I woke up groggily, thanks to my alarm. I lied in bed, with my eyes closed. Just one more day. One more day until winter break. I could survive, right? I sure hope so. It was an early release, so it wasn’t too long. Hmph. I really didn’t want to get up. My bed was just so warm and comfy! Surely, I could spare a few minutes… “Caroline!” I sat up right so quickly and almost fainted. “Caroline! I swear if you don’t get out of bed right now, I’m taking away your pen and ink for a month!” I started hyperventilating. No, not because of Victoria’s threats. No, it was bigger than that. I stood warily, staggering over my own feet. I walked over to my dresser, with my eyes closed. I could feel the butterflies flutter in my stomach. I felt them crawling up my esophagus. No. Not today. It couldn’t be today. Slowly, I opened my eyes. There she was. I studied her slowly and she did the same. I couldn’t believe it. I wasn’t even 17 yet! 16 was so young! “CAROLINE!” I shut my eyes tightly. “Yes, Victoria?” I heard her petite feet climb the stairs. “Carlie, are you okay? You’ve been so tired lately.” She paused outside of my bedchamber. My fatigue wasn’t my top priority right now. “Tori, you have SS, right?” I heard her breath hitch. “Caroline. Surely you don’t think…” “Oh, Tori. I know.” “Darling! You’re just so young.” “I know.” She sighed. “Well, it was bound to happen. You’re not the youngest person to get Sight Synesthesia. Didn’t Emilee get SS when she was 14?” I scoffed. “Emilee’s different! She met Peyton and then her life was complete. I mean, they’re getting married tomorrow!” “Oh, I know! I do love a good wedding. But on Christmas Eve? I just never thought that was a good time of year, there’s do much already going on.” Tori said, her voice trailing off. I sighed. “Emilee and Peyton can do what they want, to be honest, I’m surprised that they’re getting married this late! They met two years ago, and soul mates usually get married after a month of meeting one another. It’s because they were young. I’m not even sure their parents even approve!” I stopped, realizing I should refrain from gossiping. I was one of Emilee’s closest friends, and giving away her personal information wasn’t something I usually did. Tori squealed suddenly. “Yes, yes. We can talk about Emilee later. Do you really think you have SS? What’s it like for you? When I got it, it made me so dizzy I almost threw up!” She exclaimed. Well, she was right about one thing. All I felt like doing was throwing up. “It’s nothing like I’ve ever experienced! Seeing it, well, that’s not exactly what makes me dizzy. It’s knowing that I’ll meet my soulmate that makes me sick,” I tried to explain. “Darling, can I come in?” I opened the door slightly, and she stepped in quickly. When she moved, it looked like she was gracefully dancing, her long gown brushing the wooden floor. She looked at me. “Well, Carlie. You’re a beautiful young woman. And a talented one! Any man, or woman for that matter, would be lucky to have you!” I smiled sheepishly, I was always rubbish at accepting compliments. She smiled. “Get dressed. I suggest your blue petticoat and cream-colored bodice. It matches your complexion,” She suggested. I followed her directions and looked at myself in the long oval mirror beside my bed. It was the strangest thing, seeing color. Tori studied my appearance. She gave a reassuring nod. “Now. Your car is waiting outside, Emilee’s waiting for you. Don’t forget your books!” Tori ordered as I slipped on my leather boots. I ran down the wooden stairs and into the kitchen. I grabbed an apple and walked over to the hooks on the wall near the door. I grabbed my dark (as I now know dark red) cloak, wrapped it around my shoulders. I picked up my leather messenger bag and strapped it diagonally across my body. I hurried outside to see Emilee waiting inside the Ford T-model. I opened the car door, and stepped up. I sat down on the dark, luxurious seat. Emilee looked up, startled. She had a copy of “Little Women” in her hands and seemed deeply engrossed in it. It was so weird seeing Emilee. Her caramel curls were in a bun, but a few darker-colored curls escaped. I could see the pink blush on her cheeks, due to the cold December air. Her cherry lips smiled at me in a quizzical way. “Caroline? Are you alright?” She asked, sensing my different mood. She always knew when something was off. “Well, actually—” I started to say. But I was abruptly interrupted by a loud noise. Peyton stood outside, grinning with someone else by his side. Emilee scoffed. “Peyton. What on earth are you doing? I thought you were supposed to be driving us to school!” She exclaimed. “Oh, calm down, my love! Yes, I’m driving you, but we have a guest coming with us today! Meet my second-cousin, Maxwell Bradley!” Peyton introduced. I looked him, stunned. Maxwell Bradley. He was stunning. His pale complexion was tainted pink, just like Emilee’s. His dark chocolate hair was swept back, but one strand was on his brow, he looked quite mischievous. He had been looking at Emilee, but he turned his attention to me. I looked into his eyes, and he looked into mine. We both must’ve let out little gasps of surprise, or at least I did. His eyes were miraculously interesting. The color of his eyes seemed to change, or at least, that was my perception, I had only just gotten SS. But it wasn’t just his eyes that intrigued me. No, I felt like I had seen this boy before, somewhere long ago. I was quite sure that that was impossible. “Maxwell, meet my wonderful fiancé, Emilee Bourgeois,” Peyton complimented. Emilee smiled fondly at Maxwell. