The City of Love [open]

cleo blize
district one
seventeen
female

I am afraid of what he'll do, based on the disgusted look that contorts his face. My breathing is still rapid, my legs are still unstable, as I wait to see whether he's a jerk or actually nice. I feel out of it, dizzy. The world warps around my for a second, and the sky feels like it's hurtling down. There's snow on my head and shirt and legs, but I don't feel freezing at all. It's his voice that brings me back to actual reality. It makes his face come in focus again.

"Don't worry about it." He says, his voice seeming edgy, so I would assume the smile he gives me is a bit strained. My face flushes red with guilt and embarrassment, and I don't really have an answer. I almost forget that my hand is out to help him when I find myself falling again. I succeeded and pulling him up about an inch, but I was right. I probably couldn't pull him up if I wanted to. He smiles at me, this time for real, I think, because it makes his eyes light up. I return it, but it is sheepish and shy. 

"Didn't think I weighed that much." He says, amusement playing in his voice. I let out a small laugh, and shake my head. "Nope, I think it's just because of these skinny things." I give him a wave with my arm. I needed to use the other one to stay balanced on his chest until it came down again. I'm so glad I don't weigh that much. "And the fact that I'm shaking a lot. Well, you can probably tell." And it's very true. I still feel myself trembling against his sturdy chest.

cleo blize
district one
seventeen
female

Falling on someone's chest is really awkward, and for a moment we just sit there in silence. He wraps his arms around me when I lose balance, and I'm not sure what to do. He just looks at me with blue eyes like mine. I am paralyzed, and I feel my face burning red."How about I get up first this time?" He asks me, "And then I'll help you up?" I nod, a small smile spreading across my face. "Okay." He stands up, and he brushes the snow off him, like I did the first time. He reaches down with a grin, his teeth a bright white flash against his slightly tanned skin. I take his hand, and he pulls me up easily, as if I'm a feather. I get up, and my legs have stopped shaking, but my heart is still racing. I take a step forward, and my foot slips on a patch of ice. Today is a falling day, I guess.

I feel his arms catch me again, like it's an instinct for him to. He smiles down at me again, and I smile back. He's strong and stable, like a tower I can lean on. "Walk much, sweetheart?" I laugh a little, meeting his gaze. "No, I skateboard." I say. "Guess I have to practice a little more. I don't really trust my feet anymore." But I trust you. I don't feel like I'm going to fall down in his arms, holding me up with such ease. This reminds me of the time when I went rollerblading, and Leo had to keep catching because I was so clumsy on them. "I'm Cleo, by the way." A smile spreads across my lips as I look at him.

cleo blize
district one
seventeen
female

My eyes skirt his for a second, and I study his face. Handsome, charming, the face that girls stare and whisper about as school. Fine clothes that I've seen when I go windowshopping at the pricier stores. And then there's me, who's hair is messed up in a frizz that won't leave, a sagging hat, her clothes wet with snow, and sneakers that are worn way past their prime. What am I, a lower class girl, doing with him, an upper class boy. It's astounding he'd even converse with me. "I'm Paris." He says, the smile that breaks his face is full of the charisma that seems to be trademarked to him. He looks down at me, and he still hasn't let go of me since my slip. "Paris Beauregard, son of the owner of Beauregards beautiful jewelry." No wonder he's rich, he owns a jewelry store. I'm not even sure where my father works, but any extra money he finds is spent on beer and alcohol. It annoys me. 

"Hey I was wondering, I know we just met and we barely know each other but theres a Masquerade at my father's Mansion tonight and well I was wondering," For once he actually looks nervous and shy. "Would you go with me as a friend or..." Again, his trademark pearly teeth flash at me. "A date?"

For one second, I squint at his face. The last time a boy asked me to a dance, he didn't even show up. But Paris seems serious, I can tell by the way his voice sounded. I blush, my mouth dry and my lips parted with the lack of words. "I- um er I guess-- Sure." I finally say, after fumbling around for a little. It makes me cheeks burn even more. "I mean, yes." Sure sounds like I'm doing it grudgingly, when I'm not. And a mansion, wow. A masquerade. Is that how rich people spend their time? Dances and huge houses. Odd. I'm not even sure I have anything to wear. I'll have to dig around Mother's closet to find something good enough to wear.

welcome to my
silly life
mistreated, misplaced, missunderstood
miss, "no way it’s all good"

cleo blize
district one
seventeen
female

For a nervous moment he looks at me, as if he's shocked and lost. Then he smiles, bright and wide. What am I going to wear? I only have a little bit of makeup, what if I don't look pretty? Oh Cleo, you've never been pretty, no amount of mascara and eyeliner will make you attractive. This is going to be a disaster. I zone in just in time to her him say, "So it will be at 8:00 tonight at Beauregard Manor."

