19| The Night Of The Gala (1)

It was the night of the gala. The whole Harper mansion was illuminated with countless lights and the glory could be seen from a mile away. The glamourous and well-dressed guests coming out of their cars made both Travis and Maya uncomfortable as they both arrived there.

"You sure I look okay?" Maya asked and Travis could easily see the fear in her eyes.

"You look amazing. And it's coming from someone who doesn't praise anyone easily." He said to calm his friend.

"Thanks. And thanks for agreeing to drop me." Maya said, fumbling with the hem of her dress. It was a red knee-length dress that she had paired with her mother's heels and a handbag that she had been gifted by her aunt. She had tried her best to do her makeup and even straightened her curly hair, although they ended up looking wavy instead.

"Take care. And call me when you get free." He said.

She nodded and walked out of her car. She made her way inside, in between the crowd of celebrities that were getting their photos clicked by the paparazzi.

Once Travis was sure she was inside, he started the car but that's when something on the floor of the car caught his attention. Leaning down, he picked up Maya's mobile that she had forgotten in the car.

"Shit." He said under his breath. He knew Maya was already freaked out and her anxiety would heighten if she doesn't find her mobile with her. Besides, he didn't want her without a phone if she was stuck inside in a trouble.

Parking his car at a side, he slowly trudged towards the main gate guarded by many security guards. He kept his hands secured around the mobile and reached the gate but he was stopped by a guard.

The guard looked at him from head to toe, assessing his cheap black T-Shirt and denim jeans and a frown appeared on his wrinkled face. "Where is your invitation pass?"

"I don't have any." Travis said as he noticed he wasn't asking other guests about their passes.

"What's your name, young boy?" He asked.

"Travis Anderson." He replied, looking slightly nervous.

The guard checked the list in his hand and then responded in a strict voice. "Your name is not on the list."

"I am not invited, but my friend is. I just want to give her this mobile that she forgot in the car." Travis replied honestly.

"Do I look stupid enough to believe this bullshit? It is a very important function. You can't go inside without an invitation." The man growled at him.

"Listen, I am not a thief or anything. I will just give her this phone and return instantly." Travis moved forwards but the guard gripped him by the neckline of his shirt and pulled him to a side, giving space to a lavishly dressed couple that was moving inside.

"Leave, boy. Don't force me to call police." The guard said and jerked him backwards.

On hearing the name of the police, Travis immediately felt terrified and backed away but his back collided with a person instead. "What is happening here?" He heard the familiar voice and turned around, only to find Zoey standing behind him.

His breath hitched when he looked at her, looking heavenly beautiful in the blue shimmery dress. Her hair was curled to perfection and light makeup was accentuating her already beautiful features.

"This boy is trying to enter this party without any invitation." The guard said, immediately recognizing Zoey.

"He doesn't need any invitation." Zoey said and Travis' jaw hung low at this. "He is with me." She said and linked her arm with Travis, ignoring the guard's surprised gaze.

Once they made their way through the gate, Travis pulled his arm away. "I just need to give this phone to Maya. Can you give it to her?" He said, handing her the phone.

"I can, but I won't. I just made a dramatic scene in front of the guard. Do you want to humiliate me by leaving instantly?" She asked.

"I... I am not even dressed. I shouldn't go inside." He said. Now he understood Maya's panic even better. Everything about this place screamed money and class and he had neither of those.

"Well, that problem can be solved easily." She winked and immediately called Zachary.

"Hey Zach, I need a men's suit. Can I borrow one from your room?" She asked.

Without even asking anything, Zachary replied, "Sure." That's the kind of friend Zachary was; the friend you call when you need to hide a deadbody.

"I don't think..."

"Oh come on, scaredy-cat." She said and gripped his hand once again. Using all her force, she dragged him through the lawn into the mansion which was filled with guests. Instead of going to the main hall, she took a right turn and entered the lone hallway that ended into Zachary's room.

The room was a perfect man cave, easily four times bigger than Travis' room. There was a huge LCD covering one wall, a big couch facing it and a treadmill and other such equipments on the other side of the bed. The walls were covered with posters of models and cars.

Zoey looked inside the cupboard for a suit while Travis stood there, confused of what he should do. He felt like he was doing something illegal by being in this party. But he didn't have any option now. Once Zoey made her mind about anything, it was almost impossible to refuse her.

"Here," she brought a navy blue suit that matched her outfit and placed it beside Travis, checking if it would suit him. "Perfect." She said and gave it to him.

"Fine." He sighed defeatedly and took the suit from her.

