03

A smile forms on my face, and I’m so glad I don’t have to stand alone on stage. « I would love to, » I smile.

We discuss the song and further things that include the gala. Excitement grows within me and I’m starting to look forward for it.

Who knows what might happen.

° ° °

« Hey Chris ! » I hear my mom yell from downstairs. He replies something I can’t hear and then hear him coming up the stairs.

The three knocks I expected sound through my room, and I yell for him to come on. « Is the famous Athena ready for her performance ? » he jokes as he enters my room. I roll my eyes but still smile.

« Almost, » I say even though I’m still in my lingerie. He jumps on my bed and puts both of his hands behind his head, looking at me while I apply highlighter on my cheekbones. Then I go for the mascara and after I’m done with that, I take a nude lipstick and smear it over my lips.

« I just need to put on my dress and heels, and then I’m ready to leave, » I tell him and take my white dress from the hanger.

Carefully, I put it on and adjust it a little. « Dayum, girl, » I hear Chris whistle from behind me.

I laugh. « I know, bitch, » I chuckle while taking my white heels and putting it on. I quickly spray some perfume on and body-spray, « Now I’m ready. »

° ° °

I sit anxiously in the car, my nerves getting the best of me. Chris notices it.

« Chill, Athena. If you don’t think about it, you’re going to rock that song, » he calms me and rubs his hand up and down my back.

« B-but the song is so difficult to sing. Have you any idea how high the notes are ? » I ask him and breathe out.

« We’ll be standing right in front of the stage, Athena. Just look at us if you’re nervous, » mom says and looks behind her. That idea helps me calm down a little bit.

Before I know it, we pull up into a huge parking lot and get out of the car. A huge building with a dome made of glass. Lights are shining through it, lighting the sky a little.

My heels click against the ground as we walk towards the entrance. I’m almost as tall as Chris with these heels on, and it feels nice to be this tall. I feel a hand being placed on my waist, and I look up to Chris with a smile.

« Being possessive now, huh ? » I joke. He winks at me. « Always, » he laughs. The sound of people talking to each other and soft music playing in the background fills my ears when we enter the huge ballroom.

Gold decorates the whole room, and I see a giant staircase at the end of the room which leads up to the second floor. Different waiters walk around the room with plates filled with champagne and appetizers.

« Wow, » I hear Chris say next to me. « Indeed, » I breathe, and we both follow our parents walking around the room, talking to people.

« It’s beautiful in here, » Chris says, and I agree. A lot of people are dressed in gold, while Chris and I are matching with wearing a white dress and a white suit. I take a glass of champagne from a waitress that passes me and gulp it all down.

« Easy there, we all know you can’t handle alcohol well, » Chris says next to me. I cough a little when I’ve downed it all and hold the empty glass next to me. « I needed it, » is my excuse. He sighs in annoyance.

« Athena, you can do it. If I hear you complain one more time ; I’ll embarrass you in front of all these people by starting to sing myself. »

I cringe at the thought of Chris singing, and I know he’s not bluffing. « I’ll shut up, » I mumble. I place my empty glass on a table and lean into Chris’ arms. « It’s boring here, » I say after some time.

I always used to think it was cool attending these kind of parties, but in reality, they suck. « Wanna dance ? » I ask Chris and nod in my head in the direction of the dancefloor. If this is going to be so boring, better find something to entertain ourselves.

« Sure, » he says and leads us both to the dancefloor. « We can waltz, » he chuckles, and I chuckle along with him. « I’d rather go to a club, » I tell him.

He rolls his eyes. « You’re not even legal. »

« Neither are you, » I fire back and we take place on the dancefloor. I place my hands on his shoulder and he places his on my waist. « It’s awkward holding you like this while being gay, » he laughs. I laugh along with him.

« Please, you’ve walked in on me many times while I was naked. This isn’t awkward. »

We continue to chat for a little while before the song changes and we change our position. Our hands clasp together while his other hand stays on my waist and mine still stays on his shoulder.

« This is one of those old dances, » Chris murmurs in my ear. « What kind of dance ? »

« You’ll see now, » he says and twirls me around, letting go of my hand. I spin right into another man’s arms, a stranger that I don’t know and we continue to dance. I see Chris dancing with another woman in the corner of my eye, and I see them talking to each other.

We switch from partners again, and this time I start a little conversation with the stranger before we switch again.

It’s a fun dance to get to know people. Every woman Chris dances with are flirting with him, and I laugh inwardly because I know he’s not interested in what they have to offer.

But I can’t blame Chris though…

A lot of girls on campus have tried to start something with Chris, poor girls. I keep twirling to strangers, dancing with them and talking to them a little.

« I’m Tom, » the next one says. « I’m Athena, » I also introduce myself. A smile comes on his face. « Beautiful name, » he compliments me.

I blush slightly. « Thank you, » I smile. « Where are you from ? » he asks. « I’m from Vancouver, actually. But I go to college in New York. I’m just here for the holidays, » I say, « and you ? »

« I’m from Los Angeles. I’m here on a visit to my aunt with my whole family, » he explains. « Los Angeles is a city I really want to visit, » I tell him. He raises his eyebrows.

« Really ? The only cool thing about Los Angeles is just the famous people that live there. »

I laugh. « I at least want to have visited the Hollywood sign. »

He smiles. « I’ve seen it. It’s just pieces of metal standing on a mountain, » he shrugs.

« You’re not easily impressed, are you ? » I chuckle which makes him laugh. « I am, by your beauty. »

I roll my eyes at his answer, but still blush a little. « Charmer, » I laugh. « What ? I’m smooth, » he laughs. « Yeah right. I’ve seen better tha–« 

We abruptly part ways, and I turn around, already placing my hands on the man’s shoulder and placing my hands in his.

Rough fingers wrap around mine, sending a shock through my body. I look into the stranger’s dark eyes, and the breath hitches in my throat. There’s a moment where all the music fades away, and the silence only exists. Even in my shock, I continue to dance, while staring into his eyes.

Even in heels, my head barely reaches his shoulders. He’s wearing a white suit with gold accents. His hand is firmly placed on my waist, not letting me go.

We stare deep in each other’s eyes, not saying anything. He looks down at me while I look up at him, staring deeply into his eyes. A shiver runs up my spine at his intense gaze, like he can read my mind. My lips part a little, and I let his presence not affect me after not seeing him for a year and a half.

What is he doing here ?