Enchant Me

by Anne Violet

  The vision shoved to the forefront of my mind and eyes. I seemed to be looking out of my own eyes at prom. I could see the decorations, hear the music, and everyone was dancing and having fun. I was at the refreshment area making sure everyone was being taken care of. Then I saw what looked to be Christian, he had a mask on like everyone else, but the build and hair color marked him. He walked straight over to me and held out his hand. Taking it I followed him out onto the floor. It was too dark to see the expression in his eyes, but something was off, wrong…He was cold, impersonal. I didn’t feel that awareness that I usually felt with him. There was just nothing between us anymore. My heart shattered at this, so tonight must mean nothing too. There was no hope for us.

  The vision wasn’t ending on its own, so I shook it off, forced it away and focused on Christian’s worried and wary face in front of me. My head still throbbed horribly and it was starting to make me a little sick.

  “I need to go lay down,” I whispered.

  He slowly let my legs down so I could stand on my own but kept one arm around my waist to hold me up. With his other hand he lifted my chin so he could look straight into my eyes. “What’s wrong?”

  “I don’t feel good,” I said and attempted to step towards the path to the house where I could lay down.

  But his arms locked around me and I wasn’t going anywhere. I gave him a sharp irritated look but it bounced right off the fierceness of his face. “You had another headache again.” It was a statement not a question.

  I nodded carefully, not seeing any point in lying. I must have done something that had tipped him off. I watched fascinated as a wide range of emotions crossed his gorgeous face. When his dark bangs fell into his eyes I started to reach up instinctively to move them and he caught my hand, stopping me, and I remembered the vision. He didn’t really want me. I couldn’t fathom why he was kissing me tonight and tomorrow he would be so cold. Almost as if he was saying goodbye. I would have to assume that maybe he was just playing with me. He didn’t seem the type, but what did I know.

  Between feeling physically sick and now emotionally sick, I didn’t know how I was going to get through the night. Ripping out of his hold I trudged back to the path and headed to the house. I trusted the friends that were partying to stay out of trouble so I wasn’t worried about them. Christian treading quietly behind me-- that had me worried.

  “Do you only have these headaches around me?” he growled, sounding closer than I had thought.

  Furiously I rolled his question around in my mind. What did he mean by that? Did he think I was like one of those women that told their man she had a headache to avoid him? He was crazy if he thought that.

  “No, I don’t just have them around you. Why would you even think that?”

  He made some little sound of masculine disbelief as he followed me up the steps to the house. Knowing what tomorrow was bringing, I just wanted him to leave. I couldn’t let him be around if I was on the verge of breaking down. Once I had the door open I stood on the top step blocking him from going inside. “I can take it from here, thanks.”

  I stared him down and at the same time catalogued for the last time everything I loved about him. The way his dark hair fell into his face, the glorious tall toned build, and the perfect symmetry of his face, full lips and sultry eyes. Even anger was beautiful on his face. This was readily apparent at the moment. In confusion I watched as he took the last steps until he was on mine, forcing me to step into the house to avoid falling backwards.

  “I am not leaving you by yourself when you’re sick.” Grabbing my arm he led me further into the house, closing and locking the door behind us and was looking around. “Which room do you stay in?”

  I tried ineffectively to pull my arm out of his warm grasp but he was relentless in his pursuit of seeing me settled. I felt my head throb more heavily, and subdued, I led him to the room I stayed in when I was here. It was nothing like my room at home since grandma had decorated it and not me. Although it was all antiques and white lace, it was still comfortable and I flopped down on the bed. For a moment I just stared up at him as he looked down at me. If I could bottle his intensity and charisma I could probably make a fortune.

  Doing my best to distract myself from my twin pains, emotional and physical, I studied him, letting my eyes travel down his body and then leisurely back up. I tried to decipher the look in his dusky eyes but failed miserably. As far as distractions go, he was a pretty excellent one. As I studied him, his expression seemed to soften and he sat on the bed next to me.

  “Are you going to be able to rest?” he murmured.

