stowed them in the bottom of my luggage. Then I put the packing bag in the nearby trash can. I opened the back door as usual, and the room was black.
Nobody was at home.
Perhaps due to my guilty conscience, I stepped lightly, like a criminal slipping up stairs.
"What are you doing here?"
"Ah! ! !"
I was shocked by the sound of a great leap, and when I turned around, I found Austin, who I didn't know when I met him, standing behind me.
Damn it. Why is it him again?
"Where were you tonight?" Austin inquired.
"I'm... I'm working part-time," I replied, instantly concealing the purchased items.
"Why are you so late?"
"I... " As I tried to come up with an excuse, I realized Austin knew what time I was scheduled to be home. The knowledge made me feel as if I was missing something, but I couldn't pinpoint it.
"There were a lot of people at the restaurant, so I worked overtime," I explained, attempting to come up with a plausible justification.
Austin gazed at me curiously, and my heart pounded.
Would he know I was lying? What if he searched my bag? Could I still attend the prom tomorrow?
I grabbed the straps of my backpack. Just as I was ready to give in and tell him the truth, Austin remarked, "I need to go out tonight. I will not be returning till tomorrow night."
I nodded, unsure why he was telling me this. Obviously, Austin was not going to explain it to me, so he simply walked away.
I sighed at his back, feeling as if I'd just escaped the clutches of death.
I took a quick shower and came back to my little attic. All night long, my mind churned with thoughts of prom, Zayn, Scott and Mia, and finally Austin's deadpan eyes as I drifted off to sleep.
In my dream, I went back to the first time I saw Austin.
In actuality, just knowing Austin, he was really gentle to me, but I had no idea when; he never smiled at me. It may have been when I discovered I didn't have a wolf, or it could have been later, once I began puberty.
By the time I fully woke up, it was already 2 pm. I got up, showered, waxed, went to Mia's home, begged her to help do my makeup and hair, then put on new clothes and set off together for the hotel. Yes, I didn't have any proper makeup and couldn't do it alone, so I had to ask Mia for help.
We rapidly packed and got to the hotel by eight. The Versailles has long been known for its magnificent Baroque style and is one of the best hotels in our area. I'd never been inside the Versailles before, but Emma's sixteenth birthday party was held there, and I wasn't allowed to be in public.
In the center of the entryway, there is a crystal chandelier with layers of crystals and exquisite flowers set in brass and diamonds. Every wall is adorned with stunning murals, and some even feature marble sculptures that give the appearance, from a distance, that the persons and scenes in the paintings have materialized. People come and depart in beautiful attire. By the time I got to the hotel, I was still clutching the suit jacket Mia had lent me.
"Come on, Penelope. Remove your coat; otherwise, you're wasting your money on this clothing!" Mia, noticeably excited, pointed to the crowd in front of her and yelled, "My god, Penelope! Look! Harper is here!"
Her exclamation caught the crowd's attention, so I quickly covered her mouth with my palm and said, "Keep it down!"
Mia grabbed my hand, and I looked down to see a blond woman about my height, brighter than the stars, standing in the midst of the crowd in a stunning golden gown.
Harper Willis, a member of the Night Shade Pack, was rumored to be Zayn's Luna. Harper and I could not be more different. If I was the most transparent non-player character in school, Harper was the natural heroine. She was adaptable, active, and joyful, and she not only excelled academically but also had a gorgeous and powerful gray wolf.
I looked at Harper, then down at my clearly ill-fitting coat, which I silently removed with some struggle.
Well done, Penelope. I encouraged myself.
The prom hadn't officially begun yet, and I didn't want to follow Mia around, so I went to a quiet spot by myself. After all, I didn't want to meet Emma at a place like this.
"Hey, do you have a partner tonight?"
I turned around to find my classmate Henry standing behind me. "My girlfriend is not feeling well, so she will not be able to come today. I am wondering if I could ask you to be my partner. I mean...you are incredibly lovely."
Oh my... It was the first time in my life that a man had invited me. As an adult, all I could do was be foolish and mute.
"Oh, my name is Henry Carter." Henry assumed I didn't want to, he explained. "I am in Class Three. What class are you in?"
God! He did not recognize me!
For a moment, this realization made me nervous, and I was at a loss for words. Just as I was struggling to say no to him, there was a commotion in the throng.
"Zayn King Is Here!" Somebody yelled.
I swung around in time to see a man at the entrance, his features as faultless as those of ancient Greek sculptures. He was tall and straight, dressed in a black suit, and although not appearing to smile, the girls in the room yelled at him. Simultaneously, a rich, woodsy aroma evocative of Terre d'Hermès surrounded me. The odor was so intense that I nearly fell on Henry, and my body overheated like a broken phone in an instant.
After looking through the crowd, the man at the entrance appeared to sense something and eventually locked me in.
We looked at each other and muttered a word at the same time.
Mate.