We Crossed Paths Again

Chapter 2

In 1923, I was in New York City and I thought I would get married in the early autumn. I thought that Zachary would propose at the ball. I thought that he loved me, Wisteria Everett of Everett Academy.

But it wasn't so.

He danced with every girl at the ball and I was so angry that I left after the last dance and didn't return his one and only call. Then I packed my suitcase and traveled home to Northlock Manor. I haven't left ever since, even when my family moved back to England to fight over more manors because they thought the Hippie Revolution was weird and scary.

"More flower children? What do they expect when they worship the lunar cycle and allow their children to become flowers? It will end in another world war." My father was worried. "We have to return to England."

I waved good-bye to my family, leaving in a parade of Rolls-Royce limousines. Then I chucked darkly. "Northlock is now mine."

Half a century later, I ended up regretting everything. It was now 2023 and I finally had to return to New York state and meet Principal von Lichenstein. He was working for me so I had to act like it. But I used to be in love with him. How unprofessional it was for me to mix business and politics together. It was unacceptable. What was I hoping for? What was I even expecting? My heart knew it but my mind was in denial. I was too old for a romance. It was too late to fall in love again.

I sat at the back and thought about these things as we were leaving Northlock. The chauffeur closed the trunk and got into the Rolls-Royce limousine. It was better to get my expectations in order so that I don't make a fool of myself again. Zachary von Lichenstein wanted to meet me again. Or did he? I didn't know for sure.

In 1923, I wore a peony shade of pink in a glittery dress with roses on the spaghetti straps and the tight bustier bodice. My raven hair was held together with pins of pearls. I wore a silver locket around my neck because I thought it would be a good indicator of giving Zach my heart. I thought he would want to be my lover. But I was quite foolish at the time. I was a happy fool trying to fall in love.

It never works this way and I was in it for rejection.

I showed up with the other girls at the ballroom at the Plaza Hotel. The theme was pink and there were a few shades of red. It was chaotic and irritating for all of us to finally see the grand reveal of each other's dresses. We all knew we were vying for Zach but we had to act happy for each other's potential success.

To cut the sob story short, Zach didn't end up with anyone that evening or evenings to come. He simply enjoyed dancing with girls and that was shocking for me. I am usually accurate about people's character. But not when I am smitten.

Zachary was tall, dark, and handsome. He had a quality about him when he smiled with his eyes that made him so attractive when he was being horrible to people as usual. I liked watching horrible people when they were being bullied by Zach. They usually ended up looking humiliated and agreeing to whatever he wanted. That's how I knew he was the one for me.

While we were waiting to enter the ballroom, I asked a few girls who they were hoping to dance with and all they said was that they wanted to dance with someone handsome. Other girls rolled their eyes and said they wanted someone feisty. Hm. And then there were the girls that were looking for the wealthiest ones.

The orchestra started and there was music! The doors opened and we hustled each other into the ballroom. I looked around for Zach and that's when I realized that we were all looking for him. It slowly hit me that they were describing him and I was shocked. Should I dance with someone else first and wait for him? Or should I fight for him?

In the end, I danced with almost every eligible bachelor before it was my turn to dance with Zach. I didn't mean to be like this, but if I didn't dance at the ball, then what was I even supposed to be doing there?

We crossed paths and I was swept into his arms. We danced for one dance and then I decided to stop dancing. Zach, however, continued dancing with the other girls and I was starting to get angry watching them dance together.

It was 5 am when the ball ended and I was the first one out. I had seen enough. I didn't want to be Mrs. Von Lichenstein anymore. I wanted my freedom.

That was what happened in 1923. I was young and idealistic, thinking that love came easily whenever I wanted it to. But it is never so. It was ironic that I was on my way to see Zachary again. In the end, I was going to him. I never thought this would happen this way. I wasn't expecting this and neither was I hoping for this. But it was just business, nothing personal.

At least, this is what I thought.