Màu nền Màu tối Mặc định Xám nhạt Xanh nhạt Xanh đậm Vàng nhạt Màu sepia Vàng đậm Vàng ố

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"Welcome to the Halloween Ball sir," one of the guards at the main gate said as Andrew entered the building. They were about to ask him for his invitation but when they saw his aunt, Ms. Matilda Stevens coming behind him and did not give a single question. Well, that was a special attention he received thanks to her, although he could not do anything but despise her for the time being for what she almost made him do to his cousin. She could have died.

"C'mon Andrew dear," she said, "we have a lot of work to do. The Russell boy informed me a few minutes ago that he has made all the arrangements."

"Wait, what arrangements?" He asked as he stopped in his tracks to stare at her open-mouthed. "Didn't you promise me that there would be no more violence now? And especially for tonight?"

She seemed to be shocked for a minute but soon recovered, hiding it with a smile. "Why, sure dear, I did. C'mon, now let's go in before it's too late."

And so, together the two of them went inside to an auditorium full of teenage girls and boys, dancing to their fullest. He had won a Prince Hans attire today. He did not want to but his aunt made him do it. She said it looked good with her attire. She had dressed up as Princess Anna. Of course, with althe wig she had provided foe him that completely hid his blonde hair, and the moustache and beard that came along, he could barely recognize himself in the mirror. Let's just hope that Ana can see through it, he wished as he made his way inside, searching for her. He had something really important to discuss with her and although this wasn't the ideal place, he knew they could find a silent spot to do so. It was, after all, important for her to know this.

"Are you searching for someone, boy?" His aunt asked him and he unconsciously replied with a "uh-huh".

"Who is it?" She asked again and his reply was the same "uh-huh". He was so busy searching for her and cursing himself for not having contacted her earlier to know what costume she was going to wear that he did not even bother to pay attention to his aunt's constant voice.

"Would you like to poop in this food?" She asked this time and he again replied with an "uh-huh", hearing which the lady burst out laughing. That brought his attention back to her.

"What?" He asked her as he looked at her finally.

"Were you even listening to what I was saying?" She asked. "I just asked you whether you wanted to poop in the food and you said yes." She gave another laugh and Andrew looked in the opposite direction, embarrassed. And that's when his eyes saw a girl in a beautiful blue gown enter the hall. She had beautiful blonde hair tied in a braid and looked simply magnificent. Unfortunately for him, he could not know see who it was since she was wearing a mask. What did she dress up as anyway? He wondered.

"So I was saying, we have to get back by midnight," his aunt said and he turned back to look at her. That is when he noticed her costume and looked back at the one of the girl and instantly knew who she was. Queen Elsa of Arendelle.

"Hey aunt Matilda, can I go and spend some time with my friends?" He asked her for her permission.

"Are you not comfortable with standing here with me?" She asked back, a little rudely. Maybe, a little too rudely.

"No, it's just that it's Halloween and well, I was hoping that I could spend it with some friends," he replied. She seemed to consider him for a moment, or maybe she was just checking if he was lying and had some ulterior motive. Well, that was the thing about her: she always thought that everyone had some ulterior motive behind every move of theirs even when they do not. How to tell her that everyone is not like her?

She soon let him off with an "okay" and he left to join Michael on the dj. He knew it was him because he would be the only guy to dress up as Two Face on such a night.

"Hey bro!" He exclaimed as he met up with him and they did a punch-shake.

"Hey, you are pretty late," he said, still dancing. "It's almost ten. Did you get your work done?"

"Can you come away from the dj once?" Andrew asked as he pulled him and got off the stage and to a bit more silent stage.

"What's up, dude?"

"Have you seen Ana? I don't seem to be able to find her anywhere. And I don't even know what she is dressing up as," he replied.

"No man, sorry," said Michael as he began making his way back to the dance floor.

"Hey, do you know what that girl is?" Andrew asked before he could take off, as he pointed at Queen Elsa who was now drinking coffee from a cup.

"Naah, never seen her before man. Or well, maybe I had but I don't know, she is wearing a mask. Anyway, happy finding Ana," he said as he left off.

Standing alone, Andrew glanced once more toward the crowd to see if he could see Ana anywhere. He really wanted to talk to her about this. He wanted to tell her this big secret of her life that had been probably hidden from her since the last as many as years as her age was. But she was nowhere to be seen. Eh, if she didn't bother coming here at all by now, then why should he? Thinking this, he left the table he was standing next to and made his way to the girl he had been eyeing since some time.

"Hello your majesty," he said as he went and stood next to her.

"Hey," the girl turned back and smiled toward him.

"Are you here waiting for someone?"

"Not really. I was searching for someone, but it looks like that person hasn't arrived yet," she replied with a sigh.

"Eh well, it's more than ten now. Whoever had to come would have come by now. And if your friend isn't here yet, then maybe he didn't plan on coming at all," Andrew said.

"Yeah, perhaps you're right," the girl said with another sigh.

