FALLING AROUND YOU ➵ DANIEL SEAVEY ➵ SEQUEL

20 ➵ Masked

"Do you?" I paused, "Regret it, I mean."

There was another hesitation.

"I don't know," he said. "I just know I'm happy you're still here."

In that moment, we both just stood there. Two hurt teenagers behind masks, physical masks this time. We were both moving on from different heartbreaks on different people. Although the love or almost love was unrequited, we still shared a tight bond. Underneath the masks, we were the same.

In the moment, that was enough.

–

The ballroom was radiant. Flashing lights dance all along the room as people were storming towards the dance floor. Right when we got to the venue, we were greeted with a long red carpet to head to the entrance. Photographers and different magazine companies were bombarding people for one simple interview before heading inside.

I didn't realize how big this event would be.

A few interviewers hollered at me and Charlie, but as we had our masks on, they didn't know our true identity. They were just hopping we would be someone of statue. Most people that arrived with us also had their masks on. It was hard to tell who was who, so I made sure to stand close to Charlie, being he was the only person I knew in a sea of hidden faces. 

"If you lose me inside, there's a mask reveal at the end just in case," he warned as I nodded. 

Inside, Charlie immediately spotted a friend as I followed. They kept subtle conversation as I was standing to Charlie's side nodding and laughing when needed. I quickly spotted a snacks table, telling the boy in the red mask I would get some punch, and I was off. The music was loud, but it was also intoxicating. It was the type of rhythm that made anyone want to dance.

Dozens of faces appeared on the dance floor, but none that I recognized with their secret identities. I shrugged my shoulders feeling a bit out of place before grabbing a small brownie bit from the snack shelf. I felt like I was watching a movie about my life, but not actually living it. I was standing to the side while others had their fun. It wasn't their fault, but rather mine. I felt too awkward to just jump into the set of strangers.

I was able to grab another brownie when my hand touched another. I chuckled softly before looking towards the almost stranger. Her dress was a deep purple with laced sleeves and a mermaid style fit. Her mask covered the top half of her face as her hair was pulled into a curled half up half down with feathered accessories.

"I'm sorry," I spoke over the harsh music in the background.

I could tell she looked at me for a moment, and when my eyes finally adjusted to the darkness, she almost looked familiar. "Sienna?" the stranger called out.

I smiled once more. "I'm sorry. Do I know you?"

The stranger chuckled at how lost I was. Slowly, she took off her mask revealing her true identity. "Valerie?" I grinned widely before pulling her into a tight hug.

"I almost thought I would never see you again," I giggled.

It was true. Valerie was an incredible wise and sweet girl, but I did think we would never cross paths again, being as her older sister is with an old lover of mine. That has nothing to do with her at all, but when I look at her, I see Marie. Seeing Valerie is a constant reminder that Daniel picked her sister and not me. Still, she was here now, so I wasn't going to ignore her presence.

"What are you doing here?" I asked.

"I went with a few friends," she said, "Come on! They're on the dance floor!"