Chapter 30: Chapter 30

Author's POV

Aires has rented a glamorous five-star hotel for his birthday party, Daisy was not surprised to see all the popular groups of Greenville college at his birthday party, there was a slight buzz when she entered and eyes stared at her condescendingly,

"What's she doing here? Dimwits are not allowed in here" Olivia, one of Celine's friends said as soon as she sighted Daisy, indeed she does not belong here, Daisy thought to herself as her eyes took in the glamorous ladies and gentlemen in the party, she suddenly felt like a ragdoll in their midst, she suddenly understood what her mum meant when she had asked her if she would be okay, not that her dress wasn't beautiful, she just suddenly felt like she did not fit in here, she is far from being classy, she is just a clumsy oaf and that's it, all the poise and confidence that she was feeling earlier had suddenly vanished into thin air,

she made a big mistake accepting Aires invitation, what was she thinking? She would tell Aires to take her back this instant, just as she turned around to do just that, she felt a leg suddenly hit hers as she made to leave and she went down, falling on her ass, she turned to see who had placed a foot for her to trip on and saw a smug look on Celine's face, she was standing right where the foot had come from, she heard the laughter and jeers of other students and tears sprang to her eyes, she made to stand up and a hand suddenly appear in front of her, offering a helping hand, she glanced up at its owner and her eyes clashes with stormy grey eyes with a rim of gold, where the heck was he? Had he brought her here to be mocked? She contemplated not taking the hand he was offering but thought better of it, gingerly, she placed her hand in his and he helped her up,

"I can't be here, please take me back home" she whispered tearfully, stormy gray eyes pinned hers for a moment, there was a force behind his grey eyes and with a jolt, she realized that he was angry, angry at her. Or for her, he didn't say anything to her, rather, he turned to the others, by now, everywhere was so silent, even the music that was playing had come to a pause as all eyes were on Aires,

"Who tripped her?" He asked softly but his tone held a certain hardness that can cause a shiver, his guests stared at each other as his eyes traveled from one face to another and fell on Celine, pinning her to the spot, Celine shuffled from one foot to another, "I asked a question" he repeated, this time, his question was directed at Celine and she fidgeted some more,

"I...I..fine, it's me, but it was not intentional, she tripped herself on my leg and fell"

Aires narrowed his eyes at her, "when she wants to trip over your leg, then move it out of the way, I won't tolerate such the next time it happens, have I made myself clear?" He asked in that quiet tone of his, yet, it was able to pass its message extremely well, Celine swallowed and then nodded and Aires turned to the rest of his guests,

"Daisy is my guest, this is my party and I invited her, if any of you have a problem with her being here, you might as well leave the party because she's not going anywhere" Daisy felt giddy at how he was standing up for her, she realized how much authority Aires seems to possess despite being a teenager, for crying out loud, this party is thrown to celebrate his seventeenth year in this earth and see how matured he is acting, everyone stared at each other but none wants to miss being at Aires party and so, they all complied with him,

"Now that I look at her closely, she's looking so damn hot, of cause she can stay" someone whistled and Aires release the breath he didn't know he was holding, he would not allow anyone to intimidate her, he glared at Celine,

"Come on Aires, it was a mistake, it won't happen again, to show you that I'm honest, I will apologize to her" Celine turned to Daisy, "I'm sorry for what just happened, it was a mistake, please forgive me"

Daisy studied her for a moment, she seems sincere but then, Celine is a very good actress, she could be acting it,

"Don't you want to forgive me? I'm being sincere right now" Daisy swallowed at Celine's words, besides Aires, Celine is the only closest one to her at this party, others are strangers to her, she'll have to play along whether Celine is acting or not,

"Of cause, I have forgiven you, it's okay"

Celine smiled and to Daisy's surprise, she threw her arms around her in a hug, notwithstanding, Aires concluded in his mind that he would have to talk to her later, the music started again and the dancing continued.

*

*

"Hello everyone, welcome to my party once again, thank you all for coming to celebrate my new age, on this day, I have a big announcement to make but you all must be kept in suspense for a while, because, I want my mum and dear sister to be here while I make the announcement " there were claps and whistles at Aires announcement,

"We can't wait for your big announcement," someone said and Daisy wondered what he has in mind,

"Ouch," Daisy said as someone spilled a glass of red wine on her, she turned and came face to face with Henry, Aires friend

"I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to," he quickly apologized, "here, have this," he said bringing out his handkerchief and offering it to her,

"It's okay, it was a mistake but you'll have to excuse me, I need to use the restroom, " Daisy said and walked away.

