[center][h1][color=1e4fff]Crystal[/color] & [color=BBC7E1]Charlotte[/color][/h1][/center]

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Crystal smiled as she stood next to her sister, Looking out into the sea of nobles. What little of her confidence was back again. She saw Charlotte standing at the perimeter of the dancefloor. She looked at Violet and said softly, [color=1e4fff]”Ok. Promise me you won't give up on the bear. Ok?! I have to talk to Charlotte real quick before the next dance.” [/color] Before squeezing her hand and quickly walking away.

It didn’t take long for her to reach her best friend. [color=1e4fff]Charlotte! How was your dance?[/color] She said as she gave her a hug from behind. She tried to act normal, not wanting to bring up her own in case she didn’t see it.

 [color=BBC7E1]”Crystal!”[/color]Charlotte whirled around to hug her best friend back with a smile. She gave her a gentle squeeze before letting her go. [color=BBC7E1]” I’m so happy you’re here tonight. You look well!”[/color]She told her pleasantly, before answering her question, [color=BBC7E1]”It was nice. Sir Matthias is a royal guard from Varian Kingdom. He seemed to be an amiable sort…I think I saw him approach you before, yes ? Did he ask you to dance with him?”[/color] 

She smiled more when Charlotte hugged her back. [color=1e4fff]Thank you, I feel great! Especially when Mom hasn’t killed me yet for sneaking over here by myself”  [/color] She then mentioned Sir Matthias and she nodded, [color=1e4fff]Yes he saved me from embarrassing myself when I walked in. Though he would claim I saved him from some older Ladies that were not too happy he left. But yes, yes he did. I think we will dance this next one.”[/color]  She added with a bright smile.

[color=1e4fff]”He did tell me he was a Royal guard, but also he’s friends with Sir Verrick! I didn’t know he had a close friend!”[/color] 

[color=BBC7E1]”Oh that’s great! I bet he’s going to just adore you.”[/color]Charlotte giggled.

[color=1e4fff]No… not when he’s already danced with you! You two looked cute together!”[/color] Crystal added quickly, waving her hand in front of her face as if to fan away the idea he might adore her.

She took her hand gently and began to assure her, [color=BBC7E1]”I am positive he will! Make sure to ask him for some stories-”[/color] She broke off and suddenly said with excitement, [color=BBC7E1]”Oh! Speaking of stories, I spoke to Verrick tonight! I want to introduce him to you at some point.”[/color]

Crystal smiled at Charlotte when she took her hand. Surely the man would not be interested in a girl like her, stuck at home and reading books all the time. But she nodded just the same. Her eyes went wide when she then changed the subject to saying she actually met Verrick tonight. She knew he was here, the princess of Varian was here. But the fact that Charlotte spoke to him just made her excited. That and she wanted to introduce her to him as well. She grabbed both her hands with hers and said very excitedly, [color=1e4fff]Oooh I would love that. Thank you! “[/color] She always wanted to meet him of course, he was a childhood crush of hers. Hearing stories about him even in Casonia inspired her to write. That made her realize…was her source here as well?” She looked around the room for a bit. Like that would have helped as she never met the man. 

[color=1e4fff]I am sure he's busy with the princess though…We shouldn’t bother him.” [/color] She said with a light sigh. But she quickly turned to Charlotte, [color=1e4fff]So, is there any other man that caught your eye tonight?”[/color]

 [color=BBC7E1]”Of course, I know how much he means to you. It would make my night to see your dream come true… I am sure we can catch him at some point. ”[/color]Charlotte told her genuinely. Through thick and thin, Crystal had always been so sweet to her. It had been hard for her to keep friends after the Vikena family reputation had sunk so low, but Crystal had stuck by her, even writing to her when she shut herself out the last year. She was one of the few people she could be around and come out of her shell. Helping Crystal meet Verrick was the least she could do. 

Her cheeks reddened a little at the idea of someone [i]catching her eye[/i].  [color=BBC7E1]“Oh dear, um….”[/color] Romance was a notion she hadn’t bothered considering for herself at times. It was certainly something that made her giggle to herself late at night when her romance novels made her giddy, but it wasn’t something she ever thought would be in her cards nor something she was certain to even be real. After seeing her mother’s attempts at romance always utterly fail, she had grown to have a pessimistic opinion. [color=BBC7E1]”I don’t think anyone’s interested in me. “[/color]Charlotte finally admitted with a sad smile, [color=BBC7E1]I, well…Had an embarrassing start to my night that may have left not the best of impressions. But… I think I would like to find Lord Leo Smithwood again tonight. I promised him some of my time. ”[/color]

Crystal smiled when she said she could introduce her to Sir Verrick. That it would make her night to see it happen. She really appreciated Charlotte so much. Despite not being able to leave her home, she came often to visit. Where any other girl her age simply just let her be and moved on. She also encouraged her writing and even gave her insights into her social life so Crystal could relate: even keeping her updated on the latest gossip. 

