In Love With my Babysitter

Chapter 7

Chapter 7 

"Holy cow..." I heard Luis breath in awe behind me. I smiled a bit smugly and whispered back, "I know."

It was Saturday evening and we were at Mrs. Blythe's annual banquet. The hall was filled with the sound of clinking china, polite chatter, gossipy laughs, and soft classical violin music. Two large crystal chandeliers hung from the dizzying high ceiling, casting a soft yellow glow over the entire room, reminding me greatly of a victorian dinner party.

"Meggie would've loved this." he said with a soft sigh, and I turned stiffly around. 

Out of nowhere, one of my mom's friends hopped up to me with a big smile on her face. "Oh, Jaylee, it's so nice seeing you here! You look absolutely stunning." She gushed, eyeing my silk dress and my bouncy ringlets. I nodded and smiled politely as she turned to look at Luis, who was dressed in a matching creme-colored suit.

"Oh, and is this your date?"

I shook my head no before Luis could say anything stupid. "He's my chaperon."

"Ah." She inspected him a while longer before looking around, her diamond earrings and necklace swinging. "Well where's your mother?"

"Modeling classes, movies. You know, the usual." I told her.

"Oh, I see." She said, tossing her peroxide-bleached hair over her shoulders. "Always busy, isn't she?" She gave me a sympathetic smile. "Well, the food's going to arrive soon, so...ta!" With a little wave, she clacked away in her pink stilettos.

As soon as she left, I grabbed Luis' arm and muttered, "Let's go somewhere more quiet." 

But I'd hardly walked two steps before a stranger stepped in front of us, holding a large camera. "Ohh, crap." I groaned inwardly as the photographer cried out, "Smile!"

I barely had time to put on a tight-lipped smile before the light flashed and the man scurried away. 

"Double crap." I muttered as I quickly let go of Luis' arm.

"What?"

I rolled my eyes. "My hand was on your arm. You have no idea how much magazine editors can twist up a story."

"Oh." Luis chuckled and said, "Well of course not. I'm just your chaperon."

"Exactly." I squeezed my way through the crowd, and Luis followed. I made it out and into a nearly vacant hallway, where I turned left and then swooped right at the next corner. Luis followed close behind, looking a bit worried. "Jaylee, do you even know where you're going?"

"Of course." I flashed him a grin as I continued to make my way around the labyrinth of Mrs. Blythe's mansion. "Mrs. Blythe is like an aunt to me; I've been here enough times to know my way around."

I turned right once again, and finally stopped. "There, this will do." There was absolutely no one around, and what used to be the loud chatter of the guests had been reduced to a low muffling. It was exactly what I wanted.

I pulled my heels off and gratefully slunk against the wall, sitting on the cold marble floor. "Ahh, the joy of being away from those people. Who invited the paparazzi, anyway?"

Luis came beside me and sat down as well. "It's pretty awesome though, I've never been to a party like this." I cast him a wayward smile.

We sat there for a while, doing nothing but enjoying the silence, when suddenly we heard a sound coming from the end of the hallway--a steady tap, tap, tap. I sat up, alarmed, and looked to the left. Who could possibly be wandering around the halls besides us?