The slow music was playing loud in the room, as the couples would get together and slow dance in perfect union, Mother and Father leading the way in the middle of the room, followed by Tyler, Channing and their respective boyfriends.
I, on the other hand, was making my way through the crowd, trying to avoid you-know-who because it would literally declare a diplomatic incident. I knew I was observed: Shelina and Crystal, also fully dressed and elegant, were never too far away.
Although, when I finally make it through the other side of the ballroom, I come face to face with Kristie, who was only ten meters away. Nodding my head calmly, I redirect my course toward Crystal, who is standing not too far and needed to know that Kristie was not a target, but since I hadn't had the time to talk to her just yet, she did not know I had good reasons for doing what I did.
As I am walking, somebody grabs my forearm and holds me back. When I turn around, I am blown away by an absolute babe in a grandiose dress:
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My heart skips a few beats.
Her shoulder-length blonde hair were slightly wavy, as she had opted for a sophisticated yet natural make-up routine that would only highlight her special eye colour. She seemed calm and healthy, although, from the look in her eyes, I could say she was in the exact same state as I am at the moment: in shock with our eyes colliding. Her hand is soft on my skin, as my mouth unconsciously slightly opens.
Before I can tell her to run far away from me, she just says in a whisper:
"Dance with me."
Without waiting for my response, she makes her way through the crowd, leading me by the hand, until she finds a spot where many people were around and where we would be protected from my parents' and bodyguards' constant staring.
Once we stop walking, she just shyly wraps her arms around my neck, as our body suddenly touch each other, and that my hands unconsciously slip to her hips. We would slow-dance in sync, so connected, as if time had stopped for hours. I haven't gotten to see her since my family released her, and it's been weeks now: she is even more beautiful than I remembered. My breath being taken away, I couldn't speak, and something tells me that neither could she: she just stare through the other's eye with fear and a troubling sense of belonging. A funny and warm feeling took over my thorax, but I know I couldn't just dance with her like that : not without any consequences.
I close my eyes when she comes closer and rely her chin on my shoulder, so that we could speak without anybody else hearing us. Her voice is clear yet fuzzy when she finally ends up saying:
"You look stunning Christen"
Once again, my breathing routine is completely torn apart by her words, and by her magnificent smell that would be unique to her. My head starts turning when I respond in a whisper, as if I wasn't allowing myself to feel and say what I am feeling and saying:
"And you are the most beautiful girl I have ever seen..." and, suddenly realising that it was too intense - this moment was frozen in time, but I knew reality would come back as a slap to remind me that I could not do this - I urgently add: "I am sorry. For everything. But I cannot do this, I-"
"Shh" she orders, and I can sense she is holding me tighter.
I close my eyes once again, as the sweet smell emanating from her hair was just driving me crazy.
After a few seconds, she whispers:
"Everybody is telling me that you've gone to the dark side but... I cannot help but still think that you are a brilliant person, and that you have your reasons..."
"Abby, I-"
"Thank you."
"T-Thank... me?" I ask, confused.
I can sense her smiling, as she responds:
"I know you're the one who saved my life: you're the only one who could've."
"No, I-"
"Shut up, please. It is hard enough as it is."
After she say this, she takes a few inches of space, as we now are face to face. She sees the tear rolling down my cheeks, and wipes it away with her finger, in the softest way possible. If I could, I would've made this moment last forever. But I ain't no superhero, or time-stopper, so I have no choice but try to snap out of my transe.
I set my jaw when I painfully say:
"I cannot see you anymore, Abby. I am sorry."
She nods.
Before I break us up, I feel somebody behind me, and Abby suddenly freezes. When I turn around, both my parents are standing there, and it doesn't take a genius mind to know that they highly disapprove.
Although she is probably decomposing from the inside, Abby just stands by my side, staring at them, confused.
I sigh, as Mother greets Abby:
"Abigail, it is such a pleasure to see that you are okay!" she exclaims, immediately hugging the blonde while deadly staring at me. After she realises her, she adds: "Our family was so relieved when we heard that the FBI found you. How have you been?"
Abby cracks a smile - a fake smile.
"I am a bit traumatised, since I cannot remember a thing from the time I was abducted" she explains, carefully choosing her words, "but thankful to be alive. By the way, things have been hard financially speaking... I was hoping to ask you, Mrs Press, if I could work for you still. Helping Mallory out just seems to heal my soul."
There it is.
I know what she did: of course, by publicly demanding to be hired back, she knew that Mother had no choice but to accept, because otherwise it would've been pretty shady. Presenting the fakest moved face of the century, Stacey Press admits her defeat when she throws a quick disapproving stare toward me, before saying:
"Of course, honey: anything you need."
After seconds, Father just gives his hand for Abby to shake. When she does, he coldly says, staring right through her soul:
"I have heard a lot of things about you, the miraculous survivor kid that escaped the Dragons - must've taken some guts!"
Frowning, Abby remains silent.
"It was nice seeing you, Abigail" Mother says, grabbing Father's arm, before staring at me with insistence: "Christen, we have some benefactors we would like you to meet."
"Sure, I'll be there in a second."
Nodding their heads, my parents suspiciously walk away, as Abby now faces me.
"I am glad you weren't hurt" I say without thinking, before blushing a grand bit. Before she can respond, I quickly add: "I must go, I will see you around the manor then."
"Yes" she only says, before staring at me while I walk away.
At that very moment, I know my parents and sisters are going to jump at my throat for having shared this dance with Abby - either being because of the fact that it was a public display that might indicate that she and I are romantically involved, which is not the case, or because I was supposed to keep my distance.
As I join the rest of my family, Channing rolls her eyes at me and only asks:
"Are you happy now? You've just made all of our lives a lot more complicated. And hers, too."
I don't respond, but a smile is stretching my lips.
