Free Scorpion by Cyndi Goodgame Page B

eyes went to the middle of the closet where I ’d somehow missed the large black zip bag hanging low to the ground.  I must have buried it between clothes when I started moving things around. 
    The bag resembled many of my own back home.  I’d learned from movies about proms and dances but all I’d ever attended was something labeled a ball or political event.  But I’d been especially intrigued by proms. Regular human schools had them.  I wondered briefly if the Hunter school ever did.  Wait a minute, Fall Ball.  They’d mentioned it.  They do have a dance. 
    When the right side zipper made its way down to the floor, I think my jaw hit the floor with it.  Gold shimmery silk looped everywhere.  The most beautiful floor length gown with small straps and obviously clingy in certain places.  Something thumped my head when I came back up from eyeing the length as fitted to me.  A bag hung on the hanger with the dress.  Of course, matching shoes.  How does he know my size?  I will never, ever ask.
    I let my fingers linger on the silky fabric for a while.  Wow!  Just Wow!
    Claire showed me where all the boxes landed with the “stuff” my father had packed up.  This wasn’t all of it.  My room still had a few more personal items that I wanted back.  But this bag wasn’t here before.
    I took my time getting ready getting a little excited about what the night might bring.  The long steam y shower was really awesome especially with more of my own things.  I wondered briefly, only briefly, if his shower was as large.  And only briefly if we were to get married, where we would stay.  I shaved, conditioned my hair for twenty minutes, and totally reminded myself of the girl I started out as.  Lately, I’d spent so much time being SuperVal girl that I’d lost the inner me.  Was Cas bringing that out?  Was that a good thing?
    Turning the shower off, I saw that my pendant and ring had been removed for the entire time since I ’d arrived and I hadn’t thought to replace either.  Torn between wearing what he gave me and the opportune times I wanted my thoughts guarded was tiring. And I wasn’t even dressed yet. But I didn’t want to spend the night not hearing him.  I’d already spent much of the time removing things that hindered me from hearing him .
    Deciding on no jewelry across the neck, I put on my diamond stud earrings and that ’s it.  My necklace was safely tucked in my jewelry box I brought from home on the dresser in my room.  My room.  My other recent additions in the adorning department were hidden between the mattresses for safe keeping.  No unworthy one would guess I’d separated out all the goods.
    Cas asked me day s ago to keep the necklace and pendant on me, just in case.  Just in case for what, I asked.  He fumbled around his words of why it exists in the first place and some higher purpose we might not be aware of yet.  That sounded a lot like a secret he wasn't telling me.
    I slipped into the dress checking the time.  4:35. I didn ’t have long to finish.  My hair and light make up were done with my favorite new gold like the sun yellow hues that Cas loved on me.  I’d pinned up my hair all around with the gold pins also found in my hanging bag.  This guy either had really great taste or an excellent female advisor—I wasn’t sure.  I’m hoping that advisor is old and plump. 
    Now ready and five minutes to spare I opened the door and peeked.  The heels were a tad higher than I ’d have liked, but not stiletto or anything.  I closed my door not having a handbag or my pouch.  I’d not left without one ever. I couldn’t tuck jewelry in without losing it in the dress he offered. I’d been to plenty of balls and parties but I was nervous as heck right now at the prospect of being beside Cas in this getup.  I've worn a thousand of these dresses, but not for someone.  And I hoped he was in a tux!
    I approached the stairwell and rounded the corner peeking