18 Definitions Of Playful

14- Not a word

As we entered the enormous house again I could see that everyone had gathered at the front of the high curved stairway. Xander had stopped at the door and was looking at the crowd almost as if he didn't want to get in. I turned around to look at him when I didn't feel his presence next to me anymore, only to find that he was nowhere in sight. I tried looking around but he was gone.

Shaking my head I pushed past the people to get to my parents, well my dad and Kate. They were standing near the front with fancy glasses in their hands. My dad smiled bright when he saw me coming.

"Hey pumpkin, did Niall keep you in good company?" He asked with the same smile still on his face. What's up with him?

"Yeah he's a real gentleman." I offered him a smile as well.

He puffed his chest out and took my hand to kiss it. "What man could be more of a gentleman than me, malady?!" That made both, Kate and me laugh as my dad kept going with his goofiness.

"Everyone please." The chatter around died down at the voice from the top of the stairway. Mr. Hastings was tapping on his champagne glass to quiet everyone down and once they were he spoke in a forceful voice.

"First of all I want to thank you all for honoring me with your presence today. As all of you know today is a very important day for my future hair. My boy's eighteenth birthday!"

Oh so this is why he was throwing all this fancy ball. Because of Niall's birthday. It was his birthday today and suddenly I was starting to feel horrible for the way I had acted earlier. He offered to keep me company, on his birthday, and I just ditched him like that when he went to get me a drink. I decided that I was going to apologize as soon as I could when I next saw him again. I was not really paying much attention to Mr. Hastings words until I heard his next sentence.

"...please come here son." He motioned to the crowd of people near the begging of the stairs. I could notice movement and a moment later I saw the green eyed boy climb the stairs making his way to his father. My eyes widened at the realization. How the heck didn't I realize this?! The same eye color, the same curly hair, the same set of white pearly teeth and most importantly Xander's presence in this luxurious ball. This event where the school's bad boy couldn't just pop up as if it was the most random place in this whole city.

I followed him with my eyes as he gracefully made his way up. His grey suit hugging his chest so nicely and his bicep muscles filling the arms just as good. That usual messy hair was styled too fancily today, brushed back in a neat style. All in all this was a whole new Xander that I hadn't seen before, but hell, this is the Xander I have given my first kiss to.

"Alexander, this is to you my son, the hair of my love, my wealth and especially my good looks!" Mr. Hastings, or should I say Alexander's father said playfully and raised his glass up. Everyone cheered happily but I could see Xander's stone hard clenched jaw clear as day. And then the fakest smile I have ever seen in my whole life came onto his face. It was so forced, as if someone was holding the corner of his lips down while he painfully tried to bring them up. I could see right through him, he wasn't happy about this. Any of it and it made me feel bad about him.

Mr. Hastings patted him on the shoulder and after their moment they both made their way downstairs, everyone congratulating Xander and wishing him a happy birthday. I didn't know wether I should go wish him as well. I mean of course I should wish him because it's his birthday but should I walk up to him right now?

I decided that it wasn't the best option since I could see his discomfort at everybody wishing him right though his smiling face. I don't think my wish would be any different so I turned to my dad.