"Well, it's show-time," Zeth said and left the locker room, followed by Everett, both dressed in their respective robes. "Jade, you will go outside and follow Egor's instructions."
"I'm nervous," she said, but Frank put his hands on her shoulders and looked into her eyes.
"Everything is gonna be fine." Frank said, "You've got this. All you have to do is have a good time and go on stage when you are told."
"The fabric of your dress is very shiny so try to stand close to the spotlights so you shine brighter than the rest of the people," Zeth said, "Our director will take care of the rest. Red is not a very easy colour to film so stay away from purple or pink lights."
"Alright!" Jade nodded and stood in front of the mirror, adjusting her hair. "Zeth, are you sure I should wear the veil? My hair looks awesome!"
"Well, it's necessary because you're a bride whose groom left in the middle of the wedding and this is your second bachelorette party... It makes more sense in my brain than when I say it but my ideas always work when the product is finished. You won't be wearing the veil or the train for long so there's no problem. Just make sure the veil doesn't cover your face too much when you cross the door and..." Zeth lowered his eyebrows when he saw Draco's phone on the floor, reaching down to pick it up. The phone was already so broken it was a miracle it could still be used. It had tape and glue everywhere, and the red casing with bat wings was chewed off from the edges. "Hey! I'm not going to buy you another one!"
"Ãmi pare rÄu, it's just..."
"What is this notification? Someone tagged you on The Opera House page," Zeth narrowed his eyes, "And that someone is Anton."
Finn and Frank both turned to look at each other, panic in their eyes. Draco pursed his lips and looked away.
"I don't think it's important," Frank took a few breaths before he approached Zeth. He to tried to take the phone, but Zeth evaded his quick bionic hand.
"Let me read," Zeth cocked his head and turned his back on Frank. "Are we gonna collab with Fifth Octave? No! Why does Anton say we'll collab?! We are more likely to collab with Peppa Pig than with them!"
"Actually," Frank trailed off, "Zeth, there's something I need to tell you."
"Hey guys," a short man, shorter than Draco and dressed in an impeccable black suit, peeked out from behind some curtains. "I don't want to bother, but it's all set and the fans are getting impatient."
"Okay, Egor," Zeth told the wild-haired man, handing the phone to Draco. "Take Jade outside. Everett and I will be with her in a second. Tell Sam I want a rebel scene. Jade will enter with Everett and I behind her, and then she will throw the veil into the air. Got it? We'll start shooting in five minutes."
"Of course, Mr. Rahman," said Egor.
"Hey! Wait!" Zeth said, and Egor turned. "It won't be the 'Dragon Slayer' music video. Please change the track. And call me Zeth, I have worked with you, and with your ancestors, since I was in Guardian Fort in Evalon. You don't need to be fancy."
"Why change it last minute?" Draco asked. "We don't have any other song ready except for..." Draco gasped and shook his head. "Zeth! Oh no! You can't be serious!"
"What?" Jade asked, as vain as Zeth, now checking her outfit in a mirror.
"You're not talking about... That song!" Frank turned red, very red.
"Zeth, reconsider," Finn pleaded. "Please! We can shoot another video. 'Slasher Mask' was written for a horror movie and we need to deliver it as soon as possible! That song is more urgent and necessary than the song you're thinking of."
"And you think a strip club goes with the lyrics?" Zeth lowered his eyebrows.
"Touché," Finn nodded.
"If it's the song I think it is, lyrics would be hate letter to Fifth Octave," Everett said, bumping a fist into his hand. For the first time, he smiled like a normal person, a bit mischievously though. "Let's do it!"
"Egor," Zeth looked at his personal assistant and nodded. "Tell Sam that I want sensual shots, I want to give the fans the feeling that they are in this club with us, a little bit of chaos and lots of close-ups of our oiled up muscles for the end too." Zeth rubbed his hands maliciously. "Oh yeah, guys. Let's shoot the video for 'Baby, I'm Golden' and dance like there's no tomorrow!"
"I'm foreskin tabloids talking about us! This will be fun!" Everett said with a chesty laugh.
"Ha-ha. You said foreskin," Draco chuckled.
"He meant foreseeing," Finn clarified. "Zeth, the problem isn't the song. The problem is that everyone will know that we released it because of the rival band."
"But I thought 'Dragon Slayer' was going to be the next video because of, you know, Evie," Frank said and for a second, Jade got jealous.
