Invisible String

Labyrinth

As elegantly as you could, you flopped into your seat with a small thud. Not even having to move your arms as the door closed and seat belt buckled you in. There was an awkward silence before Bumblebee started to back out of the gravel driveway.

Dorothy started the conversation, knowing if she didn't you would be content to stare into the dense forest that passed by as Bumblebee drove towards the venue.

"You look beautiful, dear." You looked up, catching her eye in the rearview mirror. It inched slightly on its own and you wondered if Bee could see you through it. A heat growing on your face at the idea of being perceived.

"Thank you, you do too Dorothy. You look nice as well Alex." They both smiled and thanked you.

Dorothy's dress was a deep purple with silver accents. It had gathering at the top near her chest that gave it a corseted look without the corset and chains connected to the straps on her arms that flowed and swayed when she moved, making little clinking noises. Her hair was up and her dreads looked new, with parts of her hair sewn into crisscrossing patterns that combined into all the stands being braided together and clipped behind her. If you were a painting, she was a sculpture made by the most talented artist.

It was a good thing that Alex wasn't actually driving because you didn't think he had taken his eyes off his wife once. He was in a black suit with his hair pushed back, most likely gelled. Jealousy hit the pit of your stomach as you watched them give and take their affection for each other so easily. You couldn't even stop yourself from melting at Megatron's touch let alone if he ever tried to pepper kisses on your hands as Alex did to Dorothy's. You looked away to attempt to give them some privacy letting your eyes downcast to the green blur of grass outside your window once more.

Soon enough, you all had arrived at the mansion. In the low light of the approaching evening, it looked ethereal. There were large marble pillars in the front that had fresh wisteria crawling up them that the shop you lived over had donated for the event. Marjorie had been showing you how to grow it in the fall and keep it alive for the winter, but your house wasn't warm enough and she didn't want to horde it around since she would have no use for it, so the idea of giving it to you as a donation for the event was born. Somehow the bright purple hadn't faded even though it had been in the cold all day.

Alex had already gotten out by the time you had unbuckled yourself hurrying himself to help Dorothy, and you took the opportunity to whisper to Bumblebee as the door closed behind her.

"I'll let you know when I'm ready to go." You sounded apprehensive, and you were. It took a great strength to even move your hand to open the door. It didn't budge at first.

"At least try to have a good time?" His voice came from the center console where the radio was. You sighed.

"I will." You wouldn't.

You had quickly followed Dorothy and Alex into the building, fiddling with your fingers as an usher showed you three to your seats. Orchestral music swooshed in from the speakers that sat on the sides, placed strategically on the floor and if it had been your first time in that room you would have spent it with you head up, looking at the glittering chandeliers and dusted diamonds that rained from the ceiling. The first speech of the night went by in a blur leading to dinner being served pretty soon after everyone had been seated.

There were multiple options, and you had chosen them about a week in advance. There was an alfredo dish that consisted of multiple different sides to choose from (chicken, broccoli, shrimp), a vegetarian mushroom risotto, a vegan stuffed and smoked eggplant and for meat lovers there was a prime rib. All came with the choice of different sides. But if you were honest, you didn't find anything appetizing.