Todd drove, while Maxine sat beside him.

They just endured a couple of minutes of being gawked at when they walked past the lounge of their building.

Maxine looked at the time.

7:48 pm

She sighed and looked out window, staring into space. All of a sudden, she remembered Todd's full name, causing her to burst out laughing.

"What?" asked Todd curiously.

"Nothing, Zachary," she said seriously. Then, she laughed again.

He blinked, looking shocked for a moment. Just as quick, he composed himself. He cleared his throat, trying to hide his flushed face.

"You saw it on the invitation, didn't you?" he guessed in an annoyed voice. When Maxine grinned, he added, "I don't like being called by that name."

"Why?" she demanded incredulously. "There's nothing wrong with that name."

"I didn't say that there's something wrong with it. I just said I don't like being called by that name."

"Well - why? Zachary is a cute name."

Todd felt his face heat up. "Not for me."

"Fine," Maxine pouted. "I'll call you Zachary from now on."

"No, you won't."

"Oh yes, I will."

"No way in hell."

"Or else what?" she dared.

An evil grin stretched out from his face.

"Or else, I'll call you Maxie Pixie."

Maxine gasped.

"Where did you hear that from?" she demanded.

"Doesn't matter."

"That nickname was ages ago! And I wasn't a pixie," she protested defensively. "You can't possibly call me that."

"I can't?" Todd raised an eyebrow. "Try me."

"Fine," said Maxine through gritted teeth. "I won't call you by your middle name and you won't call me by that nickname."

"Deal."

Several minutes later, they arrived at the luxurious Thompsons Hotel.

After Todd gave his car key to the valet, they both went inside the Hotel.

Maxine tried her best to ignore the stares they were receiving. Todd noticed her uneasiness, and gently put a hand on the small of her back.

"We're almost there," he told her quietly.

She could only nod.

They entered the elevator and pressed the button that would lead them to the top floor to where the Grand Hall was.

"Aren't we late?" Maxine asked Todd, when they were almost at the top floor.

"Yes, we are," he answered calmly. "It doesn't matter, though. It isn't a big deal."

"Top floor, Grand Hall," announced the elevator man.

"Thank you," Maxine told him, stepping out of the elevator.

Todd gently reached for her hand and pulled her with him. Maxine instantly felt butterflies in her stomach. She was growing used to it whenever she was around Todd.

There was nothing on the top floor but two wide doors. The man standing by the doors asked for their invitations, Todd and Maxine gave the scrolls to him.

"Thank you, sir and ma'am," bowed the man, after he read the invitations. "The Royal Ball has already started. If you please . . ."

He then proceeded to open the doors.

A mouthwatering scene came to their eyes.

It was everything Maxine imagined.

There was an inventive chandelier, waiters that were waiting at every corner, about thirty round tables with six chairs each, platform of musicians (behind them was a huge glass window), and in the center was a space where a number of teenagers were dancing already. There was also a balcony by the eastern side of the building.

Maxine felt like she could stare at the scenery all night long. It looked really as though it was a Royal Ball. Even the songs being played were so classically beautiful.

"Come on, I just saw the gang," whispered Todd.

He escorted her down the broad stairs to where the actual Ball was. They stepped down the stairs with a few heads turning to look at them.

Maxine strongly prayed not to trip on something because that would be mortifying. And she wasn't exactly the most poised person in the room.

When they finally reached the bottom stairs, almost all the eyes were on them.

Together, they stood out greatly among everyone.

Todd took Maxine to the table where Brian, Kim, Karl, and Jen were settled. They were also staring awe-struck. As Todd and Maxine took a seat, she looked around the table to observe their friends' appearances.

Kim was wearing a red gown, while Brian was wearing a black suit with a red tie to match up Kim's. Jen was wearing soft blue gown and Karl was wearing dark blue tuxedo, while his inner shirt was a lighter shade of blue.

And Peter was nowhere to be found, as per usual.

Todd grew slightly annoyed when nobody spoke. He cleared his throat, breaking the silence that seemed to engulf them.

Finally, the gang composed themselves.

"You're late," stated Kim.

"Obviously," sighed Todd.

"Well, it's worth it," said Karl, frowning. "You just saved yourselves into listening to the most boring speech mankind had ever heard."

"Dude, you look so . . ." started Brian who was still looking at Todd, then finished with, "majestic, for some reason."

"He means you and Max," added Jen airily.

There was an awkward silence. Nobody spoke.

Then, the song changed. The band was now playing Frank Sinatra's The Way You Look Tonight. The lights dimmed and almost every guy stood up to ask their dates to dance.

Out of nowhere, Gee Thompson was at Kim's side.

"Bonjour, madam micelle," he said fluently in French.

"Bonjour, monsieur," returned Kim, clearly amused.

"Vousdansez?" asked Gee.

Kim glanced at Brian.

For a moment, Brian looked like he was revolted but he nodded. Kim looked like she was about to say something, but she turned to Gee and nodded.

Karl and Jen left the table, too.

Brian nudged Todd to Maxine, causing Todd to glare at him. Brian only shrugged in turn. Eventually, Todd sighed.

Brian's right, he thought.

And so, he took a deep breath and . . .

"Max, do you want to dance?"

However, this question did not come from Todd.

"Josh!" gasped Maxine, eyes wide with shock. She wasn't expecting him to show up at all. "You're back! Um, it's good to see you again."

"Is that a yes?" grinned Josh, his golden eyes twinkling in delight.

"Yes, of course," she nodded, smiling at Josh. She had a tingling feeling at the back of her neck. Suddenly, she had a strong urge to glance at Todd. It took all her willpower not to.

