The Brave Mate of The Unknown

Chapter Eight: Party Time

We planned the party all week. My parents said we all stay in the ballroom with guards at the door. We ran through all the rules before the party started. The press were at the castle gates and only kids with invitations were let in. I guess this was kinda going to be a big deal.

Me and Tamara greeted the first twenty people as they came in. The castle Chefs had tons of snacks and bite sized food prepared. The ballroom was huge so there were tables and chairs on the far right. We had great music playing and when everyone got here it was amazing. There was a door leading right to a big balcony. When we got to hot we’d go out there and there were guards standing out there but not inside. 

I went outside and smiled. “Tam this is amazing.” I looked at the door and watched Prince Quinn walk out here. “Let me guess, tired of your fan club?” There were tons of non royals here who were obsessed with Quinn. Just cause they wanted to date a prince to live out their fantasies. 

Prince Quinn chuckled. “It’s true I’m not used to being around this many kids our age and that it is a bit overwhelming but I did need some air.” He smiled. “Thanks for letting me come, really.” 

“No problem.” I answered. “Too bad this wasn’t meant to be a longer party...” It was only going to be four hours.

“I think I’m gonna go back in and talk to Braden.” Tamara giggled.

I frowned. “That’s not a good idea. Tam he doesn’t date dragons. But there are other boys in there that do.” I grabbed her hand. “Maybe you shouldn’t date elves, it’s not like elementary school you have more options. There are dragon shifter boys who go to our middle school.” 

Tamara tugged her hand away from mine. “You don’t think ANY elf would like me? Ever?” She looked really hurt.

Quinn spoke up. “That’s not what she meant, elves are still weird about things we don’t understand and that are just different. Some of us can’t see past that, at what’s actually important. Especially because dating dragon girls are normalized yet.” He spoke so educatedly, I guess that happens when you’re taught by the best professors in your kingdom.

“I’m gonna try to talk to him then, maybe if he gets to know me he’ll see past that. What do you think Quinn?” She asked worried.

Quinn sighed. “Don’t get your hopes up but trying won’t hurt. I don’t think it’s hopeless but it depends what kind of guy he is.”

Tamara nodded. “I’m gonna go… thanks.” She looked at me. “You too, for being honest.” I watched her walk inside.

“I’m worried about her.” Quinn looked at me. “You want to take a walk?” It surprised me that he was worried about Tamara, this was only the second time they met and they didn’t talk much. Maybe Quinn was a better person than I thought.

“But the party, you want to miss out on even a second of it?” I asked.

“Yeah, I want to apologize for two years ago but I want you to be able to hear me.” He said and he was right, the music was loud and so was everyone in the party. 

I nodded and we left. We decided to walk around the garden. “When I was eleven I was a pretty screwed up kid. I know it doesn’t justify anything but you deserve some kind of explanation.” He started. “I won’t bore you with details, I was neglected by my parents. I spent most of my free time watching tv or reading books. There was this anime from the human world on. It had a dragon in it and I really fell in love with dragons.”

I nodded. “So when you knew I had a dragon form you thought it’d be cool to have a dragon girlfriend?” I held back laughter.

He chuckled. “At the time I thought it’d be pretty cool. I shouldn’t have been forceful but I was spoiled, used to getting what I wanted. Anything other than my parents attention anyways.” 

“So it wouldn’t still be pretty cool?” I teased him and when he was about to talk I blew a little fire in his face and ran. He chased me then I stopped and just laughed and he laughed too. “Thanks Quinn.” Him apologizing meant a lot because I felt powerless when that happened and even after I felt like that. I was scared of how aggressive guys could get.

I noticed a boy sitting alone on the bench. “I’m gonna stay out here for a while you go in.” I said while staring at the boy.

Quinn frowned. “Oh okay.” He walked off, back into the party. 

I walked to the bench and sat down. He had brown skin, he didn’t look like an elf. “Are you here for the party? No one is really supposed to be out here.”

He turned away and shrugged. “I don’t care.”

I was shocked by his behavior. “Hey you don’t have to be an asshole. Let’s just go inside.”

He turned back to me and just laughed a little. “Wow I didn’t think you’d be kind of a nag.”

My eye brows crunched up. “Now you really need to leave.” 

“Wait wait.” He held his hand out to me. “I’m…” He seemed like he was thinking about it. “Ayden. I’m Ayden.” It was a nice name, it suit him well.

I hesitantly shook his hand. “I’m Dawn. How did you get in? Are you one of Bredans friends?”

He shook his head. “I broke in I guess, wasn’t all that hard.” He chuckled.

I crossed my arms. “You’re going to get both of us in a lot of trouble. Let’s go.” 

He looked down. “I wish I could go with you… but I can't. I'm sorry. I shouldn’t have even come tonight, I just thought it’d be a good time to finally...” He stood up. “It was nice meeting you Dawn, even if you are kind of a nag.” He walked into the castle and I followed after him. I don’t know why but I didn’t want him to leave.

The door closed behind him so I opened it up right after and he wasn’t there anymore. Almost like he vanished.

I walked back in and some girls stopped me. “Dawn the party is amazing. Could we stay for the sleepover?” I think they were grade 8 girls, Braiden probably invited them.

I couldn’t think straight, I was only thinking about the boy I met. “Huh? Oh no my parents said I could only have six girls stay over, thanks for coming.” I walked around a bit and danced with some people then I ate and looked around for my best friend.

When I found Tamara I walked to her. “Hey you’re done talking to Braiden?” I noticed Quinn was next to her, they were sitting at a table. They seemed pretty comfortable with each other.

Tamara frowned. “Yeah.” She looked like she’d be crying, her hair was a bit of a mess.

“He was an asshole.” Quinn said. “He was saying he liked her but it was only because you guys are friends. He was gonna use her, I overheard him talking to some of his friends.” I guess people liking you because you threw a cool party wasn’t the same as them liking you for you. Braiden wanted to be our friend for the wrong reason but I think this party still introduced us to people who would like us for us and not all the money and power my family has.

She glared at him. “So he punched him, and made him come clean to me.” 

Quinn chuckled nervously. “What was I supposed to do? Let my friend get used?”

“Friend?” Tamara smiled a little and blushed. “Thanks Quinn.” We were all gonna be really good friends, this night made me sure of it, more than anything.

The rest of the night went pretty great and it made the rest of middle school good. Me and Tamara stuck together and even though there were kids who still didn’t like us for being dragons or who were jealous that I was royal or petty they didn’t get invited to my party; it didn’t matter because there were a ton of kids who did like us and for us not the party. But that night of the party and even the next two years, I couldn’t help but think about Ayden...