"Earth, fire, water, sky.........
Wild, soft, free.....and full of flowers.....
She makes everything beautiful!
Everything beautiful about her is made of soul!"
~~~○~~~
..................................
EJ picks her up around 12 and she was surprised to find him totally quiet during the whole drive. He didn't utter a single word to her other than the 'Hey'. He can never be silent around her. He loves to pull her leg but today he was acting weird. No sarcasm at all, so this is something Kathleen has to worry about.
They reached his house in 20 and she scurried towards the entrance in excitement. She was really happy to meet Sarah after a long time. She could spot Sarah in the living room, patiently waiting for her arrival.
"Aww, it's so nice to see you, sweetheart", she said embracing her warmly.
"Yes, it feels so good to see you Sarah mom", she squeezed Sarah into a tight hug. They chuckled together between the hugs.
"Why do I find to be cringey", teased EJ and made himself comfortable on the sofa.
"Finally someone has found the right words to speak", smirked Kathleen, making him chuckle.
"What-t?", Sarah couldn't understand Kathleen's comment.
"He was so quiet during the ride and I didn't know why", she stated, eyeing EJ for an explanation.
"So sweet, Kathleen is worried about me and my talks. Wow this is something I should really feel happy about", mocked EJ.
"Call of the devil and he is here", smirked Kathleen. Sarah witnessed it all with a small smile as she has never seen her son getting comfortable with anyone like this before.
EJ was not an introvert exactly but he had made his own walls that people couldn't break through or climb over. To be precise, people would be terrified to talk to him. He barely made friends on his own. And Sarah can notice that Kathleen was really something special to her son.
"Hey, enough. Let's have lunch", suggested Sarah, gesturing them towards the kitchen.
"And sweetheart, I wasn't aware of your favorites so I tried to make the best dishes", Sarah chirped.
"It's okay, anyways I'm starving already", Kathleen chuckled.
"I've made Reuben sandwiches, barbecue ribs, cheesesteaks, and finally baked Alaska for dessert", beamed Sarah. She felt contented to have Sarah in her life as Sarah was treating Kathleen like her own kid.
"You both take a seat and I'll serve", she added. Kathleen smoothed her green tie waist dress and took a seat beside EJ.
"So, kath sweetheart, what type of ball gown are you wearing to the masquerade ball?", questioned Sarah.
"Um, I'm not going", she said munching her sandwich.
"What? Why?"
"No, I just find it..... um maybe funny and showy", she replied, trying to swallow the steaks. EJ looked down at his plate for a second and looked back at her for what she said. He couldn't believe what he just heard. When all the girls are crazy and fanatical about the ball, kathleen thought it to be funny.
"Sweetheart, but not everyone are welcomed right? Why does your invitation has to go in vain?", questioned Sarah.
"And it can't go in vain since I didn't get one", she chuckled and completed her sandwich and barbecue ribs.
"Ohh", Sarah mouthed wondering on why Kathleen hasn't been invited yet.
"Ethan darling, how about you share one of your invitations with Kathleen", she smiled, making him choke.
"Huh? Mom!! I can't get you".
"I noticed earlier that you had two invitations for the masquerade ball and I guessed you were saving that one for someone", she narrated. Kathleen stared at them and swallowed audibly.
"So, that someone has to be Kathleen. Am I right?", she preached. He understood what his mother was trying to say. She wanted EJ to give one the invitations to Kathleen.
"Perfect mom", he replied in a sarcastic tone.
"No, no...I'm not....actually no", stuttered Kathleen.
"No sweetheart, don't say a no. I assumed that you weren't going to the ball as you don't have an invitation. Now that you have one, you can go right?!", she sounded like she was making an request.
"Um Sarah mom, it's not that.....I just..... I have plans", Kathleen finally found a excuse to deny her offer.
"What plans? With whom?", she asked curiously. EJ focused on Kathleen, but tried not to act like he was interested to know her plans.
"Ummm....actually.....", stammered Kathleen as she didn't expect Sarah to come up with the next question immediately.
"Watching a rom-com", she grinned at Sarah.
"Interesting plan", scoffed EJ, making her roll her eyes.
"Kath, everyone should attend a masquerade ball atleast once in their lifetime and come on, give it a try. You will have a perfect time with your friends", she urged her on attending the ball.
"Mm, okay. I'll do it", accepted kathleen as she couldn't deny her anymore as she felt that won't be fair after all Sarah has done for her sake.
"Great!! And Ethan will take you to shopping", beamed Sarah.
