"A little bird informed me that you were planning on missing the midsummer ball?"
The sun was shining off the roof tiles and catching Links eyes effortlessly as Valeerie braved to glance at the inspector.
She knew that he would never be hers, that he belonged to her father, the blonde was besotted and ruled by Malcolm Rouvelier that any kind of suggestion on her part or any reason she could give about missing the party would be justly judged.
And no matter if she explained it to Link or not, she suspected that he probably wouldn't understand her reasons, anyway.
It's not like she could tell him that she longed to dance with him and only him. That she knew very well that it would never happen.
At the last party the brunette attended, she had stood by the large stone fireplace waiting for Howard to ask her to dance.
Something she was still somewhat sour about.
Because no matter how long she had stood there. His honey eyes had not once landed on her.
Others like her, but not her.
Valeerie had spent a lot of her saved wages on that dress, too.
A mistake not to be made again. She told herself.
"Word travels fast" Her voice was light with whimsy as Howard's expression softened.
They walked beside the old chapel and past old gravestones.
The summer evenings were becoming shorter now but the sunsets were still enough to take her breath away..
"I don't suppose you intend to enlighten me on why?" Link sighed as the light breeze toyed with his corn silk bangs.
She tipped her chin grinning up at the man as the sun caught the stray gold strands of hair in her otherwise brunette locks.
"You seem to know more about me than I do" she laughed.
"If you still can't guess, then why not ask you little bird?"
"Or you could save us both the trouble and tell me, now?"
"Finances" Valeerie barked suddenly.
"Finances?" Howard mirrored. Almost sounding confused he furrowed his brow.
"You should have recently received this month's wage packet...? Don't tell me it's gone already!?"
"No, no. Nothing like that.." She soothes.
"I owe a bit of money....and I've already put it off paying for a while"
"Who do you owe it to?"
He was testing her, Valeerie knew it and it was so hard to lie and sound convincing. Especially to him. She never made it a habit to lie to the ex crow. He was too damn good at sniffing out deception so there was seriously no point.
"Does it matter? It's just a bit of money?"
"It matters, because I've just asked you why and if you tell me, then between us we might come up with a solution."
"I don't want my father involved" I say angrily before catching myself and seeing Links pout. I think he was about to suggest asking Malcolm for a loan. I shut him down before he can say it.
"This is a celebration specifically for you exorcists" Howard sighed.
"It seems a shame that you should miss it."
"whatever" I hiss "Just don't tell my dad."
We can both see the Black Orders entrance from where we are as Link walks across a couple of fallen Oak twigs. They snap as the sun dips below the horizon.
"Perhaps if you won't ask the commander, you might consider letting me cover it and agreeing on a fixed, payable amount each month?"
"No thanks. Pass"
"Valeerie..."
I turn on him, blocking his path.
It hurts how much he's trying to get me to attend this party.
"If you dance with me, I'll go"
I say suddenly, catching us both off guard.
The word vomit has literally crawled its way up my throat and I am mortified.
"What I mean is, it's a waste to go to a ball where people are dancing and not dance...."
"So, you should dance?" He says slowly.
"I didn't really get too at the last party"
My finger nails are stabbing my inner palms.
Links eyes are on me. Molten honey meets cool blue.
Like the sea swallowing the sun.
I think he seems to get it because his cheeks turn pink, a fine dusting of red beneath that.
"I always took it as fact that people didn't want to dance with me" he mumbled.
"It would appear that I was mistaken."
He says incredulously.
I can't look at him any more. And instead Iook down at my feet.
"You don't have too... I'm not desperate or anythi-"
"I can join in on a few" The blonde humms, finger lightly on his bottom lip as his soft eyes regards me.
"Is that ...something that would be agreeable to you?"
"Y-yes..."