While he changed in the bathroom, Zoey waited for him outside. She spent her time checking her appearance in the mirror. The dress definitely looked amazing on her and the hair and makeup artist did perfect job.

She was still obsessing over the beautiful dress when she finally heard the door open behind her. Turning around, she gasped when she saw Travis in the three-piece suit. The suit made him look more sexy than he really was, not that he wasn't sexy before. Her mouth literally watered at the beautiful sight in front of her and she lost the ability to speak.

"Wow," she muttered under her breath and took a deep breath.

••••••••••

Maya looked around in the hall, trying to find at least one familiar face but failed to do so. She felt nervous in the dress. Although when she bought it, she was very pleased but there weren't hundred of people around her then. Now standing there alone, she couldn't help but feel conscious of herself.

She felt like an outsider trying to fit in these people and the thought made her embarassed.

"Maya!" Someone shouted her name and she turned around to find Zachary walking towards her. He looked really handsome in the perfectly tailored grey suit and his hair slicked back. Her anxiety alleviated slightly on seeing him and she sighed. "Thanks for coming." He said.

"It's fine." She said, placing a mask of confidence on her face.

"Come on, let me introduce you to my friends. They are some of the college boys I play basketball with." He said and led her to the group of guys that were standing to their left.

"Guys, meet the tutor girl I told you about." He introduced her to them.

All the guys assessed her from head to toe. "Oh, that's the girl who is tutoring you. We thought it would be an ugly nerd with glasses." One of them said and Maya shifted on her feet uncomfortably. She wore glasses sometimes but she never thought it was a big deal to wear them or it looked particularly hideous.

"Oh, shut up, Bryan." Zachary elbowed him and then said, "Maya, meet these assholes. They aren't as creepy as they look."

Maya tried to smile but couldn't, not when the same Bryan was looking at her chest. She wasn't used to wearing something tight and the weird look in his eyes didn't help either.

"I... Um... I need to use the restroom." She said and excused herself, rushing to the opposite corner of the hall to avoid Zachary's friends. Travis had advised her not to come if she doesn't feel comfortable but she had considered it an adventure. She regretted not listening to him.

She entered a vacant hallway near the other end of the hall to take some deep breaths but the minute she rested her back against the wall, Blaire Willow's face appeared in front of her.

"It was my date that you were flirting with." She said with an unimpressed look on her face.

"Who?" Maya asked.

"Zachary, who else? I have been noticing you from quite some days and you should know that I don't like when someone tries to take what's mine." She glared at him.

Blaire was a mean person and if she threatens someone, she usually goes out of her way to teach that person a lesson. Maya shuddered at the thought of being bullied by her, that too when she was completely innocent.

"I am not trying to take Zachary. We aren't even friends." She cleared her position.

"Of course you aren't. Have you looked at yourself?" She smirked and Maya's face flushed in embarassment. "Did you rent this dress? Because I don't think you can even afford it."

"And you can't afford being my brother's date. But that didn't stop you, did it?" A voice appeared from the stairs at the other end of the hallway.

Both of them angled their necks to look at Althea who was walking down the stairs elegantly. She made their way to them with the signature look of pure disinterest on her face.

"And talking about dresses, sweetheart, this isn't Coachella or some stupid high school party." She said, hinting towards the lace bodice of Blaire's short black dress. "Wear something decent next time, if there would be any next time for you."

Blaire looked for a response but when she couldn't find any, she huffed and stomped out of the hallway.

Once she left, Maya raised her head to look at Althea. She was wearing a maroon strapless gown with sweetheart neckline. Knowing her, she had yet to make her dramatic entrance and show people that she was the best dressed person here and it won't be a lie either. She actually looked like a Greek goddess in that dress, leaving no point for argument.

"What? You are my brother's guest do I can't let her insult you." She explained why she saved her from Blaire's torture. "By the way, I like your dress. The hairdo, not so much. Curls suit you better." Althea said and turned around towards the stairs once again, while Maya kept staring at her retreating figure.

"Maya! Maya!" She heard someone calling her name outside. Walking out of the hallway, she found Zachary looking around for her. "God, where were you? I was looking for you."

"Why?" She asked.

"Um... To... To say sorry. Bryan was out of line." He said, rubbing the back of his head.

"Doesn't matter. This party isn't my type. I should call Travis and ask him to pick me up." She said and looked inside her clutch for the mobile.

"Travis? But he is already here." Zachary replied.

"What?" Maya frowned in confusion.

"He is Zoey's date. Didn't you know?" He pointed towards Travis and Zoey who were entering the hall side by side.

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Zoey's dress

Althea's dress

Maya's dress