The big night had finally arrived. Holden was coming around at six to pick me up. My mum helped zip the back of my dress.

"This is such a beautiful dress. Where did you get it from?" She said, spinning me around to face her so she could look at me.

"Oh, a friend gave it to me," I replied vaguely, hoping she wouldn't pry further. She did.

"Which friend?"

"Uh, well, his name's Parker," I answered honestly – stupidly. Telling her Elaine had bought it for me would have raised fewer questions.

"Is this that boy you've been seeing?"

"What? Who told you that?"

"Well, a boy like that does raise a lot of attention. So, is it?"

"No," I answered. She continued looking at me expectantly. "Parker is Holden's friend. Holden is...the guy I've been seeing." Verbalising it sounded weird. Calling him my boyfriend sounded even weirder in my head.

Now that I'd finally roped my mum into the lie, it was going to be difficult letting her know in a few days that it was all over.

Even worse, how would I explain a random guy getting me a dress? Also telling her I'd previously loaned him a thousand dollars would have earnt me an earful. She continued looking at me expectantly.

Luckily, it was a quarter to six and my phone pinged with a text message.

H: Sorry. Something's come up so I'll get there later. Samuel will still come by to pick you up in a few minutes

My heart sank as I read the message. I'd be turning up alone in a crowd of people I mostly didn't know. Perfect. So I replied to his message.

D: ok cool

A few minutes later there were two even knocks at the door. I knew it had to be Samuel. He always seemed so serious, so it was only right that those knocks had belonged to him.

"Have fun tonight," my mum smiled. "Look after yourself though, okay?"

"Yes mum, I will."

"We'll talk more when you get home."

Perfect.

--

Samuel pulled into the porte-cochere of the mansion and opened the door for me. "Thank you," I said. I gathered up the end of my dress as I walked into the foyer. I found the sign for the gala and attempted to enter when I was stopped.

"What was your name ma'am?" The man at the door asked.

"Daisy. Daisy Sorenson," I replied. His eyes scanned the list. My breath hitched in my throat. What if my name wasn't on the list?

"And your ID?" He asked.

I fumbled in my clutch for my student ID. I dropped it and quickly bent down to pick it up before handing it to him. "Enjoy your evening," he said, pushing the door open to let me pass.

Inside, the room was brightly lit, a chandelier hanging from the centre of the ceiling. The wooden floors were patterned into a huge flower. They were so shiny I could almost see my own reflection. People mingled in small groups around the room, none of whom I recognized. There were huge pillars around the centre of the ballroom floor.

That was when I felt a hand on my shoulder. Expecting it to be Parker or Holden, relief flashed through me. But it wasn't.

"Don't look so disappointed," Logan said, taking his hand off my shoulder. "Didn't realise you were nouveau riche," he said, looking up and down at my dress.

"I'm not," I muttered. "I catch the bus to school dude, and I have to pack my own food." Neither of those two activities had ever seemed peasant-y to me until I got to Pemberton.

"I see. Your fake hubby is obviously pulling out all the stops then. I didn't realise the Vermonts had much stake in the fashion industry," he commented. I didn't bother correcting him. It would only raise more questions. I also wasn't surprised that unlike what Parker had claimed, the dress was actually expensive.

"So, have you managed to make the perfect clone of you and Holden yet?"

"Ew. Why would I want to do that?"

"I'm just curious about why you have such a hard-on for Holden. After all, I did give you his hair. Do you sleep with it under your pillow?"

He laughed. "So, you ever gonna tell me why you needed the hair? Or should I stick with my current hypothesis?" I continued.

"Maybe one day," he shrugged. "Oh look, your boyfriend's here," he said.

"You sure you don't want to go over there and give him a big hug first? That would be a step up from the hair," I joked. He glared at me.

"Well, see you around," I laughed.

"I'm so sorry about earlier," Holden said when we met midway, conveniently in the middle of the ballroom floor. "Crystal told me Ally was freaking out so I had to go pick up her dress. And then apparently it was the wrong one, and Crystal insisted on me getting the right one, even though Ally didn't mind -" He realised he was rambling. "I'm so sorry."

