Avalyn

"Avalyn you must go get ready for the ball tonight." my mother exasperates. The look of pure irritation on her face brings a small smile to my lips. "I don't know what you are smiling for! The ball is in two hours and you look like a ragamuffin!"

I roll my eyes at her antics. "Mother, I'll be ready in time. I don't understand what the big deal is anyways, it's not like I'm getting married!" I retort back to her. "Besides, Odette is a master at helping me to get ready in a flash."

Her finger is in my face quicker than lightning. "Avalyn Marybell Hollister, you will turn around right this second and march your butt to your room and start getting ready. You will look your best tonight, that is an order. There will be many important guests and an announcement made. I will not have any daughter of mine looking like a hooligan."

Taking in a deep breath to calm myself from doing or saying something I would regret, I respond with a "Yes Mother Dearest" and turn making my way down the corridor to my bedroom. Odette is waiting for me in my room. I take in my room and there are things everywhere. "Odette why does my room look like a bomb went off in it?" I asked befuddled. I didn't know whether I should be angry or find this whole scene comical.

"Oh Miss Avalyn, your Mama's orders. I must have you looking in tip top condition. She says you must look your absolute best tonight for this ball." Odette answers slightly exasperated herself. "Now hurry ma'am, you must get a shower so we can start right away!" she exclaims.

"Oh Odette, don't get so frantic. I will take a quick shower and we will get started. Maybe grab that black dress you know my mother loves so much" I say with a mischievous grin.

Odette immediately starts shaking her head. "Oh no, Miss Avalyn, your mother gave special instructions on what you are to wear, and that is certainly not in them. Now hurry!" she whisper yells as she is gently nudging me in the direction of the bathroom. "If you don't get in the shower right this second I will have to bathe you myself!"

"Fine fine fine! I'll be out in a jiffy!" I give her a big smile before turning into the bathroom and closing the door behind me. Making my way into the shower I let the heat of the water relax all my muscles as I sit there deep in thought. I wonder who will be at this ball that makes it so important. Why do I have to look MY best? I should just say the hell with it and put on the black dress I know my mother hates, no makeup, and my hair a mess. I chuckle to myself imaging my mothers face if I walked in a mess like that. If only my father would find it amusing and not get pissed off as well.

I let out a sigh as I turn the shower off and wrap myself in a towel. Standing in front of the mirror I look at my reflection. "It's just one night Avalyn" I say to myself as I comb my long blonde hair.

"Miss Avalyn? Are you ready?" I hear Odette knock on the bathroom door. The impatience in her tone makes me laugh.

I open the door quickly and Odette nearly falls into me. "Oh my I'm so sorry Miss Avalyn!"

"It's fine Odette." I say putting a hand on her shoulder. "And what have I said about calling me Miss? Just call me by my name. I hate when you use that formal talk with me."

"But Miss Avalyn, if your mama hears me address you informally, I would be out of a job if not worse." The look of pure terror on Odette's face makes my blood boil. No one should be treated that way and I am ashamed that I share blood with that woman.

"Then Odette, just do it when it's you and me at least? And I promise, one day you will no longer work for my mother, you will work for only me. And things will be a whole lot different when I am in charge."

"Oh Avalyn, you sure are the nicest person I've ever worked for in my life." She smiles. "Now lets get you ready before it's my head on a platter!" she exclaims as she makes me sit in a chair. We make small talk as she does my hair and makeup. An hour later and it's all done, Odette walks over to my bed and grabs a garment back that I know holds the dress that my mother picked out for tonight.

Odette unzips the bag and I gasp at the beauty of the dress. Odette's eyes go big in surprise. "My mother actually picked this out?" I ask in confusion.

"Well, your mother did tell me that the dress was going to be pink, but this was the bag I was given. I promise!" Odette looks as though she is going to have a panic attack.

"Odette, it's fine! If this was the bag you were given then that's even better for me. This dress is gorgeous, just doesn't seem like anything my mother would ever pick out for me. Odette takes in a deep breath and helps me get into the sapphire blue dress. The dress is long, falling to the floor around me. As Odette zips up the back of the dress I take a look in the mirror. This dress fits every curve of my body perfectly. A plunging neck line adorned with diamond and sapphire beadwork. Odette hands me a pair of sapphire blue heels with diamonds adorning them. "It looks beautiful on you Avalyn," Odette says with a big smile on her face. "You will have all the men falling all over themselves tonight just to get a dance with you."

I roll my eyes at her statement. "No man that will be there wants anything from me except the throne next to me."

"Now now Avalyn, you can't believe that! You are the most beautiful person both inside and out. I'm pretty sure any man would want you even if you were a maid!" She laughs to herself. Putting her hands on my shoulders she gently nudges me towards the door. "Now you go down to that ball before that mother of yours has both of our heads on a silver platter!" Opening the door she gently shoves me out of the doorway and slams the door shut. I laugh once hear the lock on the door being locked. She sure does know me well, so she makes it impossible for me to turn right back around and into my bedroom.

Taking a deep breath, I roll my shoulders and attempt to relax my nerves just a bit. I can hear the ballroom music wafting up the stairs and laughter from the people already there enjoying themselves. Lost in thought I make my way down the corridor towards the stairs leading downstairs just outside of the ballroom.

"Well well well...If it isn't little Princess Avalyn all grown up." I hear a deep man's voice interrupt my thoughts. Looking back towards my right I take in the man leaned against the wall with his arms crossed. Turning fully around I race over to him as my heart thuds in excitement.

"Andrew?!" I throw my arms around his neck and bring him in for a hug. "What are you doing here? I thought you were away at school? How long have you been back?" I bombard him with questions.

"Whoah there, slow down with the questions will ya?" he chuckles as he returns my embrace. Leaning his cheek on the top of my head we stand there for a minute. "I missed you little brat." he mumbles into my hair. Unentangling himself from our embrace, he takes my arm and loops his through it. "What do you say I walk you down to this ball?"

"Yes!" I squeak. "You just made my night by being here! I was not looking forward to attending this ball at all." Walking down the stairs with Andrew at my side made my heart happy. "I can't believe you were away for so long. What has it been? Four years?" I asked.

"Four and a half years. I was so angry when I was sent away for school, I didn't want to leave you." he answered. "But school has been good, I've learned a lot. I've just missed having my best friend at my side all the time." He said as his deep blue eyes met with mine. "You've grown up so much," he chuckles, "You actually look like lady now."

I burst into laughter at his remark. Letting go of his arm and sending a wink his way I whispered to him, "Well good sir Andrew, don't allow looks to fool you, and I will be getting you back for that comment." I shot my hand up quickly and ruffled it through his dark blonde hair making it a mess. "You should know better than to mess with me drew!" I blew him a kiss and left him standing there with a dumfounded look on his face.

Making my way to the doors that opened to the ballroom I took in a deep couple of breaths. Once I worked up the nerve I nodded to the doorman and he proceeded to open the door for me. Walking in I eyed the many people in the ballroom and noticed that at least half of them I have never seen before. They looked like they weren't native to our country. While most of us from around here had light hair, many of these men and woman had jet black hair. I wonder who  father invited this time and why.