  I shrugged my shoulders in answer. I seriously doubted it, but I didn’t want to tell him that. I watched fascinated as he leaned forward, his scent wrapping around me. Gently pushing his hands into my hair at the scalp he rested his thumbs on my temples and slowly started to massage them. At first the throbbing seemed to intensify, then I felt myself starting to relax, the pain eased and reluctantly my eyes closed to the beauty of his face, and I slept.

  CHAPTER 9

  When I woke up the next morning, Christian was gone. I lay in bed inhaling deeply-- hoping I could pick out a trace of his cologne, but there was nothing in the air. At least my headache had disappeared. I sat up and shoved the hair out of my eyes while my mind churned through my memories of last night, Michelle’s brother Jaime acting so odd, especially towards Becca’s cousin Ethan, and then just handing me over to…Christian. Then the obviousness of the situation hit me. I was right. He had been babysitting me for Christian, probably by Michelle’s request. Man-- did that girl ever have a mothering complex. We were definitely going to be having some words at some point, not tonight but soon. My no longer non-existent temper rose up to choke me. I didn’t know who I wanted to strangle first-- Michelle for interfering, Jaime for agreeing, or Christian for being so…I don’t know. Something.

  I groaned when I looked over at the clock. Six hours to do the millions of things I had to do before Prom. Forcing myself out of bed, I grabbed my overnight bag, helmet and a garbage bag to clean up any evidence from last night’s party. As I rushed out of the house I considered the fact no one had come looking for me last night. Great, which meant everyone, had seen our stormy departure last night, more gossip for Crescent Point High. Maybe fate was preparing me for a life of fame and fortune where my every move would be documented by the press and this was just practice.

  Rolling my eyes at myself, I picked up my pace and ran up the hill. As I looked around the fire pit, I couldn’t find any trash; it was probably cleaner than it had been before. Grudgingly I had to admit it was probably momma Michelle who had seen to it… Sighing I headed back down the hill, got on my bike and rode home. Pulling up in the driveway I was surprised to see my mom’s car there. I had figured she would already be out and about for the day. Baffled, I opened the door to see her sitting on the couch watching TV, dressed to go out, her purse ready to go beside her. It was apparent she had been waiting for me.

  “Hi, honey. How was your visit with your grandmother?” She asked pleasantly enough.

  To lie or not to lie? Well, I sure as hell couldn’t tell her the truth. “Fine.”

  “I just stayed to tell you to have fun tonight and congratulations on arranging the prom. I am sure it will go very well,” she said grabbing her purse, getting up and coming over to me.

  “Thanks, I’m sure it will be fun,” I said stiltedly, giving her a hug.

  “When is Christian coming to get you?”

  I didn’t want to lie again although necessity was starting to make it a bad habit. I just didn’t want to get into a discussion about my problems with Christian.

  “He’s not. I have to go early to help set up,” “Oh, well I am sure you guys will have fun and that he will look very handsome,” she said and smiled.

  “He always does,” I murmured and fought the disappointment that started to roll over me.

  I would give almost anything to have him be there as my b
oyfriend, dancing, flirting. It was going to be such a romantic atmosphere-- just not for me. She smiled and patted me on the shoulder but as she was walking through the door she turned around and gave me a quick pointed look. “Make sure to use protection.” I gasped as she shut and locked the door on my stunned face. Why was it that she always seemed to assume that I was having sex? Alright I admit if Christian and I were still together—maybe there would be a chance of that happening. But for the last two years, every time I told her I needed to talk to her about something serious she always assumed I was pregnant. It was kind of insulting.

  Brushing it off, I went to my room to find the one man in my life I could depend on. He was, of course, oblivious to my arrival, fast asleep in my papasan chair. Whether he liked it or not he was going to get some cuddling time so I unceremoniously lifted him up in my arms and gave him a little squeeze. Sleepily he blinked his large gold eyes at me and put up with a minimum of three kisses on his face before he started wiggling around to be let down. I put him back in the chair and went over to my work desk.

