Julia Newman looked herself up and down in the mirror, pulling on the hem of her puffy dress. The black lace top and red silk skirt, paired with fiery red lipstick and a black staff, made her look like she was casting a spell as she spun around. Her skirt flared up, but instead of looking like a fairy coming down from heaven, she exuded a dark and evil aura, looking more like a witch standing next to Satan.
"Ugh!" Julia let out a frustrated sigh and stomped her foot.
Tonight was the high school's new school year homecoming dance. It was a masquerade ball, and all the students would carefully choose their costumes and dress up to attend. At the end of the dance, students would vote for the Homecoming King and Queen. This was the most important start to the entire school year.
According to the plan, Julia was going to dress up as an evil witch, and Mark Cotez was going to dress up as a dark knight. The two of them would go to the dance together as a dark duo.
Mark was the point guard on the school's basketball team. He and Julia were in the same math class, and they met during a casual conversation. Later, Mark invited her to the homecoming dance, and she said yes. Then, the two of them came up with this unique costume idea.
It was a perfect plan. At the dance, everyone else would be dressed up as boring characters like princes and princesses, but their anti-traditional look would definitely turn heads and make them the center of attention. There was no better way to make a grand entrance for the final year of high school.
However, the plan was ruined because of Jenny Donnagen.
Jenny was the captain of the school's cheerleading squad. She had a hot body, delicate features, and was also the leader of a sorority. She was definitely a popular figure at school and a top contender for Homecoming Queen.
Just two days before the homecoming dance, Jenny and her boyfriend broke up, and she turned around and invited Mark. Mark said yes and became Jenny's dance partner.
So, Julia was left all alone, dressed as an evil witch, standing in front of the mirror as if she was a villain ready to destroy the world. Although at this moment, she really did want to destroy the world—that damn Jenny, that damn Mark, those damn guys—her feelings were more of annoyance and regret than anger.
For a moment, Julia just wanted to give up. Maybe she shouldn't go to the dance tonight. Even if she did, being all by herself would be pathetic and lonely.
It all happened so suddenly that Julia was caught completely off guard. Even if she wanted to find a new dance partner, there wasn't enough time.
Actually, Julia had considered Lu Ke. She knew that if she asked for his help, Lu Ke would not refuse. But Julia also knew that Lu Ke was in a difficult situation right now. The game this week was just around the corner, and Lu Ke still wasn't sure about his starting position. Also, Lu Ke had been focusing on strength training recently and was working very hard every day.
After thinking about it, Julia decided not to ask.
However, Julia was never the timid and cowardly type. She still put on her costume and makeup, mustering up the courage to go to the dance. Even if she was alone, she would brave that tiger's den. She couldn't let Jenny and Mark look down on her. But at this moment, looking at herself in the mirror, Julia hesitated once again.
"Julia? What are you still doing in there? Are you scared?" Logan's annoying, giggling voice came through the thin door. "How about this, if you ask me nicely, maybe I'll agree to help you?"
"No. I don't want your help even if you offer." Julia snapped back fiercely, not showing any weakness. She straightened her skirt, secretly clenched her fists, and cheered herself on. "You can do it! You can do it!"
She turned around, took a step, and opened the door. Then, Julia saw Logan standing at the door with a punchable expression on his familiar face. She raised her right hand and pointed at Logan. "Shut up!" She knew she looked very evil right now, so she was going to take full advantage of it.
Logan raised his right hand, slowly traced his lips, and zipped them shut. But the smile in his eyes vividly and clearly showed what he was thinking.
Julia rolled her eyes angrily, lifted her skirt, and walked down the stairs.
Austin and Tiffany were standing at the bottom of the stairs, one in front of the other, with smiles on their faces. But their slightly tense expressions gave away their worries.
"I'm fine," Julia said, looking up at the sky and sighing helplessly. "Dad, Mom, I'm 17. I'm not a kid. Trust me, I can handle a dance. It's just a dance, not an Indiana Jones adventure." She complained. "Don't worry, I'll be fine."
But the loud stomping of her heavy footsteps gave away her irritation. She walked down the stairs, opened the front door, and said loudly, "I can do it myself! You don't have to worry..."