I nod, making a mental not of the time and place. "Oh and when you get there, tell the guys at the gates that you are with me, ok? Don't want to get any confusion." I open my lips to say 'okay', when I feel his brush against my cheek. It was quick, a butterfly kiss, and it turns my cheeks red. He turns and walks off without another word, and I just stand there for a second. The ghost of the the kiss still tickles on my cheekbone. I fetch my skateboard and head for home.

To my relief, Leo was out of the apartment when I returned. I didn't have to lie to him about where I was going. He was probably doing tricks and dares with Peresei. Or just by himself. He's pretty dedicated, I'll give him that. I wave my way past the table and down the hall, and I can feel importance seeping to the place I stand. My hand opens the door to my mother's old room, which none of us touch anymore. Except me.

I find a dress in her wardrobe, which she told me was off limits before. No wonder. I slide on the white fabric, which feels soft and warm against me skin. A wide belt stretches across my stomach, and the flowing skirt tickles my legs. It cuts out at the knees in the front, but trails to my ankles like a cape in the back. In the dimness, it looks like I am wrapped in light. My feet are bare underneath me, and I find some blue flats that match my eyes. The mirror sitting in the corner projects my reflection, and I stare at myself for a second. I need to brush my hair.

About ten minutes later I finally worked it into a knot, with no fly aways visible. It's only a matter of times before nerves take over. What if I trip in this dress? What if I keep stepping on Paris' toes? What if people stare at me? What if I don't look rich enough to be there? What if... what if.

Paris' blue eyes are still fresh in my mind as I wait. The way he caught me, the way he held me in his arms. His grin. How his voice had some sort of music to it--

Crap. Now I can't get this boy out of my head.

It is 8:00 the next time I check the clock, which is startling. I think I fell asleep. I rush to put on some makeup, and I can't tell if it makes me look better or worse. Or if I just seem the same. I rush out of the apartment, no skateboard, my shoes tapping on the pavement. The faint memory of Beauregard tickles my mind, and somehow I make it to the manor. I take a deep breath as the mansion comes into view.

welcome to my
silly life
mistreated, misplaced, missunderstood
miss, "no way it’s all good"

cleo blize
district one
seventeen
female

Darkness swallows the setting sun, and I'm glad to have the shining lights of the manor to guide me to the gates. As Paris had informed me, guys were waiting at the gates. They filter through the guests, giving nods of approval as they pass by. I know I should be worried about getting in, but I can't help but realize how many people there actually was. Two couples in front. One couple in front. My eyes meet with guards, and I open my mouth to say 'I'm with Paris', but he nods anyway. The knot in my stomach slowly starts to untie itself, but it tightens again when I actually get inside. This place was so... big. An overwhelming amount of voices ring in my ears as I weave my way through the crowd. Paris, Paris, Paris. None of the faces are his. I make it to the other end of the room, which took much longer than I would have liked, and there was still no sign of him. I am starting to wonder if this was just going to happen all over again; the the boy I met wasn't actually Paris Beauregard, and that there was no one here for me. That was until I saw three bobbing blonde heads exit off the staircase. At this distance even, my heart races. He's there.

I start to make my way to him, avoiding eye contact with anyone else. I find myself staring at my dress, watching as the light struck at different angles, making it glow a purple, then a pale blue, and a pink. Like an opal. I look up just in time to see him standing a few paces away, just as I had remembered him, but better. The white tux on him matched my dress somewhat, accented by a silver tie and shoes. Next to him I see two other people, a girl and a boy. All siblings, I would guess. I say a couple 'excuse me's and I find myself right in front of Paris. "Hi Paris!" I give him a nervous smile, and my eyebrows tilt up. "Do I look okay?" I ask quietly, meeting his dazzling blue eyes. I add, "I don't have a mask... We don't have many masquerades at my apartment."

welcome to my
silly life
mistreated, misplaced, misunderstood
miss, "no way it’s all good"