"It's okay. We're nearly there right?" I forced a grin.

People were walking past, looking curiously at the oddly matched pair. Holden leaned in and kissed me on my bare shoulder. The feeling of his lips against my skin sent a tingle down my spine, raising goosebumps along my skin.

"It's been fun," he whispered. "Besides, we'll still be friends. This is an amicable break up," he winked.

Holden's parents spotted us and waved us over. As if detecting my hesitation, he put a hand on my back and guided me over to his parents. His dad was holding his little brother. Fox seemed fascinated by the chandelier and kept excitedly pointing and talking to his dad.

"Hi Mr and Mrs Vermont," I smiled, trying to keep my cool.

"Oh, Daisy! It's good to see you again," his mum exclaimed with a wide smile, her eyes crinkling in the corners.

"I'm liking the new Holden," he said. "Don't you let her go," he laughed.

Holden and I exchanged glances, laughing along awkwardly. "Hello!" Fox exclaimed, waving.

"Hi there!" I exclaimed back, trying to mimic his level of enthusiasm. "Do you remember me?" I asked, recalling that the only time I'd actually met him was when I'd gone to Holden's house to complete our assignment.

The blonde boy paused for a moment, scrunching up his face before shaking his head.

"This is my girlfriend, Daisy," Holden said. The words made my heart flutter a bit.

"Eew!" Fox exclaimed.

"Cooties right?" I asked. The little boy nodded.

"We're going to go catch up with some of our friends. Do you mind watching Fox for a little bit?" Holden's mum asked.

"Yeah, all good," Holden replied. He looked at the little boy. "Guess you're stuck with me for a bit. Hop on bud." He turned around for the child to clamber onto his back. Holden hooked his arms under Fox's knees and Fox wrapped his arms around Holden's neck.

With one look, anyone could tell that the two were related. They had the same vivid green eyes, blonde hair and wide grin. His parents left and we headed over to the table to grab some food.

"Parker!" Holden exclaimed. A napping figure on one of the couches on the periphery stirred and slowly got up. "Is the host meant to be sleeping at their own party?" Parker shrugged and stretched his arms out in front of him.

Once again, Parker was wearing a black business shirt with a black suit. This time though, he had a black tie as well to top it all off.

"Do you have any other colours in your wardrobe?" I asked. He looked down at what he was wearing.

"Nope."

An older couple were waving to Holden. "My uncle and aunt want to ask me another load of mundane questions," he said. "Do you want to stay with Daisy for a bit?" He asked Fox.

Fox looked over at me. I tried to give him my friendliest smile, knowing full well I somewhat scared children.

"No," he replied plainly.

O-kay. Cool.

"Yeah we'll watch the little squirt," Parker said.

Fox stuck his tongue out at Parker. Parker did the same back.

"Will you piggyback me then?" Fox asked me.

I nodded. "Sure." I turned my back to him and Holden helped him across.

"Thanks guys, I'll be back in a bit."

"What do we do now?" I asked, unsure what a small kid would do during an event like this.

"Why are you looking at me?" Parker asked.

"Um. You volunteered to watch him."

"I don't even like kids."

"I am not good with kids either."

"Well, at least you like them. That's a good start."

"I'm right here guys," Fox whined.

"What do you want to do?" Parker asked him.

"I want to go home," he whined.

"You and me both," Parker remarked.

"Why don't we play a game?" I suggested. Fox nodded. "What do you like playing?"

"Chasey!" He exclaimed.

We looked around at the ballroom. Aside from the fact that there were expensive wine glasses stacked up into pyramids across various tables, countless arrays of food, and priceless looking vases and statues, it would just not be socially appropriate for two teenagers and a small child to be running around at this event.

Parker led us out to the balcony door that was open on the side of the room. "We could go out there," he suggested. There was a huge green lawn that surrounded the entire rear of the building. It stretched out as far as I could see. It was almost pitch black outside aside from the light streaming through from the ballroom doors and windows.

"Yes let's go!" Fox exclaimed, tugging on my shoulder.

"Yeah okay," I agreed.

