Stolen Youth

Chapter 6

*Anna POV*

I open the package and lift the lid off the box, pull back the tissue paper and reveal a gorgeous navy blue dress. I lift it up and admire it against my body. I decide to have a bath in the ridiculous swimming pool sized tub in my ensuite bathroom. After a long soak, using every single soap and shampoo that was in there, I wrap the towel around myself and head back into the bedroom.

I must've been in there a long time because when I come out it's getting dark. I dry and style my hair in lose curls, half kept up with bobby pins. I put on some make up that was left in the bathroom for me. I slip on the dress and it fits perfectly. How? I walk over to a full length mirror in the corner of the room and stare at myself. For the first time in my life, I feel pretty.

I grab the shoes that came with the dress, put them on and head to Mary's room to make sure she's ready. After knocking on her door I walk in and see her just putting on her shoes, wearing a cute new dress as well. I grab a brush from her bathroom and start fixing her hair. I brush it and take the ribbon that came with her dress and tie it in her hair.

"You look so pretty, little robin." I fix her bow on the back of her dress and we are ready to go.

"Thank you. You look like a princess." We give each other a smile. As we emerge from her room we can hear the sound of music coming from outside. We glance at each other, smile, then hurriedly scurry down the hallway to the stairs.

As we get down to the large garden doors, we pause as two men in tuxes,I assume servants, open the doors for us. We are awestruck by the sight before us. Twinkling string lights strung over the courtyard, tall white flower arrangements everywhere, food covering every table and the quartet playing classical music adds an air of sophistication to the ambiance.

We walk into the courtyard hand in hand and are mesmerized by the sights and sounds. We stop at the edge of the dance floor, look around and try to decide what to do.

"You look beautiful." I hear a whisper in my ear and I jump slightly startled. Turning around, I see Nathan.

"Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself." He was wearing a navy blue suit with a white dress shirt and a black tie. It also seemed like we were matching which made me slightly uncomfortable.

"Mary, I'm pretty sure you're the prettiest one here." He says making Mary giggle. She then gets distracted by some of the other girls who are closer to her age and runs off.

"You look beautiful tonight." I turn to look at him and see his beautiful smiling face staring back at me.

"Thank you. You look quite handsome yourself." I give a smirk back and look back to the dance floor. A new song starts playing that is slower and I see a few of the girls from the orphanage being escorted to the dance floor by some of the boys from the orphanage.

"Would you like to dance?" I snap my head to look at him surprised at the question.

"Umm... I don't know." I respond shyly.

"I'm not going to take no for an answer. I promise I won't bite." He says holding his hand out for me to take.

"Okay but I'm gonna warn you I'm a horrible dancer." I slide my hand in his and somehow feel my worries fade.

He leads me to the dance floor and I place my hand on his shoulder as he slides his hand around to the small of my back. Shivers go up my spine but they aren't bad, more like shivers of anticipation. We slow dance around the floor in a very poor attempt at a waltz on my part. He is handsome and his smell is intoxicating. Part of me wants to stay like this forever. For some reason I feel safe in his embrace. As the song goes on he slowly starts pulling me closer into his body and I don't stop him. The music and dancing seem to sweep me into a trance that as quickly as it took hold abruptly ended as the music stopped.

I glance around the dance floor as I'm just remembering other people are around. I look back at Nathan as I drop my hands and step back from him. He quickly grabs my hand.

"Follow me." He starts leading me off the dance floor towards the flower garden. We get to a water fountain and he stops and sits down on a bench. I sit down next to him and glance at him inquisitively.

"Anna...do you believe in love at first sight?" I am taken aback by his question.

"Umm...I'm not sure. I think maybe people can have an instant attraction but I think love takes work." I answer hoping it doesn't upset him. "How 'bout you?"

"I didn't....until I saw you." He blushes at his answer. I giggle out of nervousness. And then silence between us. Awkward, seemingly never ending, silence.

"I'm sorry I didn't mean to put you on the spot." He stares at the ground fidgeting with his feet.

"No it's fine. I just don't know why you would think of me like that? ... I mean look at me." I gesture to myself. I mean I'm overweight and average looking. There was way better looking people at this party alone.

"Oh I'm looking at you. I think you're beautiful." I blush at his comment and stand up from the bench putting some distance between us because I just feel uncomfortable that someone would like me or think I'm pretty.

"I'm sorry I should probably get back to Mary. I mean it is a party and we aren't even at it." I start walking back towards the party.

"Wait...I forgot. I have something for you." I turn to see him standing up and grabbing something from his pocket.

He hands me a small jewellery box. I open it and inside is a beautiful pendant shaped like a heart in white gold with diamonds around the edges. I shut the box and hand it back to him.

"I can't take this."

"Why not?" He looks at me inquisitively but also somewhat sad.

"I'm sorry but it's too beautiful and this isn't a gift you give to someone you just met." I answer back while still holding the box out for him to take.

"Anna, look at where I live. I can afford it. And I just thought someone like you deserves something beautiful. I'm not asking anything in return other than you giving me a chance to get to know you better." He takes the box from me and opens it. He lifts out the necklace. "Now will you let me put it on you?"

I nod and turn around so he can put it around my neck. It hangs on my chest and I trace the heart with my finger before turning back around and giving him a smile.

"Thank you it's beautiful."

"You're welcome. Let's go back to the party now." He holds his hand out for me and I take it.

As we walk back I can't help but keep smiling at him. He is handsome and for some reason is interested in me. When he smiles my knees get weak and I just want to fall into his arms. There's a weird pull between us.

"Anna!!" Mary comes running up to me with a plate full of chocolate cake. "They had cake."

I laugh as she's shovelling cake into her mouth. I've never seen her so happy. I notice I'm still holding Nathan's hand and quickly drop it hoping Mary didn't notice. And by the looks of it she didn't. When I drop his hand he gives me a slight nod like he understands then heads over to where his sister is talking to a few of the other guests.

Mary and I wander around snacking on food as we go. Dancing for a few songs with everyone else. Mary starts yawning.

"Are you ready for bed?" She nods and kind of reaches her arms out to me. I pick her up and carry her upstairs. She's so light and lifting her has always been easy. We reach her room and I lay her down on the bed. She immediately snuggles into her pillow and is fast asleep.

Just then I hear steps outside the door. Then a folded up piece of paper gets shoved under the door. I walk over, pick it up and open it.

Meet me in the kitchen ASAP.

It must be from Nathan. I go back to my room and grab a pair of comfier shoes and a sweater before making my way to the kitchen. After a bit of searching I finally found it. There's no one here it's dark and empty. Show how that's weird to me but I guess they finished cooking hours ago.

I hear footsteps coming up behind me and turn around to see...

"Brick?"