𝗖𝗛𝗔𝗣𝗧𝗘𝗥 𝗧𝗛𝗥𝗘𝗘
┌───✰*̥˚──────✰*̥˚─┐
𝕴𝖓 𝖜𝖍𝖎𝖈𝖍 𝖘𝖍𝖊 𝖉𝖆𝖓𝖈𝖊𝖘
└────✰*̥˚──────✰*̥˚┘

𝐀𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐉𝐨 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐋𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐝 𝐈𝐬𝐚𝐛𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚, she found herself lying on her back on the carpet placed on the floor near the couch,just staring into space as she played with her well done hair, ruining it in the process.

Blissfully unaware of the complaints from Amy soon to come when the youngest march girl sees what her sister did to her previously gorgeous hair Isabella tried desperetly to get her mind off the Laurence boy.

It had been five minutes or so since they had left her alone with her thoughts. And she has done positively nothing productive. She hadn't left the room or even read on of the numerous books on the shelves at the back of the room (practically covered in years of dust).

However Isabella knew she couldn't stay hodeled up forever drowning in everlasting self pity for herself. So she pushed herself up and began to dust herself off. She saw herself in the reflection of the window and noticed the damage she had caused to her hair.

Urgently, Isabella took her hair apart pulling the light pink ribbon out of hair leaving it down and chaotic like Jo's "Perhaps there is a chance now Laurence will be more interested with my hair a mess my dress crumpled just prefect like Josie." Isabella said spitfully. Jealousy nor spite was not a good look on her it was clear but her envy only grew when she saw Jo and Laurie dancing happily in the distance smiles painted across their face as a sad one formed on Isabella's.

She breathed deeply closing her eyes to prevent them from watering and cursed herself for a stupidity "You ment him today Belle no need to waste tears." She exhaled slowly,rapping the pink ribbon that no longer held a place in her hair around her wrist. Having to rap it around a few times and ending it in a small bow Isabella began to walk for the door.

Though she was taken by surprise when it bursted open reveling a quite handsome young man. His shocked expression and suprised body language only increased when seeing the pretty girl in front of his eyes. Flustured incredibly he froze so Isabella began to speak. "My apologies Mr.."

"Uh William please and no harm miss truly it my fault I should have been more careful, my apologies."

"Well William it seems we're both intact so no harm done indeed." Isabella smiled her pearly white teeth showing. "Miss could I be of the privilege of getting your name."

"Isabella,Isabella March." "Well Miss March could I ask you for a dance. To make up for my previous clumsiness of course." "Well if it is for that reason I'd be honored."

Isabella took William's hand and they gracefully made it onto the dance floor as new song was starting. It was unknown to Isabella but she kept note of the melody for Beth.

Isabella gazed across the lacquered wooden tiles and, with a sudden burst of courage that she hadn't known she'd possessed, stepped onto the dance floor. As the thrumming rhythm of classical music whispered into her ears, she began to dance.

William and Isabella moved as one. The sound was more classical and formal than the others but a gorgeous piece of art nonetheless. They fell in step, letting the rhythm control their synchronised movements. All the scenery and people around them dissolved. It was them alone.

Isabella and William alone.

He moved his left foot backward in a smooth motion, sliding across the slick floor. She slid her right foot forward, chasing his retreating foot with hers, like a fox on the hunt. Dipping forward and looking into her eyes, his fingers tightened on her ribs as his left foot came forward again, surprising her foot and chasing it back. They stopped, toe to toe, and he pulled her hips in close to his.

Threatening to brush his lips against hers, he looked to the left, and then to the right. She mimicked him, turning her head opposite. To the right, then to the left.

He pushed her away as though she were too terrible, yet to wonderful, to be near, yet he held on to her left hand with his right, catching her as their arms pulled taut and spinning her out and away. Then he reeled her back in, unable to give her up.

She fell into him, his strong arms wrapping her tight, protecting her before casting her out again.

Her hazel eyes glistened, and a smile spread across her beautiful face.

Uncontrollable feelings surged through her body, and her fingers tingles in delight. William's hand brushed across her cheek. His body was acting on its own, no chains to hold him back from this pure paradise.

He drew her close to his chest, and Isabella wrapped her arms around William's neck.

Her golden locks fell over her eyes, like a curtain blocking out the sunlight. William desired to see those hazel eyes.

She began to withdraw her hand to brush away her hair, but William's hand clutched onto hers. He carefully laid her thin hand on his shoulder. He delicately tucked her lock behind her ear, and her emerald eyes twinkled back at him in greeting.

Her lips went to William's ear as she whispered ever so softly. "You know how to be romantic."

She set her head on his shoulder. They continued to dance, too lost in the music to halt. Time passed but it went unnoticed

She was dancing. She whirled around and whooped her happiness into the sweat-stained air. Foot forward. Back. She couldn't remember the last time she'd done this - why had she ever stopped? A hand grabbed hers and she was swung backward, dipped low, then soaring into the air, the flashing colors momentarily blinding her. She was dancing.

But Meg had stopped. Isabella could she her sister silently shriek in pain. It didn't disturb the guests but Isabella saw the pain on her sister's face and the panic on the boy of whom she was dancing with.

"Uh William I am sorry to cut our time short but I see my sister has cause injury to herself and I must go isist her."

