The Gang Girl

Chapter 21- Happy Christmas

// A.N. Lol, it's not actually Christmas sadly, but it is for Alexis and the gang ;-) Enjoy .//

"You had one week to get a dress together for this Christmass ball/ birthday bash, and you manage to pull that out of the bag?" Zakhar asks me as I glide out of my room in my Ravenclaw inspired floor length gown.

"My tailor and dressmaker can work miracles, plus I texted Blaise an idea of what I wanted the day I found out about the ball." I say, twirling the sparkling gold and diamond bangle around my wrist.

Zak does another once over.

"You're wearing mum's jewelry." He comments softly, taking in the tear drop pearl necklace, matching earrings and the simple gold ring inset with a small pearl.

"Yeah." I say just as softly, looking down at the ring on my finger. Mammas promise ring from papa.

Dad's promise to her to be there for her forever. To love her forever.

He pulls me in for a hug and I wrap my arms around his waist.

"I miss her Zaky. So much. I wish she could be here for this." I whisper into his shoulder.

He presses a kiss against the top of my head and sighs softly before pulling away.

"Ivan's going to have his work cut out for him tonight, with keeping all the other man downstairs away from you. You couldn't have just gotten a dress that didn't draw attention to yourself?" He chuckles, shaking his head slightly as he offers his arm to me.

I take his arm and we start walking down the hallway towards the second set of stairs in our house and, as my father likes to call it, my grand entrance. I just like to call it that random set of stairs that leads to the massive ballroom in the west wing of the mansion.

"Now where would the fun be in wearing a plain gown? In our social circles Zakhar, you know it's a competition to outshine everyone." I sass as we reach the top of the stairs and Zakhar signals dad, who calls everyone's attention towards him.

"How many weapons have you got hidden?" He whispers as dad gets mid way through his speech.

"My hairpins are sharpened into little daggers, and I have 2 knives I can reach through the cutouts on my dress." I whisper back, staring straight ahead as dad starts finishing up his speech and everyone's attention starts to wander to where Zakhar and I are standing at the top of the stairs.

I glance down and see the all jealous young woman glaring at me, knowing I had clearly outshone them, at the men giving me longing looks but holding back because of who I am, who my father is and the fact that I'm not available to them. Ivan, waiting at the foot of the stairs to take me from Zakhar, was beaming.

"That's my baby sister."

I turn towards him and smile slightly.

"I love you, big brother."

"I love you too, Lexi."

And that's the end of our conversation as dad finishes his speech and we start walking down the stairs.

"Catch me if I trip," I hiss softly, barely moving my lips as we begin descending the stairs.

"Come on gang girl, you got this." He says back, also barely moving his lips, both of us not looking at the other but staring straight ahead.

"Oh bite me."

He chuckles slightly.

We reach the bottom of the stairs after what feels like a lifetime, and Zakhar passes me off to Ivan.