You stood there in front of a mirror, wearing a simple black dress that hung slightly above your knees. It had no sleeves or straps but still had support. You only wondered how you got yourself into the situation.
Earlier that day you were sitting in your classroom long after your students were gone. You had promised the class to get all of their essays within two nights and the second night had arrived. The bight before you went easy on papers, thinking that less than 75% was still needed to be graded. Easy to say, you were wrong. You weren’t going to break your promise but you needed something to decompress with afterwards, so while grading essays on why Pocahontas did or did not save John Smith, you were thinking about how you wanted to pop open a bottle of wine, not to mention getting drunk enough to forget about your own insecurities.
Oh yes, that was your glorious plan for the evening, at least until a knock was heard at the classroom door. You sighed and walked over to the locked door and opened it without even bothering to ask who was there. Not too much to your surprise, sitting there was Charles. As usual his array of brown locks looked sophisticated but still as if he had run his fingers through it, which he probably had done. He gave you his young and boyish smile which still looked amazing for being as old as he was.
“Good evening Y/N, as always you look beautiful but exhausted.”
You felt heat creep along your neck and across your cheeks but you were used to it by that point. Charles had always made it part of his daily routine to compliment you, everything he ever said wasn’t a lie. You gave a nervous grin.
“As always you’re too kind to me, Charles. Also you’re definitely right about the whole tired bit. I’m exhausted and the day hasn’t even turned to evening yet.”
You looked at the classroom, absorbing the fact that the sunlight didn’t even have an orange glow yet. All of the desks in the room were covered by a normal mid day glow. You gave out a sigh knowing that it was half after four at the most. Then Charles caught your attention once again. “So Y/N, there’s a party going on tonight. We’re celebrating the fifth anniversary of the school and Jubilee says that everyone needs a date. Would you like to be mine?”
Your mouth slightly opened to say something, but you couldn’t. Was he really asking you on a date? He seemed to notice your flustered look and added, “as a friend of course,” with red slightly blotching on his light cheeks. You let out an inaudible sigh of relief but you couldn’t help but feel disappointed too. You had naturally developed some feelings for him after how well he treated you and overall how amazing of a person he was. You had even gotten to the point where you considered asking him out but you decided against it. You were convinced that he would never want someone like you. You didn’t like how you looked too much. Anything with the scale or measurements was not something you fancied. You had tried everything too but it just was a problem that stuck around and you hated it. Then you remembered, by some miracle, that you needed to respond to Charles’ question.
“Oh, um, yes. I would love to go with you. What time does it begin?” He smiled. “Ten. It’s outdoors so Jubilee wanted to make sure it was dark enough to see lights hanging from trees and small details like that.” I smiled thinking of how splendid it would look and Charles said, “I’ll see you then. I look forward to seeing you.” With a gentlemanly gesture he left the room and you looked at his figure as he rolled away. Once he was down the hall a specific piece of information had sunk in. This was a party. At parties people had to dress nice. People had to dress cute or handsome. They just had to look amazing. Everything you thought you weren’t.
A moment later you sighed and let your head fall to the desk. You mentally cursed and raked your mind for what to do. You always dressed nice, that was kind of your unwritten rule of teaching. You always needed to look presentable. You had plenty of nice clothing but for a party you needed something new. You sat there and groaned over your situation and then you heard two sets of footsteps stop by your door.
“Professor L/N?”
The voice clearly belonged to one of your favorite students, Jean. You looked up to see her standing on the doorway with Jubilee right next to her. You put on a smile. “Hello Jean, Jubilee. What are you two doing here?” They smiled and Jean responded, “well, we were just about to ask Charles if we could leave the manor for a while to go buy new outfits for the dance.” You looked over at Jubilee with evident confusion. “Jube, aren’t you supposed to be decorating?”
“I got others working on it. I just want to look as good as the decorations tonight.”
You chuckled and couldn’t help but have a real smile. Then you gave them an offer without thinking. “I’ll take you two to the mall. You won’t even have to ask Charles as long as you’re with me.” They threw big smiles and wide eyes at each other and before you knew it you were being dragged out to your car. Well, it was one of Charles’ old cars but he gave it to you. You sometimes forgot how disgustingly rich he was.
Jean and Jubilee sat in the back of the convertible as you drove them to the mall. The girls were talking about what styles they wanted, colors, materials and everything about a dress that you could talk about. You were considering if you were even going to buy a dress.
When you got into the mall, passing people of all sorts, Jean and Jubilee immediately dragged you into the store. You sat down outside of the dressing room while they ran around the store, grabbing every dress they liked. You giggled at them for how young and carefree they were. Only if you had teenage years like them. After a short while you saw the girls come out of the dressing rooms in synch. Just as you expected they both looked amazing in the gowns.
Jean’s hair had its deep flip and the red glow laid against the light gray dress she wore. The bodice of the dressing was fitted, had a solid gray fabric but a lighter tule covering it. The tule made off the shoulder straps. It complimented her light skin well and she looked gorgeous. I then looked over to Jubilee.
Jubilee’s hair was still in its normal updo but her outfit was darker than expected. Her dress was fitted, rose a bit above her knee, and had lines of rich colors adorning it. The background was white with peach, teal, pink, and yellow lines cutting across it. She looked stunning to say the least.
Both of them had expressions that showed that there was no changing their mind and then they looked over at you. “Professor L/N, aren’t you going to get something?” You put your hands up and a nervous grin spread across your lips. “Girls, I’m fine. Now how about we go pay for your dresses and-” You were already pulling cash out of your purse but then it flew back into the bag and the zipper closed. You looked up to see Jean smirking. “We’re not leaving until you get a dress. You should treat yourself too.” You looked for words and then the two girls grabbed your wrists and threw you into the dressing room while they went off in search of a gown for you. You sat there nervously thinking about what you’d have to say if they got you a size too small or if something about the dress didn’t look right. Flat out negative thoughts were rolling through your mind.
