It was October 22nd, the day of the Crestwood Heights Academy masquerade ball. The gym had been decorated and masks had been picked out. Many of the students were out shopping for the night to come, getting dresses and suits and preparing for the ball. One girl in particular, Charlotte, was very excited, her and her friends had gotten matching masks and couldn’t wait to dance all night. 

As the day grew dark, Charlotte and her friends pilled into her car and set off for the school. The ride there, they talked about all the things they would do that night, 

“Do you think you’ll meet anyone?” A girl named Vivian asked.

“I’m not sure, but hopefully!” Charlotte answered as the girls laughed in unison. They continued down the road before finally making their way to the school. They stepped out of the car and walked into the school as their heels clicked and clacked along the pavement. Their giggles and whispers continued as they made their way to the gym. String lights twinkled across the gym ceiling, paper stars and photo booths decorated the rest. Their dresses trailed down the steps into the gym as they all walked in a line with linked arms. 

The gym filled, as the few late students were welcomed in. Their masks were in place and they were ready for a night of incognito.The girls stood at the bottom of the stairs, they glanced and pointed at the boys they thought were cute and the ones they planned to dance with that night. Charlotte couldn’t help but be uninterested, but still she played along in their little game of “I spy.” 

“Who’s that?” One of the girls pointed with wide eyes towards the stairs. Just then, almost as if time had stopped, a boy walked down the stairs. He wore a black three piece suit and a blood red tie. A gold lapel chain dangled across his chest, and a red rose peeked out from his welt pocket. His inky hair was messily slicked back, small pieces of it trailed across his face and shadowed his bright viridescent eyes. A cerise mask plaited with black lace covered his face. The girls stood and watched as he walked down the flight of stairs, they looked as this mystery man stared directly at Charlotte. 

“Oh my god, he totally just looked at you.” one of the girls squealed.

“Ugh, he did not.” Charlotte blushed, now taking a second look to see he was still looking. “Okay, maybe he did.” She smiled as they all walked away from the staircase. 

The night continued on, and they continued to make eye contact throughout the dances. The next time she went to look for him, he seemed to be nowhere in sight. Until she turned around and he was right there. 

“I suppose it was time to end this whole ordeal, so we can properly meet instead.” A smell of sharp cologne wafted through the air as he smiled. 

“I guess so,” Charlotte smiled back. Their masks craved to be ripped off to unveil who was underneath them. He looked up and listened to the music, a fast rhythm started to beat through the gym. 

“Would you care to dance?” He smirked and asked the question almost as if it was a challenge. He held out his hand awaiting an answer,

“Well, why not,” she took his hand as he pulled her close and led her out to the dance floor. Once in the middle he looked at her and smirked. In an instant, time slowed as they danced along to the music. The taps of their feet played a sweet harmony as they swirled through the room, under the glittering lights. It became a blur as they lost themselves under the paper stars, and just as quickly it had started, it had ended. They finished in the middle of the floor, their faces so close, their noses were almost touching. His green eyes shimmered through his mask as her hair rested upon her shoulders. The song had ended and with that he twirled her off and when she turned around, he was gone. He had slipped through the crowd and up onto the top of the staircase. He stopped at the top and looked down at her, he blew her a kiss and finally walked through the door. 

She stood on the crowded floor, but felt like they were the only two people in the room and now it was just her. She wondered if she’d ever see him again. Her dapper and utterly beautiful, mystery man.