Deception (7 page)

I took a deep breath and opened my eyes, looking only up. I walked carefully and stood in front of her full length mirror. I looked in anticipation at the large sheet of paper, which she could not have removed more slowly.

When I saw the unbelievably beautiful person staring at me from the mirror, I stopped breathing. I thought I was looking at the cover of a magazine. I couldn't be looking at myself. I didn't even recognize myself.

"What did I
tell
you?" Brooke asked excitedly.

I was completely speechless. The dress was gorgeous and elegant and fit me perfectly. It was black with silver sparkles throughout. Upon close inspection, it actually had specks of purples, greens and gold throughout, making it even more stunning. My hair was amazing and cascaded perfectly around my face and down my back. The dress brought out natural highlights in my hair that I didn't know existed.

I did not even recognize my own face. It wasn't as though she had put on so much make up that my face was hidden. The makeup looked very natural, but yet brought out my features in a way that I never imagined possible.

The jewelry, hair clips and nails were the perfect finishing touches to complete the picture that was me.

"You're completely breathtaking," she said. "You look like royalty."

"I can't believe that's me," I was finally able say. I couldn't take my eyes off my reflection. I simply couldn't believe what I saw. I had never seen anyone more beautiful and I truly could not believe that it was me. It couldn't be plain, boring me.

"That's you, Alexis! Now you know why I've always been jealous of your looks."

"I just can't believe it."

"Time to meet your date!" she exclaimed. "Everyone is waiting!"

Suddenly, my heart plummeted to my feet.

CHAPTER FIVE

"We're ready!" Brooke called out at the top of the stairs. "Is everyone ready to see my newest creation?"

My heart started beating faster and I began walking down the stairs very carefully, since I was not used to wearing heels. That was the one thing that Brooke hadn't thought of, getting me used to walking in those uncomfortable things.

Everyone was waiting for us downstairs, not just Brooke's family! I saw my parents and sister, Emma and Amanda. I couldn't believe that they were all waiting to see me!

Suddenly, I was assaulted with a bunch of blinding flashing lights. Did everyone have cameras?

When I got to the bottom of the stairs, everyone started talking at once.

"You look beautiful, honey!" my dad said.

"I can't believe it!" exclaimed my mom.

"Alexis, you're gorgeous!" cried Natalie.

"Where have you been hiding yourself?" asked Emma.

"Smart
and
beautiful!" said Amanda.

"You look fantastic!" Steve said.

Once it felt like the room stopped spinning, I looked at Amanda, Emma and Natalie's dresses and told them how great they looked too.

"Alexis," Brooke said, pulling my attention away from my friends and family. "There is someone that I'd like you to meet."

I'd almost forgotten after the shock of seeing my parents and sister there!

She grabbed my hand and walked me to the other side of the living room, where an extremely handsome young man stood watching everyone else.

As our eyes met, everything else seemed to disappear around us. I became completely lost in his eyes and they took me to a fantastic, new place. I felt as though I had entered a new world. I was overcome by the feelings that washed over my mind, body and soul. I was not a romantic; this was something that I thought was reserved only for movies and books.

I didn't know what to do with the intense feelings that were overtaking all of my senses. I thought that I might need to sit down, and I looked around for the nearest chair.

My heart was racing and all of my skin seemed afire. My mind was swimming; I felt like the room was spinning out of control.

How could a stranger bring out all of these feelings in me? I had just met him and neither of us had even spoken a single word.

Looking into his eyes, I felt that I had found my home. I felt safe and secure, everything that I lacked at home. I knew that it was ridiculous and my mind was yelling at my emotions to get a grip.

"Alexis, this is Cliff," Brooke said, bringing me back to reality.

I blinked and then breathed. I hadn't realized that I was holding my breath--that he'd taken my breath away!

He smiled. "It's wonderful to meet you, Alexis."