"What?", EJ and Kathleen shouted in unison. Both were shocked equally.
"Yes, you both are gonna shop together!!", she asserted.
"Ethan, I hope you remember Aunt Florence's boutique. I informed her earlier today that I would be visiting her shop to purchase a dress for you", she explained.
"But as we have Kathleen here, you take her to that shop and you both better complete your shopping today. How does this sound?", suggested Sarah and began cleaning the table.
"Awful", EJ objected.
"I didn't ask you, kath darling, you can purchase any dress that you love and I'll take care of the rest".
"No, Sarah mom, I don't want to be a burden. I'll shop some time later, I think you guys should stick to your original part of the plan", insisted Kathleen.
"I'm not taking no for an answer. As you guys have finished your lunch, you both can leave now. Happy shopping", she purred with a cheeky smile.
"I'll wait for you in the car", saying that EJ left the kitchen. Kathleen knew that she can't argue with Sarah about this as she is a persuasive woman.
"I'm so grateful to have you", Kathleen hugged Sarah so tight that either one would break their bones.
"Now, go and have fun shopping. And do visit me after the ball when you are free, sweetheart", she ruffled Kathleen's hair smoothly.
"I'll will", she waved goodbye. But she decided to make a call to Janice and Laura before going to the parking lot.
"Hey, what's gotten into you", asked Janice on answering her call.
"Why do you ask so?".
"Because you won't call me in the middle of your visit until something isn't right. Now split out", Janice stated over the call.
"Ahm.....how do I explain the mess I've gotten into", groaned Kathleen.
"Then don't. I'm hanging up. Laura and myself, we are in the middle of something", giggled Janice.
"Hey, what I'm about to say is something more serious than your online shopping", kathleen rolled her eyes.
"Then tell me. I'll decide if it's serious or funny", chuckled Janice.
"Arghhh, I'm heading towards a boutique?to shop a dress with EJ", she whisper yelled, Janice mouth dropped to the floor in shock. Kathleen was standing somewhere near the parking lot. She could clearly spot EJ waiting for her in his car.
"What?? What dress?? What is the purpose to shop actually??", questioned Janice and Kathleen could hear Laura laughing hard.
"For the masquerade ball. Sarah mom convinced me into this", she replied.
"Woah. If I'm not wrong I could remember a girl saying that balls are flamboyant and what happened to her now?", laughed Janice.
"Come on Jay. Tell me way to cancel this plan", growled Kathleen.
"No, I think you should go ahead and have fun with your boyfriend. Anyways it's your first date right? Be back to dormitory by 8", she teased.
"You know I wanna thank you Jay for being so unhelpful and? not doing anything at all", kathleen grunted.
"Pleasure is always mine, kath", she hung up. Her friends are not taking it seriously. Though, kathleen doesn't want to go shopping along with EJ, she also doesn't want to disappoint Sarah.
Kathleen and EJ haven't spoken much after the incident with Rachel. She hasn't asked him anything about it and he wasn't interested in discussing it as well. She walked towards the car and got into it.
"What took you so long?", huffed EJ.
"Ohh, someone is excited and desperate in taking me on shopping", snarled Kathleen.
"Never in your wildest dreams", he smirked.
"Oh, it reminds of a song. Hold on let me play songs so that you could drive peaceful", she winked. Kathleen was taunting him more often today.
He adjusted his hand on the staring wheel and stared at her momentarily, he smirked and he tried to taunt her as well. She played 'one thing' by one direction in the radio and sang along with it.
I've tried playin' it cool
But when I'm lookin' at you
I can't ever be brave
'Cause you make my heart race
Shot me out of the sky
You're my kryptonite
You keep making me weak
Yeah, frozen, and can't breathe
Something's gotta give now
'Cause I'm dying just to make you see
That I need you here with me now
'Cause you've got that one thing
So get out, get out, get out of my head
And fall into my arms instead
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing, and
You've got that one thing
Now I'm climbing the walls
But you don't notice at all (At all)
That I'm going out of my mind
All day and all night
Something's gotta give now
'Cause I'm dying just to know your name
And I need you here with me now
'Cause you've got that one thing
So, get out, get out, get out of my head
And fall into my arms instead
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing
So, get out, get out, get out of my head
And come on, come into my life
I don't, I don't, don't know what it is
But I need that one thing, and
You've got that one thing
"Hey, I'm listening to that", she grunted as EJ turned off the radio.
