Chapter Six: The gala went great

My mom is something you'd refer to as an overdoer. She did far too much for human comprehension. Instance One:

"You look awesome my babies" Mom shrieked smoothing down her dress. Judging from the makeup plastered reflections that stared back at us in the mirror, she might have been right.

Finally, the primping was done but it had only just been the beginning of our evening.

The whole day included a series of Makeup, Dress Trials, More makeup and a disarray of making small talk with both Hair stylists and Makeup artists.

The men had it easy, simply ironing the wrinkles in their suits and gelling back their hair and they had concluded the entire process. Lucky them.

Perhaps it would have been as simple if Mom was a female with subtle in her vocabulary. The professionals armed with combs, makeup boxes and eccentric personalities were way more to handle than they seemed.

But we looked beautiful in the end so it was worth it. I'd never admit that to mom's face.

“A million hours later”

“Holly, don't you think we should've heft Milan without any makeup? She seems very ungrateful”

Mom was being petty. “I'm grateful but never again”

“Do whatever you like” She waltzed into the closet to grab some more things.

Holly pulled me aside despite the privacy.

"Do you think your brother will like it?" Holly asked. Her forehead was crinkled and the ends of her lips pointing downwards in worried frown.

Her nirvana was seeing Cole awed at her beauty, that wouldn't be a problem. The stylists did their money's worth on her.

"He'll like anything you wear" I assured her. What holly had on looked beautiful. “Make sure not to woo anyone who isn't Cole though”

Holly laughed, loosening up. Her dress looked natural against her body.

The baby pink shade made her glow. Holly looked milky while I looked utterly tan.

“I'll try"

Mom returned to us, smile etched deep on her foundation layered face. "Ready ladies?"

Holly nodded excitedly. "Let's go"

The two took their leave but I stayed. I looked beautiful. I could feel it, say it but I was scared to be it.

The dress hugged my intense curves perfectly and increased the intensity of my breasts just like it was designed to. I could model for Gucci if I posed right.

You can do this Milan.

If I didn't demand attention upon entrance, I wondered what would.

Cinderella at the ball. That's what my brother and father assumed when we walked down the staircase. It was sweet for those involved.

All I did was stare.

Cole kissed Holly when they got close enough. It was totally rated but even my parents were at it too. Dad feed mom sweet nothings before also kissing her.

And then there was me. I hadn't expected anyone to show up out of the blue and walk me down the staircase like Cinderella but I felt the sting either way.

Cole looked up from his kiss. He pecked Holly, hooked her arm unto his and approached the staircase.

“Are you gonna stand up there all night in that pretty dress, Mulan?”

I snickered, feeling a shift in my soul. In all these years I've hated him he's always had a heart. I smiled down the spiral staircase.

It looked as magical as it felt.

Cole and I linked arms as we walked out. He bent over, kissing Holly thoroughly on her lips, leading her into the limousine, then, he turned to me, held my cheek and kissed my hair.

“See you there, ladies”

The men and women used separate cars. I don't know why. But it always intensified the feeling of royalty.

I tended to forget annually how much of a bore the Charity Galas were. Mom, dad, Cole and Holly made their rounds speaking to guests and other people they recognized while I was stuck at our table, not quite one for any type of social interaction. I mean, I didn't even know them.

I manned our table keeping the flowers company and staring dazedly at the decorations. Floor to ceiling flowers made me swoon.

The solitudewa beginning to feel great when a sugar haired lady in an antique looking dress approached the table.

My back went pin straight, sending tendrils from my hair flying.

I looked down at my dress, grimacing slightly. It probably looked too skimpy, overwhelming her to the point of talking to me.

"Hello Sweetheart" She smiled crooking in for a hug. “You look beautiful”

"Um, Hi" So, not my dress. I didn't recognize her. I probably should have paid more attention to the list of people with sweet smiles and deep pockets going to be present. I racked my head for her name. Nothing.

"You looked bored.”

“Oh, yes I am. These things are too boring”

“The real show hasn't begun yet. Why don't I keep you company before that” She nodded at a chair, pulled one out for herself and sat.

