Versus

Emma had rushed back to the dorm. She walked in a daze. Worried sick over what the ball would look like, how awkward she knew she would feel. Terror struck her over and over with the many unknowns of what a match meant. Did she have to start hanging out with this person? What kind of relationship would it develop into? What was expected out of this?

She got to the dorm and it was empty. She grabbed her phone and quickly texted Aala.

“Where are you?”

“Eir…come on.”

“omw.”

She walked into the hall and nearly every head turned to look at her. Word got around that she was called into the dean’s office. Whispers were respectfully silent but nevertheless seen.

After grabbing her tray, she joined the faces that she needed more than anything, “Thank God you’re all here.”

“What happened?”

“Well, we had a good talk until he told me about the match ceremony.”

“Oh, that? It’s supposed to be the best thing we’ll ever experience.” Kelly began excitedly.

“That’s what all the upperclassmen say.” Abby agreed.

“It sounded terrifying to me.” Emma rebutted.

“Calm down.” Aala laughed. “It’s a tradition. A ceremony of sorts. We could skip it, find our match by running the halls, oddly holding every boy’s hands until something did or didn’t happen, but this has been a college tradition since before my grandparents came here. They all say it’s super special and not at all weird like it sounds.”

The three explained that most every student found their match during the ceremony. Almost as though nature had a way of balancing things, keeping things orderly. There was a rumor that the full-blooded Galens helped in some way. It mysteriously worked out.

The week was painfully slow, as Aala tried to convince Emma that any fear she had was in her own head. That the girls would have a dress delivered, no expense spared. The boys were given tuxedos, new shoes, the works. It was rumored that the guys were even gifted Rolexes. That each year the watch color or style changed but every male match was given an identical watch for that year.

Flowers were delivered to the girls’ rooms with other gifts from donations provided by other Galens. It was the biggest event of the year. Galens came from all over to help. They all wanted a role of any kind. Just to be included. Just to be a witness to the event.

“I want to be excited. Why am I terrified”

“Cause it’s so new to you, I guess.”

The boys were teased a bit as girls saw them learning their formal moves about the gym. The girls would be blindfolded during so much of the dance, that they practiced with gloves and had to do little more than let the boy lead.

Most of the girls looked excited. They weren’t as bothered as the boys. The boys looked similar to Emma. Terrified.

“This is my space, and this is your space.” Kelly teased one of the boys, holding out her arms to indicate boundaries during practice, imitating a scene from one of her favorite movies.

Friday arrived and nerves began to get to the students when the magnitude of the event began to manifest. Limo after limo arrived. Faces were pressed against dorm windows to sneak a glance. Elders flowed out of the limos as though the event were created for them. But the special event was the parade of students really. So many eyes here to watch them. It was a mix of emotions. For those students who had been exuberant before, they now felt fear of being watched by so many. Nerves were abounding. Emma no longer felt so alone. So peculiar.

The wait was tormenting. Both Emma and Aala sat there, rather impatiently, often getting up to pace the floor. Emma jumped in place, arms shaking out by her sides, much like a boxer before a big match.

They would often laugh at one another due to the sheer empathy of it all.

At the first knock on the door, both jumped up and stared at one another.

They hesitated.

Then both ran to the door.

“You answer,” Emma whispered.

“Why me?” Aala whispered even lower.

“Uh”…she thought, “because I just found out about all of this and ….I love you.” Her eyes pleading.

She huffed at her friend, “You do not get to use that excuse forever.”

“Can I today?” Pleading again.

Aala gave her a fake growl and opened the door.

There stood two women, elegantly dressed. Pearls and diamonds adorned their necks and ears. Smiles adorned their painted lips. They were respectfully quiet but obviously holding back their excitement. Their eyes glistened.

Both held a long gift box with an elegant adorned ribbon on both. One ribbon gray, the other baby blue. They held them flat and proper, as one would expect from a lady in waiting with a gift for a royal.

“When asked my favorite color, I said soft blue,” Emma said but her statement sounded somewhat like a question.

Aala shook her head yes and confirmed what they both wondered, “I said gray.”

The women holding the boxes smiled and handed the box with the gray ribbon to Aala and the box with the soft blue ribbon to Emma.

Neither woman spoke a word. They then turned and walked away.

Aala closed the door, smiled excitedly at Emma as both ran to their desks, sat the boxes down, and quickly removed the top of the boxes to reveal their secret content.

Emma folded back the white tissue paper to find the most beautiful evening gown she could’ve dreamt up. She screamed while pulling it into the air and holding it up against herself as Aala did the same.

White gloves fell to the floor. Both gave each other a more serious look. The gloves held such an important role to be so simple. And both knew it.

“Be ready in 30 minutes” was written elegantly on a note in each box.

Both had been ready prior to the gown delivery, for the most part, but after putting on the gowns, both added different jewelry and special touches to their hair.

Thirty minutes was up.