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, Maxwell. Peyton has told me so much about you!” Maxwell smiled back at her. “Only good things, I hope.” Emilee and Peyton laughed. Maxwell turned his attention back to me. “Oh! This is Emilee’s best friend, Caroline Darling,” Peyton introduced. Maxwell gave me a mischievous smile, making the butterflies in my stomach dance ferociously. “Miss Darling, it’s a pleasure to make your acquaintance, I look forward to getting know you,” Maxwell said earnestly. “Mr. Bradley, the feeling is mutual,” I managed to stutter. As Maxwell and Peyton climbed into the front seat, I pretended to put all my attention into my uneaten apple. I could feel Emilee staring at me. “Caroline… What was that?” She whispered into my ear as Peyton started the car. “What was what?” I whispered back. “You and Maxwell! Something happened to you, I know it,” She whispered urgently. I sighed. How could I tell her? “Emilee, I love your hair. The caramel color matches well with your chocolate-colored eyes,” I complimented, trying to convey my true message. Emilee smiled. “Well, thank you Caroline! I don’t know why you’re complimenting my hair color, I—” She stopped. “My… hair color. Color! You can see color! You have Sight Synesthesia?! Since when? And… oh my goodness!” She exclaimed loudly. “Shhhhhh! Be quiet! Yes, I have Sight Synesthesia, I got it this morning. Color is so overwhelming,” I explained. Emilee nodded excitedly. “You know what this means, right? You’re meeting your soul mate today!” “Yes, I know.” “You know, I think you’ve already met him.” “I don’t know what you’re talking about.” Emilee sighed. “Oh, Caroline. You can’t fool me. I saw you and Maxwell.” I frowned. “Maxwell isn’t my soul mate.” “I said the same thing about Peyton.” I shook my head. “No, it’s not the same. You and Peyton have something special.” Emilee laughed. “Yeah, it’s called true love. That’s what happens when you meet your soul mate.” I stared at her, astonished. “I still can’t believe that you’re getting married tomorrow. You’re so young, Emilee.” Emilee nodded. “Yes, I know. I’ve heard so many people tell me this for the past two years. But, honestly, I couldn’t see myself with anyone who’s not Peyton. I love him, even if he can be an idiot sometimes.” “Hey! I heard that!” Peyton exclaimed from the driver’s seat. Maxwell, Emilee and I laughed. “You know it’s true,” Emilee said jokingly. “Mhmm,” Peyton muttered. “Anyways, at least you can sit with me in school!” Emilee said excitedly. Ah, school. Students with SS and students without SS had always been separated from one another. Just another one of the government’s rules. Soul mates were expected to spend all their time together, to act as one person. Besides, having SS means you could always see color, enhancing your level of education. I never really understood how, but today, I was seeing the whole world differently. “Why do we even have school today?” Maxwell questioned. “Tomorrow’s Christmas Eve!” I sighed. “It’s Emilee’s and Peyton’s fault.” “It is not my fault!” Emilee and Peyton said in unison. “Well, the only reason we’re having school so late is because of your honeymoon!” “What?” Maxwell asked, obviously confused. Emilee sighed. “We asked the school to start winter break tomorrow, and have it end later in January so that we could get married on Christmas Eve and then have our two-week honeymoon and then get back home to start school without missing any days. We’d prefer to have no absences on our record. Besides, you’d still have a long break, it just wouldn’t be too long before Christmas.” “Still,” I said stubbornly. “C’mon! It’s a brilliant plan, if you ask me,” Emilee stated. “Well, I wasn’t asking you. Maxwell was.” “Technicalities, technicalities!” Emilee exclaimed. Maxwell looked at the both of us. “Are they always like this?” He asked Peyton. Peyton laughed. “Usually.” The car came to a stop, Peyton turned of the engine. I opened the car door and stepped (more like stumbled) to the ground. Maxwell had already climbed out of the car and caught me in his arms, preventing my fall. I regained my posture. “Thank you,” I muttered. Maxwell leaned in. “You’re welcome, m’lady,” He turned around swiftly and started to walk over to the white church. I could feel my cheeks turning red, and it wasn’t due to the frigid air. Emilee stood beside me. We both watched Maxwell walk into the church. “Mhmm, that Maxwell, he seems mischievous. He reminds me of Alexander Hamilton.” Emilee remarked. I scoffed. “Alexander Hamilton? He’s been dead for 700 years! The only reason you know about him is because of the play that we study in school!” Emilee gasped. “I know Alexander like I know my own mind! And it’s not a play, it’s a musical. Do you know how