So, here is the first part of what came to me today. WickedElphie, I wasn’t really able to take your advice, though I did like it
. There is a bit more from Charlotte, Antonia, and James, but it’s not a scene unto itself, as you suggested. Hopefully, it’ll make sense to everyone as you read it. But, I’m really happy with it; cause I hate writer’s block, and what follows is the end of mine. Hurray!
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Since arriving at the castle, Grimsby had decided that keeping a low profile was the best course of action around the reunited teenagers. He had known them all since they were children and was quite interested to see how they had all turned out. But, his curiosity could not outweigh his distinct indifference towards squealing and tales of sophomoric pranks. He had performed his greetings yesterday before dinner and as soon as he had finished, retired to his room to catch up on some reading.
However, today, Grim would have to show his true colors as a coordinator and manager. The masquerade was tomorrow and there was a myriad of things to be done.
I hope these children are not under the impression that they can just have a ball without preparing for it first, he thought.
As long as I’m here they will be put to work. As a result of Grimsby’s resolve, Ariel, Charlotte, and Antonia had been sent to the ballroom to hang decorations, much to their dislike.
Leading the complaints was Charlotte, who made the point that the top of a ladder might not be the most appropriate place for someone wearing a dress and a petticoat. Grimsby responded by saying that a ladder is the most appropriate place for anyone wishing to actually attend the masquerade. Of course, after that there were no more protestations and the girls settled into their work.
“I’d forgotten how much of a slave driver Grimsby is,” Charlotte said handing Ariel a few flowers. She was standing next to a table covered in lilies and roses all ready to bedeck the massive columns of the ballroom.
“You should see him when we’re at home,” Ariel said. “At the end of the summer he made us, and by us I mean Eric and I alone, clean out the entire attic in one day. Have you ever seen the attic of a castle? It’s huge! We didn’t have time to eat or anything. It was just old coats and mothballs hour after hour.”
“At least you can find interesting things in an attic,” said Antonia, climbing down her ladder. “Charlotte, do you remember the one time during spring break Grim made us clean the fountains.”
A look of grim recognition crossed Charlotte’s face. “Yes! That was the worst experience of my entire life.”
“You don’t mean the fountains and pools in front of the castle do you? That’s got to be fifty feet of concrete.”
“Yep, and Grimsby made us clean it all, on our hands and knees in the blazing sun in the middle of April. It was traumatic.”
Suddenly, Charlotte burst out laughing.
“James kept on fainting,” Charlotte said, her eyes tearing up. “At first we didn’t believe him. You’ve seen how…theatrical he is. I think we ignored him for a good two or three minutes before Ethan went to him and realized he was unconscious!”
“Charlotte, that’s not funny!” Antonia really tried to keep a straight face but when she looked at Charlotte she was done.
Ariel was laughing so hard had to stop what she was doing and grab onto the ladder to keep from falling off.
“I need to hear more of these stories,” Ariel said, trying to regain composure.
“You know I think she’s right, Tony. We need to educate Ariel. But without the boys. They’re babies when it comes to embarrassing stories; they’ll make us stop and there are a few incidents you really need to know about.”
“That’s true. Hey! How about a sleepover?”
“Tony, I would love that!” said Ariel. “I haven’t had a sleepover since I was at home with my sisters.”
“We’ve never really had one,” said Tony. “I mean it’s always just me and Charlotte and the boys. If we ever tried to do anything alone without them, they’d get all jealous and crash it anyway.”
“Having Ariel makes us even, and I know Eric wouldn’t do anything to upset you, Ariel,” Charlotte teased.
“That’s not true,” Ariel defended. “Anytime we play any kind of game, Eric just delights in crushing me. He never lets me win, ever! No matter how mad I get or how much I complain, he beats me horribly. I’m not a sore loser, it’s just that I’d like to be victorious in a game of chess once, just once.”
“Yes, that sounds like Eric,” said Antonia, smiling to herself.
“What sounds like me?
All three girls turned to see Eric, James, and Ethan standing in the doorway of the ballroom. The three young men would have looked really dashing and manly if they weren’t all holding boxes of lilies in their arms.
The girls held their breath, wondering how much of the conversation the boys had overheard. It was Tony who found her voice first.
“Oh, just an obnoxious competitive streak that makes playing any game with you resemble torture.”
“Ouch,” Eric said playfully as he set his box near Charlotte. “Is it really that bad?”
“Yes,” Ariel exclaimed.
“Wow Eric,” said James, “Ariel’s only known you a few months, but she sounds like she’s known you for years.”
“I’m dying laughing James, really,” said Eric.
“So what did Grimsby have you guys doing?” Antonia asked.
“We were washing dishes in the kitchen,” Ethan replied. He walked over to Antonia and kissed her on the cheek.
“Sounds fun,” said Charlotte, sans emotion.
“It did give us time to think about what we wanted to do tonight,” Eric said.
“Yes,” added James. “We were thinking a nice dinner by the docks, six courses at least, a walk by the sea, and then we all retire to a restful night of slumber. What do you think?”
“I’m sorry James,” Ariel said as she finally descended her ladder. “We already have plans.”
“What plans?” James asked, utterly confused.
“We’re having a sleepover,” Ariel finished. “It’s not as elegant as sea-side dinners and I know you’ll miss us dearly, but that’s what we’ve decided.”
“Oh,” said Eric. He as well as Ethan and James had on their faces the most abyssmal looks of despair Ariel had ever seen.
“You see what we’re talking about?” Charlotte asked.
“They’re downright pathetic,” Ariel replied, smiling.
“We will miss you,” Ethan said, looking at the girls. “But…I guess we’ll live.”
“Good,” Tony exclaimed, “because we were going to do it whether you cared or not.”
“Yeah,” Eric replied. “We’re pretty much used to you guys always being right.”
The girls turned to each other to start talking about what exactly they wanted to do at their sleepover, while the boys started talking to each other.
“Eric,” Ethan started, “it looks like you won’t be able to talk to her tonight over that romantic dinner. I guess you’d better do it now.”
“Yeah, sure,” he said nervously.
“Listen,” James said, “I’ll distract Tony and Charlotte. Ethan you come with me. Eric, you ask Ariel to help you with the decorations. That’ll be your moment.”
“Thanks guys,” Eric said, with as much emotion as an eighteen-year-old male will allow.
“Sure,” Ethan said, patting him on the back. “Good luck.”
Ethan followed James who had sauntered over to Charlotte, ready to take one for the team, and dramatically tapped her on the shoulder. Charlotte turned around looking a little more than perturbed.
“I would just like to know what you plan to do at this supposed ‘sleepover’.”
“James, darling,” said Charlotte, “we’re going to eat, drink, be merry, and exchange embarrassing stories about everyone but ourselves, all without you.”
“Really, guys,” Tony started, “We never do anything like this. I don’t know why you’re making such a big deal out of this one time.”
Ariel was noting just how much she loved James and Charlotte’s ways of putting things when she felt someone grab her hand.
“Eric,” she said with a smile.
“Grim might come in any second and I don’t be the one caught being unproductive. Do you want to help me put up flowers on the other columns?”
Ariel looked from her four friends who were now bickering amongst themselves. She gave a little laugh, before reaching over for a box of flowers.
“Yeah, let’s go.”