27 Chapter 26

"So Zaline, how are things going with what's his name? I'm sorry I haven't been around as much with everything going on" she looks at me out of the corner of her eye, with the hairstylist keeping her head still.

"We broke up two weeks ago, I told you that" as she says with a frown, and leaving me the opening I wanted "Oh that's right, I guess you will have to see if Kelvin will go to the ball with you" smiling knowing she is cursing me inside her head.

Claudette speaks up "Oh that would be fantastic Zaline, you must make this happen, my nephew would be thrilled, and definitely needs a break from all that work" she truly smiles since the first time I've met her.

"I don't have his number, and its possibly too late as the ball is tonight" I smile knowing she's trying to get out of it "It's done, he will meet us at the house at seven" Claudette pipes up.

Zaline and I look shocked "What? I had his number" she says. She is smiling, I'm giggling now, and Zaline is as red as she can get "Um, thank you" well at least one of us will have a date.

We will all be riding in separate cars, Wren and Zane with Zaline in the first car, Claudette and Orson in the second car, and Buford, Kelvin and myself in the last car. I'll be sitting in the back by myself, going over my outfit to make sure I'm presentable, all the guys are in tuxes with bow ties, the other ladies in cocktail dresses of different colors.

For myself, I chose a flowing floor-length red cocktail dress, that collects at the top on my left shoulder, with a few swirling designs on the top part. I had my hair styled in curls on the right side of my dress to counter the strap on my left, its curls flowing down to my waist with some little red roses tucked in to make them pop, I felt absolutely beautiful.

As I stepped out of the room to join the others, I had some oohh and awws but only one person couldn't keep his eyes off of me, which makes me feel even more beautiful and yet so confused. Kelvin clearing his throat tells us it's time to go, as we gather up our coats and clutches, we head out to the ball.

The ride is mainly quit with the occasional question from me as to where we are going, how many people will be there, and most of all how Kelvin likes Zaline's dress "She looks amazing, I can't believe she wanted to go to the ball with me" he looks back excitingly.

"Of course she would, your smart, successful, and not that bad to look at" I giggle.

That got me a look from Buford in the rearview mirror "I can say the same for her, I just never knew she was interested in me as well" he smiled.

"She never knew you were interested either, you should tell her how you feel, talking honestly about your feelings is a great trait in a person" with a pointed look at Buford.

The silence fell once again in the vehicle, hoping we would be arriving soon. I'm told it will be at an old plantation house, another one the council owns, well technically I own now, but it's big enough to house over six hundred people.

That's not nearly enough room for the number of people that will want to come, but the remaining council has sent out invitations to the nearby people, promising to be able to meet the new queen another day to the others.