Life's Little Bumps

Chapter Twelve

"Try it on! Please, for me!"

"Oh my god no! It's WAY too tight for me!"

Vanya and I were in the middle of Macy's in the dress department fighting about a dress. It was a black bodycon dress with complicated straps. I didn't want to try it on, but Vanya kept insisting.

"Fine, I'll try it on, but under NO circumstances am I getting it," I gave in. She nodded excitedly and jumped up and down like a little girl who just got a pony. I rolled my eyes and went into the dressing room. After about 2 minutes, I came out, sheepishly.

"Oh my god, you look so beautiful!" Vanya whisper-screamed in the busy store. I could feel myself blushing immediately. 

"I kind of like it..." I let out. She had the biggest grin on her face. She knew she had won. Whatever.

"Get it! Wear it tonight! I'm sure Gage would love it," she said while shaking her shoulders. I started to die of laughter. 

"Fine, I'll get it. I still need to find stuff for my room though," I said, trying to change the subject. We walked over to the decorations section of the store. I found a beautiful vanity with lights all around it, like you see in celebrity's dressing rooms. It would be perfect for mornings and homework. I mainly stuck to a mint theme, and Vanya said I could paint my room next weekend if I wanted. We were really bonding and I wasn't mad about it.

5 Hours Later

"Everyone ready?" my Dad yelled up the stairs. I finished putting on my earrings and grabbed the gold clutch and gold bracelet I had gotten earlier. I looked it myself in the mirror, and sighed. I didn't look half bad, I was just nervous for Gage to see me.

Elle's Outfit and Makeup

I walked down the stairs to find everyone waiting in the living room. Everyone's jaw dropped when they saw me.

"What? Is it that bad? If so I'll go find something else," I said with a lump in my throat.

"You look beautiful," Gage said while walking towards me. He smiled while looking down at me. He was wearing a grey suit with a dark blue tie. He looked very handsome.

"Everyone ready to go?" Vanya asked, my dad still staring at me. We all nodded and climbed into the porcelain white Cadillac SUV. My dad was driving, still silent, and I was in between Gage and Hailey. I was holding Gage's hand while Hailey was rambling about a play at her school. No one was really listening. I noticed my dad glancing at me every few minutes, still silent. 

When we finally arrived at the venue, I got nervous. It was a huge banquet filled with at least 4,000 people, all of which knew my dad.

"You look beautiful tonight Pumpkin," my dad said, sneaking up on me. I jumped a little bit and turned around quickly. This freaked Gage out too, and it was funny to see him so startled.

"Thank you. So what do you do exactly?" I asked, with a hint of curiosity in my voice. I really didn't know what he did.

"Oh, I own this hotel. These are some of my employees," he informed, motioning to the crowd. He acted so nonchalant about it somehow. Like the fact that he never mentioned that he owned a hotel confused me a little bit.

"Wait, you OWN the hotel? That's kind of awesome," I said with a smile on my face.

"I know right?!" he childishly let out. He had the goofiest grin on his face. Gage was chuckling too, only half way paying attention.

"Well anyways, there's a teen's room if you want to go there. I'll need you in about an hour though for my speech," he said while pulling out his phone. I agreed and walked away with Gage. We slowly but surely found our way to the teen's room and it was... hectic.

When we walked in, it was like a bus hit us. The music was loud, there were about 400 teens packed into a 2,000 foot space. There was a looming scent of alcohol and sweat. Not what I expected. Right when Gage and I were about to walk out, I heard a familiar voive behind me.

"Elle? Elle Jones?" Fuck. It was Matt. Matt the school fuckboy. I turned around slowly on my black wedges. Gage was confused and I was annoyed.

"Oh, hey Matt," I screamed over the music.

"What are you doing here?" he asked like it was his business.

"My dad owns the hotel. I moved in with him yesterday and... here I am," I informed him. Why was I telling him this? He had no interest in my life.

"Oh lit. You look fine as hell by the way," he said while eyeing me up and down. Gage grabbed him by the collar.

"Hi, I'm Gage, HER BOYFRIEND," he growled. Matt put his arms up in fear. Gage let go of his suit and wrapped an arm around my waist. I smirked because Matt kind of deserved it.

"Well, I'll see you 'round Elle," he yelled before disappearing into the crowd. Once he left, "Rockstar" came on over the loud speakers.

"Shall we dance?" Gage asked with his eyebrow raised. I smiled at him and started bouncing. He had is hands around my waist and mine were around his neck. Song after song played with us like this. Before I knew it, the music stopped.

"Will everyone please escort themselves to the main floor, for Mr. Jones is about to give his speech," I hear over the intercom. Everyone filed out of the room and I headed towards the stage. I eventually found my father and went up there with him. Gage found a seat in the front row of the crowd. I stood up there awkwardly. Vanya and Hailey were obviously used to it, but I wasn't. I was listening to my father talk about the success of the hotel and how proud he was to call everyone his family when suddenly he said, "I would like everyone to meet my beautiful daughter, Elle." I was taken aback as I walked closer to my dad. He was motioning me to come to the mic, and my heart started racing.

thump thump thump thump 

"Um, hi everybody," I said into the mic, making contact with Gage the whole time. "So, um, I just want to thank my dad, for, er, everything. He has had the hospitality to take me into his home, and, um, care for me like we were never separated. I love you, Dad," I voiced, now looking at my dad. He had tears in his eyes. I went to hug him,and I felt a whisper in my ear. "I love you too."