Festival preparation

This morning which starts the new week, a festive atmosphere embraces the West Castle campus. This week, the students and the staff will prepare for the school anniversary, taking place the last three days of the week. But for the students, the suspension of classes is more joyful than the event itself. In addition, it was the last week before spring break.

The school will welcome several performers, and different classes and groups of students have also prepared something for the occasion: dancing, music performance, etc.

And a gigantic podium was under construction In the large front garden for their shows.

On the edge of the grand garden, several stands are being raised, leaving a vast space, in the middle, for the spectators.

Maxwell and his class will hold one of the stands, selling confectionery candies and homemade sweets.

Back inside the classroom, indistinguishable chatter and laughter spread throughout the room.

The youth are enjoying themselves, helping each other with their different tasks.

"Lily, let me help you with that!" Ryan Doyle approaches and urges Lambert, carrying several stacked boxes.

"Thanks! I can handle these, so if you can with the rest," Lily smiles faintly and points toward a pile with her chin.

"Sure! Leave it to me," Ryan runs fast, picks up three, and eagerly follows the beauty. "Where do you want to move these?"

"To Alex's group, at the stand,"

"Urgh!" Ryan groans from hearing his rival name. "Aren't these heavy? Why didn't Maxwell do it?" He tries to condemn Maxwell.

"Not really. I can do it," Lily answers coldly, without giving Doyle a single glimpse.

Her aloofness ends their short conversation, making the rest of the trip silently awkward. However, the moment they arrive at the location, the stoic expression on Lily's face loosens up when she see Maxwell and Carter.

Since their many time together, the three become much closer, to the dismay of Ryan Doyle. He couldn't incrust himself into the group anymore.

Dejected after looking at Maxwell, Carter, and Lambert pleasantly exchanging, Doyle reluctantly retreats back with somber emotions of jealousy, pain, and rage welling inside of his heart.

But suddenly, on his way back, a slender young man with red-framed glasses intercepts Doyle.

"Are you Ryan Doyle?" The young man says with a polite demeanor.

"Yes?" Ryan replies hesitantly.

"I'm Jared Thompson. And I work as the group Smiling house's manager. I'm also a talent agent," Jared says with a smile and hands a business card to Doyle.

"What do you want from me?" Ryan asks suspiciously.

"I saw your little interaction with Lily Lambert earlier. You seem to be at odds with Alex Maxwell. Do you have a moment to talk? I think we have similar interests."

Doyle didn't say a word. He only nods his head and follows Thompson to a privy spot.

____

The afternoon arrives quickly to the immersed students. Maxwell and his group meet up and share their lunch together at the school restaurant as usual.

"I heard from Kayla that we are doing a short film for the school anniversary," Eliana says to Maxwell.

"Kayla?" Lily, sitting next to her little sister, wonders about the identity of this person and asks Eliana.

"Oh! She is our company GM," Eliana clarifies and turns back toward Maxwell, waiting for his answer.

"The plan was to start production after the festivity. And we plan to scout and audition actors from the school alongside the event." Maxwell explains.

"Student as actors?" Lily says with a surprised tone.

"What is the film about?" Ivy becomes curious, creating a smirk on Maxwell's visage.

"It's a video promotion of the school. The school board commissioned us for the project. So we are looking for an aspiring actress who happens to be a student at the school." Alex says in a clear voice. His smile becomes larger, looking at Ivy.

Maxwell understands more or less how the Lambert sisters think.

He knew Ivy's aspiration to become an actress and her conviction to achieve her goal without clinging to any connection.

Even so, Maxwell wants to attract her into his project and company. Doing so will ensure that her overprotective older sister will also have interests in that company. And eventually, to its owner, himself.

Maxwell knows about Lily's sentiment toward him, and he knows it was just a matter of one last push before she fell into his hands.

Alex aims to bait the little sister to catch the older sister. He knows of Lily's care for Ivy; She will always be concerned for her, to the point where she will be willing to suppress her own happiness or feeling, including romance.

Creating an opportunity for the two to be independent of each other is the only way for Maxwell to win Lily Lambert over.

"Wanna try it? Our production team will hold a quick addition on the day of the festival."

After a brief hesitation, Ivy finally agrees, "I would like to try."

"Great! I'm sure you will do great!" Eliana exclaims with joy.

In contrast, Lily was less enthusiastic; Her smile barely hid her concerns.

"Worry not! I am directly supervising everything. I will take good care of her," Alex reassures Lily with a small pat on her head and a gentle smile after noticing her worry.

With these simple words, Lily Lambert becomes more relaxed. To the point that she is not even aware of the tender look that she gives to Maxwell after hearing his soothing voice.

"Hey, sis! Sis!"

"Y-yes?" Lily jolts from surprise. The repetitive shout of Ivy's call wakes her from her daze.

"I must go back to help my class now. And later, mom will accompany me to doctor Andrew, so don't wait for me."

"Okay. See you at home then."

"Bye-bye, everyone!" Ivy runs energetically toward the exit, reassuring her sister and her friends that she slowly regains her past's dynamism.

"Should we also go back," Alex suggests to the group before they return to the stand.

____

After a few hours of working on miscellaneous things about their stand, Maxwell's class plans to have a small get-together to celebrate their hard work.

"Phew! Finally done! Where should we go?" One of the boys in class asks.