I shook my head at my own manners. I should've done that instead.

“Mrs Walters” She extended a hand.

I caught a glimpse of the Gold purse hanging from her arm with a studded strap. That thing looked expensive.

"I'm Milan.”

"Milan, what a beautiful name......" The gist began. I wasn't listening. The words were flying right over my head.

I wish I wasn't being a bitch to Mrs Walters but the main course just arrived. And with a scruffy side dish.

My stomach dropped right in my ass, seeing Zayn. He looked good (as usual) but the thing on his arm was eccentric.

That thing was Lorraine.

She was gleaming in a green dress I could never forget. I scoffed. The green whore dress from the store.

Lorraine was just a bit taller than I was, decreasing the length of the already slutty onsomlbe. Her choice of jewelry and hair would've been perfect on some other outfit.

Other than her crap dress, Lorraine looked hot.

What's that Milan? Are your insecurities calling?

Lorraine was also thinner, the dress fit her slender body so well.

"Are you okay honey? You look a little pale" I wasn't okay, definitely not.

I rubbed my arm unconsciously feeling pellets of goosebumps rise with fury. Die down you vicious beasts.

Lorraine was latched onto Zayn's arm and for some reason I could not justify, the sight brought out the stubborn child in me that fought for candy in elementary school.

I hadn't expected Zayn to have a date tonight. He never did. We both came alone and chatted or fought till the night winded down. Last year, we fell asleep in my bed and woke up cuddled up under the sheets.

Not my worst experience.

Permission to launch at her and wrench her off him instantly. How dare she attend? The event was private and she didn't even compliment Zayn's outfit.

My eyes strolled back to him. He made a lazy look work.

No comment.

Resuming my Hating. Zayn never had any girlfriends this time of the year, if he did, they didn't make it there.

I ground my teeth.

"Milan?"

Shot. Mrs Walters was staring right in Zayn and Lorraine's direction. “I see. You like him”

I sputtered, groping for right words to oppose.

“You don't have to defend yourself darling. Well, I'll be going now.”

“Let me walk you to your table” I can't say I wanted truly to help Mrs Walters, I needed an escape from Zayn and his enterage.

“No thanks, sweetie. My grandson's already here”

Mrs Walters grabbed—more like yanked— her grandson away from entertaining some guests.

We made eye contact before he realized what was happening. Blue eyes.

“Hey Kay” Grandson smiled.

His shiny smile blackholed all the light from the room. Ps, there were eight chandeliers.

“Carson, meet Milan, she's such a darling. She kept me company while you abandoned me”

Carson ruffled his hair. He was a unique entity in a room of gelled hair.

“Hey Mulan”

I frowned.

His grandma nudged him. “Milan, not Mulan”

“As in, the place?”

I forcefully nodded. The boy seemed my age. Awfully handsome but way too slow to like. What a shame. “Milan, Italy”

Carson's mouth formed an ‘O’ as realization dawned. He also turned red.

“Well, Milan” He smiled again and whatever Red flags he had looked kinda pink. “Thank you for taking care of my hot headed grandma. I know she's a handful”

Said grandma was nowhere to be seen. Carson noticed as I searched for her. “Don't. She does that a lot”

“Does what?”

“Sets me up with a pretty girl and disappears. Don't be weirded out, she's cool”

He called me pretty. Don't smile, Milan.

I had no control over the heat sensors in my cheeks.

Carson reminded me of the aesthetic all American dream man. Light Blonde hair, Deep blue eyes that melted into darkness, a slight roughness at the edges, Slight un-American accent.

“You should find her again before she gets you another match”

“I don't think she will. She looked very hopeful” He was dirty-smirking.

“Go kill her hopes, Carson. This isn't going to work out” Now I was hopeful.

“It won't if you don't give me your number.”

End of conversation. For real though, Zayn and Lorraine were approaching.

“If it's meant to be, we'll meet again, Carson”

“Hell yes we will Milan” Carson smirked again before running off after his grandma who was pitching her business idea (Carson in a relationship) to holly.

