Chapter 35: Chapter 35

Time went by for me and soon, it was time for Emrys’s party. I’d prayed he would throw the party at his house but he said it was at some mansion which was still technically his. The whole thing was going to happen on the roof and apparently, the

I didn’t understand why he was so keen on the whole roof thing because whenever I asked, he would tell me that I would see. I got tired of asking and instead focused on calling Leon

every chance I could get and leaving voice messages for him. He never bothered to reply and that hurt my feelings more.

Brielle and Hiro did everything to make me feel better but it didn’t work one bit. Shopping even made it worse because the longing was still there especially with the fact that Leon wasn’t there to help me stray from over shopping.

“Are you ready to go?” Brielle’s voice came from the door and I turned to look at her. “You’ve been looking in that mirror for minutes and you didn’t even notice I’ve been standing here for a long time.”

I sighed. “It’s just…”

“I know but you can’t let it keep ruling you. Don’t you think you’ve cried enough? Leon just needs time to recuperate and you need to use that time to find yourself outside his wings.”

“I’m not ready for that. I doubt I’ll ever be.”

She walked up to me and pulled me into a hug. Brielle rarely hugged me but at that moment, it was what I needed. “You know what? I’ll tell Kosara to invite Leon for my wedding since he’s kind of friends with their family and when he comes, you can talk to him?”

“That’s a month away, Brie,” I whined as I pulled away with a sniff. “What if he hates me then?”

“He already hates you now so what’s the difference?” Brielle blurted then covered her mouth and the tears came to my eyes immediately. “PB, I didn’t mean it that way. I’m so, so, so sorry.”

I forced a smile knowing that my mood would only ruin the evening even more. “It’s fine. You’re right so there’s nothing wrong with stating facts.”

“Not that way.”

“Let’s just go before I’m tempted to rush back to my bed and scream into my pillows,” I said with a chuckle that was meant to lighten the mood but Brielle kept giving me an apologetic look. “Look, I’m fine. Don’t waste the time you’ve spent looking beautiful on lil’ ol’ me.”

I wasn’t saying it to make her leave with me. I actually meant every word of it. Brielle looked even more beautiful than she did on a regular day.

Brielle was dressed in a crotchet white dress that stopped mid-thigh, had a deep V-neck that showed off her cleavage, with short flutter sleeves that had bows at the tips. She had done a ponytail braid leaving the shorter strands to fall in front of her face. Her makeup was bold as usual and her feet were in designer heels.

We left the room after she had thanked me and much convincing on my part that I wasn’t going to commit suicide then walked to meet Hiro who was leaning by her car waiting for us. The moment she saw us, she heaved a sigh of relief and rushed to pull me in a tight hug.

After she released me, I observed her and realized that she looked dazzling. Hiro always made a fashion statement but it was like she had purposely glammed up. Probably to find a way to get a boyfriend unless Milo was planning on proposing to her.

She was all clad in a lilac, my best shade of purple, flay halter-dress that stopped right below her knees. She had on armlets on both arms and a charm bracelet that looked almost like the one Leon had bought for me that I never found. She had done a fishtail braid and, unlike Brielle, had on minimal makeup adding a finishing touch of black stiletto heels.

“Hiro, you look really beautiful,” I said with a smile.

“That’s a real compliment coming from you. I mean, have you seen yourself?” she gushed and I laughed because I knew she was just trying to make me feel better.

“I’m in sweats,” I said with a deadpan tone.

And that was it. I had done nothing special other than the double Dutch braids Brielle had done for me much to my dismay.

“Really? On you, they look like designers,” she said with a wink and I rolled my eyes. “Let’s go before Emrys has our heads for tardiness.”

“Yes, to the party!” Brielle shouted as we all got into Hiro’s car laughing.

I may have lost my friendship with Leon but at least these two weren’t going anywhere at the time and I was happy with that. They were really good friends and even though they kept walking on eggshells around me, I actually enjoyed their company throughout the car ride.

“Oh my God! I love this song!” Brielle shouted as the speakers blared with Lauv’s beautiful voice.

