A
ddi twirled in front of the mirror for the twentieth time in the last few minutes. Her lilac dress looked and felt like it was made exactly for her. It was ankle length, and when she spun, the skirt flowed out like a rippling cloud. The Greek toga-style top made her feel like a princess. Star had done her hair half up in a braided bun and the rest down in ringlets. They’d all decided on flats. The last thing she needed was to break her neck.
Daddy scowled. “You look past Disney
channel and right into Gossip Girl
. Where’s my Little girl?”
Mommy slapped his shoulder. “Oh stop it, she deserves to be a princess for a night.” Hugging Addi, she said, “Honey, you look amazing. I’m so excited for you.”
Addi kissed her cheek. “I’ve never felt so beautiful.”
Just then, a knock came at the door.
Addi smoothed her dress and looked in the mirror one last time as Daddy answered the door.
“Hello, Damien.” Daddy ushered him into the room.
“Wow. You look amazing, Penny.” Damien gawked.
Addi blushed. “Thanks. You look amazing too! I love how Star made your tux exactly match my dress.”
He pulled out a white rose and put it in her hair. “Star thought you’d like that better than a traditional corsage.”
“I definitely do!” She looked in the mirror again and smiled. “I love it, Damien, thank you!”
“Okay, it’s time for pictures!” Mommy pulled out her phone and clapped.
They started with traditional prom photos, but by the time Mommy finally felt she had enough pictures, they’d resorted to crossed eyes, sticking their tongues out, and pretending to vampire bite each other.
“Fine!” Mommy said with a laugh. “You can go. Just give me hugs, and have fun!”
Daddy kissed the top of Addi’s head and shook Damien’s hand again. “Have her home by curfew, young man. And remember, ‘nothing untoward’. Those were your words.”
Damien looked him straight in the eye. “Yes, sir.”
Offering Addi his arm, he walked her down to the dining room.
The specials for that evening were Teriyaki Salmon and Shrimp Scampi. Addi happily had some of both.
“So, what do you do when you’re not at the Castle?” she asked Damien after they’d both been served.
“I’m a third year law student at Cornell. My Uncle and I have a long-distance relationship, so we try to get together several times a year. I want to be a federal prosecutor someday. What about you?”
“Well, before I became a full-time Little, I worked at a ski lodge in Switzerland. But now, I don’t do a lot. I’m supposed to start online college courses soon. Our family likes to travel, so I don’t want to be tied down to a classroom. I think I’d like to be a preschool teacher.”
“So you can try to keep them from screwing up their lives before they get to me?”
Addi laughed. “Yeah, pretty much. You mentioned before that here, you’re kind of a switch. Do you date or play with anyone at home?”
He shrugged. “Some, but nothing serious. I am really busy with my studies, and when I did visit some local munches in my limited free time, there wasn’t really anyone who caught my interest. Honestly, I’ve felt a little bit of prejudice from the groups I’ve visited. There seems to be a belief that if you’re male and identify in a submissive role, especially Little or Middle, then you must be a bit of a Sissy. For women, it seems to be a bit easier to cross roles. I’m not certain why. I enjoy submitting to my Uncle and being allowed to let go a bit, but I also enjoy taking the more dominant role.”
“I’m sorry you’ve faced that. If it’s any consolation, you come across quite dominant in school,” she replied with a shy smile.
“I don’t want to be irritating, but I do take my role as a prefect very seriously. Honestly, my attendance at the school is to fulfill my Toppier fantasies rather than the younger ones. When I attended school the first time around, I was on the scrawnier side, and no one took me seriously. I appreciate being allowed to have a redo.”
“I think we all do. I think that’s why we’re all here. We either had crappy childhoods and we’re trying to replace that, or great ones and we didn’t get to enjoy it long enough. Either way, we are all getting a chance at a do over.”
He nodded in agreement and glanced at his watch. “Oh! I’ve been enjoying talking with you so much, I didn’t realize how late it’s gotten. The dance started fifteen minutes ago. Are you ready to head over?”
“I sure am, although I’m not sure I’ll be able to dance. I’m so full, I might just roll across the dance floor.”
He laughed and helped her out of her seat.
