Wizards

CHAPTER 17: Familiar Ball

"Students! Grab your partners, we will begin the ceremonial entry momentarily!" Mrs. Eve yelled.

     In the halls where students scattered — ladies complementing each other and men checking out every single lady that walked by — Brooke was shoving anyone on her way while dragging Rei by the arm.

     "Care to explain what we are doing?" said Rei, letting Brooke drag her around for . . . almost fifteen minutes already.

     "Just keep walking, Rei. Someone's bound to notice us anytime soon!" Brooke yelled like a fisherman on the docks.

     "Yell like that again and they will notice us," Rei jested.

     "Oh shut up, Rei . . . We can't go in without a partner — I can't go in without a partner. Trust me, if that happened, the headline tomorrow would be 'The Golden Daughter: Desirable No More!' . . . call me prideful."

     "You worry too much," said Rei, to which Brooke snorted as an answer.

     Honestly, Rei could have gone in without any partner, she doesn't mind at all. But then she thought that if indeed, you were the daughter of one of the richest men in the world, people's eyes will always be glued behind your back or in front of your face. And if people noticed that — in a social gathering or parties like this very famous Familiar Ball — nobody asked you as their date (and while for some people it may look strong and a portrayal of independence) media will make it seem like the reason was that you were . . . unpleasant.

     Rei looked at Brooke as she shoved every man and woman on her way. She may have all the riches in the world, but what comes with those? Judgment from people who barely knew her? Her private life — treated like a feast around a bonfire and used as the subject of their conversation.

     Before she could finish her thought, she bumped into Brooke's back.

     "Oh . . . Well. What do we have here? Binder and Griffin! What's the matter? Nobody wants to date the weird loner and the foreigner?"

     Brooke grabbed her chest and dropped her jaw, "Me? I don't know what you're talking about, Joanna," Brooke grabbed the nearest man she could grab and pulled him to her side, "Because I have a date."

     "I'm your date?" said the man, almost sounded as though he was offended.

     It was only that time when Rei was able to look at the man Brooke dragged. His hair was standing tall, he was wearing a white coat, red long sleeves under it, and black pair of shoes. She never knew Neil could look like a human . . . and that was an honest thought.

     "Really? The Beggar?" Joanna folded her arms and smirked.

     "Beggar?!" Brooke's voice suddenly went up a notch. Students around them started to look at them and pointed their cameras. "You? . . . Joanna Severina is insulting this . . . great, and honest, and a kind man just because he's not as rich as you? You — you are judging him because he's poor even though he is trying so hard to learn in this school where everybody is welcome? How uncouth!" Brooke gasped, "For shame, Severina — for shame!"

     That was one of the greatest things Rei saw this week — Joanna turning red and Brooke winning against her. Before Joanna could have thought of a witty comeback, Brooke wrapped her arms around Neil and dove into the crowd with Rei, leaving Joanna around people with cameras pointing at her.

     "That was brilliant!" said Rei.

     "She'll be in the headlines of the Daily Eyes tomorrow morning, you'll see," said Brooke. She turned to face Neil and opened her mouth, letting out a word that sounded "Sss" but got cut off Neil's raised index finger.