20| The Night Of The Gala (2)

"How can you do this, Sean? You made a commitment to me. You were supposed to be here." Althea shouted in the phone.

"I am sorry Althea but I have made some other plans. It's not a big deal. You can go to the gala alone." The masculine voice responded from the other side of the phone.

"Not a big deal? Seriously?" She exasperated. "Are you high or something?"

"Um... I need to go. My friends are here." He cut the call and Althea threw the phone towards her bed.

Her makeup artists, maid and hairstylist, all three of them were lined up near the door, watching Althea freak out. She was completely ready to enter the gala, her makeup done to perfection and her hair styled in curls streaming down her back. The only thing that had yet to arrive was her date, who decided to ditch her at the last moment.

"Do... Do you need anything, Madam?" The maid asked and Althea threw daggers at her with her eyes.

"I just want to escape the humiliation of not having Sean here. Can you do that?" She asked and the maid shook her head. "Figured." She said and took off her heels, pushing them away.

For the last half an hour, she had went downstairs ten times to check if Sean had arrived and when she finally called him, he told her that he couldn't attend. Althea felt enraged because it was the first time someone had ditched her. Nobody had dared to do such disrespect before.

"Get out. Everyone." She said and hid her face in between her palms. One by one, footsteps walked out of her room but then she heard someone walk in. Angered, she lifted her head and frowned when she found Ethan there.

Althea looked so beautiful in that dress that Ethan's heart immediately warmed up. For him, she was the most beautiful girl in the world, since the first time he laid his eyes on her. No matter how many girls he has been with, it was only Althea who had the ability to make his heart beat faster. "What happened, Princess?" He asked, noticing her state.

"Sean is not coming." She whispered.

Call him selfish but it felt good to know that he wasn't coming. He couldn't see her in someone else's arms.

"So what? Nobody cares about this Sean." He said and seated himself beside her.

"I do. I had told everyone about him. Zoey, Olive, Zachary, Mom." She said.

"You know what, Thea? He is stupid. That's the only explanation why he would ditch the chance of being your date." Ethan said to comfort her. "And I know you have been waiting for this gala since last year. You can't let him ruin this for you."

"What should I do then?" She lifted her head and there was a thin layer of moisture coating her eyeball.

Smiling, Ethan knelt in front of him and slid her feet inside the sandals once again. "You can come with me."

Althea chuckled at this. "You? Don't you have your new flavour waiting for you?" Ethan had a new girl with him every week and she never approved his attitude towards dating.

"Who cares? I have told you before. You are the most important girl in the world for me." He said and the ice around Althea's heart melted a little. Just a little because she knew it was all part of his playboy charm.

"And you are my brother's best friend, Ethan." She reminded him.

"Zachary won't mind. Besides, do you have any other option?" He smirked. Althea weighed each option. She didn't want to look like a loser by going alone and she definitely didn't want anyone a reason to talk behind her back.

"Fine. But don't get cocky. It is just for tonight." She said and placed her hand over his stretched out palm.

••••••••••

In the hall, Travis shifted in his position. His arm linked with Zoey created a feeling of unease in his stomach. He felt like he didn't belong to her side. She was looking like a model and then there he was, wearing someone else's clothes and being in the party uninvited.

"What happened? Why are you standing so stiff?" Zoey pulled his arm and muttered lowly.

"I... I am sorry." He said and tried to relax his body but failed.

He hasn't even told his mother and he had no idea how she would react on knowing where he was. The only thing that eased him a little was when he finally found Maya in the party, making their way to them.

"Travis Anderson, what are you doing here?" She asked, lifting her eyebrow.

"I came to give you your mobile." He said and passed it to her.

"In a three-piece suit?" She asked and Travis turned his head to Zoey who looked amused.

"I asked him to join us." She answered for him.

Maya's eyes lingered on their linked arms and Travis knew he had a lot to explain. But she didn't ask further and changed the topic of conversation to her dress.

"You look stunning." Maya said.

"She always does." Zachary added as he walked towards them, following Maya. Travis felt a little bitter on observing how Zachary's eyes lingered on Zoey. It was clear that they both were more than friends, but he couldn't figure out if they were in a relationship or not.

"Zoey!" A familiar voice reached Zoey's ears and she angled her neck to find Olive walking towards them. As she had said earlier, she wasn't wearing a gown. Instead, she had chosen a black jumpsuit for her embellished with some crystals and a silver strap around waist.

"Wow, you look so badass." Zoey commented.

"Just as planned." She shrugged and then her eyes met Travis. A smirk made it's rest to her face and she turned her gaze back to Zoey. "Well well well, look who is your date!"

Zoey glared at her to shut her up and then gripping her wrist, pulled her to a corner, all the while feeling Travis' curious gaze on her.

"It isn't what you are thinking. He just needed some help." She said.

