The Everlasting Rose

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Chapter 5- The Good Life
Mariah stared into her mirror scowled and desperately pulled her hair into a loose bun. She had been here for hours, wondering what was to be done with her hair, make-up, and clothing to make her look flawless. She wanted so badly to look outstanding for their dinner guest today.
It was entertaining to Mariah to think that she had been spending all this time to impress a lowly pauper, and hadn’t minded the slightest bit if she had looked like a slob in front of the highest aristocrats.
Mariah smiled and she took a back step and looked at her face. It was more radiant than it had ever looked before. She had done little make-up, so not to ruin her innocent complexion. She giggled at the sight of her long beautiful hair pulled daintily up in a loose-leaf bun.
“Done.” Mariah stated to herself. “With that part of my wardrobe.”
She childishly ran to her closet and looked frantically for a dress for the occasion. It had to be perfect, anything less would be unacceptable.
Mariah’s eyes darted happily toward a dress that her mother had once owned. She laughed heartily as she pulled the dress from the closet and pulled it over her under garments. She quickly turned to see her reflection in the mirror.
The dress was just the proper fit and hung loosely at her hips. It lined her very chest and waste and sparkled a deep shade of navy. Mariah gracefully spun herself around to watch the dress flutter through the air.
“Mariah!” She heard Dian call from the doorway. “What are you doing?”
Mariah stopped; her cheeks began to flush as she replied. “Oh, nothing mother.”
“Good, dinner is ready in Grand Hall.” Dian informed, as she stared around the room, wondering what her daughter had been doing. “Be ready in a couple minutes.”

Ray closed his eyes and quickly whirled around to face his partner in the corner of the room.
The room was tiny and was shared by four people. Two bunks occupied the room, one in each corner. Dried paint pealed from the walls and the doors creaked every time they were opened.
“How do I look?” He asked, as he casually turned around in a circle. “Good enough for a grand party?”
Kai turned around and nodded. “You’ll be the best dressed man there.”
Ray rolled his eyes and sarcastically stated. “Yes, the best dressed to be bar-tender.”
Kai laughed and crawled unto his top bunk. He had called it the minute they had reached the ship. Kai seemed to like to sleep in elevated areas. It suited him, for as a street boy, for protection he had slept in trees.
Ray buried his head in his hands and groaned. Why had he accepted such an extravagant invitation without any thought of what to wear there? Ray could see the monarchs laughing to his face, as he walked in with his worn suit worn by his father.
Ray stared at the shirt disgusted he had thought to wear it. The matching jacket had faded from over-wearing it during the cold winters and had patches on the elbows. Ray looked at the pants and shuttered to think what the rich folk would say about the uneven stitching his mother had done to fix them.
“Oh, what’s the use?” Ray growled, as Kai looked down at him from the top bunk. “Either way I’ll look like an idiot.”
Kai rolled his eyes and sarcastically remarked. “I thought you were always positive Raymond?”
Ray closed his eyes and shook his head. “Not everyone can be positive all their life Kai, or they wouldn’t be human. No man can play the part of optimist their entire life.”
Kai rolled his eyes and grimly stated. “But I thought you said you didn’t care what the ‘Upper Class’ thought of you.”
Ray smiled and shook his head. “You think I am toiling over the ‘rich folk?’”
Ray stood up and grabbed a loose-leaf umbrella from the luggage. He began to walk around moving his hips in a slang fashion, as he twirled the umbrella in a feminine manner.
“Why we rich,” He began in a counterfeit womanly tone. “We only listen to Bach and why we never, ever would think of touching a vulgar lower person. We only care for men with jingly pants and of old age.”
Kai smiled as he watched Ray bat his eyes.
“And we never ever think of having sex before marriage.”
Suddenly Ray threw down the umbrella and renounced his normal posture. “We the poor folk actually dance to our music. We don’t care whom we greet or why, we are just friendly and we choose whichever woman our heart desires. And finally we have all the fun we want to when we want to.” Ray shouted happily in his normal cool collective tone.
“Amen.” Kai laughed on the bed. “But if you’re not worried about the rich, what are you worried about.”
“I’m worried about the butlers, what they will think of me.” Ray joked as he slid on his shoes.
Kai smiled and lied down brisk fully on the bed. The smiled faded into a disappointed look as Ray went on tying his shoes. Kai knew Ray wasn’t one to complain, after all Kai had been Ray’s friend since they were lads, but then what was bothering him?
“Farewell.” Ray laughed, and then curtsied. “My chariot awaits.”
Ray then began to walk out the bunk.
“Ray.” Kai called as Ray stood in the doorway. “Good luck.”
Ray laughed sarcastically and stated. “Luck? Who needs luck when I’ve got god on my side.”
And with that the door was shut. Kai gulped and thought grimly. “No really Ray, good luck.”

