Tales & Time (Lost Time Academy #1)(47)
"I-I didn't mean—" I nervously start to mumble out.
"We are playing with you, Sleepy." Knox puts me out of my misery, and I sigh. I'm not ready to talk about whatever is going on between us, and neither are they, I suspect. "Go on, give Ella her new gift." I smile at him before turning around, but Noah stops me with one question.
"Madi, will you be our date to the ball? For all four of us?"
I turn around, seeing them all waiting for an answer, even Tobias who looks more nervous than the rest of them. He should be nervous, and I'm not forgiving him until I get the sorry I want.
"Yes," I simply answer, because there is no one else I would go with. I walk away before they can say anything else, and for the first time, I'm excited to go to the ball.
Chapter 30
“It’s beautiful, and I can’t believe you just bought it for me,” I whisper, spinning around in the long, light blue dress that is lacy at the top. The material is soft and fits me perfectly. The bottom is layers and layers of blue fabric that gather together. Around my waist is a thick piece of material that is tied in a bow at my lower back. The top half of my back is exposed with lacy sides holding it up. I've never worn anything this nice or expensive. I've told Tavvy a million times over that I'll pay her back, but she won't have it. I look behind me as Tavvy finishes curling one last strand of my long hair, letting it freely fall down my back and around my shoulders. If I were blonde, I'd sure look like Sleeping Beauty in this dress.
“My family is one of the richest in the tale community, so don’t worry about me spending my dad's money. He is a lawyer who makes sure no human ever wants to speak about our kind if they find out. Our dust can make people do anything we demand,” she explains to me, and I didn't know any of that. Tavvy doesn't talk much about her parents, and I got the impression she wasn't close to them when she would prefer a shopping trip rather than a phone call to home. "That's how he got so rich. My mum doesn't have descendant powers from her line, but she can talk anyone into anything either way. They are a cool power couple."
“That’s a cool power, Tavvy, and thank you,” I turn back and tell her. Tavvy has a stunning green dress on that hugs her curves, with a long split up to her upper thigh. The green material is shiny but almost has a glitter shimmer to it as she moves. Tavvy's blonde hair is up in a bun, surrounded by plaits she has woven in.
“Don't thank me, just enjoy your night," she says, winking. I hold my arm out for her, and she links her arm through mine as we leave our room. I try not to trip in the slight heels Tavvy got me, but I'm walking a little strangely, I think. Tavvy has ridiculously high heels on, making her so much taller than I am. She doesn't have a date, and I still remember her answer when I asked her who she was going with. It went along the lines of, "I don't need a man, and if I want a date, I'd pick them. No one in this school could handle me," and honestly, she is right. Tavvy needs a special kind of person to keep up with her. I even struggle to just as her friend. We get to the end of our corridor just as Ella and a blonde-haired guy walk past us. Ella has a short, very tight and glittery black dress on with killer heels. It looks stunning with her long red hair falling in waves. Ella smiles at me briefly, but then sharply looks away.
"I can't believe you guys are kind of friends now," Tavvy whispers to me as we head towards the stairs, where I can hear light music coming from somewhere, and the stairs themselves are lit up with floating, multicoloured lights.
"Under all the snarky bad attitude, there is a good person. I see it, don't you?" I reply, because honestly, that's how I see Ella. I don't know her parents, but Masters as parents can't be easy. The Tale brothers struggled growing up and have to deal with their own. I think Ella is a bitch because she was brought up to be one, to not show weakness, I suspect. Under it all, I think she is pretty nice.
"If you say so," Tavvy says, shaking her head at me. We walk down the stairs behind another group of students and follow them through to the dining hall, which has been transformed into a room I just about recognise. The floor shimmers like silver liquid filled with glitter, yet it is hard as stone to walk on. The ceiling is filled with dozens of floating spheres, which slowly let hundreds of tiny droplets of light fall from them. In the corner, instruments play music, though there is no one actually playing them. On the other side, where food is usually served, are tables filled with drinks and snacks, with teachers behind them, handing things out.
I look back into the room to search for my Tale brothers when they find me. They all stand a few feet away, dressed up in tuxes that make them look dangerously attractive. My mouth goes dry as they walk towards me, and I have to pinch myself because there is no way guys as hot as the Tale brothers are looking at me like this. I'm so used to them, I forget what it is like to really see them. They are imposing, strong, and everything you could want to see in front of you. The Tale brothers are everything.
"Madi, you look gorgeous," Sin speaks first, and I'm still too speechless to reply to him before he carries on speaking. "Can I steal you for a dance?"
"Come on, guys, why don't we get some drinks and spike them? This party needs a dose of fun," Tavvy says as I can only nod once at Sin, agreeing to dance. Sin doesn't need any more of an invitation to take my hand, leading me into the dancers. He grins as he pulls me into his arms in the middle of the crowd that parts to give us our own space. Sin leads the dance, keeping my body pressed against his and my hands resting on the back of his neck. I don't notice the well-played music, the way Sin moves my hips to the beat, never missing a step as we spin around; I only notice how he looks down at me.