25. Ball Preparation

It's Wednesday. Yesterday was a blast, and the first two meals of today were divine. Time sure flies around here.

"Alrighty you guys, see you in the grand ballroom for dinner." Jax says, and we follow Annalyse and Emmerlyn down the hall because apparently, there's a huge surprise.

☆𖣔︎᯽-𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓹-᯽𖣔︎☆

"Welcome to the ballgown room!!!" Annalyse cheers with high levels of enthusiasm.

A chorus of "Wowwwwww!"s fill the room.

"You each get to choose an outfit. Ballgowns, glass slippers, tiaras and all that!" Emmerlyn says.

"We do too, Emmerlyn, remember?" Annalyse reminds her.

"Of course I do, Anna."

Anna. From what happened two nights ago, I still feel like something's fishy, even though Royal Manor has state of the art security. Do I need to be skeptical, or should I drop it?

I realize I didn't tell my friends yet. I'll tell them tonight.

Sisters aside, I need to choose a dress.

"Let's stop staring and choose our outfits!!" Kayla says and runs to one of about, well, I don't know how many ballgowns. "Lemme know if any of you need help choosing the perfect outfit combo."

"Remember to first pick a dress, and then go over there to the array of Cobbler glass slippers and tiaras." Emmerlyn reminds us.

What color do I like best? Should I go for an emerald green, Or maybe a light blue?

"Found mine!!" Maxine says, holding up a bright pink dress with a huge smile on her face.

"Love it, Maxine! It really suits your style!" I say, and my friends agree. "Hey Kayla, what color do you think I should choose? And what style?"

Kayla does a brief fly around the room. When she stops, I walk over. "This would be perfect, Gilly!" She holds out a royal blue ballgown with transparent mesh long sleeves.

"I couldn't agree more!" AG says when she comes over. "And I found mine! A peach colored ballgown with poofy sleeves."

"I love it AG! And Kayla, I trust your fashion taste. I'll go with the blue."

"Yay!! You'll look amazing, I know it. Let's go see what others choose!"

☆𖣔︎᯽-𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓹-᯽𖣔︎☆

It's kinda funny getting a brand new pair of glass slippers from my father's shoe shop when I already have one at home that I never wear.

"Decent." Jocelyn mutters as she examines a black ballgown. "Poofy skirts aren't my thing but there aren't any black dresses without them."

"Suits your style, Joce. Go with it!" Kayla presses, and looks through some more dresses. "Oh my goblins, I LOVE!!"

"Which one?" Emmerlyn asks.

"This light blue one! One of my favorite colors." Kayla says.

"I love the sequins! I chose this forest green one." Emmerlyn says.

"I love all three of yours!" I exclaim, and spot Annalyse and Hayley looking at a section to my left. "What about you guys?"

"I still can't decide. What do you think?" Hayley contemplates as she spritzes water on herself with a spray bottle.

"I'm going with a lavender purple. And Hayley, what do you think about a yellow? It would really bring out the color of your eyes."

"I agree with Annalyse." I say, and hand her the hanger that holds a lemon yellow ballgown with fluttery sleeves.

"Sure, why not? I like it."

"Alright, have you all chosen your ballgowns?" Annalyse asks, and everyone responds with a "Yes!" or a nod. "Ok! Now go find some matching shoes and tiaras."

We do exactly what we're told.

☆𖣔︎᯽-𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓹-᯽𖣔︎☆

"They didn't have any bright pink ones in my size." Maxine says as she holds up a too-small pair of Cobbler glass slippers.

"I can put an enlarging curse on them when we get inside." Jocelyn says, and we open the doors to our room.

"See you guys for the ball!" Annalyse and Emmerlyn enter their room.

"Time to get readyyyy!! I'm so excited for hair, and makeup, and outfits, and everything!" Kayla exclaims. "I say we take showers first, then do hair, then makeup, then get changed. Sound good?"

"Sounds good to me!" Maxine says.

☆𖣔︎᯽-𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓹-᯽𖣔︎☆

After a nice warm shower using Rapunzel hair products and a swift blow dry of the hair, we make our way out of the bathroom.

"Let's figure out who's gonna do who's hair." AG suggests.

☆𖣔︎᯽-𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓹-᯽𖣔︎☆

Half of us sit in chairs at the extra-long vanity to get our hair styled, while the other half stands behind us to be the hairdresser.

"Alright Gilly. How about two Dutch braids leading into a low, messy-ish, twisty bun?" Kayla asks.

"Sounds great. I trust your hair judgement." I say, and Kayla gets started by brushing out my hair.

"A really fancy updo, however you want to do it!" Maxine (who's sitting next to me) tells AG.

"I'd like a waterfall braid, tied back with this hair ribbon to match my dress." Hayley tells Jocelyn.

☆𖣔︎᯽-𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓹-᯽𖣔︎☆

After Hayley does Kayla's hair and Maxine does AG's (Jocelyn insisted on her black hair staying straight down), we do our own makeup, with Kayla's assistance every now and then.

"Guys, how does this look?" Maxine asks. She's wearing glittery pink eyeshadow, mascara, and bright pink lipstick.

"It screams Maxine." Jocelyn says.

"In a good way!" AG comments, as she applies some lip gloss as a final touch.

"Lovin the simplicity of yours, Gilly!" Hayley says.

"Thank you! I love yours too. Looks perfect for a mermaid."

"I SO agree with Gilly!" Kayla says. "Guys, we're all done with hair and makeup, which means ballgowns!"

☆𖣔︎᯽-𝓽𝓲𝓶𝓮 𝓼𝓴𝓲𝓹-᯽𖣔︎☆

After two knocks on the door, Annalyse and Emmerlyn enter our room, all dressed with makeup and hair done for the ball.

"Wow, you girls all look so pretty!! Are you ready to head downstairs?"

"I think so! And thank you, you girls look amazing as well!" AG says.

"Come on crew, we can't forget perfume! It's gonna be cherry blossom for me today."