Chapter 54 ~ Dolled Up.

"Where are the boys?" Maxine entered the attic slightly confused, having been looking for Stefan and failing to find him.

Rose turned round from where she was inspecting herself in the full length mirror. "They went out with you dad, I think. Something about showing them where he worked." Rose picked up a hairbrush and began to experiment with her long-honey brown hair. "Why?"

Maxine shrugged. "I wanted to talk to Stefan, that's all." She walked over to her bed and sat down, watching her friend. "What're you doing?"

Rose laughed with a tone of amazement. "Getting ready for the ball, you idiot."

She looked bemused, confused to why Rose as preparing to dress herself up two hours before the time they were meant to leave. "Yeah, but you're doing it a bit early." She commented, voicing her thoughts. "We've still got two hours."

Rose turned round to look at her in disbelief. "Maxie, if you want to look nice, you have to spend a lot of time." Rose began to brush her hair again. "Don't you want to look pretty for Stefan?"

Maxine laughed. "We've been through this before - Stefan and most other teenage boys are intimidated by girls wearing makeup. Plus I don't wanna waste my time on it."

Rose sighed, looking back round at her. "Well, what are you going to wear?"

She shrugged. "Just a pair of jeans and a t-shirt, plus the necklace Stefan gave me for Christmas. Nothing fancy."

Rose, once again, was not impressed, this time leaving her hair and walking round to poorest address Maxine. "Are you mad, Maxie? This is a chance for you to really dress up and maybe attract some guys! You need to wear a dress of some sort and glam yourself up a bit."

Maxine pulled a face. "Er - no." She said flatly. "Besides - I don't actually own any dresses."

Rose rolled her eyes at her friend. "We'll see about that." Dropping her hairbrush, Rose walked over to Maxine's wardrobe and opened it up, Maxine herself continuing to protest as her friend did so, even though the statement about her not owning any dresses was true.

"You won't find anything, Rose. And even if you do, I'm not wearing it." 

Rose, ignoring her friend, continued to go through the clothes, though was continuously disappointed, seeing that Maxine's claim was actually true. That is, until she reached the end of the array of clothes and found something that was definitely suitable. Grinning, Rose pulled it out and held it up.

"Don't own any dresses, you say? Well, what about this?"

Maxine looked at the article of clothing in horror. "No, no, no - I am not wearing that. It's ancient - my cursed grandmother owned it in the fifties or something."

Rose grinned, determined to get her friend into the dress anyway. "Maxie, just try it on - it's still in good condition and you'll look really good in it. Plus it'll match your necklace perfectly." Rose walked forward, handing it to her. "Go on - just for a bit of fun."

"Oh alright." Maxine gave in, taking the dress. "But I'm only trying it on, I warn you."

Rose laughed. "Maxie, by the time I'm finished with you, you'll be not only clad in that gorgeous number but also wearing makeup and looking like a vintage movie star. Now get a move on."

Maxine sighed, knowing that Rose was right yet still weakly challenging her persuasive friend. "Really?"

Rose looked at her and grinned. "Really."

*   *   *   *

Maxine turned to her friend again, stood on the corner of the stairs and tugging at her dress nervously. "Rose, I'm really not sure about this."

Rose gave her a push. "Stop being so stupid, Maxie. You look gorgeous. Now stand up staring hit and smile. For gods sake." She laughed as Maxine tried to smile and utterly failed at faking it. "Oh never mind, just go and say hello to Stefan. Mark my words, he'll love your new look."

Rose herself was dressed in a long gown royal blue, displaying her slim and athletic frame well and giving her a sort of bold grace. She was also wearing pretty blue Jewel earrings that matched the dress and her hair was pulled back into a cascading pony tail fastened by an ornate silver hair fastening. And, finishing if the elegant look, on her feet she wore open black sandles that had slight heels and she walked on perfectly. Maxine admired her friend again before nodding and turning to walk down the stairs and approach Stefan, who was waiting in the hall below. She was anxious to see what he thought, always relying on his judgment and hoping it didn't intimidate him or cause him to make assumptions of her character.

Of course, Maxine was very stupid at that moment.

Stefan had to check himself as he turned and saw her descend the stairs, coming off the last step and standing before him. She looked amazing. She looked fantastic. She looked beautiful.

For Maxine was not only wearing the sparkling necklace he had given her for Christmas with the blue-violet jewels that brought out new colours in her eyes, she was also clad in her grandmother's dress, which, regardless of who it had belonged to, was an absolutely beautiful garment. Clean cut in a fifties design, in was made of black satin, giving Maxine a chic, sophisticated look. The skirt splayed out slightly, exposing her slim, bare legs, and lacked any straps, simply formed a heart shape over her chest and showing her pale, delicate neck. Around the lower parts of her arms was a wrap; thin and smokey grey that glittered a little in the light and further added to the beauty of her outfit. Her face was the highlight, though, enhanced by dark makeup that emphasised her large, sparkling eyes and full lips, Rose having put a dark black-purple lip gloss on them. Her long, dark hair also matched the style, having been curled as if it had been in curlers all night (courtesy of a handy charm Rose had decided to put to good use). Her whole appearance was dazzling, as if she'd just walked off the red carpet at the premier of a Marilyn Monroe film, tall, elegant (helped slightly by the black, high heel shoes she wore) and utterly beautiful.

Stefan couldn't help himself - his face broke into a wide smile on amazement as she approached him, laughing self-consciously. Maxine and not been replaced, no, rather revealed - her true beauty finally on show as well as her inner charm. 

"Don't laugh." She ordered him, grinning embarrassedly as she stopped beside him. 

"I - I wasn't going to." He managed to get out, then looked at her face. "You look amazing."

She laughed. "I feel like a doll." She pulled a face. "Rose made me wear it."

Stefan grinned at her, eyes still wide as he looked her up and down again. "Well I'm very glad she did." He offered his arm to her with a laugh. "May I escort you to the car, Madam?"

She grinned back, laughing as she took his arm. "Of course, young sir."

Stefan smiled and began to walk, Rose coming down the stairs as they passed. He caught her eye and nodded his thanks to her, still grinning. She returned the gesture, smiling at the oblivious Maxine before looking back at him. Sometimes, all people needed was a push.

But sometimes, by the look of Maxine as she walked with Stefan, they needed several.