Not Gone

Chapter 27

When we arrived the valet opened my door and i saw for the first time that this was a gala because Austin's father was running for president.

I stepped out of Austin's car and noticed how fancy the banquet hall is.

I let Austin lead the way to the doors that were yet again opened for us.

"Welcome, welcome! Your father awaits your presence at table 37 and your friends at 33 like you requested." said a man in a odd navy  blue tux to Austin. The curve of his jaw line was crooked and he stood almost like he w as expecting Austin to criticize him.

"Thank you." Austin answered and pushed past him, my arm still linked with his.

" That was my fathers planner, organizer, receptionist, whatever you call it. He basically puts together all the champaign events." Austin said to me as we neared table 37.

"Campaign manager?" I suggested.

"Ya." He said looking around.

"I didn't know your father was running for President." I accidentally said out loud.

Austin gave me the queerest look but didn't say anything because we reached his fathers table.

"Britney! It's so nice to see you!" A lady (who I assumed was Austin's mother) said as she hugged me.

I faked smiled and said "It's nice to see you too!"

"Now Austin's dad will be on stage in 5 and I got to go on with him! See you guys after the speech!" His mom said and she left us alone.

"Come on, I want you to meet some people!" Austin said with a grin as he took my hand.

We walked over to what seemed to be table 33 and I could see a couple of people sitting around it.

I recognized two of them as the boys I had seen in the hallway earlier yesterday. Adam and I think Josh.

"Britney, this is Adam, Josh, Danielle and Melissa." Austin said as he gave Adam a bro hug.

Danielle was short with thin blond hair, whereas Melissa was tall and fit with copper hair. Josh put his arm around Melissa so I assume that's his date and Danielle is Adam's.

"Hi!" I said in a tiny voice.

"So you are the famous Britney!" Danielle said in a cheerful voice, patting the seat next to her. I sat down next to her as Austin took the seat on my right.

"Ya, I guess."

"Austin always talks about you." Josh said with a laugh that's used when something isn't funny.

I shifted in my seat and gave a weak smile.

"Yes I do, cause she's my girl." Austin said as he side hugged me.

"So I assume you found your way to the cafeteria?" Adam said with a smile like we had been friends forever.

"Ya." I said as I looked at the food in front of me.

It was chicken with a creamy garlic sauce, pasta and broccoli. The drink next to my plate was fizzy and colored red, probably some kind of cherry soda.

To my right was red, white, and blue ribbons draped just underneath the stage. But the thing that caught my eye was a man sitting at a table directly in front of the stage. The man looked an awful lot like Mr.Wilson, the second in command of the C.I.A.

"That's good." Adam said trying to follow my gaze but I quickly looked away.

"Shhhhhh..." Danielle said looking entirely too happy as the lights dimmed but brightened on the stage.

Mr. Wilson stood up and walked up the steps to the stage. He stood next to Austin's dad.

Austin's dad walked up to the podium.

"Ladies and gentleman of the United States..."   

~~~~~~~~~~~~

Once Austin's father finished his speech, I got up to go to the bathroom.

As I walked of the banquet  hall, I heard someone calling my name. I turned around and saw Danielle trying to catch up with me.

"Sorry, I didn't know you were coming with" I said apologetically.

"It's ok. I figured that we should at least be friends." She said with a smile. I smiled back because I have no idea what she meant but that's okay.

We walked into the hallway outside the hall in awkward silence as Danielle smiled the whole time.

"So, how long have you and Adam been together?" I asked her trying to make talk.

"4 months 26 days" she said proudly.

I smiled back at her.

Just as we reached the ladies restroom/locker room, I felt a wave of exhaustion and slight nausea come over me.

I almost fell but thankfully I leaned on the door and opened it.

I walked over to the sink as Danielle walked into a stall.

I wet my hands and patted water on my face. I willed myself not to black out again.

I walked in to a changing stall. I sat down on the chair and got my phone out of my purse.

I went on a social media page and was about to share my photo of Austin and I in our formal clothes but decided against it at the last minute.

"You Gucci Britney?" Danielle asked after she had washed her hands.

"Ya. You go on without me. I'll be there in a minute." I said lying trying to get her to leave.

As soon as I heard the door close, I let myself go because fighting to stay awake was giving me an excruciating headache.