Time Limit

Kyle

  (A/N: This is the first chapter from Kyle's point of view, hope you enjoy seeing things this way!)

I FINALLY DO IT

  Oh jesus...this is gonna be real embarrassing... these 'optimistic' thoughts flooded my mind as I stared at the tough blonde girl whom I had just met a week ago, now standing opposite me with her arms folded. I was sweating and my voice almost seemed to fail me. Not like that's happened before...not as the founder's son anyway.

  "Well?"questioned AJ. She glanced at her watch. "I have lessons in five minutes and I don't expect to spend that time standing around watching you looking awkward in front of me."

  I groaned inwardly. This was going to be crazy. Asking a girl you barely know to the opening ball? Sorta nuts. But then...

  Since when did I obey the rules all the time?

  I took a deep breath and looked AJ directly in the eye. Nothing can go wrong.

  "AJ," I smiled smoothly. "Will you go to the opening masquerade ball with me?"

  She stared at me for a long while, and I got so nervous I starting fidgeting with my T-shirt like mad. This had never happened before. Usually I went with girls I'd known a good long while. But this...

  "Why not?"AJ's voice snapped me out of my reverie. I was completely gobsmacked by her casual reply. She frowned. "Did you want me to say no?"

  "Of course not!" I cried hurriedly. She grinned. "That settles my dance partner problems," I smiled.

  "Mine too," she said. She ran a hand through her messy hair, smiled and ran off, leaving me standing alone beneath the tree like an idiot. Not that I was one.  I sighed happily and leaned against the tree. Chuckling to myself, I walked off, back to my room.

  I shoved my books aside and stood in front of my wardrobe. With a dramatic flourish, I threw the door open—

  To reveal T-shirts, jeans and sneakers. In other words, absolutely nothing suitable for a ball like that. As casual as I usually was during the balls in the past years, I could not embarrass myself in front of a sassy girl like AJ. She would never let me hear the end of it.

  Slowly, I turned and searched every single inch of my room, looking for something formal enough to wear. But there was nothing. I realized what I had to do— something my parents had always wanted me to do.

  Seemed like it was finally time to play the charming, formal guy... for the first time in my life. With a sigh, I turned and began rummaging around for the mask I wore literally every single year.

  I just hoped I wouldn't embarrass myself too much.