"How do you know what I am thinking?" Olive grinned.

"Shut up, Olive. Otherwise, I will stomp on your foot with my killer heels." Zoey threatened and Olive's smirk just widened.

"Beautiful and kinky. Travis is a lucky guy." She winked and Zoey smacked her arm.

She knew Olive won't stop pestering until she changes the topic herself. "Whatever. Where is Althea by the way? I thought she would have made her dramatic entrance by now." Zoey said, reaching Travis, Maya and Zachary once again and at the same moment, the lights in the hall dimmed except one.

Althea made her way into the hall and all the eyes focused on her. The color definitely looked amazing on her because of her chiseled features and hair darker than the coal. But contrary to their expectations, the man standing beside her wasn't a college guy. Instead, it was their own friend Ethan.

"Here comes the queen." Zachary rolled his eyes at how extra his sister was, that she actually managed to have all the lights dimmed just so she could make an entrance.

Soon, music started to play in the hall and the lights remained dimmed, encouraging all the couples to start dancing. Zoey angled her neck to look at Travis who was looking around in the hall with a constipated look on his face. She felt bad for him as she was the one who forced him to come inside although he was clearly not comfortable in doing that.

To make him feel relaxed, she extended her hand towards him. "Let's dance."

"Dance?"

"Yes. Dance." She said and waited for him to agree. Travis' eyes switched between her hand and her face and after contemplating for a long moment, he finally agreed.

She led him to a dark corner and laced her fingers with his long ones. She rested her other hand on his shoulder and stepped closer to him.

"Place your free hand on my waist." She whispered and Travis gulped, his Adam's apple bulged out.

"Are you sure?" He asked.

"Yes." She rolled her eyes and led his hand to her waist on her own.

A thin layer of sweat appeared on Travis' forehead and it would have amused her if her own heart wasn't pounding against her ribcage. Up close, he smelled really nice, all masculine.

"Relax, Travis. Nobody will bite you here." She said and then mumbled under her breath. "Except me." Thank God, he didn't hear it.

"I just... I don't feel comfortable in social gatherings." He said and for the first time, there wasn't any sarcasm in his voice, just genuineness.

"Sorry for forcing you to join us." She said, moving herself along the rhythm of the music. Their fronts were almost touching and Travis' hold on her waist was strong enough to cause small goosebumps on her skin. Thankfully, she already had a lot of blush on her face so he won't appreciate the actual flushing of her cheeks.

"It's okay. I guess I should learn how to deal with these shortcomings." He said and unknowingly moved closer to her. The dim light was casting a shadow over his face, making it look even more angular and his eyes even more bright.

"Just stop worrying about strangers. Most of the people we come across don't even care about us. Forget about everyone else and live your life to the fullest." She said.

"That must be the motto of your life." He chuckled and she narrowed her eyes at this.

"Ass." She said and continued dancing.

She could see that he had started to loosen up and his body language had become much more relaxed. She liked confident men more but sometimes, it's heartwarming to see someone admit their fears openly. It made her feel like she was taking to an actual human being, not a perfect machine.

"Wait, there is something bugging me. How come you didn't have a date to this gala?" He asked.

"I am not really interested in boys these days." She shrugged and he raised his eyebrows suggestively. "I didn't mean that, idiot."

"Well, as much as I love to hear about your love life, I would like to eat something now. It's time for my dinner." He said, pulling his hand away and the sudden loss of warmth annoyed Zoey.

"Come on." She said and led him to the food corner.

••••••••••

Zachary watched Zoey leave the dance floor with Travis and something burned inside him. Zoey had told him that she wasn't looking for anything serious but the way she was staring at that new guy said otherwise. What irked him more was his so-called date, constantly pestering him to dance with her.

"Please, Zach." She rubbed his arm and he rolled his eyes.

"Blaire, I..." He forced his mind to look for an excuse and he found one when his eyes landed on Maya standing in a corner alone. "I should go ask Maya about our next study session." He said and before Blaire could stop him, he scurried towards that said corner.

"Running from your girlfriend?" She asked when she saw him running towards her.

"She is not my girlfriend." He sighed.

"I think you should tell her this as well." Maya commenting on noticing how Blaire was glaring at her. If looks could kill, she would be six feet under the ground by now.

"She is a little crazy. Ignore her." Zachary said, leaning against the wall.

"Oh, poor you. Being chased by the cheer captain of high-school." Maya taunted him.

"What can I say? It isn't easy being this desirable." He smirked and Maya just stared at him with a blank face and a scrunched nose.

"Cocky much?" She said. "Bring this confidence when you come study for Calculus tomorrow."

"Ugh, did you really have to ruin my mood? You are really a nerd, Maya Andrews." He groaned.

"What can I say? It isn't easy being a straight A student." She smirked.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Who do you ship more?

Travis/Zoey

Maya/Zachary

Ethan/Althea