Charlton chose not to escort any lady as he did not want to have his attention split elsewhere. When he entered the ball, the first thing he did was look for Serena. He wanted to see her since earlier, but Kylo insisted that they go together.

Kylo, much to his annoyance, took a longer time to prepare. He said that he wanted to look really good for his date. Thus, when they arrived at the lobby of the ladies' dormitory, it was already almost empty. Via looked vexed. She did not even give Kylo a single smile since they saw each other. Not even taking his hand when he offered. Well, he thought that it just served him right.

When his eyes met Serena's, he felt like the world suddenly stopped moving and he could not hear a sound. She was all he saw. She was there, looking straight at him, and she was more beautiful than he has even seen her. She was in a red gown and the necklace he gave her was adorning her neck. He walked towards where she was, and he saw her smile at him.

The world started moving before he can reach her as Kylo started acting like a kicked puppy.

"Charlie, come on, you're my brother, please help me."

Charlton had to break eye contact because of that. This pest made him arrive a little late, so he shrugged his hand holding his arm. However, noting that he can only approach Serena because of him being Via's escort, he could only say, "fine, let me try."

--

Via went to join her friends. She didn't understand why but she was sorely disappointed that Kylo arrived later than their appointed time. She did not know what she expected, but at the very least, he should have arrived on time.

"What's wrong?" Milly asked seeing Kylo trailing a few steps behind Via.

"Nothing." She replied. She should stop acting like a jilted lover, they were not even late for the party.

Serena gave Via a knowing look. Seems like her friend was starting to grow some feelings for Kylo. Not that she approves, but Via was her own person capable of judging for herself.

"Ladies, how's your evening going?" Kylo greeted.

Gizel and Milly rolled their eyes at him.

"Good evening, Gizel, Milly, and Serena." Charlton greeted, his eyes lingering on Serena.

The girls all greeted Charlton back. Knowing that he wanted to talk to Serena, they pretended to discuss about other matters giving the two time to speak without looking like they were alone.

"May I have the honor to pen my name in you dance card?" Charlton asked. Aside from the last Waltz, he wanted to pen his name for the two-step which was the dance before the intermission. It was especially important because her partner for that dance will get to escort her to the refreshments' area.

"Don't ask me, my dance card is with brother Leonard. I will only receive it once the dancing commences. But worry not, I have specifically asked him not to let anyone fill in their name for the second waltz. I, of course, have saved the last dance for you." Serena said as she smiled at him.

Charlton can do nothing but smile back.

"Then I will be waiting until then." He replied.

What's up with Leonard? It's not like he would behave inappropriately and dance with his sister more than twice.

Anyway, he can try again later when Leonard returns it to her. Hopefully, there will still be some blank spaces.

Serena encouraged him to dance with her friends, so having no choice, he got his dance card marked for the three dances. The first Quadrille after the grand march with Via, the lancers with Gizel and the gallop with Milly. Anyway, etiquette and propriety calls that he dances with some ladies.

After a while, the master of ceremonies called everyone's attention for the program was about to begin. Thus, Kylo and Charlton excused themselves and walked to the other side of the ballroom. The students were divided into two sides, the ladies on the left, and gentlemen on the right.

--

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the first ball of the school year. I am teacher Julio Mendez, just in case you don't know, and it is my honor and privilege to be the master of ceremonies at this momentous occasion. Now, let us first begin this event with a prayer. Teacher Grace Astoria?"

Grace went to the stage and led a prayer.

When Grace was done with the prayer, the school hymn was played.

Afterwards, Julio requested the school principal to share his opening message.

The school principal walked to the front of the stage, received the mic, and started his message.

"Good evening everyone. It is my great pleasure to see all your young faces brimming with excitement. I know that most of you don't want to hear what I have to say as I know you are all excited to begin the dancing. I have been in your shoes once, and I understand how you feel. So, I will keep this short. Tonight, we celebrate our school's 150th founding anniversary and the Christmas season. So I hope all of you will have a grand time, forget all your school work in the meantime, enjoy the last day before the school holidays, while also observing proper etiquette. I will see you all again next year. Thank you. And do I really have to say this?" the principal laughed, then he added, "With this I pronounce the dancefloor open."

Then the students started cheering.

Julio received the mic back. Before asking the orchestra to start playing the music, he thanked the organizing committee first, telling that the event was made possible by the contributions of the student council.

During that time, all the gentlemen went back to their respective partners in preparation for the grand march.

Leonard went to Serena's side. Then, he handed her dance card.

Serena gratefully took it back as she looked at the names listed. She looked at the last dance first and saw it blank along with the two before it. Serena smiled, perhaps she can have one of the two with Charlton too. However, aside from that, her dance card was full. The grand march, the first quadrille and the first dance after the intermission, which was another quadrille, will be with Leonard. The others will be with the other council members, and other guys she doesn't know. She noted Geoffrey's name was also listed 3 times. The 3rd dance which was the lancers, the 10th dance which was the Waltz, and the 11th dance which was the two-step before the intermission.

She sighed, that means that he will escort her during the intermission. Seems like Leonard was really trying to help them cultivate feelings for each other, which she doesn't think Geoffrey and herself wanted in the first place.

Anyway, the orchestra started playing signaling that the grand march was about to begin. From the corner of her eyes, she saw Emily being escorted by Douglas while thinking, 'oh, I thought that she's attending with Geoffrey. If not her then who did he attend with?'

--

TBC