You made me feel

C H A P T E R T W O

It's been almost three weeks since I got back from vacation and I still haven't unpacked my suitcase, well I unpacked some stuff but not everything.
"I'll do it later," I say while I walk into the room to get dressed.
There is a charity event at a hotel and I will be the only one who doesn't fit in and I am pretty sure everyone will notice it immediately.
"Show me what you have," April says.
"As I said, nothing. I don't own this kind of dress. I don't go to parties like these, I don't know people like these." I say and lay on the bed. I am frustrated.
"You know me!"
"Hm, yeah but you have to work there and talk to a bunch of people and I don't know how to act. I'll just take my book with me."
"It's just a regular charity event before the summer break. I am not working, you will have fun with me and you won't bring your book."
"Yeah, sure and I will."
"Come on Cleo, please. Everyone always brings a plus one. You are my plus one. Don't make me beg. I know you hate parties like these, but imagine finding the man of your dreams there."
"I doubt it. I don't think any of these men would even notice me."
"What about that?" April shows me a burgundy dress, with a sidecut and a v-neck.
"Bitch, that's yours my boobs don't fit in there, remember?"
"Oh yes, I will wear It. Back to you... Let's see, let's see... What about this?" She turns around and holds a dark green, shimmering at the chest, dress up.
"Hmm, yeah I've never worn it. I don't even remember why I bought it. Or when." I rub my temples, I am really tired and close to getting a headache.
"Perfect! Now we need shoes we-"
"No. I won't wear high heels. Forget it!"
"But a dress like-"
"No!" I say and throw the cushion at her. She falls dramatically into the closet. I laugh and roll my eyes. We have to be at the hotel at 8 pm, it's 4 pm now. I get up and walk over to the bathroom. Brush my teeth and start curling my hair, not that I have much to curl because I cut it two weeks ago. April joins me and starts doing her makeup.
"You're going to look great in this dress and the shoes! "
"No high heels, I will embarrass myself enough by having no idea what I have to do or how I have to act. I won't give them a runway show of me stumbling over my own feet and breaking both my ankles."
"You're so dramatic. What are you wearing then?"
"I have a pair of pumps in black I'm going to wear them. The dress is long enough to cover my shoes, you should be glad I am not going barefoot! "

She rolls her eyes and continues doing her makeup. Once we're finished she does my makeup and then I do her hair. We decided to do an elegant half updo on her pretty, silk blond hair and add two accessory stones. I curled my hair and added a green ribbon on the back. My eyes are covered in a smokey black eyeshadow that makes the brown in my eyes shimmer. April did the same to her eyes although she added a touch of dark brown to match her dress. Once we're done we order an Uber for 7:30 pm drink a coffee and watch one episode of our all-time favorite TV show.

The Uber arrives on time. We walk downstairs.
"Ladies, you look beautiful. My name is David and I'll be your driver. Please get in." He opens the door for us.
"Thank you, David," I say and smile at him. He nods, closes the door as soon as April sits next to me, and walks over to his seat.
"Do you want to listen to some music?"
"No, thanks," April says and smiles at him while she puts the seat belt on.
We drive for about 15 minutes and we reach the Port Lincoln Hotel. I have never been here before. We stand in line behind three other cars.
"You know what, let's get out.  David, here's your tip. Thank you, drive safe!"
"Have a great evening and thank you."

We get out and I immediately regret being here. There are a lot of people. Not just some people, wealthy people. Men in expressive suits. Women in beautiful dresses with tiny bags in their hands. I have to stop staring, all of them look so beautiful.
"Wow, I do not belong here," I say to April.
"I don't do either, I am only here because I have to." She says in comfort.
"Yeah, but your body language, your eyes, your face. You changed within five seconds once you got out of the car. You know how to fit in."
"Okay, listen. Just be yourself okay, there is nothing wrong with you or anything to be ashamed of."
"I am not ashamed, I just don't fit in these events," I say. She hooks her arm in mine and we walk into the building. We enter the big hall. This is beautiful.
Spotlights are on the ceiling, and the round tables are covered in white cloths. In the center of the tables are white candles surrounded by blue, and purple flowers. At the end of the hall is a big bar with six stools in front of it. Two men are sitting at the bar, you can just tell by their appearance that they are some important people. The waiter walks in, he doesn't look older than twenty. He wears glasses and a blue towel over his left shoulder, damn they thought of everything. I scan the room and I feel uncomfortable, good thing this gathering is once a year. I don't think I could do this more than one time.
"Excuse me, Miss?" A female voice interrupts my thoughts. I turn around and a waitress smiles politely at me.
"Yes?"
"This drink is from the gentleman at the bar."
"Sorry, I think I am the wrong one. I have no idea who would buy me a drink." I smile at her and want to turn away.
"He said if she doesn't want it, I shall say it's another apology because he ruined your shirt."
I turn around and immediately meet his eyes.
This isn't possible.
His silver hair is slicked back, he is wearing a black suit, white shirt, and a black tie. He looks like one of those morally gray characters in books has come to life. He raises a brow and holds his drink up. I don't move, the waitress passes me the drink.
"Miss, everything okay?"
I nod and take the glass never leaving his eyes, I give him a half smile and drink, and so does he.
I feel a hand on my shoulder.
"Who are you looking at?" April says and turns her head in the direction I am staring.
"You've gotta be kidding me, what is he doing here? I didn't know that he was invited. Shit, I didn't prepare anything if he is here it means his parents are also-"
"Are you supposed to work with his parents?" I ask, sipping on my Chardonnay, the delicious, expensive one. A woman walks towards him, places her hand on his chest, and whispers something in his ear. He turns to her. I take my chance and look away.
"No, actually I am not. I am pretty sure when my boss finds out there here he is going to make me responsible if I don't-"
"Ms. Pearl, can I speak to you for a second?" A tall, skinny man with glasses on his pointy nose interrupts her. Her boss. Next to him are two other people. An Asian woman, with short honey brown hair and brown eyes in a stunning tight, red dress with tiny red rhinestones around the collar and a man about a head taller than the woman, gray hair slicked to the right side and in a dark red suit, matching to his wife's dress I guess.
I stop staring and take another sip.
"This is Mrs. and Mr. McAndrews." I almost choke on my drink, April squeezes my arm.
"I'm sorry. I'll be on the balcony if you're looking for me." I say and turn around and leave.
"Nice to meet you, I am April Pearl." I hear April introducing herself before I walk out onto the balcony. The cold ocean breeze hits me and I let the fresh air fill my lungs. I take a deep breath and enjoy it. I lean over the railing and look at the ocean. The horizon is about to swallow the sun and the sky is covered in beautiful red, pink, and orange stripes.
"Beautiful." I hear a man say.
"Yes, it really is," without looking at him I smile and take another sip.
"I'm not talking about the sunset, Cleo." He says calmly.