"Are you sure?" Before she could finish her sentence, a voice came from the door. Julia stopped in her tracks, turned her head, and saw a tall and strong figure standing at the door like a wall, completely blocking her way. This was so sudden and so unexpected that Julia subconsciously took a small step back. When she saw who it was, she was stunned, her face full of shock.
It was Lu Ke standing in front of her. For a professional football player, Lu Ke's physique still needed to be worked on, but for an ordinary person, Lu Ke's strength was unquestionable. However, Lu Ke looked so unfamiliar today that he was almost unrecognizable.
He was wearing a traditional French court costume: a pearly white shirt, a black suede tailcoat, a red sash, a sword at his waist, and thigh-high boots. He exuded an elegant, retro, and dignified aura, like... a prince charming, or a royal knight. This was a side of him she had never seen before.
"I heard that you needed a little chivalry tonight, so I volunteered. Did the plan change?" Lu Ke said with a sunny smile, sounding kind and enthusiastic.
Julia's mouth was open and her eyes were wide. Her brain was a mess, and she could barely speak. "Uh... you, don't you have practice? I thought you didn't have any free time. There's not much time left to prepare for this week's game."
"Today's practice is over. At least, I have time to be a knight and rescue a damsel in distress," Lu Ke said, pulling at his clothes, which still felt a little awkward. He had heard of masquerade balls and had seen them in real life, but he had never actually attended one. Tonight was his first time.
Julia still hadn't reacted. She frowned. "But how did you know? Mom? Was it you? Did you ask Lu Ke for help?"
"Heh." Lu Ke chuckled and took the initiative to explain. "No, it wasn't. It was Logan. He learned about your worries and frustrations and asked for my help. If he wasn't worried that his presence would be counterproductive, he would have been more than willing to be your date." Not having a date and having to go with her brother would have been a real disaster for a high school student.
Julia turned around and saw Logan standing on the stairs. He still had a goofy expression on his face, his mouth was tightly shut, and he wasn't saying a word. He rolled his eyes as if to say, "You told me to shut up, so I'll just keep quiet."
The childish gesture made Julia both angry and amused, and she was so touched that she didn't know how to express it.
"So, do I have the honor of being your date tonight? And let me show off my chivalry, something I've been looking forward to for a long time," Lu Ke said, placing his left hand on his right shoulder in a knight's invitation gesture.
Julia extended her right hand and placed it in Lu Ke's right hand, making a lady's gesture of thanks. "Of course, the pleasure is all mine."
Lu Ke stood up straight and smiled at the Newmans. "Austin, Tiffany, I'll be escorting Julia to the homecoming dance tonight. I'll be back before curfew."
"A prince and a witch, that's a good combination," Austin said, raising his right fist and cheering twice. But no one in the room responded, so it became awkward. Austin sheepishly put down his fist and said hesitantly, "Go, 49ers?" This time, everyone couldn't help but laugh.
Julia linked her arm with Lu Ke's, and the two of them left the house. When they got to the steps, Julia suddenly stopped, turned around, and said loudly, "Thank you." Obviously, she was talking to Logan, but she didn't wait for a reply. She started walking again and headed toward the car parked on the side of the road with Lu Ke.
"Are you sure our combination is normal?" Julia asked, looking at Lu Ke's magnificent court costume. She tilted her head and giggled. "I feel like a witch who stole a prince from Snow White."
Deep down, she was still a little insecure. Julia felt that after tonight's plan went off the rails, everything felt a little off.
Lu Ke gentlemanly opened the car door. After Julia got in, he closed the door and quickly went around to the driver's seat and got in. "Fairy tales are just stories, but in real life, no one says that a prince has to be with a princess. Witches and queens also deserve to be loved. I think a witch and a prince might have more chemistry. What's more, does anyone even like fairy tales anymore?"
Julia's lips couldn't help but curl into a smile.
When they arrived at the school, there weren't many empty parking spots left. The packed parking lot showed how grand and important the dance was tonight. After driving around the parking lot twice, Lu Ke finally found a parking spot. After parking, he gentlemanly opened the passenger's door and invited her, "My dear witch, are you ready?"
Julia extended her right hand and said confidently, "Let's go scare those little princesses."
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