His voice was the most amazing sound that I had ever heard. It seemed so familiar, and I was overcome with emotions of inexpressible joy. I also felt tears of happiness threatening to escape. What was going on with me?

As I looked into his perfect face, I felt as if I had known that face my entire life. I had never met him before, so there was no reason for this, but I sensed while looking at his features that he really was my true home. It was as if he was the answer that I had been seeking all this time. I knew that I didn't belong with my family because somehow I belonged with this breathtakingly gorgeous stranger.

I opened my mouth to say something, but nothing came. Instead, I threw my arms around him and whispered, "I have missed you so much!" I thought I should have been embarrassed for throwing myself at this stranger, but I felt like I was in the arms of someone who loved me and would go to the ends of the earth to protect me.

He wrapped his arms around me and whispered, "Not as much as I've missed you."

I was brought back to reality when I heard my parents and friends declaring their surprise.

Blushing, I let go of Cliff and turned around. I had no words to explain my actions. I had been so taken in by my overwhelming feelings.

Amanda saved me. "We need to get into the limo. We still need to pick up the others, and get to the restaurant."

"A few more pictures first," my dad said. We all posed for the camera. I couldn't believe that they were actually taking pictures of me. I felt like a princess.

Before I knew it, we were all in the limo and everyone was talking excitedly. I sat next to Cliff and simply took everything in. I looked at the beautiful dresses that Emma and Amanda were wearing, the fancy tux that Cliff wore and tried not to look into his eyes because I knew I would get lost in them again. I wanted to enjoy the whole experience at that moment.

At the restaurant, I was seated directly across from Cliff and had more time to take in his gorgeous features. I had been so lost in his chocolate brown eyes when we first met that I hadn't had a chance to study the rest of his stunning face.

"Alexis!" Amanda whispered to me, jabbing me in the side.

I looked up and blushed. Everyone at the table
and
the waiter was staring at me.

"Yes?" I asked.

Cliff tried to suppress a smile. He must have thought I was a total fool.

"What would you like to drink?" the waiter asked me.

"I...uh...I'll have what he's having." I looked at Cliff. My face burned though I doubted anyone could tell through all of the makeup.

I wanted to bang my head against the table. And to think that Brooke had been so sure that we would hit it off so well. After tonight, he would probably find any excuse to avoid me while he was staying with Brooke's family.

When the waiter had walked away and everyone else started talking to each other, Cliff smiled at me and said, "Brooke told me how beautiful you are but you are even more stunning than can be described with words."

"Well, I don't usually look like this. In fact, I usually blend in so much that people don't take note of me." I wanted to smack myself. Why had I admitted that to him? He probably had girls crawling all over him at all times.

"I would have taken note of you," he said. "You are stunning and it's something that mort...most people are too selfish to see. People just don't understand true beauty. They can't see beyond what those fashion magazines tell them is attractive."

"That's true," I said. "If you don't look like you just stepped out of one of those magazines, people aren't interested in you at all."

"I think it's admirable that you haven't gotten sucked into all of that. It appears to me that you're very confident in who you are as a person. That is a trait to be truly treasured," he said with a smile.

"Admirable? I haven't heard that one before. Your cousin is into fashion and all of that and you trusted her opinion of me."

"My cousin? Oh right, Brooke. She loves fashion and making people look beautiful, but she isn't shallow. She sees people and she is able to bring out their best," he said looking directly at me. "Even when they don't see it for themselves."

I wondered how it was that he seemed so familiar to me. I had never seen him before, yet I felt that he was the answer that I had been searching for. He hadn't even been taken aback when I said that I had missed him. How could I have missed him? I didn't even know that he existed, until Brooke suggested that we go on this date.

The waiter was back with the drinks and was ready to take our order. I sighed, as I hadn't even looked at the menu and had never been to this fancy restaurant before.

Cliff leaned close to me, "Don't worry, I'll order for you. I know a dish that you will love!"

"Have you been here before?" I asked.

"I'm familiar with French food," he said. "Will you let me order for you?"