"Well, I was searching for someone too. But apparently, that person stood me up today. What say, want to give them something to be jealous of?" He asked with a smirk.

"I don't think I know what you are suggesting," she replied as a smile began toying on her lips and Andrew couldn't help but notice how that reminded him of Ana. Where is she anyway? Did she really stand him up?

"I was referring to dancing. Would you like to come with me?" He asked her with a smile on his face.

"Well, I was definitely here because I was waiting for someone but now that I think that he stood me up, well then, I don't think that should be too much trouble," she replied with a grin as the two of them made their way to the dance floor, right when the dj began playing a slow song.

________

After a lot of dancing and an hour later, Andrew found out thar the girl he was dancing with was a pretty good dancer. She didn't ask him much questions about who he was, who was he searching for or why did he choose her. All she did aside the dancing was that she kept glancing sideways occassionaly, as if waiting for someone to show up and do something. Was this boy that she was waiting for, her boyfriend then? Andrew wondered to himself dejectedly. He wasn't that upset about it because he didn't really like her as of yet but it seemed that a really pretty face would be hidden behind this mask.

He looked down at the floor, wondering how to ask her to unveil the face behind the mask when he noticed her sandals. Was that glass? He wondered, astonished and he instantly asked her the same.

"Are they made of glass?" He asked with wonder as he pointed toward her legs.

"Yeah, apparently it's some kind of glass that can't be easily tampered with," she replied.

"Wow, that's so cool. Where did you get them from?" Andrew asked instantly thinking that this was something that he could gift Evelyn. The girl wasn't really a fan of dresses as such but she simply adored shoes and sandals and anything that belonged in the category of footwears.

"I don't really know, a friend gave them to me," she answered back. They stayed silent for some time and he began wondering how was he going to ask her the same.

"If you don't mind me asking, I was hoping to know why are you wearing a mask," he questioned her finally when the dj took a small break and they went and sat down at a table.

"Oh, it's nothing. I have two sisters here who would kill me if they found out that I was here. I was hoping this wouldn't give me away," she replied shyly.

"Just out of curiosity, if you didn't want to be here, then why are you?"

"I never said that I didn't want to be here, Prince Hans. All I said was that I wasn't supposed to. And anyway, didn't I tell you that I was searching here for someone? I came because of that."

"Ahh, I see," he replied even though he didn't. This girl was a lot confusing. Maybe he shouldn't put that much effort into her. But he couldn't neglect this nagging feeling in the back of his mind that desperately wanted to know her and see the face hidden behind this mask.

"Okay, I think we have had enough of this Prince Hans and Queen Elsa crap. I'm curious to know the face behind that mask. Would you like to show it to me?" He asked excitedly.

"Shall I not know who is it I'm talking to then, first?" She asked, her lips toying with another smile.

"Wait, you don't know who I am yet?" Andrew asked as he looked at her uncertainly.

When she shook her head, he let out a "man! This stuff is good. No one recognizes me here." But all she did was look at him incredulously as if asking him what the hell was he talking about.

"Never mind, I'm Andrew," he said with a smile.

"Andrew?" She asked back. Did she not know who he was, then? That's pretty weird since all this while he believed that everyone in the school knew his name.

"Yeah, I'm Andrew Miles," he repeated with another smile, right when a stout man with whitening moustache and a balding head came behind this girl and stopped her from saying anything furthur.

"Where were you, miss? I've been searching all over for you," the man said as he looked at her.

"I'm sorry, but do I know you?" She asked back, as she looked at him with a questioning look in her eyes.

"No ma'am, but Master Adam sent me. I'm his driver. He wanted to let you know that it's almost midnight and that you must return as quickly as possible."

"Oh yes, he told me about you," she said as she took a look at the clock and panic instantly began registering on her face.

"What is it?" Andrew asked.

"I'm sorry, Andrew. I had a really great time tonight. I haven't danced this way in so long. But I also really need to leave now. I'm sorry," she said as she stood up and began leaving for the exit. He stood up too and tried following her.

"Wait, will you meet me in school tomorrow?" He asked as he saw her leave.

"Yeah, I will," she replied as she hurried away and he followed her in order to hear her answer before she left off.

"You'll know it when we meet. Bye," she said as she hurried off and quickly left and left Andrew standing there dejectedly.

It was only when he was leaving for his place fifteen minutes later, with his aunt by his side, did he see a random sandal lying in the corner of the staircase. It was the glass one that she had worn, whoever she was. Hoping to meet her in school the next school day and returning it to her, he took it and slipped it inside his coat and left.

____________

Ahahhaah, I know all of you know who she is. But well, our Prince Charming can't find out yet, can he? Hehe. Now I wonder what is it that Matilda is doing at the Ball, do you?

Do let me your views on this one through your comments and vote if you liked it. Thanks.

Next on Blended Fates: Ariana finds her way through the Ball and then something comes to her notice that sets her whole world on fire. Next chapter by Saturday. Happy Reading. :)