“I hate these things!” I complained as I met Shelly at the door. I wore my low V neck corset dress t hat flowed down freely to my knees the color purple and polyester. I wore dark purple velvet medium heals. The only mask I had was white, black and purple feathered and it hid my face perfectly. I had changed my glasses to my contacts so that the mask would fit on my face. She wore almost the same exact her color was teal. She linked her arm with mine and lead me up the steps.

“It’s alright. The room is so crowded with people no one will notice you even in it. Besides, almost all of them are married, engaged or taken so you don’t have to worry about anyone hitting on you. Let’s go tell mother your hear then we can hit the bar.” I laughed as we found her mother. Like always she sneered at me. She had expressed how she hated that I was more mature then her own daughter in more ways then one. However, I always stayed polite to her. I curtsied and smiled at her.

“Good evening, Mrs. McCollens.” She nodded once.

“OK we are done here, come on!” Before her mother got a chance to say how much of a “Corner job” I looked like: Shelly dragged me to the bar where there was lines of wine, beers, sherry's and margarita’s.

“Awe no whiskey this time?” I asked. Shelly looking over the bottle and shook her head.

“Well, damn!” She exclaimed. That was always our favorite. “Probably because that bitch doesn’t like it. All these damn fruity drinks.” She seemed to pout when I chuckled.

“Well, at least we know we are real women.” She laughed along with me as we both took a long ice tea. “It’s a shame Jason has to change his taste because of her.”

“Your telling me. We were out to eat the other day and he ordered a salad and light ranch.” I gave her a blank look. “Exactly! When ever does Jason order light of anything. I questioned him and he said Olyvia told him he was getting a gut and she won’t marry anyone that has one.”

“Are you serious?” I asked as we made our way to the cracker table. We both took a small bowl of fruit and stood by the glass doors leading to the garden maze with the scent of jasmine hitting the dance room. “What was he eating with it?”

“Baked chicken, mash potato with no dressing or butter, and a small bowl of steamed vegetables.” I shook my head sipping my drink. “I’m telling you she’s going to kill him before the honey moon.”

“Well a little healthy food isn’t bad.” I said. “But doing it because someone is basically saying she won’t marry a fatty isn’t healthy.”

“No it isn’t.” We turned to Mike and Richard two of Jason’s best friends. We both smiled, nodded our heads once as they bowed slightly. “So what are we planning?” Richard asked knowing that it was Shelly and me. We both chuckled.

“Have you told him…..” Shelly started. They both shook their heads then Mike said;

“We have.” With a sigh. “However he doesn’t believe us. Even when everything made perfect sense.”

“Like her not being with him when we said she slept with Henry.”

“Look at them now.” Mike said moving slightly so that Shelly and I could look beyond them to see Black dressed Olyvia, her long red hair sprayed and half in a bun, strands of hair in her green eyes. Her gloved hand on Henry’s shoulder as they were dancing rather close. She had blushed and his hand moved lower. I scanned the room but didn’t see anything of Jason.

“That’s disgusting!” Shelly exclaimed. “Did I tell you she asked me to be in her wedding?” I laughed and held by mouth closed to not spit the tea all over the men. They chuckled. “Exactly!”

“What did you do?” Mike asked.

“Refused of course. But mother got mad at me and told me I should support my brother the way a sister should.” She stuck her tongue out and waved her hand in a dismissal way. “I’d rather burn in…..”

“How about we take a moment and dance?” Mike said interrupting Shelly. She smiled, setting her drink down on the ledge.

“Sure! What’s the point in going to a ball if you don’t dance.” Mike chuckled at her as he lead her to the dance floor.

“Shall we?” Richard asked holding his arm for mine. I nodded, setting my bowl and drink next to Shelly’s as Richard guided me to the dance floor. He loosely set his hand on my waist, his other in my hand just as loose as two friends was to dance. “Have you told him?” He asked.

“About?”

“Your own feelings.” I sighed.

“Don’t tell me you think it will change anything just as Shelly thinks. Besides, if I did tell him then he rejects me I don’t think I would ever be able to forgive myself. That’s a let down I will live without.”

“Then what are you planning on doing?” He asked.

“Well, I have no idea.” I said giggling. “But I do know I want my own bakery. I am almost there. I have the money mom and dad left me I was going to use to start. The job at the mansion has been paying for my classes so it won’t be long before I have my degrees and I can do that.”

“I meant with your personal life?” I looked up at his dark gray eyes. His blond hair had looped into the masked he was wearing. I chuckled stopped dancing a moment and fixed the curl that had escaped.