Cole looked constipated but was too nice to tell her to fork off.

It just so happened that the Davenport Table was right next to the Mayfield's and they were heading right there. Why? I do not know. It seemed to have been a ploy by the Event planners each and every blessed year and it always got under my skin.

The imperceptible distance between both tables meant I couldn't be myself and goof around. I always did end up far enough away from Zayn in the end so it didn't matter but I still felt irritated.

My eyes swooped over to Lorraine and a wheezy sigh escaped me. My Jaw barely escaped dropping when I realized that the familiarity I had to the green frilly dress she had on was because I tried on that same dress and laughed at it. Lorraine was a thin girl, that factor added to the horrifying ugliness of her fit. But her shoes looked good.

Zayn, Now, he looked vehemently handsome as he always did. Along with the other males who paraded the Large space, he had on a suit that fit his body rather infallibly. It wasn't like it was my first time taking in the crime that was Zayn in a suit, I always did and my breath was always taken away.

His flurry of blonde hair was gelled back neatly and Zayn's eyes looked pronounced without Crinkly strands obstructing the view of their spectacular hue.

Stop staring Milan, he doesn't look that good. But he does...

"Milan!" On came Tessa, Zayn's sister. My heart lurched at the sight. "It's been a while" She groaned.

It had been. The only time I got the chance to be graced with her angelic presence annually was at this snore fest for a ball seeing as she attended a boarding school and the altitude of my ego was too high to visit the Davenport household when she was available.

More so to ask Zayn for his house's landline to contact her because Tessa didn't believe in technology.

"It has been way too long" I took in her grown body. Tessa had gained quite a bit of weight enabling her natural curves the surface area to be seen and admired especially in the white Jumpsuit she had on. "You're filling out I see"

Shy, young Tessa crossed her arms over her growing chest area. "I don't want to speak about my puberty, Let's hear about you"

Tessa had a seat at what once was Holly's chair. "I'm as boring as world history"

Tessa rolled her eyes leaning in closer. "What about men? Had your cherry popped yet?"

I cringed at the awful thought. I had become accommodated with the thoughts that popping cherries were bloody rituals and shied away from the topic in general.

"No" I cried. She rubbed my back. "Has yours been?"

A throat clearing temporarily stopped Tessa's and my catching up and/or oncoming retch worthy topic.

"Milan!" Lorraine shrieked.

What in the name of Mars Bars?

Lorrhyhaine made an effort to press me in an awfully uncomfortable and non mutual hug. She eyed my dress with a bitter look in her eyes before plastering an even larger grin on her face.

"Who knew I'd see a familiar face here" She shrieked some more.

"Who actually knew" I sent a stare Zayn's way to which he ignored with a smirk.

I spared Tessa a few glances. The girl looked unimpressed with Lorraine's Oscar winning performance. The frown growing deeper and deeper on her prepubescent face made me breakout into a smile.

It was an proud moment of mine to see that another girl just like me wasn't a fan of our sibling's partner.

Zayn was still attached to Lorraine by her monster claws implanted in his arm but he paid no attention to her, his eyes stayed glued to me.

The sensation of his eyes on me was empowering, conjuring up a thick wave of uneasiness.

Those dark blue irises swept over me once, twice and thrice. The need to stand on my feet and make visible to his wandering eyes the whole package seemed viable but it was too much of a cheap move to play I mean, his girlfriend was guarding him like a vulture.

"Hey Zayn" I said casually but it didn't sound casual, in an effort not to sound flirty or affected, I succeeded in both, I was breathless. What was happening to me?

"Milan" He nodded in acknowledgement, a smirk playing along his lips. "You look beautiful"

I think my soul left my body at the compliment. Was that how flirting worked? If it was, I was dumbfounded. "So do you..." That sounded wrong.

"I don't mean beautiful as in like a lady, you look pleasant... but in a good way, you should wear suits more often" I droned on and on. Zayn was widely grinning when I was done while his obnoxious girlfriend glared daggers at me "....you two look great together" I added nervously.