"I understand, but a strip club doesn't go well with the lyrics of that song and I know she will understand. Now, Jade, you're the centre of attention tonight, so do as I say," Zeth said, walking over to her and placing his hands on her waist. "First, we're going to party a little while lip-syncing, with our clothes on. Then the interesting stuff comes next! You're going to walk up on stage as excited and ecstatic as possible. We are going to dance for you, but then, boom! You're going to pretend that you tripped and you're going to fall, but and I'm going to catch you like this." He pulled her into his body, and their pelvises practically crashed. Her back arched slightly, and her fingers squeezed his biceps.
Ooohhh.
Those muscles were so hard and warm!
"And then what?" Jade's breathing became rapid, and her pulse rate increased so much that her chest ached.
Jade's lips were dangerously close to Zeth's, and he had his hand on her waist, pulling her against his body.
This had to be a dream!
"Well, it'll just be that, a little tease," Zeth replied, but he still didn't let go, "That'll close the music video."
"Without a kiss?" Jade could feel the heat of his fingers through her dress, his breath hot against her mouth, and his body felt like stone. But at the same time, it was the sexiest thing she had ever experienced.
"Exactly. Fans don't want to see their crush kissing another woman after all." Zeth told her with a too-sexy smile.
"Oh... I see," Jade bit her lip.
Oh, Jesus Christ Redeemer! Jade begged God to forgive her for the sin she was about to commit!
It was her moment, it was all or nothing. His lips were so close, his body warmed her like no other person could.
This was just the scene from a romance book where the girl and the boy kiss.
But the idiot didn't make a move, he didn't get his face any closer, and Jade wanted him to kiss her!
She wanted to kiss his perfect lips!
But she didn't dare. So she thought maybe she should ignore their dangerous proximity. Jade could let herself go as long as he did, but he only looked at her with his beautiful sapphire eyes, teasing her.
She had to move; she had to do something. His scent, his masculine face, his warm body, everything was crying out for her to kiss him!
But was that what she wanted her first kiss to be like?
"I hope it's not too complicated," Zeth said, and just as he was about to let go of her...
Her lips collided with his.
It was a second of blinded passion, adrenaline that made her kiss him.
She could not believe it!
SHE WAS KISSING ZETH RAHMAN!
Her lips were on his!
And she was the one who kissed him first!
Old Jade would never have done such a thing!
Oh, holy shit!
This wasn't supposed to happen.
It shouldn't be happening!
How was this possible?
She made this possible!
She was no longer a kiss virgin.
"Oh, I think I'm going to pass out," Frank fanned himself with one hand and then fell like a log to the ground.
The rest of the boys didn't even notice his fall; they were all shocked.
Jade was shocked at herself actually!
Since she had kissed Zeth now, he must be in love with her, right?
It's just obvious that there was love!
Because kissing meant they almost were a couple, right?
And since she did it, it just made sense that there would be some sort of romance afterwards.
That's how it always happened in books, movies and fanfics.
But in real life? Was it the same thing?
Fuck overthinking! She had never felt so alive and happy as she did right now!
"Jade, stop," Zeth pulled away slightly, with his eyes tightly closed.
"What the Hell was that?" Draco yelled.
"Jade! What the Hell?" Alex's eyes were wide open
"Hey, isn't anyone going to help Frank?" Finn asked, looking down.
"Good mating!" Everett said, smiling and crossing his arms, "Now have Baby Yeti."
"They can't have Baby Yeti, Big Guy," Draco motioned for Everett to bend over, and he did, then Draco whispered in his cold ear, "Zeth and I can no longer have children. The two of us, let's say, took surgical measures."
"But don't you regenerate?" Everett raised an eyebrow.
"Not in this case." Draco whispered, "It was a ritual performed by a Shub-Witch, Baphelise Nyguratt, the cute witch who lives in the basement of Lyonfort's library."
"So she saw both of your pee-pees and marbles?" Everett raised his eyebrows.
"There will be no Baby Yeti!" Zeth shouted at Everett.
"That's what I said," Draco said.
"And what was that about, Jade?" Zeth asked, frowning.
"That was my first kiss," Jade giggled.
"I don't think I gave my consent," Zeth looked a little annoyed but was still blushing.
"Can someone please bring some alcohol for Frank?!" Finn yelled, fanning some air for his friend with a tissue.
"I'm starting to think we're terrible friends," Everett said.
"Let's just pretend this didn't happen, okay?" Zeth said, scratching his eyebrow and avoiding Jade's intrusive gaze, "Just... Let's get to work. And someone get some alcohol for Frank, will you?"