“Move on I guess.” I said.

“Then give me a chance.” I then looked at his eyes closely. He was holding me as he had always done. Loose, friendly, without passion as I had seen plenty of people dance that were actually together dance. I felt the blood rush to my cheeks and looked away thinking about what he proposed.

“Let’s continue being friends… but spend more time together hows that?” I asked looking up at him, smiling. He smiled too.

“The blush was well worth asking.” He said chuckling as he continued with dancing. He was about to say something when he was tapped on the shoulder. He turned as the Zorro masked, black slicked back haired man stood behind him. The black pants hiding the black shined shoes. The white button up shirt the first of layers of clothing. A dark velvet vest was second covered by a black jacket and black tie. My heart skipped a few beats as his blue eyes looked from me to his friend.

“May I take this lovely lady for a dance, old friend?”

“Sure Jason.” Richard said with a hidden smirk on his face. He moved a side as Jason’s lean tanned hand took the place of his on my waist. I sucked in air as his other grabbed my hand. Richard moved out of sight as Jason picked up the dancing holding me inched away from him. “So darling, what’s your name?” He couldn’t tell it was me! No way! He had to know but then he had never given me the look of pure lust before. My mind racing, my heart pounding, my body reacting to his smooth voice. I chose to smile sweetly.

“Do names really matter?” I asked looking up at his blue eyes as he smiled back.

“Then what should I call you?” His voice dropped as he pulled me closer to him. His movements indicated that they had changed from a slow dance for strangers to an almost stopping arm holding sway of bodies. My first instinct was to look around for Shelly but knew I was on my own with this one.

“Anything you want.” I said dropping my voice knowing he had never heard me talk that way. Smiling wider I presented the issue of his name. “What shall I call you, then?”

“Jason McCollen. The Prince.” I playfully patted his shoulder as his smile widened.

“Ah the groom.” I gave him the turn of the head, giving him my cheek. “Shouldn’t you be engaged in conversation with your beloved instead of standing here, holding me as if I was going to share your royal sheets tonight?” He chuckled at my teasing, pulled me even closer as he whispered in the up turned ear.

“That wouldn’t be a problem to arrange.” I stopped the gasp as he pulled his head from me. I blankly looked up at him as the music stopped and Mrs McCollen was asking for everyone's attention. He still held unto me before turning to his mother letting me go all together. She started to speak as I made my way through the crowd.

“Tonight we celebrate my son’s and this countries future. Darling, come bring your beautiful bride.” As I made it to where Shelly was with Richard and Mike I took a big swing from my drink.

“What….”

“Get ready for act two.” I said to them. “Shelly you take the boys and stand in the middle of the dance floor. Clap when instructed. Richard, look over at me when you notice that Jason’s eyes are either on you or me. Excuse yourself from the group and come over to me. We will pretend to exchange words and you guide me out to my car.”

“Candice?” Shelly started.

“Lets do it!” Richard said pushing Shelly in the direction I had stated. I put my glass down, stood against the wall seductively as the queen continued. I watched them stand, leaving a clear view for Richard. As soon as everyone stopped clapping Jason’s eyes had easily found me. I pretended to fix my gown, move a strand of hair out of my face then locked eyes with Richard. I smiled sweetly, giving a small girlish wave to him. He turned, said something to Shelly then with purpose walked over to me. “Ah, Madam. I see you are left, all alone. Was the Prince not good company?” I gave him the same sweet smile I had Jason ignoring what was going on in the front of the room. Felt the burn of Jason’s eyes on me.

“Royalty. I assume you understand them. Take Take take.” He chuckled offering me his hand.

“Then let me give give give.” I chuckled really enjoying the acting. I linked my arm passionately with his as he escorted me out the ball room. We nodded to a few people. Neither said anything as we made it to my car then we both started busting out laughing. “That was amusing but what’s the point in that?”

“Jason! I want him to get jealous that his best friend took the women he was offering his royal sheets to tonight out of the room.”

"Holy shit, he didn’t?” I nodded. I took my cell phone and started a text to Shelly knowing she would hide her phone in her bust.

“He sure did. They give you a room tonight?” He nodded. “You don’t mind missing this part of the ball do ya.” He laughed.

“Hell no.”

“I am going home. That was way too much excitement for me.” He nodded.

“And I hide up in my room with the door closed and locked and not answer anyone that comes knocking.” I smiled nodding my head. “Sounds fun. Good night Candice.”

“Night Richard.” I got in my car and drove off.