Skyline

Chapter 14: The Gold and The Glimmer

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I continued to stare at nothing, burning a hole on it while I hear Arianne's muffled voice trying to calm me down. I don't think she gets it. I am calm. But maybe that's what scared her. I was totally calm. On the outside. Because my thoughts are in a total disarray.

"What happened here?" I heard Julian ask before he shuddered. "It's like somebody died. Or are you guys shooting a horror movie?"

Chopin's Funeral March continues to play through the speakers while the events of a few minutes ago replayed in my head as Arianne explained to Julian what happened.

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I woke up totally ecstatic from the day before. We finally did something "educational" in Aunt Skye's terms. Aunt Skye led the students to an anime art museum. I should've known this since Principal Skye will never do something without getting anything in return or if that something has nothing to do with her. Not that I'm against it. I'm surrounded by anime arts! I get to buy a lot of merchandise and be with people who understand me which led to me waking up with a smile this morning.

I went to eat breakfast at the buffet restaurant at the third floor with Arianne but when we returned, that's when everything went down. I saw my phone with a lot of missed calls from my dad and a voice mail.

"Colleen, my darling girl! I just heard the great news!" my dad's voice was pure delight and excitement so I was curious what the great news was. "I thought you don't like to participate so it was an absolute surprise when the RED Gala committee called me late last night about your participation in the auction. I'll try my best to be there tonight. I am so proud of you, Colleen!"

The voice mail ended. My dad's voice continued ringing in my ears. He sounded overjoyed and completely thrilled that I knew I couldn't back out now even though I did not sign up for it.

RED Gala is an annual fundraising gala for the benefit of the Orphan Disorders Institute. It's a social event attended by personalities from the high-society such as celebrities and businessmen. My dad has always supported it. I don't have any problem with the gala per se; my problem is its main event which is the auction. It would be great if it's just a normal auction but it's not. Goods and property weren't sold. Dates with bachelorettes are. And now I'm one of the bachelorettes.

Every year, twenty bachelorettes are chosen to be displayed at the auction. The audience will bid for a date with them. Just thinking about a date with one of them makes my head hurt.

Arianne continues to comfort me while contacting someone on her phone. I can see she's stressed too but she doesn't back out of a challenge. She'll be dressing me up for sure and even though that's the least of my concerns, I'm thankful.

Panic is starting to build up in me. What if no one bids on me? That would be so embarrassing!

"Don't be absurd! They'll be fighting over you. You're THE Heiress. Your trust fund can feed a whole army and their families. The digits in your bank account don't go lower than ten." I guess I said the last part out loud huh.