If she didn't know better, she would have sworn that he did it on purpose but he's Aires' friend and she was sure he would not do anything to make his friend angry with him, perhaps, she was thinking too much, it was just a mistake as he said, she was washing her hands when the door to the restroom opened and Celine came in, she continued washing her hands and cleaned off the spot where the drink had poured on her, as Celine too a place beside her, reapplying her makeup,

"Do you think that Aires could ever love someone like you?" Celine asked without glancing at Daisy, she was still busy reapplying her makeup,

"What do you mean by that?"

"I mean, look at you, acting so clumsy and childish, you can't even have a sip of wine"

"It contains alcohol, you and I both know that we are not supposed to be taking alcohol, we are still underaged"

Celine raised a brow and her tone was mocking, "I see, virgin Mary, mother Maria, you actually think that Aires would even think if falling in love with someone who is this backward? Let me give you a tip, if you really want him to fall for you, then you have to show him that you're a big girl who can do kinds of stuff and stop acting childish and innocent all the time, it disgusts him when you act that way"

Daisy swallowed at Celine's words, she remembered Aires had once told her to stop acting so childish, was Celine telling the truth? Her eyes narrowed on Celine, "why are you telling me these"

"Because I pity you, although, I loathe even the sight of you but I still pity you because I have once been in your shoes, loving someone and not being loved in return, all because I was once acting just like you're acting right now, Aires is my friend and I'm just giving you a clue on how to win him, just grow up okay" with that she walked out from the restroom and Daisy stood there for a while pondering on what she had just said.

"I need a cocktail," Daisy told Celine as soon as she came out from the restroom and Celine hid a smile, the fool has actually fallen for her words, very well, her plans will work out just as she had planned it, immediately, she gestured for one to be brought to Daisy.

Daisy's inside burned by the time she sipped the alcohol, she almost threw it out but held back, she don't wish to embarrass herself some more, she had finished two glasses and she was beginning to feel a bit out of it, oh no, she can't begin to feel this way, not when the party had barely started, perhaps, she should go outside to get some fresh air, she might feel better after that, staggering a little, she managed to find her way outside.

Celine watched her leave through narrowed eyes and signaled to someone to follow her, from the corner of her eyes, she saw Aires come inside through another door, he had gone out to make a phone call, probably with his sister, his gaze searched the room and she knew who he was searching for, he made to move towards the door that Daisy had gone through, and Celine quickly went to him, she would not allow him to see Daisy, not before her plans unfold,

"Hey Aires" she called and tripped just as she almost reach him,

"Ouch, my foot" she cried, feigning pain,

"Are you okay?" Aires asked in concern, oblivious to her schemes, just then, her phone binged, a sign that she had received a text message, without checking the content of the message, she already knew who it was, she smiled brightly at Aires,

"I'm fine now, I...I wanted to speak with you"

Aires' brow furrowed, "what do you wish to speak to me about?"

Celine gazed around, "not here, let's find somewhere less noisy and cool, could we go outside?"

"Okay" glancing at the room one more time, he followed her outside, he wondered why he couldn't find Daisy in the room, where is she?"

"Aires I..." Celine started but then, they heard a slight giggle, Aires looked in the direction of the sound and to his amazement, saw Daisy in Henry's car, Henry bent to whisper something into her ears and she giggled once more, to Aires' amazement, Henry placed a kiss on her cheeks before turning on the ignition of his car and drove off.

What did he just witness? This is unbelievable, his friend and Daisy? Celine placed a hand on his arm,

"I'm sorry that you had to see this, but I warned you about her, didn't I? I'm not surprised to see this, this is Daisy, now you should know why I have always referred to her as slut"

Pain pierced through Aires' heart, and he held up his hand to stop Celine from saying more, "enough please, I do not want to hear more"

"Do not ignore the obvious truth Aires, but, as I told you before, I am always here for you",

Without a word to her, Aires went inside with the bitter taste of betrayal lingering on his tongue.