The slowly creeped to a stop in front of the white, well-lit . Everyone outside was rushing around as it had started to lightly sprinkle. The door swung open, outside was a well dressed man holding an umbrella. He extended his hand and helped me out of the car.
"This way ma'am." he said, escorting me quickly inside to escape the rain.
I was led to a hostess stand where I was required to check in. The walls, floor and ceiling inside were all white causing me to stand out even more than usual. Hadn't these people ever seen the color before?
"Name?" a small woman asked with an attitude, clicking her pen.
"Melody Hutson."
Her eyes suddenly got wide. She slowly looked up at me realizing her tone didn't please me. Her eyes widen further when she realized I was wearing red.
"You're all.. all checked in... in." she stuttered while avoid eye contact. Her attitude was long gone and she knew she had fucked up.
I gave her a bitchy smile and spun away. Another man walked me further into the house leading me to another doorway, where he left me. Taking a few steps into the doorway and standing atop a , I looked down at the guest below. They were all wearing boring colors. I took a step closer and placed both my hands on the railing.
A guy below looked up at me but had to take a second look as he thought his eyes were deceiving him. A double take. He hit his friend on the chest and gestured slightly towards me, trying not to alert anyone else. The friends mouth almost dropped to the floor.
"Holy sh-" he started before the girl next to him slapped him straight across the and stormed off. He grabbed his nose and ran after her.
Slowly, more and more people started to look in my direction. I turned to the stairs, pick up the skirt of my dress, revealing my shoes and steadily descended. The room was filled with whispers and many wondering eyes of guys who should have not been paying attention to me but to the girls they came with.
You had two choices, either meet your partner a few weeks in advance and go as a couple, or you could go alone and be possibly paired up at some point of the night. I decided to go alone and risk being paired with someone. There we're always more girls than guys because they allowed the people who still were apart of the club who hadn't been paired to go as seat fillers.
I hoped I was a seat filler.
Reaching the bottom of the stairs, I gave the entire room a look. They all got the hint and went back to their previous conversations.
"Wow." said a just loud enough for me to hear.
I quickly snapped my head towards him.
"The name is Waylon."
"Cute." I replied, rolling my eyes and chuckling.
"Thanks." he said, smirking and stepping close to me.
"It wasn't a compliment." I crossed my arms. "It's just cute how you think I'm going to talk to you."
"That will change quickly." he snapped back.
"Over my dead fucking body."
"Ooooh, someone's feisty. I made a good choice choosing this one." he chucked, as his friends gave him high fives.
I guess I had just met my match.
"Well Melody-"
As he was trying to create words, I turned away and walked into the other room.
It was less crowded, mostly just serious couples that had met in the past years. They were here to fill seats and show all the new people that this system really did "work". A waiter approached me, asked if I wanted something to drink and then handed me a glass of sparkling juice. Too bad I was only 19. If only I was 21, I would be drunk by this point.
Guys approached me and tried to start conversations but I would quickly turn them down. Ms. Wallace's voice rang from the main room. Every stood, looking up at her.
"Everyone has checked in so we can start!" she started, clapping. "I would just like to start off by welcoming all of our newcomers! This group of young adults is the most promising so far and I am so excited to see where these relationships go! I would like to invite everyone to join me in the dining room. Remember, you all have assigned seats so no trading! Let the night begin!"
The sound of small claps filled the room. I followed the crowd into the . Conveniently, I was placed at the head of the table.
A 5 course dinner was served while everyone chatted. I kept to myself as much as I could. Right as dessert was being served, Ms. Wallace stood up.
"I would like to ask everyone to raise their glasses as I would like to propose a toast!"
Everyone grabbed their glasses. I picked up my glass and my phone. I opened Twitter under the table and started scrolling.
"Tonight is going to be just magical! I want to thank everyone for coming. I want to especially thank Melody Hutson for gracing us with her presence. It's a real treat to have a diplomat's daughter at this event!"
I promptly lifted up my head. Everyone was staring again. I smiled awkwardly and looked around the room. Ms. Wallace finished her toast and everyone clinked glasses. After dinner, I made my way to the bottom of the stairs. Maybe I can just sneak out and nobody will care?
I put my right foot on the first step and attempted to step up but was interrupted.
"May I have this dance?" a voice asked from behind.
Oh god. It was starting.
For the next hour and a half, I would start dancing with one guy until another would ask to cut in. He would introduce himself and try and have small talk. Cut in, introduce, dance, repeat.
Giving short answers was one of my best talents. It was approaching the end of the event and people started to say their goodbyes but weren't quite at the point of leaving.
While I was dancing, I noticed something familiar out of the corner of my eye. His back was turned to me but I recognized his hair. It was him.
Shawn.
