"Mother, I am not wearing this to the ball." I said, twirling around in the bright yellow and orange dress that my mother had forced me into.

Yesterday had gone by in an excruciatingly slow manner. I was rushed into store after store, shoes, bonnets, necklaces were bought without a second glance. My mother wanted me to be the brightest, most elegant when I met the prince. Though all I saw was a circus freak who had stumbled into a party by mistake. I couldn't get her to see things in my perspective. Her mind was locked and couldn't be changed even if I tried.

"But darling you look wonderful." My mother said, looking up at me than at the seamstress. Miss Daphne Warner was the local dressmaker. If we brought her the materials she could make any dress we'd wish. Being said, my mother brought as much fabric to make at least ten dresses, all of them being hideous.

"Mother." I groaned, looking into the mirror at the outrageous look.

"You know Miss Aurora would look amazing in a midnight blue." Miss Daphne said. I gave her a small smile of appreciation.

Daphne was 21, only two years older than I. Due to our similarities in age I always went to her for advice and just for someone to talk to, I thought of her as an older sister, since I had no siblings of my own.

"Midnight blue, preposterous. She would never be able to catch the princes eye. All the girls there will be wearing an array of pinks, reds and blues. My daughter must be the one to stand out." My mother said, picking up another orange fabric and placing it in Daphne's awaiting arms. Standing out was an understatement. I would be the center of attention and not in a good way."Now make sure her dress has as many colours as a rainbow."

I drew in a deep breath as though to calm myself from my mothers aggravation. I thought of all the ways my plan could work. I didn't want to use the dress idea I had had when I first entered the dressmakers shop. I had seen the bustle of mothers and daughters yesterday. Each of them thought people would wear pleasant colours, such as scarlet red or emerald green. The colours, orange, yellow or even a different, unpleasant shade of green were what nobody wanted. Therefore becoming the most sought after colours in Lightwood. I was obviously the only one besides Daphne who could see that.

My reflection in the mirror in front of me seemed to hold the same thoughts that I did. This was a terrible dress that should be burned. I wasn't criticising Daphne's work, no, her talents should be used on something other than this.

"Aurora, get out of that dress, we need to give Miss Warner time and space to add details to your gown. The ball is next week and we need the perfect outfit for you." My mother said, pulling me off of the raised platform in the middle of the shop. Though I didn't know what she meant by details, this gown had more details than a tapestry in the palace.

"Yes mother." I said, my mother motioning for Daphne to help me out of this death trap.

"This might take a while, why don't you come to the back with me." Daphne said, taking a hold of my wrist and pulling me through a curtain into her work room before I could say anything.

"Daphne!" I whispered angrily as she yanked me back.

"Why on earth are you going to that ball?" She asked, staring at me intensely as if it would get my confession. I wasn't surprised by her anger at me going to the ball. She hated the royal family almost as much as me, which was another thing we bonded over besides other girl stuff.

"I thought I would try out the whole princess thing." I lied, though I wasn't very good at it, Daphne could read me like a book and could tell when I was being untruthful.

"I've known you for almost my whole life, you've never been one for parties and dresses. So tell me why you want to go to this one?" She demanded and I felt small against her gaze.

"Well I..." I paused and moved past her towards the curtain. My mother was sitting promptly in one of the waiting chairs, oblivious to Daphne's and my conversation. "I thought that if I could make a complete fool of myself in front of the royal family, mother would stop pestering me about all this stuff." I gestured to the horrendous gown that I was still wearing.

"Do you seriously believe that if you did something horrible at the ball, the king wouldn't kill on the spot?" She asked.

"I just thought that-"

"No you didn't think, you just went on impulse, like you always do when you're desperate. Now you have no way out of going to the ball with your mother." I knew that she was right. Now I'm stuck with my mother for an entire night! How could I have been so irresponsible. I should have calculated every single thing that could have gone wrong. I should have-

"Stop overthinking." Daphne said. She knew me too well.

"What am I supposed to do? I'm in dire need of an escape plan." I pleaded.

"Maybe you could just go to the ball, have a good time then come home." She said, and this was what I got for wanting advice.

"I thought you gave good advice. And besides if I did go I would be looking like a rainbow gone wrong." I said, gesturing to the vibrant colours and patterns.

