What A Girl Wants: With A Twist (BWWM)

The Ball, a Foot and a Big Fat Liar

Normal POV

The ballroom was alive with chatter, people were dressed to the 9's, conversing with one another about God only knows. There was a live band, some bland melody echoing throughout the room with the harp punctuating pretentious laughter.

Frederick and Johnston had disappeared almost instantly, talking to his competitors as well as contributors who were present. Meanwhile, Evangeline and Eleanora had their noses in the air, unimpressed with the festivities. They truly thought they were too good to be here.

Evangeline stood with her head high, back ramrod straight as she scanned the room for her friends and hopefully a handsome blonde. She titled her head to look at her mother and smirked, "I do say mother, I'm glad you talked father into having her ride with his mother." It definitely made all the difference when she wasn't there to muck things up.

"Oh I didn't do that", Eleanora told her daughter, shaking her head to and fro, "but I do say, I'm glad the old hag made one good decision." She hated her mother-in-law with all her heart. The woman had had it for her since her and Frederick were in school, and it's only gotten worse since then.

"I mean, what kind of person would I be to let her arrive with us? What would people think seeing us with her?", she was baffled at just the thought of their pureblood canoodling with that of a bastard American child. She quickly recovered as a family dressed man passed by and they smiled and waved at him until they were alone again, "Besides, her and the old woman are the dirt on the tapestry of our great family; they are perfect for one another." They shared a laugh, simultaneously drinking from their champagne glasses.

Meanwhile, up the staircase and outside the entrance doors, Aria and her grandmother stood at the door. Annissa had made the decision to not arrive with her son and his family, but to ride alongside her granddaughter. The latter seemed to notice how little fondness she shared for her daughter in law and her spawn, but Aria didn't comment on it. She had only known them 2 weeks to her probably 20 or so years.

At the moment, the two "outcasts" waited to make their grand entrance or in Aria's case, pacing on the marble floor.

Annissa watched her fidget and squirm before speaking up, "Child relax, you are making my nerves bad just watching you."

With that single comment, Aria halted her nervous activity. "Sorry, grandma", she apologized honestly, stepping aside to let others enter.

"My dear", the elder woman called out, beckoning her over with a gloved hand, "do tell me when you plan to actually enter?", she asked, "The suspense is nearly killing me."

Aria smiled awkwardly at her comment, "I'm just so nervous", she admitted, looking down at her nails.

Annissa frowned at her granddaughter, "Whatever for?"

Aria couldn't even contain her snort, "Was that a genuine question?", she scoffed as she threw herself down on the chase, shaking her head, "Have you not seen me?" She was a mess; the pins were digging into her scalp and her dress, although stunning was a nightmare. She couldn't help but think they were all right about her. No amount of makeup or pretty dresses would change that. Evangeline had made sure to tell her that too; how she didn't belong. She didn't deserve to be in such a beautiful dress.

Annissa watched her fight with herself with soft eyes, before taking a seat next to her, "I have indeed seen you and you want to know what?" She took the younger girls' hands, forcing her to turn to face her. Aria could hardly bare to look in her eyes, "I see the absolute best parts or your mother and father. Do you know what that is?"

She shook her head in response, fighting back a sniffle, "N- no, what is it?"

"Your confidence and good head on your shoulder", she told her, "You don't care what people think of you."