Obviously Mathias could introduce her as well, but that would be a little rude really as they are all here to mingle and get to know each other. Especially when he was so kind to her. 

She looked at Charlotte and grabbed her hand. [color=1e4fff]” I highly doubt no one is interested in you…”[/color] she said softly. [color=1e4fff] It would seem that we both had an embarrassing start tonight in our own ways…[/color] She added giving a comforting squeeze. [color=1e4fff]”Lord Leo Smithwood?”[/color] she asked. It sounded familiar, But she couldn’t remember where she heard family name. But she smiled. [color=1e4fff]”Well if you promised some of your time, that means he asked for it??”[/color] She said with a happy grin. She began to look around, [color=1e4fff]”Which one is he?”[/color]

Charlotte got up on her tippy toes and craned her head as she searched around the crowd. She finally spotted a head of curly red hair and pointed him out. [color=BBC7E1]”There he is.”[/color] Her heels dropped back to the ground and she said after a pause, her expression saddening, [color=BBC7E1]”... His father passed away last year.”[/color]She told Crystal, her voice dropping in volume, [color=BBC7E1]”Him, his sister and I had all been friends since we were children. I wrote them ...maybe two letters at most over the year.  I do not feel I was nearly as good a friend as I could have been. I’ve been… procrastinating speaking with him. It’s difficult to find the words to apologize correctly for such a situation.”[/color] 

Crystal mimicked Charlotte almost perfectly as she got on her toes as well. Once she pointed him out she smiled and nodded. She looked over to see Charlotte look a bit sad. Explaining her relationship and that their father passed as well a year ago. She wrote them, but she felt she wasn’t nearly as good as a friend. Crystal shook her head. [color=1e4fff]” You can’t be hard on yourself. You lost your mother at the same time, you were dealing with the same pain as well.”[/color] She hugged her.  [color=1e4fff]”You have always been the kindest person I know. The fact you still reached out during that time shows how amazing of a friend you are. You can't deny that. Your best friend said so. So thus it is.”[/color].She said with a grin. 

[color=BBC7E1]”Oooh Crystal.”[/color]Charlotte smiled and hugged her back,  [color=BBC7E1]” Those words could move me to tears! Thank you for being so sweet.”[/color] She took a deep breath. [color=BBC7E1]”You’re right. Maybe he’ll understand and see it that way too… It matters more what I do now then in the past as they say.”[/color] She rubbed Crystal’s arms in a friendly and comforting manner, [color=BBC7E1]”...Have you been okay? If you are in better health, maybe we can visit each other’s houses more…”[/color] Her eyes widened and she bit her lip to keep from gasping out loud, [color=BBC7E1]“...Then I can play you a song I wrote for the heroine in your story. I’ve read it twice this last year! I just loved it so much. It’s rather romantic and soft in the beginning, but the tempo changes, and the tune gradually becomes more epic to showcase her character development!”[/color] She looked ready to squeal. Though Charlotte was usually not a loud girl, especially not in public, she was known to get excited when she talked about her favorite topics.

Crystal nodded while Charlotte convinced herself that it would be ok. [color=1e4fff]”If he doesn’t understand. I'll make him.”[/color] She said with a small grin. Not that she could do much. But maybe a surprise kick to the shins or other parts would work. When Charlotte moved to her heath she smiled and nodded more definitively. [color=1e4fff]”Yes, much better I would lov-”[/color] She started to say when she was surprised by her friend's sudden enthusiasm. Which only made her smile more. She blushed at her saying she read her book twice this year. She had mentioned in her letters she loved it, not that she read it twice! That made her feel wonderful. She mentioned she wrote a song for her latest books, and she laughed. She had done this before with her other books as well, and they were all wonderful. [color=1e4fff]”I can't wait to hear it! You make the most wonderful songs! I keep telling you, you need to compose more. Then I can support you like you do me!  ”[/color]

Charlotte was elated to hear her positive reaction. She was happy she had gotten to speak to Crystal tonight; the nervous feeling that had been plaguing her all night had finally left her in peace. [color=BBC7E1] “I would love to compose more for you. I promised you I’d always have your back and I meant it.”[/color]

 [color=1e4fff]”I would love it. I also never doubted your promise, I promised to have your back as well and I meant it.”[/color] She said with a smile.  [color=1e4fff]”Now to keep that promise. Stop hiding on the edges here…”[/color]She said moving slightly behind Charlotte and placing her hands on her back. She began to push her gently towards Lord Leo which was also on the way back to her sister which she would go back to after.[color=1e4fff]”Stop procrastinating and go ‘apologize’ to him. Though I'm sure it's not even warranted.”[/color]