"It is amazing, I think it's one of my best works." She said sarcastically, taking a look at the dress as if she actually liked it.

"Get me out of it!" I blurted, seeing her jump a bit at my outburst. Though I couldn't blame her, my voice sounded rushed and annoyed. This dress made me feel like a rare animal that wasn't supposed to exist, everybody would stare and point.

"Maybe you could've asked nicer." She murmured and went to untie the laces of the dress.

"Please, get me out of this dress." I demanded, only adding a please to make it more polite.

This seemed to be enough for Daphne and she spent the next ten minutes attempting to help me out of the trap of white ruffles. Though when it was time for me to actually take the dress off, I felt as if I were trapped in a maze of white and orange fabrics that seemed to go on forever. Eventually though I saw a light and found my way out, meeting the eyes of a humorous Daphne.

"Oh shut up." I said, pushing her away. Making my way over to the deep brown dress I had on when I had come in an hour ago.

"I do feel sorry for you." Daphne said, standing behind me. She carefully tied the back laces of my dress and turned me to face her. "If I could do anything I would."

"Thanks." I lied. Though she had comforting words, I didn't feel any more comfort than I had when she had told me what a terrible plan I had created.

"Finally, I thought you would never come out." My mother said, when I came through the curtain. She stood quickly and walked over to meet me in the middle of the store.

"I'll make sure to have those dresses by Wednesday Mrs. Whitmore." Daphne said, slipping past the curtain to stand beside me.

"No that won't be necessary, I think we'll be going with the orange one." My mother said, taking my hands in her. "You will be the most beautiful one there." I felt a forced smile slip over my lips when she spoke. More like the most miserable one.

"Now come, we mustn't be late for lunch with your father." She said, her hands leaving mine as she walked towards the door. But before I could go with my mother, I felt Daphne's hand slip onto my arm and pull me back.

"Daphne what are you doing?" I asked as she leaned in to whisper something in my ear.

"I'm making due on my statement earlier. I'm going to do something to help you." Her words from before echoed in my mind. If I could do anything to help you, I would.

"I don't entirely like where this is going." I stated, thinking of all the insane things she could be planning

"Trust me Aurora, it'll be good." Daphne said, giving me her devious smile. "Just make sure you are here at eight o'clock the night before the ball. I will not tolerate tardiness."

"But Daphne-" I was silenced by my mothers hand wrapping around my wrist and pulling me out of the store.

I didn't want to know what Daphne had in mind for making the ball any better for me, but I knew that even if I didn't show up she would have my head. Though, through my uncertainty I was still a bit curious.

I didn't have enough time to think about Daphne's plan for me because my mother dragged me through town. Blackinton was that far from Broton, the capital of Lightwood that held the palace; it was almost half a day's ride from here. Though if you squinted to the West of Blackinton you could see the castle.

When I was younger I had always wanted to go there. To see what it was like outside of this town. Though, now those childhood thoughts have disappeared, left with hate and animosity towards everyone who lives in that castle

The only person who had actually been to Broton was my father, the local merchant. He traveled from town to town, selling and trading goods. As I had said before, we weren't rich, though we could afford things such as dresses and carriages. Though mother happens to spend most of it on such things.

"We must make haste. Your father has been in a mood all day and would be angry if we aren't home for tea." My mother said, quickening her pace. Causing me to move my feet so they were in sink with hers.

I struggled to keep up with her as the path became uneven and the townhouses slowly became fields. Continuing down the path, we came across the house of Mr. Woodard. He sat casually on the rock I had seen him on yesterday, and the same as the day before, he stared out onto his fields of wheat. It seemed he heard our footsteps and looked over towards the sound. I saw him lift his hand to wave at us. I began to lift my hand to wave back, but I felt my mothers hand cover mine, stopping it from moving.

"Don't wave back." She snapped. Looking back at the path as if Mr. Woodard was invisible.

"Mother!" I whispered, shocked at her words. Didn't she know that he was one of the main suppliers of wheat? Without him our village would be sinking into an economical crisis.

"Oh Aurora, stop looking at me like that." She said, completely ignoring my tone. "You'll get wrinkles if you continue with that expression."

Though, throughout the rest of the walk home I kept that expression, not caring about her words.