Star Crossed [Sample Only]

10] The DFS Ball [1/2]

The DFS Ball [1/2]

The Embers all walk towards the rented out hall's entrance. There are paparazzi lining the sides of the walk way and my team stands close together as we occasionally smile but mostly ignore their intrusive gestures. At first it always seems like a bit of fun but it got damn annoying real quick. I especially didn't like them after that incident of our team making the front page of the newspapers. They had a good knack at twisting the truth of their stories.

When we finally reach the entrance we all breathe a mental sigh of relief. There are no over-crowding paparazzi allowed in here. The hall is all decked out with twenty tables for the DFS teams, and one for the coaches and one for the presenters. I spot four cameras lining the room. There's a navy blue and white theme throughout the room as well and a cleared centre for dancing later.

"The Embers are table four!" a girl calls out beside us. She's standing beside the entrance dressed in a curt black suit. She is putting on a superficial grin and is pointing towards our table, "This way please," she says and we all follow her. Leon heads off to the coaches table. The room is half full already, and I can see a familiar team sitting at table five next to us. It wasn't the A-stars, thank god, but The Crush. An earth team, they were a rising favourite. They were known for their surprise offence moves mostly. This was because all their members had the ability to control the earth. They had no healers, none at all! They stunned the crowd and usually came out on top. We hadn't versed them before. They had been a new team last year. We reach our table and all take our seats. Before I sit, Alex pulls out the chair for me.

"Thanks," I say and I sit down. Alex takes a seat beside me as I whisper, "Notice how The Crush are glaring at us?" I glare back at all of them in turn. They don't stop glaring. I look towards their leader. It was either Katara or Nathan, I wasn't sure. They were sitting a few meters from me.

"You can't intimidate us through staring like dumbstruck idiots," I hiss at them. They seem surprised I've opened my mouth. Nathan smirks. I roll my eyes and face my team, "Some teams are just so annoying!" I hiss.

"Yeah," Sophie agrees but then adds, "But... you don't fail in your effort to cause more friction every single year with the other teams."

I gape.

"They were glaring first," I point out, "They wanted a response. I gave them one. And I cause friction? It's a competition. Friction is already present between all teams here."

"That is true," John backs me up before also saying, "But you do make it worse."

"No, I don't," I snap.

"Yes, you do," Alex and John both say together.

"Mitchel? Blake?" I ask for some support but they are reading through the menu with real intent to probably order numerous main meals to share between them. They glance up at me.

"What?" they both ask as they haven't been listening to our conversation at all.

"Fine," I growl as the rest of the team tries not to laugh, "I may be out of the majority but I still don't agree with what you're all saying. I don't cause more friction, I'm a part of the friction that already exists."

"I know how I can add to it," Alex says, grinning, "When all the other teams find out I can move objects." Oh yeah, I almost forgot! No one else knew about his new power yet!

"Did Leon call the DFS organisers and tell them about your ability?" Sophie asks. Alex nods.

"Yes, and they sure as hell will mention it in our section of the presentation," Alex is still grinning.

"Good," I sigh happily, "That should get a few interesting reactions from the teams."

"Jasmine!" The mention of my name comes from behind me, one of The Crush members. I don't answer to idiots who just wanted to provoke me... most of the time, "Jasmine!" it's the same guy. I look to the rest of my team, who are waiting for my response. I admit, I'm slightly interested in what he wants to say. I look over my shoulder and come eye to eye with Nathan. He's staring at me intently so it had to have been him who called out.