Chapter Eleven

Instead of the traditional oversize red suit white fur trimming, the coat was in fact an overcoat that would reach to his calves. There was also a pair form fitting cargo trousers, combat boots and a ruby waistcoat sewn onto a dress shirt with rolled-up sleeves. Of course, the fake beard was part of the package. The entire thing put together—with the candy cane holster and leather gloves, it looked like something straight out of a post-apocalyptic movie like Resident Evil.

"I tried to keep it close to your style."

Kylian couldn't stop staring at it.

"These are fantastic Sapphie."

It was amazing. And that she'd taken her time to pick out something for him simply blew him mind.

"Good, I'm glad you like it." She nodded, "Tonight's going to be amazing, and I wanted you to have fun too without any interruptions. Caleb and Michael even promised to keep their lips sealed."

She mimed locking her lips and throwing away the keys.

"Sapphie! Me and the boys are leaving now! Don't forget to lock up on your way out!"

"Okay, Ma!" She called back.

"So? Will you, do it?"

"I can't believe you even asking, this is so cool. Yes of course, I'll do it."

"Don't do anything I wouldn't." Again, Michael shouted.

"Michael?!"

Once she was sure they were alone, she sighed in relief.

"Okay, so I'll give you my room to change in and I'll take the bathroom." She took out a black garment bag from her wardrobe, grabbed her toiletry bag and scurried out of the room, closing the door behind her.

The moment the door closed, Kylian got to work. He laid out the costume at the foot of her bed then began undressing. Within a couple of minutes, he was admiring the way it looked on him in the nearby mirror. He had to admit, it looked good. Really good.

Sapphie really knew what she was doing when she picked it out, he thought—turning this way and that way.

Once he was done, he neatly folded his clothes and left them on the bed.

***

Sapphie smoothed her hands down the front of her costume, satisfied with the way it fit her form.

Oh yeah, Devon knew what he'd been doing when he suggested this theme for their routine.

With a satisfied nod, she turned to the bathroom vanity to start on her make-up. That's if eye liner, a bit of mascara and lip gloss passed for makeup. A couple of minutes later, she was packing up her stuff when her phone buzzed with a new notification. Thinking it was probably her mother telling her to bring something she'd forgotten; she swiped it from the countertop just as she was about to leave. Then she stopped in her tracks when the news article notification captured her attention right then.

Is it confirmed? Kylian Mbappé dating model Coralie Dubois?

Rumours that PSG and France football star Kylian Mbappé dating French model Coralie Dubois have reportedly been confirmed...

Sapphie's heart shrivelled and sunk to the bottom of the acidic pits of her stomach. It was melodramatic, she knew, but like every other girl in the world with their eye on him, she'd started to hope this day would never come. She'd seen articles about the two of them months before, even before they'd started talking but she'd thought tabloids always lied. But she hadn't cared then. Now?

A small part of her still wished it didn't care. How could she have ever hoped to compete with a model for pit's sake.

***

Kylian was fiddling with the belt around his waist while waiting in the living room when she walked out of the bathroom. Almost instantly, he froze and couldn't help but swallow. Thankfully her eyes were glued to her phone so she hadn't seen his little...mishap.

"Wooah," he said. That prompted her to look up from her phone.

"Huh?" She blinked. When she'd looked up, it was as if she'd forgotten to fix her face. Her eyebrows were scrunched together and the corner of her lips were drawn...downwards? Yes, they were. Then almost imperceptibly he saw her expression change, like she knew he'd noticed.

"Bad news?" He asked.

"What? Uhh," she looked down at her phone then back at him, "no! Yes, I mean no." She laughed, then cleared her throat.

"I...uhh... accidentally deleted Fortnite on my phone. But don't' worry my account is still intact! You were saying?"

Was she feeling nervous like he was? She had this far off look in her eyes that wasn't there before. Or maybe it was just him. Afterall he was hopping tonight would go well.

"You look great."

From the green and red dress, it was obvious she was supposed to be Santa's helper. The dress hugged her in all the right places. And had it not been for the candy cane stockings, Kylian knew the dress would have been too short to be appropriate for a family event. Instead of the heels girls usually wore with this kind of costume, she too had on combat boots. She looked so good he had to remind himself to not stare too much.

She took in his outfit and then nodded, "You look even better than I'd imagined, this costumes really suits you."

"Thanks to you."

Nearly half an hour later, she parked her car in front of a building that looked like an old post office. The party was already in full swing by the time they walked inside. Sapphie made sure his faux beard was in place even before he stepped foot out of the car.

The exterior was a huge contrast from the outside. While the outside of the building looked a little old the inside looked like something out of a young artist's imagination. The oak floors looked band new and they went well with white washed brick walls. While one wall was adorned in graffiti, the opposite wall looked like an art exhibition. Small picture frames of art drawing—about twenty—covered the white brick wall.

"Tonight, we're mostly just using the top floor, come on."

