Chapter 23: Chapter 7
(Kurt Sparkle, Christine O'Grady)
It wasn't the first time Kurt had sneaked out into the night, but it was the first time he'd set foot in a place like that. A ball where only English nobles were invited to participate.
He and his friend Jeremia didn't have the right clothes, they certainly stood out from the crowd with those second-hand clothes.
They all stared at them, they looked at them from head to toe with those haughty and sometimes disgusted gazes. Everyone was wondering how they had entered, but no one dared to approach to chase away those intruders, as if they were repulsive.
«I think it wasn't a good idea Jeremia.» Kurt whispered between his teeth.
«Relax man, let's just grab something from the buffet and run away.»
«I shouldn't have followed you this time. If you were hungry, we could go to the tavern, there is a party there too. Certainly more suitable for us.»
«I told you to relax, everything will be fine.»
Jeremia pounced on the food. «You can't find this at the tavern for sure. Everything is very good. Have a taste Kurt!»
Kurt hesitantly reached for the food but someone stopped him, grabbing his wrist. That delicate hand belonged to a beautiful girl with blue eyes and long wavy golden hair. «I don't think you should be here.»
Kurt was completely mesmerized by those eyes.
«Fine, we'll go.», Jeremia took his friend's hand ready to slip away.
«No, stay.» the girl said. «I love seeing them annoyed. Just try not to mess up too much?», she let go of Kurt's wrist and walked back into the crowd of dancing nobles.
«We just got away with it… hey man, what's wrong?»
«She... is the first who hasn't looked at me with an expression of disgust, since I came in. She even touched my wirst… »
«"We" came in, I'm here too.»
«She didn't rush to wash her hand. Look at her, she's just talking quietly with those ladies.»
Jeremia didn't turn around, he was too busy staring his friend. «Kurt, don't even think about it. You saw her, she's not one of us.»
But it was too late.
Kurt was already walking through the crowd to join her.
Well it wasn't very hard, those rich gentlemen moved away as soon as he passed by them.
From the expressions of the women conversing with her, the girl understood he was behind her. She smiled, as if she had something on her mind. She turned and took him by the hand. «Let's dance.» she said.
She took him to the center of the room and started showing him the steps, without Kurt being able to speak. Jeremia just kept eating.
«Don't be so stiff, don't think about all those stares.» she said, while their hands were palm to palm.
«You can't know how they are looking at me.»
She sought his gaze while he tried to avoid those of the nobles who whispered horrified.
«No, no. On the contrary, I know. And I'm amused by the expressions of horror on their faces. These parties are so boring, so it's more enjoyable like this, don't you think?»
«Are you using me? Is that why you asked me to dance?»
Kurt looked embittered. For some strange reason he had thought that this girl might be interested in someone like him. How could he have thought that? If she had met him on the street she wouldn't have even deigned to look at him.
«You look disappointed.»
Kurt stopped dancing. «I should have never come here. There are parties more suited to people like me.»
«Bring me with you.»
Kurt looked up and met those beautiful blue eyes. «Why?»
«Please!», she grabbed both of his hands. «Get me out of here.»
The boy didn't let her say it twice. He took her hand and dragged her to the tavern, not far from the house where he lived with his father. They ran, without stopping. The girl seemed happy hand in hand with that boy she had just met. When they arrived at the tavern, she felt even happier. The dances, the music, everything was much more cheerful. Those people who were dancing seemed so joyful and carefree, without thinking about social constraints. They didn't care about any appearance, they danced just to have fun and not think about the difficulties of everyday life.
«This is a real party!» she said smiling.
Kurt was surprised. He thought she would complain about the smell, how ridiculous the dancing was, about anything. But she seemed radiant with happiness.
She noticed Kurt's eyes on her. «Something is wrong?»
Kurt shook his head. «I thought you would make another expression coming here.»
«They're not like those rich people you have had the pleasure of meeting. If my sister hadn't brought me, I wouldn't have gone to that ball either. For me appearances don't matter and I hate having to submit to rules and constraints. I'm grateful to you for helping me running away.»
«May I know who I had the pleasure of dancing with?»
«My name is Christine.»
«I'm Kurt.» he said holding out his hand.
«You should show me the steps.»
«Just follow the music. No steps, just let go.»
Christine smiled at him and grabbed his hand. She let him lead her into the fray.
They danced for hours. Christine had never had so much fun, finally free from the social constraints she had to undergo. She didn't have to be afraid of being judged no matter what she did. There were no missteps, no rules to respect. She just had to have fun.
Nobody cared that this young woman was wearing a beautiful dress with gold trim. No one was interested in her social rank, they welcomed her as she was one of them.
Even Kurt forgot where she came from. He took her hand, tightened her hips, twirled her and lifted her into the air without the fear of being slapped by her. She was really different from the aristocrats who often came to commission shoes to his father.
But the party was destined to end. The next morning everyone would have to go back to work, to earn a living.
«I have to take you back.» Kurt said.
«My sister and father will certainly be looking for me.»
But this time they didn't run. Neither of them was in a hurry. They walked slowly, as if neither of them wanted the evening to end. Without realizing it, they took each other hands and kept walking till they arrived a few meters from the gigantic and sumptuous house from which they had ran away a few hours earlier.
«When will there be another party like that?» Christine asked.
«To tell the truth, they celebrate almost every night in that tavern. To forget the hardships of the daytime. Dancing is liberating. We don't have much food but nobody can take our music away.»
Christine let his hand go and stepped in front of him. «Can we go there again?»
Kurt wanted to say yes, but he knew it wasn't going to be easy. He had to go out secretly, since in the evening his father didn't allow him to leave the house. He hesitated but in the end he said yes. He would do anything to see her again.
«Kurt!», Jeremia was a few steps away from them, on his way home from the party. He ran and caught up with them. «What the hell are you doing? You left me there alone.»
«It wasn't his fault, I asked him to take me away.» Christine defended him.
«And why?»
«Didn't you realize how deadly boring was that party?»
«Jeremia was busy eating.» Kurt whispered. «Go home Jer, I'll take the young lady home first.»
«As you wish.», Jeremia went away shaking his head.
They started walking again but this time without holding hands. They were too close to the house. Kurt didn't want people to see her hand in hand with a poor fellow like him.
He was thinking that after that night, she would quickly forget about him.
«What's wrong?» Christine asked.
«Nothing.»
«Is there something on your mind?»
Kurt didn't reply. «We're here.»
Christine stopped him before he could leave. «You won't forget our promise, right?»
You will be the one to forget me, he thought then hinted at a smile before running away.
He reached his home and climbed up coming in through his bedroom window.
I had to stay here and not go out, he complained to himself.
But it was too late. His heart had already started beating for that girl.
Gifts
-- Gift
received Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone