"Wow! Didn't we just have the Christmas party down at the gardens? Now we're off to Madison's Ball!" Shannon commented, slumping down in her bench on the ferry. Shannon was attired in a crimson silk dress with spaghetti straps and a low collar. She had a light red wrap to go with it. Her hair was fluffed and curled to look very full and dazzling and she also wore red high heels.

"I know! But I'm sure that the ball will beat the Christmas party by far. There's so much to do!" Christian cried out in joy. "This is going to be the best event of the season!"

Chloe smiled faintly. She hadn't heard from Brent since the party and was feeling a little down because of it.

Shannon looked over at Chloe. "Aw, come on, gal. Cheer up! That frown doesn't go with that pretty dress of yours!"

Chloe had to laugh. Her dress was beautiful. After weeks of deciding, she'd chosen a slim dark blue velveteen dress. Her high heels were black, and her hair was twisted up into a French twist, which complemented her creamy skin.

"Well it certainly is my pleasure to escort two beautiful young women to this ball. I'm positive you two ladies will be the star of the ball," Christian complemented.

Chloe & Shannon looked at each other and laughed. "Ooo, so many complements, so little time!"

Shannon scoffed. "He's a born romantic, Chloe. You'll get over it soon."

Someone caught Shannon's eye. Her mouth dropped open ever so slightly when she saw who it was. Sitting in the bench behind Shannon's was Jakoby Grier. She couldn't believe it. Her night was officially ruined.

"Come on, Chantal! We don't have a lot of time!" Karen called from the front room of Chantal's dorm area. Melanie had already left, leaving only Chantal and Karen, who'd come over to help Chantal, to get ready. Karen had her soft satin dress smoothed to perfection, and her thick brown hair was daintily curled.

"I'm almost ready!" Chantal called from the bathroom. "It has to be just perfect!"

"For Mel?" Karen joked.

Chantal stuck her head out of the bathroom door. "Not funny, Karen! Not funny at all."

Karen sat back and turned on the TV, but was careful not to mess up her dress. She was a bit saddened, for she'd been expecting to go to the ball with someone. All of those hopes had been dashed when she'd found out that Carson had been cheating on her. Karen brushed the thoughts aside. "Come on, girl! The ferry's about to leave!"

"There'll be another one coming," Chantal stubbornly answered. "Just one more earring, and I'll be ready."

Karen patted her hair since she didn't have anything else to do. "Fine, just don't blame me when Mel ends up dancing with another woman!"

"We're not going out, Karen! Mel's just a friend!" Chantal shouted. It was because of that shout that Karen knew Chantal was falling for Mel.

"Alright, ready!" Chantal stepped out of the bathroom. She had a long, brown leather dress that complemented her tall frame and rich chocolate complexion. Her hair was pulled back into a ponytail, and that ponytail was then crimped and curled. Chantal gave a model's pose.

Karen's mouth was wide open. "Wow!"

Chantal then semi-ran in her restricting dress. She grabbed Karen's hand. "Come on! We've got to catch that ferry!"

Eve smiled at Kim. "You look lovely, Kim."

Kim turned around in her soft brown strapless dress. She smiled back at Eve. "You do too! Brent's going to really want to show you off tonight, you know that, right?"

Eve laughed, smoothing down her rich golden silk dress. "I hope it's not too fancy. Mother sent it to me when she heard we were having a ball."

"Of course it's not too fancy! It's just right!"

"When will Trace be here?"

Kim stopped and stared at Eve. "How...when...why..."

"How did I know? I've seen you two. I've seen the way you look at each other."

Kim put her hand on her hip and looked down at Eve.

"OK, OK. Brent told me too, but I had a feeling anyways!"

Kim chuckled as she put on her last shoe. "Come on. Let's catch that ferry before it leaves!"

Amber stepped onto the boat with the help of her date, the handsome Miles Warner. "Thank you, Miles," she smiled up at him.

Amber made her way over to where Carrie and her date were sitting. "Hello, Carrie."

"Hello, Amber. How are things?"

"Things are well. That black dress is becoming to you."

"As is your light blue one. I like your hair as well."

"Thank you, yours too."

As soon as the pleasantries were exchanged, Amber got down to it. "So how did things with Jessica go?"

Carrie grunted. "I haven't had time to even visit the girl. I've been too busy trying to find the perfect dress. I don't think she'd show up in the condition she's in, though."

A small smirk appeared on Amber's face. "Think again, Carrie. There's Jessica now."

Carrie snapped her head around and gasped. There Jessica was in a wheelchair, with Jake by her side. "No!"

"Looks like you may need a bit more of my help after all. Don't worry, Care. I'll take care of your little problem for you, since obviously you can't."

"I can take care of my problems just fine, Amber!" Carrie snapped.

Amber just rolled her eyes.

"Flight 4672, American Continental Airlines to Boston has been cancelled, Flight 3124, American Airlines to San Francisco has been delayed three hours, Flight 4162..."

Amante listened closely for the announcement as he checked the monitors for flight delays and cancellations. He was waiting in New York for his connecting flight that would take him to his love, Francesca George at Midway. The inclement weather had threatned his fligh so he silently prayed his flight was one of the few that was on schedule.

He thought about how surprised Francesca would be if everything went as according to plan. He was to meet her on New Year's Eve at an event at Midway that this girl, Amber, had called Madison's Ball.

He thought back on that day just a few weeks ago when Amber had called. She told him of how his darling Francesca spoke of nothing but him and wanted nothing more than to see him and possilby relive the magical days in Spain. Sighing, he reminissed of those summer days.

Francesca had first come to Spain about five years ago when she was nine and he was ten. Of course, it had just been puppy love but they both knew it would grow to something more. Each year, she talked her parents into staying just a little longer so she and Amante could spend more and more time together. After all, that was all they had with each other.

On her last trip, she had stayed in Spain for six weeks. They spent nearly every waking moment together, walking on the beach, reading poetry to each other, or merely lying in each other's arms. Amante confessed to her that he had always loved her and always will. She had gazed into his eyes and he knew that she felt the same way.

"So why on Earth was she acting so strangely when she learned of my coming to Midway Prep?" Amante thought. "Was it shock? Or was it....?

No, no, Francesca must have felt shocked and overwhelmed at the news. She wouldn't want to keep me away for any reason would she? I mean, she just isn't that type of girl."

"Excuse me, are you a Mr. Aldovar?"

He turned at the matronly voice to see a plump flight attendant with a clipboard standing behind him. "Yes I am."

Her face twised into a confused look. "Wait a sec, I thought that..."

"It's all right ma'am, the flight and the private plane are issued under my father's name. I'm sure that if there is a problem, you can call him at home."

"No, it's all right. I just came to tell you that your flight is one of the lucky ones that will actually be flying tonight. Since it is a small jet, we are taking off on the smaller runway in the back so please follow me. I'll show you where it is."

Amante sighed with relief at hearing this piece of good news. As he began to walk, his cell phone chirped and he answered it. "Hello?"

"Hi, Amante. It's Amber Hart."

"Oh, hello Amber. Nice to hear from you."

"Same to you. Anyway, is everything all right? Planes ready to go and bags packed and the whole nine yards?"

"Yes. Is Francesca as excited as I?"

Amber grinned with her devilish smile. "More than you know, Amante. More than you know."

Jessica took Jake's hand in hers as the ferry rocked back and forth as small waves lapped at the sides. The two smiled at each other, the setting sun behind their two heads creating a silhouetted image.

"Everything's so perfect. Everything's just the way I hoped it would be," Jake sighed.

Jessica looked down at her wheelchair. "How can you say that when I'm stuck in this thing? No, Jake. Everything's not perfect."

Jake clasped Jessica's hand tighter. "I'm here with you, Jessica. Just to be in your presence is more than enough for me. Besides, the wheelchair is only temporary."

"How can you say that when I can't even feel my legs?" Jessica countered forcefully, her eyes beginning to tear.

"That'll wear away, Jess. Have faith, girl. As long as we're together nothing else matters. I just want to be with you."

Jessica laughed and smiled into the folds of her soft brown velvet skirt. She then looked up at Jake, and tears were in his eyes. "You know I don't deserve you."

"No, I think you deserve this and much more, Jessica. So much more."

The ferry cruised into a little nook of Isle of Royale. With a soft little bump at the end, the students had arrived for the beginning of Madison's Ball. The students crowded around to exit the boat and make their way up to the large mansion that was to be home to Madison's Ball.

"It looks so beautiful," Kim breathed, taking all of the sights in eagerly.

She was correct. The now violet-colored waters licked gently at the rich golden sands that made up the beach that the students were now walking on. The mansion was illuminated with golden light which flowed down from the house through the trees that grew densely along the side of the hill-like island. There was a small rocky path that wound through the trees that would lead the teens up to the mansion. Everything was beautiful. Everything was perfect. Madison's Ball had begun.

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