  Deciding I better take care of business first, I called Michelle to see what in particular she needed me to do before prom. Neither of us mentioned last night. She was really excited about going to prom tonight with her boyfriend Craig, and I tried to be happy for her but I seemed to be doomed to selfishness at the moment. I wanted to feel that way too. Next I called the DJ and the performers for the night to confirm. For tonight’s theme we had hired jugglers, magicians, the arrival announcer and a string quartet, for when people were just arriving, to set the mood. In the middle of my calls, Tina texted the time she and Jim would come by to get me. Since motorcycles and prom dresses didn’t mix well, they were going to give me a ride. I could hear the excitement she was trying so hard to repress, to avoid making me feel bad, which of course only made me feel worse.

  Sensing I wasn’t in a talkative mood, she let me go without comment. Finally done with all the calls and arrangements, I took my shower and then threw on a robe so my dress wouldn’t be ruined by makeup or hairspray as I was getting ready. Sitting down at the mirror I forced a smile to my face. It looked ridiculous there on the mask that was my face, and I let it fade. Just then I could hear my friend Michael knocking on the door, ready to work some magic on my hair.

  I smiled in genuine eagerness. Although we hadn’t spent a lot of time together lately, we were pretty close, having been through a lot together. He had officially come out of the closet last year at school and it had been tough for awhile. Eventually everyone had gotten over it. He was too great a guy to be hateful to, but then those of us blessed to be his friend had already known that. When I let him in and he walked past me, I felt strangely pleased that he was only as tall as I was. I had about had it with all these tall guys, picking me up and bossing me around.

  “Hi, Michael.”

  “Hey sweetie,” he said and gave me a quick hug. He was already looking over the state of my hair as we walked to my room. “You just washed it, didn’t you? You know hair styles easier when it’s dirty,” he accused.

  I snapped a look at him but still smiled, “I am not going to prom with nasty hair.”

  “So,” he said with a lift of his brows. “Were you planning on being close enough to someone that they could actually smell your hair?”

  I knew he was just trying to make me smile, so I did and then changed the subject. “So, what were you thinking of doing with my hair?”

  He walked around, looking at me from all angles. “Hmm, what type of makeup look are you doing?”

  “I was thinking of doing a sort of soft romantic look. The dress is a satin, sleeveless, emerald green dress that dips down into a sharp “V” in the back.”

  I watched as he nodded his head, patently creating the perfect image in his mind. I completely trusted his judgment. He already volunteered his skills for different theatre groups and word of his talent was already getting around. His future was pretty assured. It was a measure of our friendship that he was even here tonight.

  “I think I will do a basket weave pattern on the sides, then gather your hair in a loose pony tail on top and curl all the ends and pin them in. A kind of romantic, goth, girl look,” he said, and immediately started to work. I smiled from ear to ear for the first time in days.

  “Sounds perfect.”

  The rest of the afternoon passed so quickly I barely believed it. Then again, I was hanging out with Michael who had one of the wickedest senses of humor I know. He had me laughing so much that I was constantly having to redo my eye makeup. When he was done with my hair and I with my makeup, I was able to finally dress for the night. When I emerged from my walk-in closet Michael clapped his hands over his mouth, then whipped them off again.

  “Oh my god girl, look how gorgeous you are!”

  Standing in front of my full length mirror I turned this way, then that, trying to catch every angle. I smiled at the little black eye mask and how Michael had hidden the strings in my hair.

  “Thank you Michael, it’s beautiful. I can’t tell you how much it means to me that you were here this afternoon.”

  I had needed to just relax and have fun. Take my mind off what was to come. I had also appreciated that he hadn’t brought up Christian the entire time, knowing that it would only upset me before I had to face the whole senior class and then some.

  “It was my pleasure sweetie. You know, anytime you need to talk…” “I know,” I whispered.

  Looking around, he spotted my camera and snapped a couple shots with it, then did a couple pictures of just my hair for his portfolio with his own camera. Then a thought occurred to me, “Michael, did you want to go to prom with me?”

  He looked at me sympathetically. “Ah honey, I’m sorry, I can’t. I have a show tonight,”

  “That’s ok. Don’t worry, it was just a thought.”

