His Possession or His Princess

Nine | Mate?

Cal

I drive off towards the location of the dance and I hear Britt say, “Hugh and Eric are going to meet us at the front of the building, so we all don’t get lost in the sea of masks.”

I smile, “The two of you enjoy your ‘lovers’ reunion and I’ll see you guys on the dance floor.”

Both of the girls stay quiet because they are unsure of what to say to me. I know that they don’t want me to feel like I’m all alone and I don’t feel that way. At least, I’m trying to convince myself that I don’t.

We pull up in the parking lot and get out and we all check our outfits, and the girls are practically bouncing with excitement over seeing the guys.

I wave bye to them and walk inside. I get in the foyer and I wince a little due to how loud the music is. I’ve always had heightened hearing, so it makes me wish that I had brought some earplugs tonight.

I walk into the ballroom and can’t help but stop and stare in awe. It is gorgeous. I feel like I’m a princess inside a castle and looking around seeing everyone dressed up and with their masks on make me feel giddy with excitement.

Tonight, I can be someone else and I will not be perceived as Alexander’s ex or the quiet girl in the huge hoodie.

Tonight, I can truly be myself. And that is the most exhilarating feeling.

I walk towards the drink area to grab myself some punch before it gets spiked. Because I’m positive at some point it will get spiked. As I pour myself a drink, I hear someone say my name, “Cal?”

I turn around with a smile, but the second I recognize Alexander and Haley my blood runs cold. Haley laugh, “Wow, you know, I almost didn’t recognize you with that dress. I mean it is a gorgeous dress, but even it can’t disguise a fat cow like yourself.”

Alex doesn’t say anything he just watches as Haley verbally attacks me. I look at him mentally pleading with him to call her off, but I don’t see any hint of emotion other than lust in his eyes as he looks me up and down.

I gasp in shock as Haley tosses a drink on me and says with a shrug, “You should just go home.”

I push past both of them and make my way to the restroom. I try my best to clean myself up so I’m not sticky and I don’t want to have a giant red stain on my dress, but no matter how hard I try it is not coming out. I huff feeling discouraged and wonder if I should just go home.

I could always stop by a diner or something and have a snack, so my parents won’t know how early I left. I’m so distracted with my own thoughts I must not have been watching my footing very well because I begin to fall forward. I try to move in a way to catch my footing so it would just be a stumble, but I could tell I was about to collide with the floor.

Suddenly someone grabs my arm, and it begins to tingle as I get pulled up. The person who pulled me up looks me up and down and asks in a beautiful husky voice, “Are you okay?”

I look up and for a moment I get lost in his ocean blue eyes. One-word rings in my head: mate.

“Why did I just think mate? What does that even mean?” I think to myself.

The boy smiles at me and when he smiles it shows one deep dimple on his left cheek. I can’t help, but stutter, “Y-yeah I’m fine. Th-thanks for catching me.”

If it’s possible he seems to smile brighter, “It’s my pleasure. Would you care to dance?”

Suddenly the stain on my dress is forgotten and I nod eagerly and smile as he pulls me out to the dance floor. We dance to a couple of fast songs and I have never been much of a dancer, but something about him made me not care about how ridiculous I may look. I just want to be near him even if it means doing something that I’m not very good at.

The music is blaring so we’re unable to talk. He holds one finger up to me and motions for me to stay where I am. I smile softly and nod in understanding and I watch as he walks away.

A slow song fills the room, and couples begin to pair off. Off in the distance I can see Britt’s flaming red hair as she dances with Hugh and I see Olive near her dancing with Eric.

I smile at the sight they seem so in love. For a moment I wonder if they are… that would be really quick, but sometimes when you know you know.

I feel a tug on my arm and the tingles rush through my body making me shiver. I turn around towards this blue-eyed boy and I smile at him. He holds his hand out and when I take it, he pulls me so close that my head is on his chest. Even with the music as loud as it is, I am able to hear the steady thump of his heart.

It’s such a beautiful sound. So much better than the music playing. His lips graze against my ear and I could swear that he is smirking as he says, “You never told me your name.”

A chill runs down my spine at the sound of his voice. I glance up at him and he looks down at me waiting on my answer, but then… his eyes seem to get darker and he begins to bend down to kiss me.

A part of me wants that more than anything else in this world.

But suddenly I realize I don’t even know this guy’s name. I don’t know his intentions. I don’t want him to think I’m some girl that’s willing to do anything with a guy that I just met.

Alexander’s words repeat in my head making my eyes tear up: I never really loved you, Cal. I only said it because you wanted me to so it would make you happy or because I wanted to get in your pants.

It makes me wonder if I’m really so easy that I would allow any guy to touch me or kiss me?

I feel frozen, lost in time as I feel like my heart is shattering form those words all over again.

I'm thrusted into the present moment whenever I feel this stranger's lips lightly graze mine. I stumble backwards out of his arms needing to get away from him. I touch my lips softly as I look at him and his eyes show hurt and his eyebrows furrow in confusion as a frown plays across his lips. This makes me want to go back in his arms and close the difference between us and apologize for stepping away.

I don’t though. Instead, I say, “I’m sorry.”

With that I turn around and rush out of the building. I need to get away from here, get away from him! I can't put myself in this type of position again. I refuse to let myself be shattered all over again.