special it is? It’s one of the only musicals that survived The Greatest War!” “Yes, yes. The Greatest War. Hamilton this, Hamilton that,” I murmured. I knew all about The Greatest War. It was the first thing we learned in school. But that’s another story for another time. Peyton arrived at Emilee’s side, holding her hand. They were so romantic sometimes it annoyed me. We walked to the small, charming white church where Maxwell stood, talking to some of my acquaintances. I noticed that he was talking to Betty, one of the prettiest girls in the school. Her light brown skin shone brightly, and her jet-black curls bounced enticingly. She didn’t yet have SS, unless she had gotten since yesterday, so I was assured that Maxwell wouldn’t be attracted to her. A thought struck me. What if Maxwell didn’t have SS? What if he actually wasn’t my soul mate? Yes, he was the only new person I’d met, so far! I looked around, but saw no one new. I had to remind myself that I had until midnight. A loud bell rung, dismissing my thoughts. We all hurried into the church, going to our separate classrooms. Maxwell, Peyton, Emilee, and I headed to the classroom for 16&above. Usually, you stopped going to school when you turn age 17, but some people continued, especially if they wanted to work for the government. The classroom wasn’t large, but there weren’t many pupils. The classroom was split in two, one side for those with SS and one side for those without SS. All four of us went to sit on the SS side. I was so nervous, all my friends from the non-SS side stared curiously at me. This was my first public display of SS. Since I didn’t know my mate, I had to sit with Maxwell, because if he had a mate he obviously wasn’t with her. Besides all those with SS had to sit with their mate, unless it was a special circumstance, like mine. Emilee and Peyton sat in front of Maxwell and I. Emilee turned towards me. “Don’t be nervous, Caroline. You’ll get used to this, I promised,” She said encouragingly. I nodded sheepishly, not knowing what to say. I looked towards Maxwell. “So… you have Sight Synesthesia? For how long?” I asked him. I internally cursed myself for sounding like the idiot I usually was. “Oh, I’ve had Sight Synesthesia for a while now. I would say I’ve had it for approximately two hours,” He replied smoothly. “Oh. Two hours…” I trailed off. Then I fully realized what he had just said. “Two hours?!” I exclaimed. He grinned, showing off his pearly white teeth. His color-changing eyes sparkled impishly. I stared at him stunned, it felt as if I had just had the wind knocked out of my lungs. I was about to say something, when our professor started to speak. For the rest of the day, I tried to pay attention to the lesson, I really did. But I found myself staring at Maxwell, repeatedly. I wanted to stroke his chocolate curls, I wanted to gaze into his eyes. I wanted him to kiss me, which I never thought I’d ever want a boy to do. Thinking about kissing just sounds repulsive. But not then. No, Maxwell was different than any gentleman I had ever met. After class, we drove to Emilee’s estate hurriedly, for Emilee and Peyton had wedding rehearsals to attend to. I was the maid of honor, and Maxwell was Peyton’s best man. Fate seemed to be trying to push us together. I did not oppose and neither did Maxwell. For the majority of the wedding rehearsal and the dinner afterwards we talked nonstop. In those hours, I learned everything about his life. He had three siblings, his mother had died in childbirth, he grew up in Boston, Massachusetts. His favorite thing to do was draw, and he was good at it too! He managed to draw me better than any professional could’ve. And when he drew me, it was heavenly. He looked at me unlike no one had before. He studied every curve, every shape of my body. He treated me with respect that I wasn’t used to getting from gentlemen. He talked to me, listened to my stories. My stories about how my parents had died, and how I was taken care of by my godmother, Victoria. When we had to part ways at the end of rehearsal dinner, he offered to walk me home and I allowed him. We talked all the way, I was sure that I knew him better than I knew Emilee. He stopped abruptly when we made it to my doorstep. “Caroline, it has been such a wonderful experience getting to know you,” He said. He stepped closer to me, we were only a foot apart from one another. I breathed in the cold December air. “Caroline Lucille Darling, will you be my escort to the Christmas Eve Ball tomorrow night? The one before Peyton and Emilee’s wedding?” He asked, a little nervously. I did my best to contain my squeal of joy that threatened to escape my lips. “Of course, I’ll be your escort!” I exclaimed, overjoyed. He grinned. He picked me up in his arms, bridal style and twirled me around in a circle. We were both laughing by the time he put me down. I smiled fondly at him. He leaned in, his lips inclined towards mine. I lightly stepped back, wanting to tease him a little further. “I’ll meet you at the Ball at 6 o’clock sharp,” I promised. I stood on my tip-toes and lightly pecked his cheek. I swiftly ran into the house, thinking about the upcoming events ahead.
