Seeing Damien in the office startled me. Worried me, even. It made no sense... how could he have been in a fight if he came out untouched?

It just didn't add up.

On a better note, it was definitely needed for me to switch into the more advanced class. Learning more in depth about Deltora's history was quite interesting and very entertaining.

Did you know most of Deltora used to be filled with wild unicorns?

Yeah, me neither. Wouldn't that be a sight.

The days that continued were long and uneventful. Damien and I's last periods together were the only times I would get to talk with him.

They would play out like this: "Woods, you are looking quite different today." He smiled down at my new cotton navy dress, a little shorter up my thigh then usual.

I rolled my eyes at him,"How mature are you?" I glanced down at the length and wanted to giggle. I couldn't believe he noticed such a small difference.

"I'm definitely mature alright... want to ask how?" He smirked.

"I would even ask your age, but I wouldn't want to embarrass you because I know you can't count that high." I frowned playfully.

Lie. He's almost finished with fragit years.

He laughed," You sure do surprise me, Annalise Woods."

The past three days' conversations were mostly a blur. Our conversations were mostly banter, smiles and laughs. It was as if the words spilled out of my mouth like silk, talking to him.

He was so easy to talk to; charming and never dull. When I was around him, I never even realized when the corners of my lips would lift.

Which was all the time.

He made me laugh until my smile was up to my ears. The Prince was growing on me. I guess I'd finally let him in... a little bit.

It was quite ironic though. The one man who I'm letting in is the one who could ruin my life forever. If he found out I used to live in Descuvi...

I didn't even want to imagine.

"Wear this, it shows off your curves beautifully. Dam-"

"No! Your starting to act like my mother, Veronica." I peel off the dress, it being too constricting, hugging my body like a serpent.

"It did look good on you Annalise," Hazlaen even admits.

I roll my eyes," Yes, but I look like a strumpet." I didn't want to look like a woman to bring home tonight.

"Isn't that the point!" Veronica points out,"That's what I'm doing. I don't even know how you guys are going to get back from Secora because I am having a fun night."

"Ugh, Veronica." Hazalen covers her eyes,"You can do whatever you want but I'm hitting the bar." Hazalen exclaims.

"You drink?" I question.

"I started not to long ago. After the... well I drank a lot. I was a wreak but I'm better now. Just haven't had one in a while." She exclaimed. My eyebrows were raised in surprise.

"I'm not addicted anymore, I swear. I'll just have a few drinks." She reassures us. I just nod to her, I trust she won't do anything too crazy.

"Annalise I swear on the gods if you don't wear this dress-" Veronica threatens me, holding up the tight dress.

"I agree! You won't know anybody there, and nobody will know who you are. You can wear whatever you want, so please wear this. You look amazing." Hazalen agrees. They make me shrug the dress back on, and I stare at my reflection.

The deep navy hugs my every curve, my hips wide and everything else popping out in the right places. The dress stopped mid-thigh, and you could see the rest of my long legs.

"Damn! If Damien could only see you in that-"

"Shut up, Veronica!" I scolded her in a smile. When really, I was thinking the exact same thing.

Veronica did all of our makeup, each completely not suiting our personalities. Mine was fierce... I looked like, as the jamfo queens at jamfo clubs would say, "snatched for the gods." I looked like I could cut down people with one look, not like my usual humbleness.

We all filed in the carriage Veronica ordered; us being able to do whatever we want for the whole weekend because Veronica's parents were out of town.

"So what will you do when we get there, Annalise?" Veronica gave her usual sly look at me.

The carriage rocked,"I have no idea, I've never been to a club before. I'll probably just stay low."

"Just stick with us and you will be fine." Hazalen smiled at me. For some odd reason, I had a feeling that that would not happen.

The carriage rocked us again, me grasping onto the wood for stability. "So I heard a little rumor the Prince hasn't gotten with a girl ever since the first day of school." Veronica smirked right at me.

I rolled my eyes," It's only been two weeks. That has nothing to do with me." They both just smirked in response.

"I'm serious!" I pleaded, my eyes wide.

"It's just unheard of." Veronica retorts," He's always with girls." I felt a pang of unwelcoming jealously rush through me. I push it back, not wanting foul feelings in my mind and body.

"Veronica, what do your parents even do? Why are they out of town?" Hazalen asks aloud.