"Oh well please let me help I could carry her to my carriage and drop you and.."

"Meg oh and my younger sister Jo."
"Well I could take you three home in my carriage it's just outside and surely big enough to fit all us four."

"That is an incredibly generous offer but I'm sure we'll manage. I wish for you to enjoy yourself here instead of an early departure because of me."

"Truly it's no ---"

"Please William you should enjoy your time here. I wish that for you."

"But Miss March how will h--how will I ever see you again. I wish to stay in contact with you."

"Maybe fate will meet us together."

"I'm afraid I'm not one to believe in fate."

"Well then you should believe in us. But to shorten you worry and maybe help my memory."

William smiled a deep chuckle escaping his lips. As he dark chocolate eyes remained on the beauty in front of him.

"Wear this." Isabella unrapped the baby pink ribbon from her wrist and rapped it around William's. Unlike with her the ribbon only had to wrap around once on William's muscular hands. She ended it in a heart shaped bow and smiled at her creation.

"Perhaps I'll recognise you with this on goodbye Will."

Isabella walked away from William slowing jogging as she came closer to Meg and the panicking boy beside the sitting down Meg,who was straddling her ankle as the unknown boy was massaging her shoeless foot.

William watched her from afar but restrained himself from running after the March girl. So he turned away and began walking to the edge of the room. Getting lost in the crowd of people.

"Oh Meg what did you do?!" Isabella's voice held pity and shock but the brunette next to Meg looked relieved to see someone helping the injured girl.

"I think you know perfectly well." Meg grunted. "If you would have worn you other shoes-" Isabella began to say

"Not now Bella, please" the older March cried "Uh Sir what's your name?" Isabella turned to the blue eyed boy kneeling next to Meg.

"Benedict Parkinson,Miss March." "Ben?"
"Uh yes Ben Miss March." "Well Ben could you stay with my sister while I go get my sister Josie we'll be leaving."

"Ah the other Miss March,Miss March."
"Yes Ben the other Miss March. So could you ---"

"Ben!" A girl the same age as Jo and Isabella shrieked as she ran towards the three on the ground. "Oh what happened?" She looked at Meg's ankle bruised and slowing turning pink and sore. "Oh you poor thing let me get some ice."

"My apologies for her. Alice loves getting ahead of herself." "Oh of course Alice and Benedict Parkinson the hosts of this event. My apologies"

"No need to apologise Miss March." Ben smiled a small, crooked smile and Isabella felt she should now properly introduce.

"Please i prefer Isabella." "Well if I'm going to be Ben would I have the privilege of you calling you Bella Miss March." "Of course. Whatever pleases now we must begin to help Meg."

"Right of course." "Perhaps Meg would prefer if I was to stay here with Meg. For her own comfort of course and would you mind fetching my sister Jo. She should be outside near the porch, below the left side balcony."

"And what exactly should I be looking for." "Sandy blonde hair like my own. A short girl shorter than me, 162cm perhaps, wearing a red dress and she should..she should be accompanied by a tall black haired boy wearing tra-traditional robes black and white. Theodore Laurence."

"Ah mister Laurence yes I know Laurie I will head off now."

Isabella kneeled down in front of Meg, who had her eyes closed in pain. She could tell by this face that Meg had not been listening. Instead attempting to blank out any pain.

As pathetic as it may be Bella wished she could do the same. It was a stupid love at first sight situation yet it cracked her into a million pieces watching them dance. Laurie so mesmerised by Jo. As she broke,one of her pieces of her heart was lost that night and Laurie found it. Keeping it forever until the right moment.

It was a shame Laurie was rarely on time.
The right moment was destined to be too late. Written in the stars by Gods her love was doomed.

[ᴀᴜᴛʜᴏʀ's ɴᴏᴛᴇ]

𝗔 𝘀𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘆 𝘀𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘂𝘁 𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗮𝗻𝘁𝗶𝗰 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘄𝗶𝘁𝗵 1858 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗱𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗿𝗲𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗮𝗰𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 :) 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝘀 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗺𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗲́-𝗝𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗣𝗮𝗴𝗲 𝗶𝘀 𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗮𝗺,𝗞𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗮 𝗞𝗻𝗶𝗴𝘁𝗲𝗻𝗴𝗹𝘆 𝗶𝘀 𝗔𝗹𝗶𝗰𝗲 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗟𝘂𝗸𝗲 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗽𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗶𝘀 𝗕𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁 (𝗯𝘁𝘄 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁𝘀 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗰𝘁 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝘀𝗶𝗺𝗼𝗻 𝗳𝗿𝗼𝗺 𝗯𝗿𝗶𝗱𝗴𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗼𝗻)

𝗙𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝗻𝗲𝘄 𝗰𝗵𝗮𝗽𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝗼𝘂𝘁

𝗣𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱:22nd June 2023
𝗘𝗱𝗶𝘁𝗲𝗱:No
𝗥𝗲𝘄𝗿𝗶𝘁𝘁𝗲𝗻:No

---★---

𝘾𝙊𝙈𝙈𝙀𝙉𝙏-𝙑𝙊𝙏𝙀-𝙁𝙊𝙇𝙇𝙊𝙒

-ᵉˡⁱᶻᵃᵇᵉᵗʰ (sʟғɢʟᴏᴡ)