I was able to eat a snack before she finished with my make-up, thank the Goddess. Then we each slipped into our dresses and I never felt more exposed and covered up at the same time.
There was nothing hanging out or scandalous about my dress, but every cut and seam accentuated my fifteen year old body and I felt every bit the woman I was pretending to be tonight. The light ice blue fabric had a little shimmer I didn’t see when we tried it on a week ago and it made my eyes shine. The ornate crystal jewels sparked and caught every beam of light and reflected it in every direction possible. The scoop at my neck made me feel very safe and I knew there wouldn’t be any wardrobe malfunctions.
I could feel the cool clasp inbetween my shoulder blades where the jeweled straps extended over my shoulders and attached, making sure the dress was secure, again leaving my back otherwise uncovered, the theme of the day. The high slit up the front of my leg was hidden unless I took gigantic steps, but gave the feeling of being mature. My hair was pulled to the side in some kind of intricate knot that was full of braids and curls.
Most of it was off my back and shoulder, but a few tendrils were loose and curled down, looking effortlessly low key in an elegant way. : I just smiled at myself. Luna Anne could dress me anytime. I looked and felt amazing, but I wasn’t uncomfortable in any way. I smiled at her in the mirror again, loving the way she and Luna Ava just took me in and mothered me in a way that I never knew I needed or wanted, but always appreciated. It almost brought me to tears, but I was pulled from my thoughts by a soft knock at the door.
“It’s time, Luna Anne whispers behind me. Here we go again.” She has a delicate little laugh that is very practiced.
It’s the same one she used all day today listening to the Elders and other ranked members telling her stories that were supposed to be amusing, but she’s probably heard a million times.
I followed Luna Anne out into the hallway not looking up, making sure everything was where it was supposed to be before we made it downstairs.
“Oh hell no!” A shout from in front of Luna Anne has me looking up sharply for something wrong”
You have got to be kidding me. I am so f*cking screwed!”
“Xander! Language!” Luna Anne scolds him while I’m still looking around to figure out what’s wrong.
“Seriously! You’re going to ‘language’ me when I am going to die tonight?”
“What’s wrong? Why are you being so dramatic.” I ask walking over to him.
“I told you that you would have your hands full, did I exaggerate?” She says, a little flippantly.
“I just thought you meant tonight with all the people here, not that the potential for me to be murdered in my sleep was at 99%. I’m going to die, they will kill me if I’m too close, but they will also kill me if anyone else gets too close. I’m so screwed. Xander repeats.
“What are you rambling about? Get a grip!” I look at him like he’s lost his mind.
“You are supposed to look pretty, like the beautiful fifteen year old that you are. You are not supposed to look like a supermodel ready for your centerfold.” He scrubs his hands over his face. “Huh?! I don’t understand.” I’m starting to panic a little. Is something wrong with the way that I look?
“Xander, stop now! Look what you are doing to her.” I have never heard Luna Anne’s voice that stern before. She looks at me. “You look gorgeous, sweet girl. So beautiful in fact that my son has temporarily lost the use of his full brain Capacity.”
She grabs my shoulders gently. “He’s afraid of your brother’s and the rest of your friends’ reaction to seeing you in pictures looking this amazing.
They have been very vocal in how they feel about you being so far away from them. And they will see you in this dress.” She gives me that mom look that tells me I need to be ready for whatever stupid they throw at me the next time they see me.