It was a bright new day, Christmas Eve. Victoria and I had spent the morning baking Christmas cookies, one of our many traditions. But afternoon soon approached, and I started getting ready for the ball. I took a warm bath, a luxury I never usually experienced. I curled my blonde locks, letting them fall down to my waist, unlike my usual neatly kept bun. Victoria tightened my corset, making it almost impossible to breathe. I fastened on the many underskirts and the final hoop skirt. Victoria took the final layer of clothing, the beautiful ball gown and slid it down my body. I looked in the long, oval mirror. A princess of sorts stared back at me. I was unrecognizable. My dress was a beautiful golden color, darker golden swirls covered the skirts. The upper bodice was shimmering, I felt like an angel. Victoria added a little rouge to my lips, but didn’t need to add any powder to my already fair complexion. I slipped on my silver slippers and grabbed my dark red cloak, draping it over my dress, fully covering it and its beauty. I walked over to the Bourgeois estate, the mansion where the Ball was being held. Emilee always did love a good party. As I entered Emilee’s home, I was surrounded by friends from school. “Caroline! Do you really have SS?” “If you do, who’s your mate?” “Is it someone we know?” “Are they nice?” “What is it like to have SS? Can you really see color?” “I—um, well,” I stuttered. Suddenly, hands grabbed mine and I was pulled out of the crowd of my fellow acquaintances. The person who had saved me, kept on holding on to one of my hands and lead me up the main staircase, away from the party guests. “Wha—Who?” I stuttered as we came to a stop in a darkened hallway at the top of the stairs. The person turned to face me. “Maxwell?!” I exclaimed, both a little surprised and overjoyed. He grinned at me. He playfully grabbed my hands and pulled me closer. He was taller than me, causing him to lean down to whisper into my ear. “You can call me Max,” He remarked, pulling away from me. My heart started to slow down again, it had been going insane only a few moments before. Whenever he was close to me, my heart seemed to be dancing and butterflies in my stomach seemed to be having a dance off. I looked into his eyes, determining that their color this evening was an olive green. He looked into mine, and the world around us seemed to stop. He finally broke the silence. “Come here,” He said, gesturing for me to follow him. I didn’t have much of a choice, he was still holding my hand, pulling me to wherever he desired. We walked to this balcony, that overlooked the ballroom. Couples were dancing on the shiny, hardwood floors. Shrieks of laughter, and many conversations could be heard. Beautiful music performed live by some local instrumentalists could be heard, as well as the clattering of plates of food that was also being supplied. But in the middle of it all was Emilee and Peyton. They were a dazzling couple, Emilee looking gorgeous in her wedding dress, Peyton looking quite handsome in his tuxedo. They were in the center of the ballroom, waltzing away. You could see their love just radiating off of them. It made me long for that love. But it also felt familiar. It was how I felt when I was with Max. I looked at Max, he looked at me. He leaned in close, his lips were once again inclined towards mine. He stopped. “M’lady. May I have your permission?” I breathed in shakily. “Yes, you have my permission.” Slowly, but surely, he leaned in and touched his lips to mine. It was a gentle kiss, and I was barely aware it happened. He pulled back and opened his eyes to look into mine. I felt as if I were about to implode, I was filled with warmth and happiness. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pulled his lips back to mine. This kiss was different. It had a whole new meaning. I had already gotten a taste of his love and I wanted more. It felt hurried, like we were running out of time. Our lips stayed connected, I messed with his hair and he pulled me closer to him. We finally had to pull back from one another, so we could breathe. There we stood, on that beautiful balcony overlooking a joyous crowd of happy souls. Our foreheads we pressed together, our eyes closed, I was grinning crazily, unable to stop. I opened my eyes, suddenly looking into Max’s. He smiled fondly. “Look up.” I followed his orders and gasped. There, above us, was mistletoe. Of course, there was. I knew Max always had that mischievous flair. I laughed slightly, and lightly kissed him again. We lived happily ever after.
Well, until everything went to hell. But like I said, another story for another time.
FIN
Thank you so much for reading! This has been so much fun to write. My co-author/friend, Charlotte Grace Foxx and I are writing The Colors of Caroline Darling, a book that I just recently had inspiration for. I'm so excited that I finally sat down and wrote it! Charlotte Grace and I have plenty ideas planned for Caroline! Check out Charlotte Grace's blog for a sneak peek of Chapter Two! Charlotte's blog: https://cgsmermaidblog.weebly.com/
Not too modest, Authoress Extraordinare, Piper Baucom