Moments later you saw Jean and Jubilee at the dressing room door with piles of dresses in each arm.
They dropped them off in the dressing room and before they shut the door Jubilee said, “you have to show us what each one looks like on you, Jean will know if you decide not to.” You gave them a nervous grin and shut the door. With a sigh you stripped down and began to try on the first dress in the mound of fabric.
Each time you would show your students what the gown looked like and they always thought you looked pretty but none of them were the one that the night was destined for. After a while the pile was down to only seven more gowns and lucky number seven was your choice.
You pulled a midnight black dress out of the pile. On the hanger it looked amazing. The way the sweetheart neckline had a form-fitting look, how the skirt looked like a black waterfall with a deep, rich blue shine. You took a deep breath and pulled on the dress. You closed your eyes and faced the mirror. After taking a deep breath you opened your eyes and looked into the mirror. There you saw someone beautiful staring back at you. She had your face and she looked so stunning. Her hips and bust were big, but in a good way. Her waist looked smaller than usual and for the first time in years you realized that you looked beautiful. It only lasted for a second though. You mentally began pointing out your own flaws but you exited the dressing room to show the girls. Jubilee jumped up from the couch. “Yes Professor! Yes!” Jean had a big grin and wide eyes. “Professor L/N, you look stunning!” You nervously smiled as you felt red welcome itself on your cheeks.
There was no arguing that it was the gown you were getting. You went straight back to the manor to realize that it was eight o'clock. You made the girls dinner since they missed it and you gave yourself a small serving. While they were eating Jubilee had looked up, her pigtails bouncing, and asked, “so professor, who’s your date?” You nearly choked but played it off as a small cough. “Well Charles and I are going as friends.”
Out of the corner of your eye you could see Jean smirking. “Jean, why do you look evil?” She smiled. “Maybe you and Charles will finally get together. Everyone here has been waiting for it to happen.” You felt your eyes narrow in confusion. “Why would any of the students want Charles and I to be together?”
“You two just seem like the perfect match. Anyways, it’s nine now so Jubilee and I should probably start getting ready. You should too. We’ll see you at the party.” With that the girls threw their plates into the sink and left without another word. You sighed and washed theirs and your plate before heading to your room. You did all of your makeup to your preference and did your hair. Afterwards you stared at the dress before five minutes and then with a deep breath you threw it on.
It had the same effect on you as it did when you first tried it on. First you were in love and then you pointed out the flaws. You shook your head as of the thoughts would go away and put on your shoes.
You walked through the corridors, your footsteps echoing throughout them, and you made your way out to the garden. When you say the way it was decorated it took your breath away. Lining every flowerbed, every tree, everything, were lights. Small white lights that cast a mystical glow across everything. There were lanterns and candles too. The only word to describe it really was perfect.
“Y/N?”
You turned around to see Charles, only the small lights casting onto his figure. You could see the reflection of the lights in his eyes and how his hair had a white shine. He was wearing a tux, not very surprising, but he somehow did look even more handsome than usual.
“Hello Charles, how’s your evening going?” He had a shocked smile. “Splendid and now I feel as if the night can’t be better because you’re here.” He paused for a second and said with a slightly confused tone, “you look absolutely stunning, no, more than that. I just can’t wrap my mind around why you don’t see the same thing I do.” You felt yourself turn a deep hue of red. “Charles, did you read my mind?” As nervous grin appeared on his face. “Not yours, just someone who read your mind earlier.” There could only be one person. Jean.
Charles then took your hand and kissed the back of it. “Without further ado, malady, let’s go enjoy the party together.” When he looked up his blue eyes had peered into yours and you had to look away. Throughout the night you two held hands, Charles seemed to think nothing of it but you were blushing at the gesture nonstop.
By the end of the party Charles had said, “Y/N, you really are beautiful. Please don’t let yourself think otherwise.” You looked down at him and sighed. “Charles, I’ve never been a big fan of myself. Just please don’t worry yourself with it.” Instead of giving you a proper answer he said, “Y/N, will you please come with me?” You gave him a curious stare but followed as Charles silently began to wheel back into the manor. You had walked into the hall that you remembered Charles’ room being in. Thoughts that shouldn’t even be described began to make their way into your mind but you still followed.
A moment later you found yourself in Charles’ bedroom, him closing the door, and him telling you to sit on the bed. You obeyed. After the door was shut he had wheeled over to you and took one of your hands between his. His ocean eyes looked up into yours. “Y/N, I’ve known how you’ve always thought bad of yourself. Even after knowing you for twenty years I could still never figure out why you treat yourself the way you do. After twenty years I figured that I should finally talk to you about this and something else. Y/N, I love you. You’re an absolutely terrific person. You have a brilliant mind, you’re kind, motherly, and just overall irreplaceable. That’s only what’s inside too. You’re a piece of art. Every single line, curve, shape, every part of you has a purpose and is beautiful. I would say something cheesy around the lines of, ‘I’ll touch every part of you that I love,’ but that’s impossible because I love everything, every part about you. Will you let me show you how beautiful you are?”
You were speechless. Charles, the man you had been fawning over for years, had just told you that he loved you and everything about you. That took a moment to sink in and after a moment you silently nodded. He leaned close, a hand cupping your cheek, and his lips gently met yours. One of his hands went up to his temple and thoughts of every moment Charles was at a loss of how beautiful you were flowed through your mind.
When you pulled apart he softly said, “you’re you and that’s perfect.”
