I'm Normally Perfect (re-upload)

Chapter Thirty-Two

The night of the ball I was grateful Stewart wasn't at the house, as I was a nervous wreck. The dread had been slowly increasing in my stomach for the ten days between Robert's invitation and the zero hour and I was nearly sick with the idea that I was to be attending a dance, of all things on Earth.

I got into the stockings and dress (Alex zipped me up and told me I looked lovely) then I slipped on the shoes and Alex helped put my hair up in the Mrs Burrows' bun and clasped the diamond necklace around my neck. After I'd put in the dangly earrings that matched the necklace, Alex did my make up. She dabbed a light scent behind my ears and on my wrists and leaned in to smell me. Once I was put together she stood back and assessed me.

'You should probably not chew on your bottom lip so, or else you're going to have all the lipstick off that one side.' I laughed and mooshed my lips together to redistribute the lipstick. She held up one finger and disappeared down the hall. She returned with an elegant wrap, 'It may get a bit cold on your bare arms,' and placed it around my back and over my arms. She stepped back, 'You look splendid, darling.'

I waved my hand, 'Oh, you say that to all the girls.'

She laughed. 'Are you nervous?'

I nodded, 'I don't know why. It's just stupid Robert.'

'Best not call him that when he arrives.'

The doorbell went a few minutes later and the girls went mad, as usual. I followed Alex downstairs and she let Robert in, 'I'm Alex Pristin—we've met before, I believe.'

He chuckled nervously, 'Once or twice, I think,' then shook her hand a bit too heartily. When he turned his attention to me he just stared. When he finally spoke he only said, 'Catherine.'

'Robert.'

His mouth was practically hanging open, 'You look...amazing.'

'Thanks for sounding so incredibly astonished.'

He coloured, 'I didn't mean...You simply look...incredible. Sophisticated like.'

I smiled and looked at my borrowed shoes, 'Thanks. You look great, as well.' He was quite handsome in his tuxedo. I looked at the corsage he held, 'Do you have something for me?'

'What? Oh.' He looked at the white flower as if it had just blossomed there in the little plastic box. 'Right.' He crossed to me and placed the flower on my wrist, 'I didn't know what colour would be right so went with white. I hope that's fine.'

I nodded, he seemed nervous, which calmed me, as I couldn't figure what he had to be nervous about. 'It's lovely, really.'

Alex added her agreement and asked, 'Did you have any trouble finding us?'

His tone was overly formal, as though he'd suddenly realised he was addressing royalty, 'Oh, um, no, Professor. Your directions were bang on, thank you for writing them out for me.' He stared at her uncertainly before adding, 'Is there any time I should have her back by?'

Alex chuckled, 'I'm not her mother.' She caught my "Please tell him to have me back early, I don't want to be out there all bloody night" expression. 'Though I won't be able to sleep until she's back, so before midnight would be best, I think. I'm a bit of a worrier, you see.' That meant I only had to get through five hours. My internal clock began ticking down the time.

He nodded, 'Yes, professor,' straightened up and turned to me, 'Are you ready?'

Alex said, 'Oh, wait, may I get a picture or two?' I loathed being photographed, but as this was my first dance, and I was all dressed up in Alex's clothes I figured it was as good a time as any. We went into the living room and stood in front of the fireplace and Alex snapped a couple of pictures of us together and one of each of us on our own then we said our goodbyes. Robert held my door open, 'You really do look fantastic this evening, Cate.'