We went out through the back door. It was when my shoes hit the grass that I realised there was a fatal fall in our plan. I was in stilettos which impaled the grass every time I took a step.

"You guys can play. I can't run in these," I said.

"How can we play with two people!?" Fox wailed. "Parker is so big he will always win!!"

"Sorenson. You're going to let a pair of shoes stop you?"

I turned my head back slightly to look at Fox. He had a doe-eyed look on his face, eyes as wide as frisbees. "Pleaaase," he said.

"Fine," I agreed. I let Fox off my back and took my shoes off, leaving them next to the wall.

"Yay!" Fox cheered, running out onto the grass where Parker was already standing. I held up the end of my dress so it wouldn't pick up all the dirt and grass.

"Ok, who's it?" I asked. We all shrugged. "You can choose," I said to Fox.

"Parker can be it."

"Do you not like me squirt?" Parker replied.

"No," Fox giggled.

We each took five steps back. We let Fox take ten back since he was tiny. "Ok, go!" I exclaimed. Parker ran after Fox.

"Why are you chasing me!?" Fox squealed, quickly sprinting off, glancing over his shoulder at Parker who was barely jogging.

"I'm about to get you!" Parker yelled out. It was comical how low Parker was bending down as he ran, reaching his arms out to take swipes at Fox, pretending he was actually trying. I couldn't help but laugh.

Parker stood up straight again. "Is this funny to you?"

"Yes, very," I said in between my laughter. He turned towards me, a smirk playing on his lips. He broke out into a sprint. "That's not fair!" I shrieked. "You're running after me a lot faster!"

Fox stopped to catch his breath and seemed to be laughing while I struggled to gather up the end of my dress while running. "Come on Daisy! Don't let him get you!" He yelled out encouragements while I ran around.

"Time out! Time out!" I shrieked, bending over with my hands on my knees.

"What?" Parker asked. "Don't tell me you sprained your ankle."

"Nope," I grinned, attempting to dart off to his right.

"That's cheating!" He blocked me. We continued moving left and right while he stuck his arms out to get me. I decided to make a run for it to his right. Just as I thought I was in the clear, I felt his arms snake around my waist, pulling me back.

"Gotcha," he grinned, releasing me.

Thank God it was dark, because I could've sworn all the heat in my body rushed to my face.

I took a few minutes to catch my breath. "Better watch out Fox!" I exclaimed, taking after him. I tried pacing myself, but the little bugger was actually quite fast. "It!" I yelled, tapping him on his shoulder.

Fox took off after Parker and I took the chance to rest while taking in the spectacle. The tiny child was doing a good job of keeping up with Parker. He finally managed to get him on the knee. Almost instantly, Parker turned back around and scooped the small flailing child up, hauling him onto shoulder.

"Not fair!" Fox screeched. That child was adorable.

Suddenly a stern voice called out, "Parker." A figure emerged from the end of the building. I couldn't make out a face since the light was on the figure's back. Once she got a little closer it was clear. Parker's mum.

Parker put Fox down and Fox ran over to me. I picked him up, holding him in one arm, against my hip. "What are you doing?" She asked.

"We're just watching Fox for the Vermonts," he replied. She looked over at Fox whose white shirt had a few specks of grass on it. I quickly brushed them off his shirt, but they left small green stains in their place.

"What will all our investors think? You'll be taking over the company in a few years and you're still running around like a child!?" She exclaimed. "We don't need any more negative publicity. Did you forget what happened last time?"

Parker shook his head solemnly. She looked me up and down. "Aren't you that girl Holden is with?"

I nodded slowly, hoping she wouldn't follow up with anything else. I could almost see her turn her nose up at me.

"You should know better," she said to Parker. "Straighten your tie up and come back with me. There are people who want to meet you."

Silently, Parker followed her back.

"His mum is very mean," Fox said once she was out of earshot.

---

Sorry for the delayed update! I actually had fun writing this chapter even though it wasn't super dramatic. But never fear, for the night is still young and there is much more to happen at the gala :~)

Thanks again for reading! The last chapter has 30 votes right now and I am so psyched!

Please vote if you enjoyed!! My vote goal is 35 this time xoxo Dream big right?

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