Guts, Rearranged {INCOMPLETE}

Chapter 12 =The Party=

          The high-end gowns in Steavie's closet were something else, with the one she left her to wear looking to cost more than her house with its dazzling sequins that would put the stars above to shame. While a beautiful deep red, the dress still pales in comparison to the other gowns in the room. Much like Steavie and Richards's other parties, while all the men wear the same suit, the women compete for who has the most elegant taste. Compared to them she may as well be wearing a flour sack and empty tissue boxes of her feet.

          Steavie's hand is warm and comforting in hers as she walks Maggie around the room and talks with her guests, never staying long to both keep Maggie entertained and to show no favouritism for one guest over another. Maggie had been feigning sipping from the same glass all night, being used to being dragged around in events such as this and being smart enough not to empty her drink in front of the expensive strangers around her.

          One couple walks up to Steavie on their own accord, a tall woman holing a very short man by his elbow. "Steavie my dear, lovely to see you again, you're always one to throw the most eloquent of parties." The woman drawls, baring her overly white teeth in an upsettingly fake manner to them.

          "Beatrice, lovely to see you as well." Steavie gestures with a cheesily friendly tone as she leans in to kiss the tall woman's cheek. Beatrice looks down at Maggie

          "Are we finally a Cherry?" She asks, her eyes returning to Steavie who gives her polite smile.

          "No, not yet. We're focusing on our careers before we finally head down to sign the papers." Steavie chuckles, giving Maggie's hand a squeeze. Beatrice pouts

          "Aw no, I've been waiting on those invitations for years, what's holding you back really?" She pries. This time Maggie pipes up.

          "We're waiting for her father to pass." She nods and gives Beth a tight smile.

          "He's not as ahead as everyone else is." She lies, making Steavie look down to hide her smile from the couple. The tiny man gives an awkward laugh before walking them away.

          "I love when we play house." Steavie smiles, sipping from her tall glass of champagne and continuing their walk amongst her guests.

            Since meeting, the two were often mistaken as a lesbian couple by those who say them together, an odd thing when at the time they didn't do much to give them such an impression. As the years went on, they steadily decided to go full swing on the assumption instead of having to fight others again and again over their strictly friendly relationship, Steavie even found the diversity to have helped her in her career from law firms looking to diversify. The two did give being in a relationship a try legitimately to see what it felt like but near instantly found themselves back to being mischievously deceiving people who continued to go with things for fun. Steavie sometimes thought of her in that lover way with how relaxed she was with her, keeping Richard in the dark about their past together was for the best. At the point they were in now, to an outsider it makes more sense for Maggie to be Steavie's sugar baby instead with how they've feigned their engagement for so long. Steavie's partner Richard always foud their ploy amusing, even enjoying the looks he'd get when he was physically affectionate towards her in front of people who believed their lies.

          "She has to be cheating." They'd whisper.

          "Good for her, not limiting herself to women." They'd continue.

          As if on cue, Richard shows up from behind Steavie and holds her shoulder. Being one of the better dressed men in the room, the women Steavie is talking to prior give themselves quick adjujstments in front of him. His grey hair with loose soft strands sway as he talks to her and his lips curl into a smile as he sees he has her attention.