CelesteThe midday sun streamed through the windows to the hallway of the lecture center, filling the corridor with a warm glow.Students bustled back and forth, some of them sitting on the benches and basking in the warmth of the sun in between classes. I was headed to my next class with no intention of doing anything after class except going home and wallowing some more over the ill fate of my beautiful blue dress.“Celeste!”Fiona’s shrill voice suddenly cut through the air, followed by the sound of her feet pounding against the tile floor. Broken from my pouting, I whipped around to see her storming toward me, holding her phone up.“You’re not coming to the gym today? Or ever?” she growled, stopping less than a foot away from me. Her phone was open to the text that I had sent her earlier that morning.I had deliberated for a long time over what to say, and finally settled for something simple: “Sorry, but I can’t come to the gym today. Or ever, actually. Sorry!”“Um… Yeah,” I said
CelesteThe rain had started as a gentle drizzle but now beat steadily against the window panes. The world outside was blurred, creating a scene of shimmering lights and hazy figures. The atmosphere felt thick with anticipation.The dress store loomed ahead, its bright sign a beacon of hope in the encroaching darkness. It stood there like an old friend, though the circumstances under which I was returning were anything but friendly.“Celeste, are you sure you want to wait outside?” Fiona asked, concern evident in her voice.“Yes. I just... I don’t want to go in there. Not after the last time. What if someone recognizes me?”Fiona sighed. “Alright, but stay close to the entrance. I’ll be in and out in a jiffy.”I nodded, pulling my hood further over my face, taking solace in the comforting darkness it provided. Fiona gave my hand a reassuring squeeze before stepping into the store.With a deep breath, I leaned against the cold brick wall beside the entrance, focusing on the rhythmic pa
CelesteWhen I arrived at home, Jack was none the wiser. I prepared dinner for us—Jack’s favorite, steak and mashed potatoes. I kept quiet as I cleaned the kitchen until it sparkled, and brought Jack an ice cold glass of beer while he sat in the living room.“You’re trying to butter me up, aren’t you?” he asked. “You’re not going to that dance, Celeste. It’s for your own good; trust me. Trust your brother.”“I trust you,” I lied, forcing a fake smile. “And I’m not trying to butter you up. I’m just… Apologizing.”Jack narrowed his eyes at me, but took the glass of beer nonetheless and muttered some words of thanks. I retreated to my room, pacing back and forth and chewing on my nails as I waited for the perfect chance. I had to wait until he was relaxed and drunk for this to work.…A couple of hours later, the house was filled with the deep thrumming of a bass line. The music was Jack’s way of signaling that he was well into his evening festivities. I popped up out of my bed and began
CelesteThe sun had already dipped beneath the horizon by the time I arrived at Fiona's house. The golden hues of dusk greeted me, and with every step towards her front door, I could feel my heart pounding against my chest.Today was finally the day of the ball. Jack had bought my excuse, and our plan was in motion.It was sure to be a tumultuous night, what with having to call my brother every hour and send him the pictures that Fiona and I took ahead of time, but it was a sacrifice that I was willing to make for the sake of getting the chance to attend the ball… and see Matt.Matt still had no idea that I was coming. I was too afraid to text him in case he talked to my brother and they somehow put two and two together. Hopefully, he didn’t have another date lined up; but if the texts he sent me were any indication, it seemed to me that he didn’t.I couldn’t wait to see the look on his face when he finally saw me there. In my mind, it was like a fairytale. I imagined his eyes widenin
CelesteThe opulent ballroom swirled around me, a kaleidoscope of color, music, and laughter.But at that moment, time felt suspended. Matt’s piercing blue eyes locked onto mine, hand outstretched. “May I have this dance?”For a split second, my mind raced to find an answer, but my heart knew it had only one. “Of course,” I replied, allowing my fingers to slide into his strong grasp.Matt's fingers curled around mine, his gaze piercing into my masked face, the world melting away into nothing but the two of us. The swell of the music rose, and as we moved to the rhythm, there was a palpable tension in the air.His grip was firm, yet gentle, leading me effortlessly across the floor, our steps matching perfectly.“I thought you said you weren’t coming,” he said, his eyes narrowing slightly. “What changed?”I shrugged. “My mind changed,” I lied. “That’s all.”“Well, I’m not complaining. I’m just happy to see you again.” He smirked, that familiar smirk I’d seen countless times. “You know,
Celeste“I know who this ‘Mystery Girl’ is.”The moment Sabrina’s voice uttered those words, I retreated further into the stall, praying she wouldn’t discover me. My breath hitched in my throat as I pressed myself up against the wall.The whispers and giggles filled the space, my heart rate accelerating with every insinuation.“Come on, Sabrina, just spill already! Who is this mystery girl? And what’s with the mask?” I recognized Eliza's voice; she and Sabrina had been two peas in a toxic pod since… well, since forever.Sabrina let out a teasing laugh. “A girl has to have her secrets, doesn’t she?” she cooed. “Just wait. Time will tell.”“Aww, Brina!” another voice whined. “You can’t leave us hanging like this!”Sabrina just chuckled again and tapped the side of her head. “You’ll find out soon enough. I’m cooking something up in here. It’s gonna be good; trust me.”Hidden within the confines of the stall, my breathing grew shallow as the cold bite of Sabrina’s words continued to sprea
CelesteMy heart raced, and a chill ran down my spine as Matt's words lingered in the air.“I know who you are.”The universe seemed to hold its breath, waiting for the weight of the revelation to crash down. My mind raced. How? When? Was it Sabrina who told him?The myriad of possibilities replayed in my mind: a slip of my tongue, an unwitting recognition by a mutual acquaintance, or maybe the mask hadn’t been as concealing as I’d hoped.Memories of the past, moments of vulnerability, and my reasons for donning the mask in the first place cascaded through my thoughts.The pain of old scars, the years spent constructing the walls around my heart, and the hope that tonight, just tonight, I could be someone else—all of it threatened to come undone.Was I so transparent, so easily deciphered? If Matt had seen through me, how many others had as well?With every heartbeat that thundered in my ears, fear intertwined with embarrassment. I was on the precipice of being exposed, and the freefa
CelesteThe suffocating weight of the ballroom’s atmosphere and the tumultuous whirlwind of emotions pressed me to seek solace. It was time to call my brother before he got suspicious again.Without a moment’s hesitation, I slipped out of Matt’s grip and darted towards the restrooms. My heels clicked against the marbled floors, echoing the rapid rhythm of my heart.Barely catching my breath, I locked myself into a stall, carefully placing my mask on the hook and pulling my hair back tightly. With trembling hands, I dialed Jack’s number, holding my breath for what felt like an eternity.“Finally,” came his gruff voice. The tiny screen lit up with a FaceTime request. “Face me,” he ordered.Trying to control my racing heart, I angled the camera towards the white-tiled wall, ensuring he couldn’t discern my location.“Celeste, where are you? Why can't I see you?”“Just... bear with me,” I whispered, sliding the straps of my dress down and turning the camera towards my face, still carefully