"I don't even know myself, they are very hush-hush about it. As long as the money keeps rolling in, I don't even care." Veronica says. Hazalen and I give a glance at each other before the carriage rocks completely, me bumping heads with Veronica. The rest of the way we were in a laughing mess, my head hurting slightly.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

"Card please?" The guard halted us at the door. We definitely looked old enough, that wasn't the problem. I looked at Veronica in panic yet she looked completely calm.

She took out the money from her red velvet colored purse, the pumping of music heard from inside. The upbeat music was nothing like I had ever heard making me want to get up and dance already.

As we entered, the music intensified. There were different colored lanterns hanging above us with a type of sheer fabric covering them to make a unique color on the floor, the black walls giving an intensifying effect. I smiled as I saw people jumping on the floor to the upbeat instrumental music, the pace quickening and the smiles on their faces rising.

Veronica nudged my side," I'm going to get a drink. Come with me?" I nodded in response, my eyes glued to the dance floor. They looked so free and full of no worries, something I envied terribly. How can you feel that way? Is that what alcohol does to you? If so, I want some of that. I tore my eyes away as Veronica grabbed my hand.

"Wait-where's Hazalen?"

"She's already at the bar, silly." Veronica smirked. I smiled back as we sat down on the high chairs, my gaze fixed towards the attractive bartender.

"What can I do for you lovely ladies tonight?" He looked me up and down, then met my eyes with a smirk. I crossed my legs and blushed, looking to Veronica for help.

She cleared her throat," I would like a cherry xamba juice and she will take a grape xamba juice, light on the xamba please." I just nodded to him, not knowing what exactly she was talking about. He nodded in response and got to work. Veronica and I spent around twelve minutes chatting up a storm before even realizing where Hazalen really was.

"Now I really don't know where Hazalen is." Veronica leaned back in her chair, looking both ways across the bar.

"Where could she have gone?"

"Who knows with her. I don't know her drunken side, if so I might have a clue."

"What do you think mine is?" I bit my lip, my smile still seeping through.

She gave me a hard stare," Probably wild, letting out a side you keep hidden from the world. Also sarcastic, very sarcastic."

I laughed at her response," I don't know about that."

"Then let's see." Veronica smirks. The bartender gives us our drinks with a small bow and winks at me.

"Cheers," She hands me my drink and throws hers back into her throat, so fast I wonder if I could even do that.

"Um-"

"Just take a sip Annalise! You'll love it!!" Hazalen drunkly staggers behind me, hand gripping my seat for support. I fall forward, the bottle in my hand spilling out some of its contents.

"Another one of what I had... a few minutes ago? Hours?" She questions the bartender. The bartender nods and gets to work.

"Hazalen we have only been here for thirty minutes." Veronica laughs. I laugh along with her and take in Hazalen's drunken state. Eyes wide, hair more frizzy, and a bright smile constantly on her face.

"I haven't had a drink in forever, I feel great!" Hazalen yells, her body quaking. I then sneakily take a sip of the juice, my face scrunching up as the bitter liquid runs down my throat. I don't know what light on the xamba juice meant, but this was definitely not light.

The more I drank, the more I started to laugh for no exact reason. My head filling with happiness as I took a bigger gulp, smiling as I went to town.

"There you go Annalise!" Veronica laughs. I laugh even harder than her, not even knowing why.

"Another one of those!" I tell him. The drinks kept coming and so did the laughter. We kept joking and giggling obnoxiously... saying gibberish I couldn't comprehend. We were on the dance floor, then back on the bar, the dance floor again. I could remember only remember so much as the hours passed by so quick.

" Annalise you are such a bad dancer!" Hazalen yelled.

"Am not!"

"Are too!"

"Am not!"

"Prove it!" Hazalen childishly exclaimed.

"I will." I nodded to her, then Veronica. I got up on the table and heaved a big breath," Hey everybody!" The music stopped. All eyes were on me. You could hear a pencil drop, it was so quiet.

"Well don't stop the music!" I drunkly pointed to the instrumentals. The music started back up, and even more upbeat song.

Then I danced. I felt my body up and everybody cheered me on, males giving grunts in approval and a crowd gathered around me. People started to pull themselves up to get on the table with me. Even if I wouldn't be able to remember it, this felt like the most monumental moment of my life.

Until somebody pulled me down and ruined it.

"What the actual fuck do you think you are doing!" the Prince's voice rung out.

Wait- the Prince!