5 The Masquerade

9:45pm

The masquerade is in full swing. Mostly consisted of French people, people are dancing, chatting, eating food, etc. Moon is talking to the guests, and having a great time. Serena is with Lionel, and they're dancing. Serena is wearing a silver gown that has thick straps and Lionel is wearing a black tux with a grey tie. The music is like the Renaissance. Everyone is wearing masks, of any two colors but black and pink.

Moon's mother walks up to Moon with a stranger. The stranger looked to be about Moon's age. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and was tall.

"I'd like you to meet someone. This is Pierre La Monte. You will be engaged to him on your 18th birthday and will be marrying him."

The stern voice of the mother made the atmosphere weird. Moon felt like she could only hear the click-clack of her mother's heels. The world around her seemed to fade away for a second until.

"Are you all right?"

The boy who has not spoken a word asks Moon and her focus goes back on him.

"Yeah, I'm alright."

"You do look beautiful tonight. Blue really does suit you."

"Thank you."

Moon had no interest in him, but she faked it.

"Well, did you know I'm part of Les garçons français bleus?"

"Oh, Lionel's Group? And Serena?"

"Oui."

"Lionel and Serena have been my best friends for about 10 years, I keep them close to my heart."

Moon and Pierre look at Lionel and Serena dancing. Lionel and Serena met after what happened to Moon 10 years ago. Slowly but surely, they fell in love with each other. They've been dating for 8 years, and when Moon is 18, Lionel is planning to propose to Serena. Lionel had dark brown hair and light brown eyes. He was 5'9 and was very loyal, although he wasn't much of a talker. Serena brought out the life in him.

"Would you care to dance?"

Pierre offers his hand to Moon. Moon hesitates.

"Oh, I'm fine. I don't think I'm much of a dancer."

"Whatever you want to do I guess. Do you want a bite to eat? A drink? Are you tired? Are you hot? Cold? Sick?"

And in that moment Moon felt overwhelmed. All she could do was shake her head. Pierre looked at her and walked away.

*on the gates of the Palace: 10:00 pm

Santiago snuck away to attend the ball. He wore a black and pink mask and tux. It's been years since anything major happened with the gangs, so everyone could care less about everything. He looks up into the sky, blue and white fireworks are going off. Under a Moon that shined bright from the darkness that the world called night. He was nervous, no doubt, but he's been aching to know what that something is.

He goes to the main ballroom, hoping not to make a scene or ruin his identity. He stops for a moment.

Moon sees Santiago from the other side of the room. Santiago sees her too.

And for a moment, the world seemed to stop. It seemed like it was just them. They could feel each other being pulled toward the other. And their footsteps, breathing, and their heart rates were the exact same.

The music changed, into a slow song, and the two were dancing, Moon's arms on Santiago's shoulders and Santiago's arms around Moon.

It was only them.

Just the two of them.

While the song played, either was curious about the other.

And although their masks only covered from the nose to their eyebrows, they still didn't know who the other was.

They were total opposites, but filled with each other.

And the song stops.

For a moment there is silence.

Until,

"Is this a dream that seems too real?"

"It is, to me it is."

"It seems like nobody is here but us."

"Only us, just us."

"You do look beautiful tonight, happy birthday."

"Thank you."

Santiago kisses her hand and caresses her cheek. Both of their heartbeats tremble.

And then, just like a magnet, their lips reach the others and they go into a sweet, but passionate kiss.

The world starts going back to normal, and it's no longer just them. Instead, there's stares and people are in shock. They stop kissing and Santiago's mask falls off his face. That's when everyone gasps.

Moon doesn't know what to do, she just stands there.

Serena, Lionel, Pierre, And Bridgette come to Santiago and Moon. Pierre shoves Santiago our of the way while Serena grabs Moon and holds her. Lionel and Bridgette walk to Santiago.

"Pitiful pitiful pitiful. Look."

That comment from Lionel makes the crowd laugh.

"You no good Spanish boy, What do you have business doing here? Do you want to find new girls to rape?"

Pierre, who never really was seen mad, snapped at Santiago.

And at that moment, the Chicos rosados españoles, all of them rushed into the room.

Bridgette smirks and walks toward the Spanish.

"I'm sorry, we don't have any tacos here!"

The comment makes the Spanish disgusted. Ready to fight Bridgette.

Nieves comes and takes Santiago while he gets in the group

"What do you have business doing here?"

"We were out sick looking for you!"

"And you what?"

"¿Crees que es divertido hacer que tus hermanos y tu pandilla se enojen?"

"You really disappoint me Santiago."

The chatter other than that was a mix of English and Spanish.

Moon's eyes started to fill with tears so clear that they're blue. Bridgette starts storming to Moon, aware that she is crying her delicate blue eyes out.

"Do you think I am a joke Moon, a fucking joke?! I spent years of my life trying to protect my name from those Spanish, and you Straight up embarrass me! I don't care if he kissed you, you put everything at stake! You disappoint everybody and I'm now a clown because of you!"

While yelling at Moon, she put her hands on Moon's skirt of her gown and was trying to dislocate her skirt from the rest of her gown. After she did that, she yanked Moon's mask from her face and slapped her.

"Pathetic, that's what you are! I never liked you, you ruined everything in my life! You ruined my body, my soul, my relationships, everything!"

A brief moment passes, Bridgette calls for Lionel and Serena.

"Take her home."

Purposely aiming at Moon, Lionel and Serena walk to Moon and start to walk her out. Moon trips on her skirt and the skirt rips off the gown, revealing a white underskirt. Everyone gasps and Moon's eyes are filled with waterfalls. Lionel and Serena rush Moon out as quickly as they could.

Santiago runs to the fabric that fell off of Moon's gown. He crouches and all he can say is

Moon.