The Hidden Princess At All-Boys Alpha Academy

Chapter 0328

I beam in particular at the thought of Daphne, who envisioned me in this dress tonight. Daphne, my dear friend who knows the intricacies of my story, and my personality, so completely that she...made this dress.

And instantly, I know that she made it. And that she made it for me. Because it fits like a damn glove, even if it is a little bit long.

Eagerly, I move for the door, pulling it open and smirking when I find Daphne standing about ten feet away, waiting for me, the straps of a pair of insanely high stiletto shoes draped over her fingers, held out towards me. "I cut the hem for six-inch heels," she says with a smirk. "Think you can handle it?"

I squeal with excitement as I scurry over to her, throwing myself into her arms as she laughs and hugs me back, as Markie says " whoa!" and Juniper gapes from her spot by the vanity, pins all over the bottom of her dress.

"I love it," I whisper to Daphne, incredibly excited as I pull back and take the shoes from her hands, leaning on her shoulder as I start to pull them on.

"You do!?" Daphne nearly sings, excited. "I dreamed it up, but I wasn't sure you'd like it -"

"It's perfect," I say, shaking my head a little.

"Actually," she murmurs, and I watch with surprise as she pushes hastily at the straps over my shoulders so that they fall, dainty, to hang in loops over my arms, leaving my shoulders bare. I hesitate for a second, thinking that the whole dress is going to fall down, but then I realize that Daphne's crafted it so carefully that the boning and structure beneath the long strip of black silky fabric holds it up. The whole dress looks like it's crafted to go to pieces and leave me naked in an instant, but really it's quite sturdy.

"You're so clever," I murmur, twisting a little as I take in the effect in the mirror. "I can't believe you did this. Every girl in the nation is going to want one of these tomorrow." Daphne laughs and heads back to Juniper while I finish pulling on my shoes. I turn towards Mark and Juniper, wanting their opinions, when the door opens and mom comes in in her own gorgeous gown, a confection of peach-colored organza and lace.

presses the door shut and turns to

and down, her eyes wide and her

bite my lip, not sure if I like

stomach sinks, but then she clasps her hands in front of her chest and gives a brilliant little shriek of joy. "Ariel! You look gorgeous! You look

my hand and making me spin in a circle for her, her eyes going wide

laugh and blush at once. Pleased, Daphne goes back

don't think it's too much?" I ask,

gives me an anxious little grimace. "I

me, darting over to the closet where some of my coats are kept, pulling out a chic little faux-fur wrap. "You can just wear this until we get to

nod, grinning at my mom, loving her loving that she doesn't have a prudish bone in her body and would never

tosses the coat onto the bed and then quickly begins to confer with Daphne about what we should do for makeup and hair. Mark pretends to get in on it, giving his playful suggestions, all of which are dismissed because he has terrible teenage-boy tastes. But by the time Juniper's hem is all sewn up, I'm equally fitted out as well, with dark and smoky makeup on my eyes, and barely a bit of gloss on my lips, and two tiny diamond clips holding my hair back from my face so that it flows down my back. Simple, sexy, dangerous. When I stand next to my mom and my sister and look in

much," mom squeals, putting her arms around our shoulders and giving us each a kiss and a squeeze. "What about me!?" Markie protests, behind us, left

you too, Mark, of course," mom says, her voice over-indulgent as it always is with him, but he beams anyway when she turns and gives him a

and crosses her arms, looking me up and down.

no more," I say with a mock sigh, grinning at

then gives me a nod. "I think it's cool," she says, giving a one-shouldered shrug. "New era, new princess. I think it...suits