She led him inside and towards a flight of stairs in the centre of the hallway. A few people moved about, chatting and admiring the surroundings.

"Wow." He looked around.

"You like it?" She then stopped for a second to allow him sometime to take it all in, "The art class replaces the art and repaints the mural every two months."

Kylian moved to the little paintings, admiring each one of them.

"This is amazing." He turned his attention to the mural on the opposite wall where the words 'espoir, amour, communauté' were painted. Hope, love, community. The words stood bold beneath a drawing of diverse group of kids of various ages who seemed to smile back at them.

"Allons-y. We have to go before we're even more late." She giggled at the expression of wonder on his face, "I'll tell you all about it later if you're interested."

"Okay." Kylian gave her this look like was planning on holding her to it and allowed her to lead him up the up to the first floor.

The thumping music got louder the higher they climbed. He found that, the louder it got, the more excitement he felt bubbling up inside of him. When they finally reached the landing at the top, they were immediately facing a large open room exactly like a ballroom, decked from the ceiling to the floor in Christmas decorations. A crowd of people moved about them, some chatting, eating and even dancing. The moment they made it across the threshold, someone rushed up to them and hugged Sapphie. It was only after she pulled away that Kylian recognised her.

"Hey you, you made it!" The blonde yelled over the music.

"Kylian, Ò«a va?" She hugged him too.

"Great, I'm surprised to see you here. You look good." He pointed at her reindeer dress and horns. But before she could respond, Sapphie interrupted them.

"Sorry guys I've got to go, Devon is calling me over." He watched lift her hand and respond to someone across the room, "You'll be okay if I leave you two for a while, right?"

"Go on we'll be fine; he's been going crazy looking for you. Thought you were a no show" She replied.

"Nah, he knows I'd never do that to him." Sapphie rolled her eyes and laughed before walking away.

Kylian froze. Their little exchange suddenly got him thinking. Here he was falling over himself for Sapphie when he wasn't even sure she was not seeing anyone.

Was she? Because if she was, then what was he doing here? What would she have been thinking to bring him here?

He cast a glance Renee's way, resisting the urge to clench his jaw. She was close friends with Sapphira, surely, she'd know if she was currently dating anyone.

"Who's been looking for her?" He asked as Sapphie disappeared into the crowd.

"Her crew."

Okay, that did nothing but confuse him even more.

"What?" He frowned.

"They're supposed to be putting on a show in a little bit. You'll see." She squealed then started dragging him in the opposite direction Sapphie had disappeared, "while she's doing that, let's get some food in you."

"So Sapphie invited you too?" He asked.

"Oh no," she laughed, "Sapphie and I are founding members of The Attic Community Centre. Two of a dozen."

When she saw him frowning, she continued,

"It was a church initiative. This part of the neighbourhood was...rough, and since it's so close to our community, we knew we had to do something."

His eyebrows shot up, "Really?"

He watched her reach into the bowl filled almost to the brim with sweets and take a couple.

"Yeah. Kids always needed a place to hangout that was constructive and positive. Something that would help keep the youngsters out of trouble."

"That's admirable. How old is this place?"

"We opened about five years ago."

"It's incredible how you were able to come up with something like this." He nodded.

"Thanks, we absolutely love it to bits." She took a sip from her tumbler.

As if on cue, like the universe was telling him to not get side-tracked by the conversation, Kylian aught a glimpse of Sapphie across the room when some people moved out of the way. He watched her talk animatedly and laugh with the guy he presumed was 'Devon'. Anger flared within him again, causing him to clench his teeth. Words dripping with sarcasm poured out of his mouth before he could stop himself.

"Wow, between her going to school, work and this it's surprising Sapphie even has time to breathe. Devon must be an understanding guy; she seems like she's ever at the training centre or on the road with us."

"I know right? Sometimes I worry she'll work herself to the emergency room."

Kylian swore beneath his breath, trying to push back the crushing disappointment and anger he felt inside.

What was he even doing here then?

He should have expected that a great girl like Sapphie would be taken.

It must have taken Renee a minute to process his words. Before he could say anything else she paused and touched his arm. With her brows pinched together, she tipped her head to the side and blinked at him.

"Wait, did I hear you right? You said...Devon?"

"Yeah...?"

"What does Devon have to do with Sapphie's schedule?"

He shrugged, "Well, you said he... I saw the way they greeted each other and so I thought—"

Renée gaped at him, "You think...you thought that Sapphie is dating Devon?!"

Okay, from the way she was looking at him, he felt stupid.

"She's not?" he stared at her.

"No! trust me we've been friends for years. I'd know if she was. And yeah, Devon's tall but he is seventeen, she'd be in jail if she was."

"Oh," he nodded slowly.

"So, she's not seeing...anyone else right?" he said, that's when she looked at him speculatively and he realised his mistake.

"Why were you asking?"

Damn, he thought.