Angels & Wolves | Book One

Chapter Seventeen

Rio's POV

Fairy lights were strung along the ceiling of the venue, twinkling in the dimming sunlight. Massive bouquets of flowers were distributed along the walls, as if the vibrant colors of the party guests weren't enough. Women dressed in reds and blues and greens and yellows flounced around the vast room covered with frills and lace and sparkles. Men wore navy blues and blacks and greys and whites, twirling around their partners as they danced to the waltz.

Rio's heart pounded in her chest. People were starting to take notice of the late newcomers. Alice Grace wore a teal-green vintage 1950's circle dress that reached her knees. Her red hair was expertly twisted on top of her head, pinned in place with a silver headband. Rio felt as if she were about to retch in front of the large crowd of people. In a show of comfort, Alice Grace grabbed Rio's tan arm and lead her down the grand staircase to the dance floor.

"You look beautiful," Alice Grace whispered to her friend.

"You think?" asked Rio.

"Absolutely!" exclaimed Alice Grace. "I dressed you!"

Rio blushed. The sparkly red dress had a sweetheart neckline that barely covered her breasts and the back dropped to the very top of her butt, leaving a whole lot of skin to be seen. It was impossible to wear a bra with the dress. A slit in the skirt reached just below her panty line, showing off her long tan legs, which were accented with 5" red pumps. Alice Grace had made her look like Jessica Rabbit. Rio's long dark brown hair was braided and twisted into a bun at the base of her neck. She felt ridiculous and she was embarrassed that she was even in the extremely revealing dress.

Rio followed Alice Grace as she walked through the dance floor with purpose. Rio doubted she would be leaving her friend's side the whole night. She felt out of her element. It had been so long since she was home that she didn't know what to do. England had become her home in the short months she was there. And leaving Taj behind seemed to make her more uncomfortable.

Alice Grace stopped behind a group of people and tapped a gentlemen's shoulder. Rio's stomach butterflies increased as the tall redhead turned and smiled at Alice Grace.

"Where have you been?" he exclaimed, stooping to wrap his arms around Alice Grace's waist. He picked her up and spun her around.

"England," she replied as he set her back on her feet. Alice Grace motioned to Rio, who self-consciously wrapped her arms around herself. Alice Grace said, "Getting her to come back home."

The redheaded guy, who Rio could only assume was Alice Grace's twin brother, looked her up and down before saying, "Welcome home Rio."

Rio blushed. "Thanks...?"

"Oh! I'm Vincent Ortega," he said, holding his hand out for her to shake. Hesitantly, Rio grabbed his hand. He continued, "I'm Alice Grace's older brother."

"Hi," she smiled. She'd never really met Vincent. She just knew he existed because Alice Grace complained about him in their shared science class. And she definitely didn't know they were related to Oz de la Vega. Most of the de la Vega family lived in their neighborhood. It was odd that his cousins didn't live in the neighborhood.

"Where's Oscar?" asked Alice Grace. She craned her neck to look at the other people in the group Vincent was talking to. Rio's eyes followed her gaze. She was surprised at how many people she knew in the group and how many of them she forgot lived on her street. A girl in a fitted yellow dress flirted with a blond guy in a pin stripped suit. Rio recognized the girl, Millie Stanford, from her history class, and the guy, Isaac Frias, from her English class. Two girls stood next to them, chatting aimlessly about a subject the girl in the pink dress seemed to be interested in. In a baby pink pleated dress, Kay Harris, from Rio's freshman drama class, flipped her short brown hair from her face as Natalie Kimball, the athlete of the neighborhood, gazed around as if she were bored.

"He's talking with Andre," said Vincent Ortega, motioning to a pair of sharply dressed men staring out the windows while discussing something rather important.

For the uhm-teenth time that night, her heart leapt in her chest. Rio didn't even know what to say to anyone in the group she was standing in. All of them were nosy neighbors that she had hated since she was a little girl. But there stood Oz, looking as gorgeous as ever.

His broad shoulders shifted towards her direction, making Rio wish she could just hide behind Vincent. It was slow motion, and she hated it. Oz turned and his grin faded to an expression of awe when he saw Rio dressed as she was. Rio felt her cheeks heating with embarrassment, but her dark eyes were glued to his. She watched as Oz de la Vega halted his conversation with Andre and walked towards her with the stealth and grace of a lion stalking its prey. The steady rush of butterflies in her stomach increased to a hurricane. Her nerves were on fire. She had never felt heated by a man such as this at any point in her life. And she was afraid of it.

"Rio," breathed Oz when he was in front of her. A smile played at his lips. "You made it. I didn't think you would come."

Rio used every muscle in her body to ignore the pull she felt towards him. Trying to sound calmer than she really was, Rio said, "I came for a friend."

Oz sighed in relief. "How'd you know I needed a break?"

"Actually, I came for Alice Grace."

"Oh."

"Yeah..."

This is getting awkward, thought Rio. She glanced at everything but him. Seeing his hurt expression would force her to apologize. Her eyes didn't follow her directions though. So she caught him staring at her like he had just seen someone he'd missed.

"You truly are gorgeous," he whispered. His dark eyes observed her expression for her reaction. Rio just blinked.

What am I supposed to say to that?

"Uhm... Thanks...?"

"Dance with me." Oz grinned, holding out his hand for Rio to take. She jerked back.

"Excuse you?"

"Dance with me," he said again. His eyes searched her own. Hesitantly, she took his hand. Oz's smile stretched across his face as he led her to the dance floor. He pulled her close to his chest and breathed in her scent of roses and wild strawberries. When the band started playing the next song, Oz led Rio through the twirls and dips of a waltz with effortlessness ease.

For the first time, Rio felt like she were a princess and she never wanted to leave. In that precise moment, something inside her broke. She no longer felt the hatred she had against the de la Vegas. Instead, she felt herself falling for them...

Or, more accurately, Oz.

SOOOOOOO many things are going on in this chapter!

First, Alice Grace dresses Rio up as Jessica Rabbit. I mean, what else would get Oz's attention like that? Dang, brah.

Second, Vincent is acting like a cutie pie.

Third, she freaking flirted and danced with Oz!

I think my heart just broke a little.

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Until next time loves.