Symptom 1.1 of Zayn fever I'd observed: Tongue tying. As mediocre as it seemed, it was the first sign a person has been infected. I knew I'd been feeling feverish of late. Hadn't I downed an entire laboratory worth of vaccine beforehand?

Upon impact of my sentence, three faces fell and one became buoyant as ever. Tessa groaned and cajoled me back into random conversation while Zayn and Lorraine took their seats on the other table.

I couldn't help surreptitiously stare at the two while they awkwardly spoke to one another.

"I do not like Lorraine" Tessa revealed unapologetically. Well, it wasn't like I would be apologetic with my candour about holly.

"Neither do I" I smiled.

"Have I ever told you I love you" Tessa buried her face in her palms. "Marry me right here and now"

Tessa and I bonded an incredible amount about the least luminous characteristics of our siblings love interest and also lamenting about the incalculable number of unloved women craving men like them.

"I mean, she's just thin and a red head, there's not much else to her" Tessa said gutturally.

"Tell me about it. She's not even smart"

Tessa's eyes glittered for some reason. Everything about the way she stared at me was suggestive and made me weary. "What?"

"Have you ever thought of dating Zayn?" Despite having a parched throat, I choked. "I mean, have you ever thought of approaching him in a romantic way? Just to test the waters, you know?"

A crowd had grown attracted to my momentary death encounter, including Zayn and Lorraine a table away. Zayn had begun to tread our way, His eyebrows pinched and eyes searching.

I rose a palm and he paused. "I'm fine" I mouthed. Zayn didn't budge instantaneously, observing some more before retracing his steps.

Tessa was a mess of giggles when I'd returned to her. I grabbed the back of her neck, reeling her closer to me. "Shut up"

"Why should I? We all know you two like each other, just go for it" Tessa agonized. "I'd bet he probably had enough of the abstinence that's why he got a girlfriend"

My cheeks flushed and I went soundlessly awestruck. Over my dead body would I admit to liking Zayn, he wasn't my type.

My defence was underway when the Auctioneer announced the abrupt ending of the socialization and unto the next thing on the itinerary: The auctioning for the charity.

My parents, Brother and Holly resumed their seats on our table of five which left Tessa standing. If only my derrière wasn't as voluptuous as it was, Tessa might have squeezed herself next to me.

"Why not come over to our table?" She proposed.

"Yes Milan, you should go. There are more people your age there, Go join them" Mom demanded. "Tell Harrison to come over here while you're at it"

Knowing I'd be left at the mercy of Holly and Cole's rated speech if I stayed, I held back my arguments and followed Tessa.

"Good evening Mr Davenport" I smiled sweetly.

The stoic faced man spared me a smile as he returned my greeting and continued listening in on the auction, awaiting a tedious moment to showcase how good of businessman he was. "My mom was wondering if you'd like to join them at our table?"

Harrison Davenport looked up, an unmistakable glint of thankfulness in his eyes. I wouldn't want to spend such a night at the mercy of my hormonal son and daughter in law if I were him or any other parent at all."That would be Amazing, thank you Milan."

He groped his belongings into his arms and waltzed away.

When he had left, Lorraine let her inner monster out and gave me a 'What is she doing here' look which I effortlessly ignored.

A pair of eyes which matched the silky material of his dark blue tie watched my every move. Zayn's stare felt like lazers on my skin as his eyes wandered around the outline of my body in the form fitting dress. They lingered on the sheer nakedness of my back for a split second.

Symptom 1.2 of Zayn Fever: Tingling skin. My disease was progressing fast. Perhaps I should have dressed less sexily and more like how I usually did in the past but then last year would repeat itself.

"Nice dress" Zayn said, stifling a snicker. I still remembe

r the unpleasant way I flushed red and Zayn's following cacophony of laughter.

I cleared my throat and mind of that horrendous day and occupied my seat right next to him. That move was ployed by Tessa who lied that she preferred being at the head of the table as she could barely see what was happening in the auction.