Bonded

Chapter Twenty Five and a Half

Ethan stood in the centre of the room, in his very expensive pressed suit, surrounded by various people vying to get on his good side. He was the only O from a very prominent family, and was spoiled to ruin, which had made him very haughty and self righteous. He had been the most sought after student from the Academy, until he hand picked the very A he wanted. He had money, power, friends and yet the only thing he seemed to really want in life was to make Louis miserable.

A shiver rippled down Louis's spine from where he stood in the back corner. He could feel Ethan's smug smile taunting him from across the room. Louis wasn't surprised though. For once Ethan actually had a reason to act all high and mighty, and for the first time ever, Louis felt scared for his future.

He sighed and turned his gaze away, ignoring the bully. He casually sipped on his glass of champagne as he watched people talk and mingle. His line of sight eventually drifted towards the front of the room, where his best friend, Lottie stood, dressed in the most elegant and beautiful white evening gown.

She hung on the arm of her new partner, Edward, and basked in the glory of their day. This party was hers, a celebration of her pairing with Edward, and she had definitely become a shinning star. The smile on her face told him that she was enjoying every fawning gaze and cheerful congratulations tossed in her direction. She deserved every ounce of happiness that Edward afforded her, and even though the thought of her leaving made him feel like he was dying on the inside, he was genuinely happy for her.

Lottie must have noticed his eyes on her as she snapped her head up and glanced in his direction. As soon as their eyes met he gave her, his biggest and brightest smile lifting his glass up into the air in a cheers for her. She didn't have a glass, but she held up a handful of the bottom part of her dress and swished the skirt gently as she spun in a delicate circle for him, silently asking if she still looked okay.

Perfect, he wordlessly mouthed.

Her eyes squished up tightly as an overwhelmingly joyous smile spread across her face. She lifted her hand and quickly beckoned him closer.

He stepped out of his corner and made his way over. When he was near Lottie placed a hand on his upper arm and leaned closer. "Do you see all the people that showed up?" She asked, clearly astonished at the amount.

The two of them gazed around the room, taking in the vast amount of people within it. "They're all here for you," Louis pointed out.

Lottie smiled and tilted her head a bit. "They are definitely here for Edward," she said modestly, "but in a round about way I do suppose they are kind of here for me too."

She continued to watch all the people mingling while Louis stood and watched her. She had so easily switched from hiding in the corners with him, to being center stage, that he was sort of worried that she would forget him.

"Lottie dear," Edward gently called out behind them.

Both Lottie and Louis turned to look in the A's direction. He was standing with a new group of important looking people. "Come over here please, there's some people who want to meet you," he said, holding out a hand for her to take.

"Okay, just a minute," she replied before turning back to Louis. She grabbed each of his arms by the sleeves and looked him in the eyes. "I still have a bunch of people to meet," she told him, "but I want to spend more time with you tonight before I leave, so don't go to bed without coming to see me first."

There was a desperateness in her voice that Louis knew all to well. "Of course not" he promised, "I'll definitely come find you later."

She gave him a curt nod with worry filled eyes before leaving to rush over to her waiting partner. And just like that, their moment was over.