They held hands as they walked out to the garden. It was lovely in the evening air. The stars in the sky seemed to shine extra brightly just for their affair. There were lanterns hanging all over and papier-mâché butterflies placed carefully amongst the bushes. Tables were set up, overflowing with desserts and, just as Master Emerson had promised, a fully stocked—albeit non-alcoholic—bar was set up directly across from a perfectly polished wooden dance floor.
“Oh, look! One of the tables has jackets and shawls. They think of everything here!” Addi noted.
“Are you cold?” Damien asked accommodatingly.
She nodded. “Mmmhmm, just a little chilly. It’s so hard to gauge in October what the weather’s going to be like from one second to the next.”
Damien went and grabbed her a thick black shawl; it was the softest article of clothing she’d ever held in her life. He helped her drape it over her shoulders.
“Would you like a drink?” he queried.
“No, thank you. I’m so full from dinner. I would like to dance, though, I mean, if you’re in the mood.”
He led her over to the dance floor. There was a live band playing swing music. She was grateful it was a dance she actually knew.
His hand on her back felt warm and comforting. She kind of hoped they’d do a slow dance so she could enjoy it some more. Her feelings confused her, but she tried not to feel guilty. Antonio and Natalie had told her this was a safe place to explore.
After the first dance ended and everyone clapped, she noticed Cindy and snort giggled. Cindy looked ravishing in a hot Marilyn Monroe
number, with her blonde curls done just right and long, fake eyelashes. It wasn’t her
looks that were causing Addi’s response, it was the two boys giving Cindy puppy dog eyes and following her every move. One had punch in his hands, and the other, a cup of mousse. Cindy was soaking it up, and completely ignoring both of them.
Addi waved at her, and Cindy waltzed onto the dance floor. “Hey, you two, how’s it going? Wow, Penny, you look gorgeous!”
Addi twirled around and giggled. “Thanks. I feel like a fairy princess. Speaking of amazing, hubba hubba! You look like you stepped right out of the history books.”
Cindy twirled as well. “I know. I feel like I should go sing Happy Birthday to the president.”
The band started up with another swing number, and Damien grabbed Addi’s hand and swung her around. Cindy directed Boy Toy One to give the punch to Boy Toy Two and began dancing with him. Addi was pretty sure Damien would never put up with that sort of treatment.
The music melded into a slower, more bluesy song, and Addi leaned her head against Damien’s chest. She could hear his heartbeat as they swayed back and forth.
Before she was ready, the music stopped, and she had to return to the land of the living. This time when Damien offered to get her a drink, she took him up on it. A virgin spiced-apple martini sounded divine.
They stood off to the side to enjoy their drinks. Damien offered her a sip of his caramel pumpkin cocktail. She wasn’t sure which drink was better. Wanting more of both, she held onto his drink and sipped back and forth between the two.
“You’ll have to get another, I’ve commandeered this one,” she teased him with a wink.
He laughed heartily. “Well, since this is a first date and all, I’ll let you get away with that.”
They stood side by side, watching the other students milling about, their costumes ranging everywhere from formal ball gown to Shirley Temple
style with bloomers. The boys tended towards tuxedos and suits, but some were in little sailor suits that reminded Addi of Cindy’s bathing suit. Everyone looked like they were having the time of their lives.
A group started a conga line and Addi dragged Damien into it.
“This is the most fun I’ve had, like ever! Why weren’t parties in Utah this fun?” she shouted.
“I don’t think parties in high school were ever this fun anywhere. We were all so worried about growing up and fitting in, but now we can just be ourselves,” Damien yelled back.
Addi grinned and danced her heart out. What Damien said made total sense; after the last ten months with Mommy and Daddy, this was the freest she had ever felt in her life. No one was telling her she needed to grow up or wasn’t good enough. There were no expectations laid on her that she didn’t agree to, at least peripherally. She loved her life.
As the dance came to a close, Damien leaned down and kissed her gently on the lips. “Thank you for a perfect evening.”
She accepted the kiss and kissed him back just as gently, but again wondered if she was doing something wrong. “Thank you, as well. Like I said, I’ve never had such an amazing time. I really appreciate you asking me and being such a kind date. Thank you.”
They stood listening to the last remnants of music, returned the shawl, and went back inside to get Addi home before the stroke of midnight.