  I walked him to the door and thanked him again. Then I gathered my small black beaded purse and the black satin cloak I had bought for tonight, and laid them on the couch in preparation for leaving. Lastly, I went back into my room to play with Cody for a bit until he got sleepy and leapt up onto my bed to sleep. For awhile, almost comforting myself more than him, I petted him slowly. I tried to concentrate on how soft his fur was and not the pain that kept sneaking up on me and squeezing my heart. Part of me wanted to see Christian and the other part…wanted to miss that final goodbye. I wondered briefly if I just avoided him maybe the events would change. I shook my head; whatever was meant to be was meant to be.

  After awhile I got up and started to pace the house aimlessly. I almost wished for once that I was running late. At least it would give me something to do. At last I heard Tina’s car in the driveway. Taking a deep breath, I grabbed my purse, put on my cloak, and locked up behind me. Jim was just letting Tina out of the passenger side of her car. Apparently they had chosen to drive her car instead of his truck since there were three of us. They both were heading to the house apparently assuming I would be running late as usual. I smiled crookedly at her and rushed to the car, opening the back door before Jim could do it for me. He looked a little irritated that I hadn’t observed proprieties, but I figured Tina was his date, not me, so I wasn’t worried about it. Even though I thought I was doing a passable version of my happy self, I knew I wasn’t fooling them.

  “I won’t ask if he’s called,” she said, with what I thought was an unrealistic note of hope in her voice.

  “No, please don’t.”

  They glanced at each other apparently trying to think of a safe topic to talk about and coming up empty. “Jim’s switched to UW,” Tina said happily. I glanced over at Jim who looked at me in his rear view mirror and nodded.

  “While the main reason is Tina, it actually would be better for my career too. My dad and I already have political contacts in the northwest and I have been helping with the local Republican rallies since I was a kid.”

  “Don’t worry; I am trying to convert him to being a liberal democrat. It�
��s just taking longer than I originally thought,” Tina said, barely being able to say it with a straight face. Jim playfully glared at Tina in response.

  “I think that’s a lost cause but somehow you guys will make it work.”

  After that I didn’t really have anything else I wanted to say and we fell to a comfortable silence for the rest of the drive to the Liberty Theatre in Puyallup. We had barely parked before I was opening the door and stepping out. I ignored Jim’s annoyed grunt and waited patiently while he helped Tina out of the car. For the first time, I actually took note of what they had on. Tina wore a dark blue Chinese brocaded dress with side slits and a mandarin collar with a cat eye mask. Jim had gone classic with a black suit and a black half mask. They looked perfect together.

  Once inside the theatre I took a quick glance around, no one was here but the rest of the prom committee. I turned to Tina. “Hey, let’s get some pictures of you two before this place has been completely ransacked.” I posed them in a gondola scene the prom committee had created for pictures. Tina and Jim looked so sweet and happy. It seemed my match-maker record was going to stay intact. When I was done Tina reached out for my camera. I shook her off and put it away. There was no reason in the world to have a picture of me by myself at prom.

  “But you look so pretty,” she coerced.

  I knew she meant well, but no thanks. “Michael already took some of me at home.”

  She bit her lip and looked sadly at me. Had I completely dropped my happy façade and not known it? “I’m fine, I’ve got to go check on things, and I will see you later.” I quickly hugged her then walked away. “Have fun,” I called over my shoulder.

  Luckily I was soon caught up in the many things that still needed to be done, mini emergencies that needed to be handled. Finally the doors were just about to open to let guests in and Michelle called us to the center of the dance floor. After months of planning, the theatre was the epitome of romance and mystery. We had dimmed the overhead chandeliers until they barely cast any light at all, letting the flickering of hundreds of tapers in antiqued silver candelabras on the tables provide the majority of light. Once the dance got into full swing, then they would turn on the mirror ball and disco lights. The tables were covered with black and white striped tablecloths with silver tableware, and vases with blood red roses. For favors we used Phantom of the Opera masks and feathered fans. Throughout the theatre we had created romantic alcoves with crimson curtains and screens, using only lanterns for light inside of them. The jugglers and magicians would roam the party as the night went on. It would be perfect.