Chapter Sixteen.

Deciding I needed a bit of liquid courage myself, I snatched one of a waiter's tray and downed it at once, and took another one before gave him a grateful smile. He looked at me weirdly before discreetly giving me a ghost smile. I turned before I could give into the sudden urge to wave.

Auntie T suddenly appeared from thin air nearly startling me, she was almost glowing. Lifting her wine glass gracefully "You are enjoying yourself, right?" She suddenly did this wave thingie with her free hand and smiled at... wait, Sheila was making her way over. I gave her a very convincing fake smile and discreetly checked my reflection on my wine glass. Who wouldn't be self conscious when faced with the face and long, long legs of a bronze skinned Latin beauty.

Next minute, Auntie T was sharing air kisses, a few words were exchanging and a blinding smile was turned in my direction with well manicured slender fingers. Her studded nails were so Pinterest goals.

"W...Woa?" I stuttered out. Her smile turned wider. "I am Sheila, it's nice meeting you." I took the offered hand, fighting the sudden urge to relieve the owner of the hand and maybe frame it for my walls. Yep, definitely drunk.

"Ivory, uh you too. I mean nice meeting you too." She gave a soft chuckle, "Mara said you designed her dress here, that details on the dress is amazing and I can totally see my self wearing something similar. I would like to work with you sometime."

That immediately snapped me from my tipsy state and I for the very first time had my starstruck moment. Before I could recover, she was already making her way over to somewhere else and I gave into the urge to wave like a crazy.

Auntie T immediately dragged my traitorous hand down, and gave me a proud smile. I hugged her not minding that I was probably embarrassing my her and my ancestors. When I remembered myself and stepped back and cleared my throat a little.

"Thank you so much, Mara. I didn't know you were friends with her." My eyes were wide. "Oh, she is just an acquaintance from work."

You see, Auntie T is a top Fashion editor for one of the biggest Fashion Magazine outfit in New Haven, Trendy. And apparently her circle of work included top models from all walks of life.

She told me to enjoy myself and try and meet new people before she went to on to a possible client or so I think.

Looking around and finding myself to be the only social inept person here, I decided to go get some fresh air.

The Mayor has always loved to show off her wealth, and apparently the love extended to her garden which was undeniably the best in our local town. Rows and rows of exotic flowers come together to create one of the most exquisite fragrance known to man. Strings of little colour lights were artful hung in order to gently illuminate the garden, which was quite helpful considering it was late evening and the moon was yet to grace the sky.

Fireflies danced around and I attempted to catch one as I made my way through a narrow path to the backyard of the mansion, which was also an extension of the beautiful garden but this time having benches and wicker chairs arranged under shady trees. It reminded me of an amusement park albeit smaller. An old swing swayed lightly on the evening breeze, creaking every now and then and I could hear a cricket or two and could barely make out the sounds from the main house. Ah peace, finally.

I was startled a little when I discovered someone else seating just a few feet from where I was going. I started walking towards the familiar blonde locks when the said person seemed to realized that she was not alone. She looked up and I was looking into the familiar brown orbs of Serenity, the Mayor's only daughter.

Ironically, even though Serenity inherited all her Mum's beauty, she was a tomboy through and through, which was why I was partly shocked to see she was wearing a dress and makeup. She stood up to her impressive height of 5'9 and I could make out a pair of converse on her feet beneath the long dress. Ah, that's the Serenity I know.

Next thing I knew I was engulfed in a bear hug and the familiar scent of cherries, and I grinned up to the face of someone I had considered a friend during the hellish high school days.

"Long time, no see." She rolled her eyes and patted my back, "says the one who disappeared from this boring town. How's city life, City girl?"

"Not much different," I shrugged.

I wiggled my eyebrows "if it is not the mighty Rennie wearing a dress or has she been abducted by some alien and some alien doppelganger sent in her place?" The ever delightful eye roll happened again. "You know how my mum is, she would literally die if I show up in a pair of sweatpants and polo top, besides my fiance convinced me to humour her," that was when I saw the simple diamond ring gracing her left middle finger and a light blush coating her cheeks. Yep, alien doppelganger it is.

"Fi.. Fiance?" A full blown smile graced her face and her face practically shone. "Who would think right? It's just that Cooper...." I lost her there, watching as happiness radiated from her and well how her hair was twisted strand by strand in a complicated but beautiful updo. Wonders do truly happen.

Just then she seemed to glow a little more, I turned and found out why, walking towards us was the Mayor's husband, Ben and a strange handsome young man with icy blue eyes that seemed to melt on seeing the smiling woman talking to me.

"Meet my Fiance, Cooper and Coop, this is my childhood friend, Ivy." She walked to his side and shared a brief kiss. "Look who we have here, little Ivy," I smiled at Ben, who patted my shoulder, eyes twinkling. You know the saying opposite attracts or something like that, you are seeing a perfect example, Mr. Ben Hartman, the husband of Mrs. Mayor, a simple school teacher who loved making bad jokes and having a hearty laugh when he felt like it which was almost always and the shocking part, they were both totally in love for all Mrs. Hartman's icequeen-ness.

After all pleasantries and small talk, the trio went on out of the backyard, leaving me to myself. I sank into one of the wicker chairs ungracefully before being startled up by the couple that unceremoniously fell into the yard, not literally.

Their hands were everywhere caught in a steamy make out and a golden dress shimmered in the faint light. Long legs were currently wrapped around a pair of khaki pant? with the male expertly manuvering the lady to a wall and pinning her there. I had to look off, but not before recognizing Sheila throwing her head back in ecstasy as a familiar head kissed all over her neck.

Reciting the alphabet in my head, I almost did not hear them whispering before Sheila let out a sultry laugh and there was silence. The next minute, the guy was seemingly startled by my presence when he sank into one of the benches beside mine, his kissing buddy no where to be found.

"H...hi there, hot girl you have got there." I blurted out creepily to Jay Morris, waving like a moron. Eh, shoot me now.