Brielle became a fan of Lauv after I introduced her to him during one of our occasional sleepovers and ever since then, it was like she was even more of a fan than I was. That was saying something since I’d considered myself Lauv’s biggest fan.

“Paris, you have to sing the chorus with me,” she screamed, bouncing in her seat like a baby that was high on sugar. “Please?”

I rolled my eyes but still said, “Okay, fine.”

She grinned just as the chorus started. “WHY DON’T WE MOVE TO CANADA AND BUY SOME THINGS WE DON’T NEED! BRING YOUR MOTHER’S DOG, PAINTBRUSH AND SOME CANDY!”

“AND WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THOSE PEOPLE WHO UP AND LEAVE, THAT COULD BE US. THAT COULD BE YOU AND ME!”

“God, Paris, do you want to make our ears bleed?” Hiro asked and Brielle burst into laughter causing me to roll my eyes. “I have to start setting rules in my car and the first one is that you should never sing while I’m driving.”

“That’s only going to make me sing even more,” I said, crossing my arms. “I dare you.”

“BEEN WAITING FOR A LIFETIME FOR YOU! WASN’T LOOKING FOR LOVE TILL I FOUND YOU!”

“Get out,” she said with a deadpan tone that made it sound like she was actually being serious.

I raised my brow immediately. “We’re going 85-miles an hour down the highway in the middle of nowhere.”

“Did I stutter?”

Brielle burst into laughter again. It seemed like that was all she was capable of doing. “Hiro you can’t be serious.”

“It was worth a try,” she said with a shrug and I released a breath I didn’t know I was holding. “That and because we’re already at Emrys’s party. It won’t be as funny now as it would have been if we were actually far away.”

I laughed almost immediately. “You devil!”

“I didn’t think I’d ever say this but I missed your laughter, PB,” Brielle said, making sniffing sounds like she was actually crying and I rolled my eyes. “I’m serious. It’s been too long.”

“Not really,” I muttered.

“Okay, divas, get out of my car,” Hiro commanded and I rolled my eyes but got out just about the same time Brielle did.

Hiro got down from the car and handed the keys to the valet who she commanded to watch her car and make sure it didn’t have a small scratch. The poor guy was terrified of her and literally ran into the car and drove off.

I’m not sure if it’s ever happened to you but the moment, I looked to observe the building, I had to step backward like some force had done that. The vastness of the mansion was impossible to describe and I felt like I’d dropped into another world and needed help getting out of.

There were two stairs on both sides that led to the main doors and seemed to go on for eternity. The stairs looked so majestic with their white and gold coloration coupled with fountain that the stairs circled. I felt like I was looking at a castle from a Disney princess movie. I didn’t even think that after climbing the stairs, I’d feel better because the mansion itself was a sight for sore eyes.

At the end of the stairs, there were two gazebos on each side of another really large fountain. We had to walk through the gazebos to get to the mansion itself and even then, there was another flight of stairs at the center that made it even harder to not be in awe. The mansion looked like a castle with towers and I simply thought it was beautiful.

I kept wondering why Brielle and Emrys called where they lived their family house if they had a gorgeous house like the one that I was looking at.

“This is our family house. The one Emrys and I stay at belonged to his father and mine when they were teenagers because they wanted to live outside the family’s wealth. Same with Emrys and I,” Brielle explained with a chuckle when she saw my awestruck look explaining the question in my mind.

“This is…beautiful,” I whispered. “I suddenly feel odd in my sweats.”

Hiro chuckled. “You look beautiful. Besides, you’re comfortable in it so there’s no problem.”

“Don’t lie to her,” Brielle chided Hiro then turned to look at me. “Paris, sweetie, it’s a good thing I used to live here. I’m sure I can find you some clothes in my closet. Come with me. We’ll go in through the back.”

“Thanks for asking if I want to come too, Brie,” Hiro said, her tone laced with sarcasm and I laughed.

We both walked down the stairs and went through the back that led to the kitchen. It was quite a long walk to her room because she had to stop to talk to almost everyone we passed by and for the first time, I hated that she was that popular.

When we got to her room, it seemed like she had already planned it because she tossed the dress at me and went to rummage her closet for bags and other things.