I smiled, "Sure." I was probably a lot better off letting him choose than taking my chances guessing from the unfamiliar names on the menu. I'd never been to a restaurant before that didn't even offer a description of the food on the menu.

As everyone was ordering their food, I started looking at Cliff's majestic features again and felt my heart speed up. I had never met a guy who held any visual interest for me, and I was completely overwhelmed with the pull that I felt toward Cliff.

After everyone had ordered their food, Cliff said, "Maybe we should talk to the others at the table. We don't want people to think that we're snobs."

I laughed. "I've never cared what people think of me but sure, we can talk to the others."

He winked at me and turned to talk to two of the guys sitting next to him. I turned toward the girls, who hadn't noticed me paying attention to them yet.

"I had no idea she was so beautiful," Emma whispered.

"I knew she was pretty beneath all the boring clothes," Amanda said. "But I had no idea that she was freaking gorgeous!"

"Do you think she'll want to stay friends with us?" Emma asked.

"I doubt that she's going to suddenly start hanging out with Natalie and her friends," Amanda replied. "She isn't going to drop her brains just because she's hot now. She may just not like the attention and just keep wearing her boring clothes and no makeup."

"Or she could start raiding Natalie's closet and hanging out with those guys," Emma said. "Tanner really wants her to join the track team. This could be the beginning of a new life for Lexi."

"Why are you suddenly so insecure?" Amanda asked.

"Come on, Amanda! The three of us have been BFFs since middle school and this could change everything."

"She is still Alexis," Amanda insisted. "She's not going to become superficial and rude."

"You guys look beautiful!" I said loudly. "Why didn't you ever tell me that it's so much fun to dress up?"

Emma rolled her eyes, "You know how many times we told you! You've always refused to get dressed up!"

"You should have tried harder!" I joked. "You guys look stunning! I really never knew that it could be this much fun."

"Did you know that everyone at the table has been talking about you two?" Amanda asked me.

"Really?" I asked. "What are they saying?"

"What do you think?" Emma asked. "Everyone is in shock at how you look. Not to mention how hot Cliff is."

"Seriously, Alexis, do you realize how sexy he is?" Amanda asked, fanning herself. "He's hotter than the guys in the magazines. I don't blame you for staring at him the whole time."

"But you look every bit his equal," Emma added. I thought that I detected some jealousy in her tone.

"Everyone at the table is talking about us like that?" I asked in disbelief. There were seven couples at our table. I couldn't believe that we were the topic of conversation for all those people.

"Get used to it," Amanda said. "Just wait until we get to the dance, because everyone there will be saying the same things. You always try to blend in and tonight is going to be the exact opposite. You two are going to be the biggest topic of discussion."

"We'll see," I said, hoping that there wouldn't be too much attention on me.

"You
will
see," Emma said, again sounding jealous.

I was glad when the meal arrived, because it gave me a chance to spend some more time looking at Cliff. I couldn't believe how much I was drawn to him; it was so unlike me. But then again, he was so unlike any other guy that I had ever met.

When I took the first bite, I thought I was in heaven. Not only did it taste phenomenal, but it was very familiar. It was as if I had eaten it many times before, but I had never even heard of it.

As we were leaving the restaurant to get back into the limo, I was actually starting to look forward to the attention that Brooke and Amanda insisted I was going to receive at the dance. My heart felt like a cluster of fluttering butterflies. This was going to be the best night of my life.

I blushed when Cliff took my hand to help me into the limo, and I kept my attention on him for the entire ride to the school dance.

We let the other couples get out of the limo before us. They had all run through the gym doors before we were even out of the car.

"What a nice night," I commented. "It's so quiet out here."

"It's nice, but you are much lovelier," he said, smiling.

I blushed and was glad that it was just dark enough that he probably didn't see it.

"What was that?" he asked, looking serious all of a sudden.

"What?" I asked, but before I could say another word I heard it too. "Oh no," I sighed.