So this is another Uni project turned blog post. I had to write 1200=1500 words based on the word 'mirror'. I wrote a lot more than that of course, and bulked out the centre a bit more - before deleting it all because word count, but I do now have that as an added possibility for a future project... might be fun :)
Hope you like it!
Watching her was like looking in a mirror. Everything you dreamed you would ever be, she was. She overflowed with charisma and grace, as though it was light, and she, the sun. People flocked to her, wanting little more than to bask in her presence, soaking up every little tidbit they could. No one ever realising how tightly wrapped around her finger they were.
It was fascinating to watch, how she changed herself like she was little more than a costume to be worn, a performance whose praises should be sung. She slid into each role like she was born to it, charming everyone no matter who(m) she was pretending to be. She just fitted in so perfectly, and no one was any the wiser of how easily she played them all.
Until she met him.
He stood out amongst a sea of well-dressed men, wearing black jeans and a leather jacket, the black mask hiding only half his face from view. She thought it would be easy to pull him under her spell, just like every other man. She could feel the way his golden-brown eyes followed her as she was passed from hand to hand and spun around the dance floor. The golden designs seeming to dance around her frame as she was twirled beneath arms and tugged into bodies, straining to catch a glimpse of the mysterious man whenever she could.
A smirk tugged at his lips as he stole her from the arms of her latest dance partner, his hands on her hips as he snuck up behind her, and distracting her from the man she’d charmed with a simple smile. His grip tightened on her as the song changed, keeping her locked to his side rather than changing partners as she had been all night.
“What brings you here tonight?” His head inclined towards her, a half smile on his lips as he spun her under his arm and back into his chest. She looked up at him as his hand returned to the small of her back, leading her with the slightest of cues.
“What else but a beautiful lady wrapped in red?” He was still smiling as he started to navigate them towards the edge of the dance floor, his hand staying on the small of her back so he could lead her towards a table in the back.
“Good company, better food, and amazing music?” She offered in return, picking up two flutes of champagne from a passing waiter with a smile, handing it over to the strange gentleman. He took it, if only to put it down at the table and pull out the chair for her.
“No, I came for you love. I’ve been watching you for a while, and I must say, you intrigue me.” His presence at her back stopped her from getting up and leaving straight away.
“So I know you?” She forced herself to remain calm, taking a sip of her champagne as he took the seat opposite her with a chuckle.
“No, you don’t. We’ve never spoken before.” He leant back, the flute in his hand but his eyes locked on her.
“But you know me?” She didn’t let the casual way he chose to sit brush past her, trying to figure out where she could have run into this man before.
“No one knows you love, you hide behind masks much more realistic than the one you wear now.” He leans forward, his fingers running across the gold designs that hid most her face from view.
“I don’t understand-” She knocked his hand away, but his hand caught hers.
“Of course you do.” He pretended to admire her perfectly manicured blood red nails, but she pulled her hand back and set it in her lap with the other.
“I am curious love, who is the real you? Do you even know yourself?” He raised an eyebrow as he sat back and picked up her glass.
“This has been an... insightful... conversation, but I really must depart. Thank you for your time.” She reaches for her glass once more, standing with the intent to walk away.
“I’m not finished with you yet love.” His hand wrapped around her wrist once more, stopping her from leaving.
“But I’m done with you. Release me.” His thumb brushed along the inside of her wrist, turning her to face him so he could cup her face. His eyes locking on hers as he spoke once more.
“Aren’t you curious? How I figured you out? Saw through your little game?” His grip lessened on her arm, giving her the chance to walk away if she still wanted to. She stepped forward, tilting her head back so she could watch him closely.
“Tell me then.” He chuckled, wrapping an arm around her waist, tugging her slightly closer as he pretended her attempts to flirt were working.
“Only if you meet my conditions first.” He smirked down at her as her arm rested on top of his, ready to make a quick getaway should she need to.
“Conditions?” He glanced out towards the crowds of people, dancing to the small orchestra band, wrapped in expensive gowns and perfectly tailored tuxedos.
“You and me, one night, and you have to be yourself, no masks, no lies, no judgement.” He turned them both as a waiter hurried past, making sure she was out of their direct path.
“And if I am being myself, here and now?” He chuckled, dropping his head down so he could whisper in her ear.
“We both know you aren’t love... so do we have a deal?” She pulled away to look up at him, a smirk on his lips and a twinkle in his golden eyes.
“We have a deal.” She never realised what she was getting herself into, as he whisked her from the party and onto the back of a motorcycle. That, was where the world she’d built around herself, first started to crack. He took her out, shopping, drinking, dancing, all the places people like her never went.
At first, she tried to charm him, looked for the decisions she thought he wanted her to make. Always noticing the look of sadness that flashed across his face at her choices. It was strange, being so used to being able to play people like strings on a fiddle, to spending time with someone who was hurt when she played by his rules.
What he wanted to see in her was something she couldn’t figure out how to be. She was so used to being what others wanted to see, that shedding all of that seemed impossible. The attempt at making decisions for herself terrified her, and she found herself falling back on what she knew, reading him and picking the choices she thought he wanted her to.
In the end, she had mastered it, another mask she could call on in times of trouble. She went with the weird choice, the one her friends would have steered clear of by any and all means necessary. Only praying that she would have him fooled enough to reveal the information he held from her.
“So how did you figure me out?” She asked, sliding off the back of the motorcycle and handing him back the helmet. He placed it aside, half leaning against the bike as he looked over her, a sad smile on lips.
“Sorry love, you didn’t meet my conditions.” His arm wrapped around her waist, tugging her closer so he could whisper in her ear. “You’ll never be happy until you learn to live for yourself.” He looked down at her for a second, and she almost thought he was going to kiss her, until he pulled away, settling himself down on the bike.
“Goodluck.” She watched as he sped off into the sunrise, turning back to her house and walking inside. Eyes stopping when they found the mirror hanging on the wall of the foyer. She watched herself move closer, the mask from the masquerade ball still resting atop of her nose. Slowly, she lifted it off, and only I remained.
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