I put on the dress which was an asymmetrically designed gown. It was a shirt dress with the top side blue and a baby pink pocket by the left breast. From the waist, the asymmetrical design started off with the right side of the buttons continuing as blue down to my knee and the left side going as baby pink and stopping slightly above the other knee. The belt was also blue and pink so I tied it in a pretty bow.

Brielle gave me her baby pink strap sandals and a cute blue and white purse to go with it. She helped me accessorize by giving me a matching necklace and wristwatch. She thought my hair wasn’t going with the dress so she loosened the double Dutch braid and changed it to a waterfall braid. How she was so talented when it came to hairdressing was beyond me.

When I was fully ready, we rushed out of her room and ran to the entrance of the ballroom which had a flight of stairs leading to the floor. We walked down the stairs and Brielle excused herself to find Kosara. I looked around wondering what I was meant to do when Emrys walked up to me.

“I want to have my first dance with the most beautiful woman in the room,” Emrys said and I blushed. “May I have this dance?”

“I can’t dance,” I muttered. “It’s easy.”

“I’ll embarrass myself.”

“You won’t. I’ve got you,” he said with a smile that made me feel completely at ease with him.

“Dance with me and pretend the world doesn’t exist,” he pleaded with an outstretched hand.

I took a deep breath and took his hand. After that, there was no going back. We danced and talked and danced even more. It was almost like the moment I was in his hands; I was taken over by this strange force in me that was acquainted with dancing.

“You’re a natural at this,” Emrys said with a beaming smile as he dipped me and brought me back. “You’re almost as good as I am.”

I blushed furiously. “I’m just as surprised as you are. I don’t dance.” He smirked. “I’m glad to be your first time.”

“That sounds…” I said amidst laughter. “I know.”

“It’s almost midnight.” “I know.”

“Let’s go find our friends,” I whispered even though I knew deep within me that, that was the last thing I wanted.

He placed his hands on my waist and locked eyes with me as we slowly rocked on our feet. “I don’t know about you but the first person I want in my New Year is you.”

“10!”

I smiled. “It’s begun.” “9!”

“Your smile is pretty.” “8!”

I blushed again. “I could get used to compliments from the Emrys.” “5!”

“It’s my pleasure,” he said as his forehead rested on mine. “4!”

“You’re beautiful.” “3…2…1…HAPPY NEW YEAR!”

I was so lost in Emrys’s eyes that I didn’t realize when the countdown was over until Emrys whispered, “I love you” and leaned in to kiss me. It wasn’t like when Leon kissed me.

Emrys’s was rough and filled with desire. Lust. Leon’s was filled with love and I didn’t realize the difference until Emrys kissed me.

There you go comparing Leon and Emrys!

Emrys pulled away and placed his hand on my cheek. “About that question I asked you…” I grinned. “Yes, I’ll be your girlfriend.”

He grinned too and at that moment, I wanted nothing more than to melt in his arms. “You’re a goddamn miracle.”

I chuckled then said, “Damn right, I am!”

He kissed me again and it felt like home. Like a place that you’ve always wanted to go but never known. It was like a slow morning with family, the steadily rising sun outside the window, and the cold floor beneath your feet. It warmed my heart like a nice big cup of soup on a cold night, and yet froze my heart in that moment like an icy pole on a summer’s day. It reminded me of better times, great times, the best of times, and suddenly all my worries went like it was never there. All I wanted was to remain in that moment.

Emrys pulled away and placed his forehead on mine, his eyes never leaving mine saying everything and nothing at all. He was about to say something but Brielle’s voice boomed through the microphone and got all attention on her. He kissed my forehead before focusing on her and wrapped his arms around me. I felt safe, secure, loved.

“Happy New Year everyone!” she shouted and everyone began to cheer. It was hard to see them as the same people who made a party look so boring with their archaic ways. “My fiancé and I have an announcement to make.”

She extended her hand and Kosara took it then got on the stage beside her looking like he would rather be anywhere than where he was.

“Kosara and I are feeling a little eager to get married and the wedding has been pushed even closer,” Brielle announced with her hands entwined with Kosara’s who looked even more uneasy. “We’re getting married tomorrow.”