I swiftly excused myself. What was I planning to do? Just walk up to him and act as if we are friends? Should I call out his name? Should I leave? I decided on my plan and finally went through with it.
I started walking as fast as my legs could take me in 5 inch heels. I lightly brushed part of my skirt against the back of his leg, just enough so that he would turn around. Just as planned, he did. I turned my head to him and gave him a grin as I rushed out of the room.
"Will you excuse me?" I heard him say to the people he was conversing with.
I opened the doors to the garden, kicked off my shoes and ran even faster into the . My dress flowed behind me as the wet neatly trimmed grass tickled my feet. He was following me. The cold rain hit my face and chest as I zig-zagged through the hedges.
Turning back to see if he was behind me, I suddenly ran into someone. They wrapped their arms around me and I placed my hands on their chest.
"What a coincidence bumping into you here." Shawn said, chuckling.
Using his large hand, he lifted my chin up so that I was looking at him. I smiled, gazing into his sparkling eyes.
"Why are you here?" I asked, pushing him away.
With all this excitement and shock, I had completely not notice that this was a closed event. Shawn was definitely not apart of the Georgetown Elite and I'm sure his father, who was in the United States maybe every 6 months, was not either.
He quickly pulled his hands from my hips.
"Why are you questioning me?" he angrily asked. "My plan worked so why does it matter."
"Your plan?" I asked. "So what? Did you sneak in so that you could find me?"
"Oh my god Melody, don't be so dramatic." he shook his head in disgust.
He grabbed my face and placed his lips forcefully against mine. The rain drenched us both making the kiss even more passionate. He placed one hand on the back of my neck and the other on the crook of my back. Pulling me even closer, he started to kiss my neck, trailing down to my shoulders.
"I'm freezing." I shivered.
He grabbed my wrist and took off to find shelter. We found a small covered gazebo with a tiny bench in the center.
"Better?"
I nodded my head yes. In one movement, jerked me in front of him and forced me to sit down. His bulge was staring me right in the face. He kneeled down in front of me.
"The moment I saw you, I knew that you were mine."
His hands started to trace my body as he laid his head in my lap. His hands crept to the skirt of my dress. I didn't know what to do. It was like my body was frozen in time.
Okay brain, just tell you hands to push him away. Do it. This isn't right. You need to get up and go home. You don't want this to happen. Melody, you don't just meet someone and instantly fall in love. Happily ever after doesn't happen. Right? That shit just happens in princess movies. This wasn't a movie, this was real life.
Before I knew it, he had snuck his hands under my dress and placed them on my knees. His touch made me weak. A little noise escape my mouth. I was trying so hard to get up.
"You like that babe?" he asked, lightly tracing tiny shapes on my thighs.
He moved his hands farther up and playfully tugged at my panties. His hands moved to my hips, still playing with the lace trim. He jerked me forward so that my my legs were on each side of him. I wanted to give into him so badly but I knew that if I did, I was pay the price.
"Stop." I whispered, finally able to move my lips.
I forced myself to put my hand on his shoulders, trying to push him away, I started to panic.
"What did you just say?" he asked, pausing.
"Stop."
He hastily went to a dark place. his muscle tensed up, clenched his jaw and held onto my hips tighter.
Using my all of my strength, I kicked him off of me, causing him to stumble backwards. I had just enough time to stand up before he himself had gotten back to his feet. I rubbed my temples and hugged myself. This was everything I wanted but it just didn't seem right. I wanted to see be with him. I wanted us to be something but I didn't even know him.
"This was a mistake. I need to go."
I turned away and started walking.
"Come back." he order.
I kept walking.
"Melody. Stay." he strictly yelled again.
I didn't look back. I knew I needed to just leave and go home.
"Is this not what you want?" he yelled, grabbing my arm and forcefully turning me towards him. He got extremely close to my face.
"Stop it." I tried pulling my arms away but he was too strong.
"Answer me." he demanded, gripping my arm harder.
My arm started to go numb as he stared directly into my eyes.
"This is just moving so fast and I need time to think this over and I don't want to cause anymore trouble and be in the news again and I just need to go and I'm sorry and I enjoyed dancing with you that one night but I just was in the heat of the moment, I wasn't thinking straight. I need to go and you're really great but you're kinda hurting me." I rambled nervously.
It was getting really hard to breath. The rain stung my face and bare skin.
"I flew halfway across the fucking globe to find you. My shit father said that I needed some alone time because all I could talk about was you, so he stuck me on the damn yacht and sent me off. No cell phone, internet or tv." he said, shaking me. "You seriously think you can just turn me fucking down? I could have any girl I want but instead I'm chasing after you."
Shawn pulled me in for a forceful hug. I tried pushing him away but he held onto me tight. I started crying and screaming.
"Stop!" he yelled, covering my mouth.
Everything got hazy and the sky started spinning. Suddenly, everything went black.
