"Ugh, get lost Nathan." Alexa rolls her eyes in disgust at the guy whose arm is still locked around my waist. I twist away, as discreetly as possible.
When I'm finally free from his grasp, I turn to face him. Nathan is definetely pretty, but nothing remarkable. Most important, is the fact that he was also enrolled in my college. Small world.
"Seriously, you're not even going to introduce me?" He asks Alexa, pretending to feel hurt.
"I"m Charlie," I hesitate, but then continue. "We go to the same school, well, at least we did. You were in this year's graduating class weren't you?" The only reason I know of him, is because he was the head of the biggest fraternity, and constantly threw wild parties on campus.
He had been Grace's sworn rival, though I doubt he knew she existed.
He smiles smugly, and I can see the wheels behind his dark eyes turning. He's wondering whether I am another one of his one-night stands, and he's only forgotten.
Alexa gives me a look that says, 'did you have to boost his ego?'
I shake my head, before he comes to any conclusion about me. "We've never actually met, though. I must have recognized you from the pictures all over the yearbook."
That doesn't seem to dissuade him, because he makes no move to step out of our way.
"It's great that you two were school buddies", Alexa cuts through the awkwardness, and links her arm with mine. "But if you don't mind Nate, I'm going to introduce Charlie to my friends now." She tugs me away from the frat boy.
"Thank you," I breathe out.
"You'll have to be more careful-" we sidestep to avoid a group of people who seem to have misplaced the dance floor, which cuts her off. Just then, a swaying dancer bumps into Alexa, causing me to stumble forward, toward a nearby table covered in fine china and crystal-cut glass.
I'm completely convinced that I will crash against the porcelain and glass, can already imagine the many different cuts and bruises the sharpness of shattered cups and plates will cause, but Alexa manages to steer me back.
She might rely on a cane, but I think it's clear who the klutz between us two, is.
My near accident doesn't go unnoticed though, because in an instant all eyes from that table are on me. My skin begins to burn with shame, because Mr. Alderidge had given me one clear instruction; don't do anything that may raise questions.
A lady wearing an amazing scarlett dress, arches her pencil-thin brows at me. "Did nobody ever teach you how to dance?" She projects her voice like an opera singer.
Some of the members of the table began to laugh. I understood that I had to say something, so I squeaked out an "I'm sorry."
Then, a gentleman around my dad's age chuckled. He wore a half-smile, while simultaneously dangling a pipe between his lips.
"Come now, Nora, kids today are spontaneous." Then, turning to me, "dear, why don't you take a seat and join us." He extended a hand toward the empty chair by the woman with the red dress.
Near me, Alexa inhaled sharply, before leaning closer to whisper into my ear. "That's the Brent Stewart."
I looked from the man I now knew as my assignment, to the chair. Mr. Alderidge's words come back to me, like a song I'd listened to a thousand times. His name is Brent Stewart, he's a successful film actor. I need you to gain his trust. Make him like you.
Why? I'd asked.
The only thing you have to worry about is looking pretty and harmless. I can count on you to do that, right?
YOU ARE READING
The Last Wild Flower
General Fiction"If this is a garden, does that make me a flower?" "Charlie, you're the only flower in a garden full of snakes." ~~~~~~~ Perfect student Charlie has her entire life planned out, and in it, there is no time to party or find love. But everything blows...