Ray walked down the shaft coolly. He had always been one to stay composed and tranquil in almost the most embarrassing events.
“What am I doing?” Ray thought foolishly. “I’m going to look like a moron.”
Ray began to turn around, but a flash of imagery appeared in his mind. He saw the table laughing, and there amongst the laugher was the girl. He saw the dark haired man laughing heartily saying, “I guess he was too good for us.”
Ray growled and walked casually out unto the top deck. The breeze blew his hair rapidly, as he quickly made his way to the dining hall.
Many late aristocrats stared at him awkwardly. Their eyes followed Ray’s every step, waiting desperately for a fall up. Ray could feel the discreet eyes narrowing down and judging him. He could hear the whispers shot back and forth.
Ray gritted his teeth, as he endured the whispers and gossip directed at him. He merely glared and kept walking. What they said didn’t matter Ray thought as he rushed past him.
The dining hall seemed so far away and just as Ray turned the knob to enter the dinner party and gentle hand grasped his shoulder and held him back.
“What are you doing?” The plump woman stated, as she stared blankly at Ray’s clothes. “You’ll get ripped apart in there.”
Ray looked down at his clothes and groaned great another critic.
“Here come with me.” She offered. “You can borrow some of my nephew’s clothes.”
Ray looked up and grinned.
“What size?” He asked, jokingly.
The plump woman laughed and held out her hand to shake.
“My acquaintances usually call me Mrs. Mackey, but you sir may call me Maggie.”
Ray laughed, as the woman guided him to her suit. As she did so, Ray glanced around surprised he couldn’t hear any whispers.

Mariah twirled around in front of the mirror for a final time. She loved to watch her dress rise in the midst of the spin.
“Mariah,” Dian stated in the doorway. “My child you will ruin the dress.”
Mariah stopped and curtsied childishly. “Sorry mother.”
Dian scowled and turned to stare in the large mirror before her. She brushed through her red hair with her long bony fingers and smoothed her lavender dress.
“Darling,” Dian stated. “You know we are dining with that street-rat that saved your life tonight, right?”
Mariah nodded, dreamily as she thought of Ray.
“Well,” Dian growled intensely, knocking Mariah from her trace. “Lee isn’t so comfortable around him, so he wants you to show the roach around.”
Mariah froze. Her eyes twinkled happily as he mother cooed. “I know you don’t want to, but grow a backbone because I’m not going to do it.”
Mariah wrinkled her nose acting. “But mother.”
“Don’t whine to me child.” Her mother snapped, as she walked over to Mariah’s jewelry box. “Oh, and will you wear this?”
Dian held in her arms the aqua necklace that Lee had given to her earlier.
“It’s so beautiful.” Dian complimented, as she clasped it around Mariah’s neck.
Mariah twitched as it hung from her neck. It was heavy and cold.
“Well, darling.” Dian stated as she walked to the door. “It is time to depart.”
Mariah rolled her eyes at the sound of such prim words.

