Page 76 of Hypothetical Heart
“Right, I’ll see you soon.” She ends the call before disappearing out of view through the window. Without her in my line of vision, I can finally focus on what I really need to be doing.
My mom harps on me for not wearing one of the bowties she picked out the entire time I wait for Winnie in the entryway. Yet, once she sees Winnie on the front porch, she lets it go.
“Oh my goodness,” she gasps, opening the door. “Don’t you just look amazing!”
Winnie smiles. “Thank you, Wren.”
I’m stunned into silence. Even though this is a similarsituation to prom, the feeling is completely different because instead of Winnie being dressed in her element of hot pink and light makeup, her look today is sultry. Her deep, red dress clings to every one of her curves, and the smokey eye coating her eyelids blows me back.
“I know, I know, I probably look crazy,” she says anxiously when she notices my silence.
“N-No,” I choke, clearing my throat. “You look amazing, Win, as always.”
Her dark red lips raise in a smile. “Thanks.”
“Alright,” Mom claps, making us both jump back. “It’s five-thirty, time to go.”
We get in my car, and I’m struck with the realization that I’m going to be kissing those pretty red lips. Ones belonging to Winnie.
“I think I need to tell you again how stunning you are,” I say once we’re on the road.
The silence has overtaken the car for the first bit of the drive, but it's comfortable in one another’s presence.
“And you look too handsome for your own good,” she replies.
“Youare the one who will be kissing me later tonight.”
She pretends to grimace but breaks into a smile. “Don’t remind me.”
“You know who we sound like right now?”
“Jameson and Genevieve?” she counters, and we both laugh.
Right then is when we pull up to the venue, and both of our mouths drop wide open.
“Holy shit,” I sigh, pulling my car toward the valet parking booth. “This is insane.”
We both have to crane our heads almost all the way up just to see the top of the building. The entire place iscovered in stone, and about fifteen castle turrets surround the exterior.
“This place belongs in medieval times,” Winnie giggles as we approach the front door.
“I’m worried the security is going to be dressed in shining armor.” We’re both laughing as we make it into the ballroom, only for both our spines to straighten when we catch the glare of Madame Bacri. “Shit,” I whisper to Winnie. We both know we’re going to catch smoke for acting like idiots.
“Be professional,” Madame Bacri hisses as we approach, smacking me in the back of the head.
“Now, that wasn’t very professional, was it?” I smirk, but when her face stays stoic, I quickly rub my hand over my face to cover my smugness.
“You guys are performing in an hour, don’t stress. All you have to do in the meantime is mingle and make good graces with the rich people who will be donating to the ballet company tonight.”
Of course, this is the type of event where only the highest-class socialites are invited, all because the organizations who host these galas want to raise as much money as possible. They put on a show with drinks and fancy hors d’oeuvres. In the movies, these places would have trapeze artists spinning from the ceilings with spears of fire in their mouths.
Instead, tonight’s entertainment is Winnie and I, along with the other couples who are performing.
We’re putting on a show so that these people will hopefully give Madame Bacri lots of money so that she can keep teaching–so that Winnie can keep learning ballet.
On top of that, all of our pictures are on posters in a separate room from the ballroom. Guests are allowed to bidon who they think will dance the best. I can’t lie and say it isn’t a fuck ton of pressure.
So, Winnie and I have to make good face. Which means prancing around the gala, and making small talk with people who have even more money than my parents. All in hopes that they will bid on someone in the competition, even if it’s not us.
