The Masquerade: Part 1
Melanie poised herself on Adam’s arm as they walked up to the entrance of the ballroom. The soft lights and the orchestral music of the masquerade greeted them as they walked through the door. The costumes of the other party-goers, both human and enchanted alike, swirled about in an assorted collage of strangeness as they danced, drank, and mingled with one another; enjoying all that the Mid-Fall Masquerade had to offer.
A girl in a tidy white dress and an equally minimal white mask came up to Melanie and Adam. Two elegant fans were in her hands.
“Welcome to the party,” she said, her voice a timid near whisper in the face of the party music. She handed them the fans. “Your names are on the fans.”
Melanie and Adam flipped open their fans. Melanies was fire-red and had the word Phoenix printed on it in gold lettering. Adam’s was purple and displayed the word Magpie, also in gold lettering.
“Two birds of a feather,” the girl in the white dress said. “Go on in now, the party’s only just begun.”
“Thank you,” Melanie said. She effected a superior smile as Adam led her into the party throng. He held up his fan.
“They had to give me purple,” he said.
“Purple goes with your suit though,” Melanie said.
“Purple and green don’t go together.”
“Yes, they do. Now keep an eye out for Chloe. She’s with Ben.”
“Sure.”
Melanie rolled her eyes. Adam would do no such thing. He was already looking at the other girls who had showed up, casting appraising looks up and down their costumed bodies. Melanie wasn’t going to gripe at him about it though. She was doing the same thing, and for the same reason he was. Just because her relationship was with Chloe didn’t mean she couldn’t look for her own viewing pleasure.
A girl in a revealing dress waved at Melanie from across the room. At first Melanie thought it might be Chloe, but then she saw that this girl had red hair, not brown. It was Renise Pancor, whose family was hosting the masquerade this year.
“Hello, Phoenix,” Renise said as she walked up to Melanie and Adam. Her green eyes shone warm behind her mask.
“Hello,” Melanie said. “And who are you this evening?”
“Oh, sorry.” Renise flipped her fan open with a sheepish grin. The word Doe was written on it.
“Well, hello then, Doe,” Melanie replied. She shook hands with Renise.
“I thought you’d show up with Dolphin.” When Melanie gave an inquiring look Renise smiled and shook her head. “I’m sorry, that’s the name on her fan tonight. Forgive me, I get so nervous at parties.”
“It’s all right. And, she and I decided to at least show up traditional.”
Renise gave a genuine laugh. “That’ll throw them.” She turned to Adam. “And why’d you agree to this?” Her left eye, the one away from Melanie, winked at him.
“Oh, I’ll do anything for a date.” He gave a big smile and shrugged his shoulders. Renise smiled back.
“I’ll leave you two alone now,” she said. Melanie gave Renise a quick peck on the cheek. Renise laughed and patted her on the shoulder. “Calm down there. Dolphin’s around here somewhere. Have fun.” Renise laughed and walked off into the crowd.
“What would Chloe say?” Adam asked with a smile. Melanie laughed and gave his butt a playful squeeze.
“Just keeping my options open, tight ass,” she said with a smirk.
Another girl waved at Melanie. It was Chloe. Melanie smiled and waved back. Chloe dragged Ben Masters, the boy she had brought along, through the crowd behind her. Melanie thought that she looked beautiful in her tight, deep indigo dress. The two girls embraced and enjoyed a quick kiss on the lips. The two guys simply shook hands.
‘You look wonderful tonight,” Chloe said, running her gloved hand down Melanie’s arm.
“You don’t look so bad yourself, Dolphin.”
“Aw, how’d you know?”
“Renise told me.”
Chloe laughed. “What’s yours?”
“Phoenix.” Melanie flashed her fan.
“Fun. So, what do you think of my cover?”
“Who, Ben?” Chloe nodded with an eager smile. “He’s nice enough. How’d you get him to agree to it?”
“Ugh. He’s a friend of the family. His father’s a minister. He thinks he can change me.”
“Are you letting him think that?” Melanie asked. Chloe gave a mischievous smile.
“I had to find a guy somehow. I’m not lucky like you.”
“Adam and I have been friends for a while. He’s cool with it.”
Melanie turned to Adam and tugged on his shirt sleeve. “Me and Clo are gonna check out the punch bowl. You mind?”
Adam shook his head. Melanie and Chloe took each other’s hand and walked off.
The beginning of what will hopefully be an interesting work. Look for characters from previous stories of mine to make appearances! Part 2 soon, I hope.
I hope I've been helpful in detailing it.