It was awkward for Ray to walk in an expensive suit. The collars were strange and choked at Ray violently. But at least he looked like everyone else.
He looked around the grand dining room in awe. Chandeliers lit the room and dazzled beautifully in the evening midst. Butlers walked freely around offering food to hungry monarchs. People danced grimly to the fine band. But Ray’s eyes were focused on the grand staircase.
Two cherubic cupids danced innocently on the mahogany rail, as the clock in the back round marked the time.
Ray leaned against the rail appreciating, but just as he did he caught glance of her. She descended gracefully from step to step, as he dress twinkled dazedly.
“Hello, sir.” She greeted as she curtsied.
Ray bowed, as he replied. “Good evening Madam.”
Mariah stared in admiration at the ladder before her. Without the dirt upon his cheeks he could appear to be a high-class citizen.
“Will you escort me to the table?” Mariah asked harmlessly.
Ray nodded and held out his arm in a classy fashion. “I saw it in a film.” He laughed, as Mariah grasped it.
Mariah giggled girlishly as both in unison made their way across the table. On the way she pointed out random people, in hope to give Ray and introduction to them.
“You see, there is Mr. and Mrs. Nickelson.” Mariah stated. “They own a factory in America.”
Ray nodded, as if he had been alert and paying attention, but for a peculiar reason he couldn’t concentrate on anything, but Mariah’s amber eyes.
When they reached the table, ready to sit, Lee shoved Ray from his original spot and pulled Mariah’s chair from the table, offering her to sit. Ray growled as he sat across the table, next to Mrs. Mackey. Lee sat next to Mariah and glared at Ray in defiance.
The glares were tossed back and forth till the food arrived. Ray looked confusingly at the silverware, and the many forks.
“You just work from outside to inside.” Mrs. Mackey explained.
Ray smiled gratefully and picked up the first fork. He quickly dug into his salad, but just as he did, Maggie stomped on his foot from under the table. Ray yelped silently and turned angrily to Maggie, only to find Dian was making a toast.
Ray hid his face as she glanced around the table, he didn’t want her to annihilate him here.
“And I would just like to give a toast to Lee and Mariah, future husband and wife.” Dian finished following were clanging of glasses and cheers.
Ray stared shocked at what he had heard. He turned to Mariah; surprisingly she was staring at him with the same look of suspense. To her left laughed Lee.
During the rest of the dinner all Ray could do was think. Think of how furious he was. Think of how easily he had fallen for her.
He played with his food dully, until Lee asked him.
“So what do the steerage do for a living now in days?”
His devilish grin grew wider, as Ray thought.
“Well, I’m an artist.”
Lee burst into laughing. “Art, well that is one thing you and Mariah have in common.”
Mariah rolled her eyes; a disgusted look occupied her face. Ray grinned as he noticed the hatred in her expression.
Mrs. Mackey nudged Ray gently. “You’re almost done kid. It’s almost time for the men to go to play poker in the back room.”
Ray sighed, relieved that he had to play this game just a minute longer.
“Well, we must go.” Lee stated, as the other men stood up from their chairs. “You, Ray.”
Ray glanced up, as he stood.
“Will you play with us, or don’t you have anything to bet?” Lee laughed. The other men accompanied him shortly.
Ray felt a cold sensation in his collar, but briefly ignored it, as the men retired to the back room.
“Goodbye.” Ray stated to Mariah, as she pulled herself up from her chair. “Parting is such sweet sorrow.”
Mariah laughed at the humor, as Ray took her hand and politely kissed it. As if by magic, Mariah found within her grasp a paper that Ray had left behind.
She glanced around at the other woman at the table. They were gossiping notoriously about nonsense. Mariah gingerly opened the parchment only to find.

If you want to come to a real party, meet me by the clock on the staircase in five minutes.

Mariah flushed and turned to her mother and whined.
“Mother I feel sick again, shall I go to my room?”
Dian puckered her lip angrily. She disliked it when Mariah interrupted her conversations.
“Yes, Yes.” Dian shooed. “Go!”
Mariah quickly strode to the staircase. There standing by the clock was the ladder.
“I knew you’d come.” He beckoned.

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*melts* I could just imagine him saying that. He\'s so hot. Please Review!