"You are annoying and the song is too", he replied. Kathleen ignored him and leaned her head on the window and enjoyed the view.
After 20 minutes, they finally reached Florence's boutique. It was a exuberant shop indeed. Kathleen and EJ entered the shop to find a young women welcoming them with a warm smile. She smiled back but EJ ignored her.
"Welcome to Fits U. How many I help you mam?? sir.?", the young woman greeted. Kathleen understood that she has to be the attendant for the shop.
"Ahmm, we are here to purchase a dress for a ball, masquerade ball", she replied while EJ looked around to find aunty Florence but he couldn't spot her.
"Follow me, mam", the young woman guided her to a different section which had fluffy, glittery and sparkling dresses. The young woman gestured them to take a seat and they did.
"I'll show you some ball gowns and you can try it out", she stated and Kathleen nodded with a half smile. EJ took out his phone, he was never an attentive audience and Kathleen was happy about it. It was a relief to her that, EJ wouldn't be paying so much attention to what she wears.
Kathleen walked towards the attendant and she handed over a beautiful blue off shoulder dress and asked Kathleen to try that out. The attendant guided her to the nearest dressing room. Kathleen stepped out after few minutes.
"Wow, you look beautiful mam", the attendant expressed, and EJ looked up from his phone. EJ'S eyes widen and he stare at without blinking. He couldn't believe it, she was flawlessly beautiful, she looked like a princess.
"Ethan, you are drooling", she chuckled which brought him back to his senses.
"No way, you got to he kidding me", he laughed nervously. She winked making him roll his eyes.
"Anyway, try out something else. This is too revealing", he stated and looked down at his phone. Kathleen's cheeks heated up, she didn't expect him to say such a thing. She shyly kept her down and walked into the dressing room. The attendant gave her a red ombre sequin off shoulder dress to try upon.
"You look mesmerizing in this dress", the attendant said dreamily.
EJ was out of words, yes the attendant was true about it. She looked magnetic in that red dress. But EJ doesn't want her to wear this as it reveals her cleavage which he didn't like at all.
"Try something else, it's not good", he whispered and was back to his work. Kathleen rolled her eyes and moved back to the dressing room. The attendant was confused but didn't want to say anything against Kathleen's boyfriend, which she thought so.
The attendant suggested Kathleen to wear a pink color vintage type elegant off shoulder gown and she found it adorable.
"I'm not saying anything this time", giggled the attendant and Kathleen chuckled as well.
"Maybe I prefer you to choose something that doesn't reveal much", he stated and Kathleen lost her shit.
"Excuse us for a second", she requested the attendant to leave them alone for a minute and the attendant did the same.
"Ethan, what's wrong?", she growled.
"What?? Everything is totally fine!!", he replied.
"You are acting like a illiberal dad", she grunted.
"I'm not, maybe I'm. But that doesn't mean you can wear something like this", he said sternly. She knew something was weird about him today. He doesn't want her to wear revealing sexy clothes and she totally agrees with him as she doesn't like them too.
"Oh, really!! Then why don't you be my attendant and choose me something because she has fed up with me", scoffed Kathleen.
"So you want me do that. Okay I'll help you out", he assured walking towards the rack of dresses.
"When girls out there wants me to be a prince, you make me an attendant", joked EJ
"No girl wants a prince, okay!", she said and stare at him.
"Come on, even the Cinderella wished to have a prince".
"Theoretically speaking, Cinderella never asked for a prince, all she wanted was a beautiful dress and a pair of heels for the ball", she smirked.
"Hey, try this", he gave her a white couture embroidery ball dress, ignoring her statement. She snatched it from him and moved to the dressing room. Maybe she doesn't need a prince, but EJ definitely need a princess.
"Much better", he appreciated his own effort in choosing her a dress. She liked the dress, it looked good on her.
"Come on", he gestured her to walk with him.
"Where? I'm done with my shopping. We can get this packed", she said.
"I've to get me something to wear for the ball right?", he raised his eyebrows.
"Oh, right right. I totally forgot. Come on, I'll help you out", she chirped.
"I never asked you to", he laughed for scoring one for one. They were equal now.
Kathleen wandered around while EJ was trying out the best ones among all the dresses.
"You look funny", she let out a chortle. The black suit was perfect but the accessories didn't match his outfit.
EJ moved out of the dressing room wearing a different outfit this time.
"Much better", she teased just like the way he did. She winked at him.
...........................
Hey guys, hope you enjoy reading this. Stay tuned for updates. Meet you all at the masquerade ball!