"I heard a new barbecue shop opened up not far from the campus!" Everyone gets excited about their upcoming activity. Especially the boys, who are looking forward to sharing a meal with two of the campus flowers.

"I'm sorry, everyone. I'm not coming; I still have work to do this evening." Eliana excuses herself, almost removing every boys' enthusiasm. Disappointment could be felt among everyone, that one of the school's beauties wasn't available.

"You can use my car; I will ask someone to pick me up later." Alex gives his key to Carter.

"Thank you! See you tomorrow!" Eliana says. "Bye-bye, Lily," She turns toward Lambert and hugs her warmly.

"Bye-bye, Eli,"

After bidding her goodbye to everyone in the class, Carter leaves the classroom before everyone else.

In the end, there were fifteen students left, ready to go to the barbecue, including Maxwell and Lambert. Most of them are boys, going because of Lily Lambert.

At the restaurant, the large group decided to share a large table.

The youths enjoyed their meals, an assortment of different types of meat and canned drinks, filling the long table.

Lily was the center of attention, with Maxwell on her side. At the start, she was cold. But as time passes, she begins to have friendly conversations with her classmates.

Maxwell was surprised to see Lily, the so-called ice beauty, openly socializing with everyone.

It is only after a while that Alex notices her numerous shoulders touching. Lambert was inadvertently sitting too close to Maxwell.

Her cheeks are red, and sweat drips on her exposed nape below her jet-black hair arranged into a chignon. Her disheveled cardigan, exposing her pale collar bone, combined with her unusual sensual mannerism, made her look exceptionally seductive.

Maxwell quickly grabs her drink to sniff it and concludes the wobbling young lady is drunk.

Without bothering to inform everyone, Maxwell leaves discreetly with Lambert.

They didn't wait long for their ride to arrive to pick them up. And Alex helps Lily, now sleeping in his arms, inside.

Lily didn't leave Maxwell's embrace on the way or when they arrived at the Lambert estate. She wouldn't allow anyone to touch her, grappling Maxwell's back firmly, leaving Maxwell no choice but to bring the lady to her bedroom himself.

As he gently tucks Lily into her bed, he notices an egg-shaped object hidden behind her pillow along with his portrait.

"Well, this is an interesting discovery," Alex smirks with amusement.

Suddenly, Lily grabs his face with both her hands. "Alex! Hihi! You are so cute!" She pulls his visage close and kisses the young man deeply before going back to sleep, widening Maxwell's eyes with surprise.

____

The following morning, Lily Lambert had trouble waking up. Her head was fuzzy and ringing from the hangover.

"Wake up, Lily! How are you, Love?" Her mother says as she enters the chamber. She was present last night and understood her daughter's situation.

"Mom?" Lily struggles to respond, peeking at her mother approaching the bedside, followed by a servant with a platter trolley. "My head hurt so bad?"

"I know, love. Here! Drink up!" Olivia feeds Lily a spoonful of chicken soup.

"I can't remember anything. How did I come home?" Lily asks her mother and frowns, trying to reminisce her night.

"Litle Alex brought you back. You wouldn't leave him alone until he personally tucks you to bed." Olivia says with a teasing smile, her expression full of delight.

"Alex!?" Lily exclaims in shock before the memories of last night slowly arrive into her mind. Her unladylike behavior, her clinginess toward Maxwell, her drooling over his clothes, and the deep kiss. She remembers everything.

"Oh my god! I can't believe I did that!" She rushes back to hide under her blanket.

"Come on! It's not that bad," Olivia says and blows on the soup.

"You don't understand, mom!" Lily desperately yells. "How can I face him from now?" Her usual collected demeanor is gone completely.

____

Today too, the preparation for the school anniversary continues. Maxwell and a group of boys from his class continue the construction of their class confectionary shop stand since earlier in the morning.

When Maxwell notices Lily arriving, he casually approaches her.

"Hey, Lily! How have you been?" He says with a clear tone.

"I'm fine. Thank you for yesterday!" She responds with slightly pink cheeks but a straight expression.

"Do not mention it!"

"Could we talk in private for a moment?" Lily requests and leads Maxwell to a deserted classroom.

"Alex! About yesterday," Lily hesitantly says and looks at her feet.

"It told you, it is alright."

"I mean the kiss," She bashfully clarifies.

"Oh! I enjoyed your kiss. It was delicious. Who knew you were the kisser type when drunk." Alex laughs it off and teases the young lady.

Hearing his gimpy joke, Lily laughs with exasperation mixed with fun. After the mood lightens up, she feels more decontracted to continue.

"Please forget about it. I was drunk." She says calmly, slightly puffing her cheeks.

"I do not know if I can do that. Besides, I found something interesting yesterday." Alex takes out the portrait that he found last night.

"Wait? How did you? Oh my God!" Lily panics and quickly grabs the picture. "This is the worst!" She sobs and squats down, hiding her blushing visage under her forearms in embarrassment.

Maxwell laughs at her frantic action before joining her by also squatting down.

"Lily, do you like me?" Alex asks with a gentle tone.

Lambert slowly peeks at his serious expression and nods. She thought there was no point in hiding it anymore.

He found everything, even the most embarrassing things.

She steels herself and says, "I do like you." She looks at his clear brown eyes.

Maxwell gives her a warm smile, reassuring her. "But now, I can't date you yet," She adds.

____ End of chapter 23 ____