03

Avalon Viviette

In the wide entryway were people greeting me who were working the event. Right as I got inside, all I heard was an overlapping conversation.

I scanned the area as I walked through the high-paced room, heading to the bar. I take a seat on a stool, waiting for the bartender to notice me.

I need a drink to mentally prepare myself for this shit.

"Can I get a martini?" I ask the man behind the bar. He nods his head and smiles.

I stare at the bartender as he makes my drink.

"So... who's hosting this event?" I ask the bartender, while he continues to make my drink. He looks at me and smiles.

"I have no clue... I just started working here." The bartender says pleasantly, handing my drink. I smiled, taking a sip of the drink.

I stayed seated for a while before deciding to go mingle with others. I walked into the ballroom, and saw that there was a large crystal chandelier hanging in the middle of the room. As I continued walking, I saw a woman about my age. She had blonde hair, brown eyes, and was wearing a tight spaghetti strap, black dress that ended at her fingertips.

She was leaning against the wall, with champagne in her left hand, watching the musicians play. I made my way over to her, now standing next to her.

"Hey, your dress is gorgeous. Where did you get it from?" I asked with a slight smile. The woman looked at me with a bright smile.

"Oh, thank you. I actually made it myself." The woman informed me. My mouth dropped too the floor.

"Wow. You need to teach me how!" I say pleasantly. She shakes her head and smiles, taking a sip of her champagne.

We continued talking for a few minutes. I came to learn that her name is Hailey, she's my age, and she's a college student-majoring in fashion. We also spoke about some random people at this event.

She's super kind and funny. We started talking more about how we should hang out together. I even decided to give her my number.

Whilst we were talking about our newfound friendship, I heard a man speak into the microphone that was set up on the stage.

"Ladies and gentlemen, may I please have your attention," the man asked, speaking into the microphone.

Hailey and I decided to put our conversion on hold so we can turn our attention on the man that is speaking.

"I wanted to thank everyone for coming today, it means a lot!" Everyone started to lightly clap their hands. I looked around confused but decided to clap my hands as well.

I noticed 4 people slowly walking down from the top of the curved staircase from the corner of my eye. My eyes follow them down the stairs, there were three men and one woman, I was really confused. My attention now goes back to the man speaking.

"I hope you guys are enjoying the event, especially the drinks." He laughed, making everyone in the ballroom (including me) laugh.

"I want to thank the band for being here on such short notice as well!" The man says, everyone now clapping and cheering.

The man stopped talking waiting for the clapping to come to a pause. When the clapping finally stopped, the man continued speaking.

"I would like to give a special thanks to the host… Elvino Valentino!"

My heart instantly dropped to the floor.

My ears instantly blocked out any sound. I felt like everything was in slow motion.

What the fuck.

Did I hear that correctly?

Oh my god, I need a shot of whiskey right now.

I can't do this. Please, not today.

I look back to the end of the staircase hoping it wasn't really him. I was praying that I was just hearing things.

Him.

It was really him.

I instantly recognized him and his parents.

He was standing in between his father and some man I didn't recognized, whilst his mother was walking around mingling with others.

My attention went back on him. He was listening to the man who was still speaking, but I couldn't hear anything that the man was saying. I was too busy focusing on him, and I hated that I was only focused on him.

4 years.

It's been fucking 4 years.

My heart is racing. I should probably go. I really wanted to leave, run even, but I couldn't. I stood there frozen like a fool.

Am I even breathing at this point?

He was in a tight-fitted suit, black blazer, and fitted dress pants with a white shirt underneath. He had a dark blue almost black tie, that tucked into the blazer. He was wearing a pair of black shiny dress shoes. The suit fit him perfectly, he looked good and I hate that he looks good.

I really need a drink right now.

Jesus, Avalon you need to breathe!

His hair was still the same chestnut brown... it was just styled differently. He had more curls now. His face was more defined, he has a very sharp jawline now. Did he get taller? He looks taller... I think. He definitely got taller, he looks about 6'2.

His eyes. His eyes were still the same shade of green from what I last remembered. His eyes looked so memorizing. I always loved his eyes, but now when I look at them all I see is pain. Pain and hatred.

Hatred for what he did to me.

God, I need to get out of here.

I turn around and take deep breaths. I need to breathe and take my attention off of him. I need to focus on anything but him.

Jesus, why does this shit only happen to me?

Why does the world hate me so bloody much?

After a few minuets, I realized the man had stopped talking and everyone had gone back to their conversations.

I turned back around, realizing that he had left. I let out a deep sigh, happy that he was gone.

I was relieved.

Still, I wonder who was the man that was with him.

I soon came to realize that Hailey was gone.

Where is she?

I started to look for her. After a couple of minutes, I spotted her at the bar. She was talking to the bartender.

I started making my way to the bar when I stopped. I stood in the middle of the room in shock.

Him and I locked eyes.

Fuck.