Todd frowned while Brian stared, slightly open mouthed at Josh and Maxine as they left the table and went to the dance floor.

Brian looked at Todd and saw that his best friend looked like he was about to kill someone. He wanted to lighten up the mood but he was concerned that he might say the wrong thing. So Brian did the most logical thing possible: he waited until Todd calmed down. He faintly wondered if that would happen while Maxine was basically in Josh's arms. Hmm. Probably not.

Todd crossed his arms, his eyes trained at the direction where Maxine and Josh were dancing. He didn't look the least bit happy. In fact, he was beyond far from it. He wanted to march in the middle of the dance floor and rip off Josh Mantle's arms. But he knew to himself that he wasn't that irrational.

"Dude, why don't you just tell her?" breathed out Brian exasperatedly.

"Tell her what?" inquired Todd distractedly, his eyes never leaving Maxine.

"Everything."

That made Todd look at his best friend. Brian just met his intense gaze. But then something caught his eye, making him break the eye contact.

When the song finished, Gee kissed Kim on the cheek and said good bye.

The gang returned to the table and started to eat dinner. Peter showed up out of nowhere and pulled a chair from another table so he can sit with the gang.

"Did he have to kiss you?" Brian asked Kim uneasily, as soon as she sat beside him.

"It was only on the cheek, Brie," Peter piped up teasingly. "The big bad wolf won't steal your girl from you."

Everybody on the table laughed.

"Jealous, aren't you?" teased Kim, grinning at Brian. "His family owns this Hotel, as you well know."

"So?" muttered Brian, with a raised eyebrow. "I can buy this Hotel if I wanted to. And I have the right to be jealous, you know."

"I know," smiled Kim calmly.

The table went silent when Josh led Maxine to the gang's table. He smiled charmingly, thanked her for the dance, and left.

The gang's eyes caught a glimpse of Todd, who was surprisingly keeping his cool quite impressively. He kept his eyes on his food and continued to eat as though he couldn't care less what was happening around him.

After they all ate and were now listening to Peter's jokes, Karl looked around.

"Where's your date, Pete?" asked Karl.

"I don't know," shrugged Peter uncaringly. "I don't care much. What will all this gorgeous ladies around do if I worry myself with my date?" He chuckled. When he saw the disapproving looks of his friends, he rolled his eyes and added, "Don't worry. I found her a ride home." Then, he stood up. "Well, I've got to busy myself. See you guys later."

He made a move to leave, but stopped as though he remembered something important. He turned around and faced Maxine with a serious expression.

"Maxine, I accidentally overheard what you and Mantle were talking about," he stated. Maxine shifted in her seat. "Shockingly, I agree with him." And with that, he strolled away.

The gang turned to look at Maxine inquiringly.

"What does he mean, Maxine?" asked Brian eagerly.

"It's a secret between me and Josh," said Maxine, her face heated from all the sudden attention. It wouldn't be that much of a secret if Todd wasn't with them.

"Is it that confidential?" queried Kim with a raised eyebrow.

"Yes, I think so," mumbled Maxine, avoiding their eyes.

"What important thing could he possibly tell you that you can't even tell us?" said Todd, studying at Maxine, determined to catch her eye.

Maxine cleared her throat and stood up.

"Excuse me, I need to go to the ladies' room," she excused herself.

"Do you mind if I come?" asked Kim, standing up.

"Not at all," replied Maxine. In fact, she felt grateful that Kim was coming with her. She could tell Kim everything. Kim and . . .

Maxine's eyes found Jen's. Immediately, they had an understanding.

"I'll come, too," declared Jen, getting to her feet.

Todd, Brian, and Karl watched after them as they climbed up the steps and turned right to the ladies' room. When the girls were out of sight, the boys exchanged looks.

"Girls," breathed Todd, shaking his head.

"Tell me about it," grumbled Brian.

"Todd, why haven't you asked Max to dance?" asked Karl abruptly.

"He's taking his time until he's ready," answered Brian in a disapproving tone.

Todd rolled his eyes.

"Oh," nodded Karl slowly. "Dude, you better take your time fast 'cause I heard those lot talking about her." He pointed to a group of boys.

Todd looked at the group and noticed that they looked familiar. Brian seemed to have had realized the same thing because he said, "Aren't they from STM?"

Karl took a good look at them, then his eyes widened in recognition.

"Hey, you're right!"

Karl and Brian automatically turned to Todd. But he didn't give away a reaction, so Karl and Brian wasn't able to tell what he was thinking.

"Is there anyone from Vlad Institute?" asked Todd, without taking his eyes off the group. He knew they weren't that much of a trouble, except from one of them.

"If you're referring to Dominique Harris, he was here," answered Brian coolly. He remembered seeing the foul guy earlier, and was thankful that he left already. Otherwise, he was sure that Todd and Dominique would have a pretty ugly confrontation.

"He left looking gravely disappointed," added Karl a-matter-of-factly. "He left you a message, though."

After hearing that, Todd finally lifted his eyes from the group of boys in the distance and looked at his friends.

"Pansy," grunted Todd. "What's the message?"

"I quote," began Brian, "'Enjoy your time left while you have the glory for I'm going to take it from you.'"

Todd smirked. "Let's just see about that."

_____________________

Now what could Josh have possibly told Maxine?! I'll upload in a couple of days. :D

I just want you guys to know that I appreciate each and everyone of you. Thank you so muh for reading my works. I seriously love y'all. (I'm feeling sentimental.)

My twitter! :) >> @LouisseCarreon

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