31

"Remember the people that loves you, and not the ones that hates you." she said, tugging her hair gently so it stayed perfectly neat and up. Pacing around Dame's quaint little study room - waiting for Dame to dress up - we started a discussion about something.

And I nodded my head, agreeing on what she had said. But I couldn't stop myself from pondering, "What if the ones that despised you outnumbered the ones that loves you?"

She stopped pacing and looked at me, sitting on a chair, a book in my hand. I looked at the book for a moment and realized it was upside down.

"Well, people that doesn't love you, doesn't matter." she smiled, a lopsided smile. And then, "I have to go to the toilet."

*

The dinner bamquet was so grand. Dame had just walked in like some star that owns this place. Cece and I just linked arms walking in slowly, taking in every piece of ornaments and adoring it as we walked past the vast space. Big grand marble tables with as heavy chairs setting around it. The curtains behind every table was red velvet, and the floor was carpeted, the drawings a form of Greek-like art. Even Cece could walk normally, but I couldn't. The chandeliers hung low with a billion diamonds, multi-faceted with different mild colours that burst out an inevitable calm aura.

The plates and glasses were fit for a king, as far as I could tell. Each one had the guests' name carved on it. It was exaggeratingly absurd, what if someone accidentally dropped a plate. But then again, it would be impossible considering that the floor be so heavily carpeted that even the most fragile things would leave without a scratch. I walked over to the table where Dame had so impolitely sat down with a manly,crude way. My name, 'Ms. Winnie;' was carved on that oval porcelain plate. Cece walked beside me, having a gentleman pull the chair under her and gracefully sat down. I tried, trust me, I did. I waited for a gentleman to pull my chair out but no one came to my rescue, well, except Dame, who had laughingly pulled my chair and waited for me to sit, when I was already too stunned to, and pushed me down. And then he pushed my chair in, with the help of my own legs and sat back. I hid my face for a full few seconds, Dame evidently enjoying my humiliation.

"Dinner's served," Cece reported to me. I turned my face slightly behind my shoulder and saw a few d' maitre, hands piled with plates, the aroma killing me. It smelled so good, I can't imagine how it'd tastes like.

I started to wonder what the use of so many tables, and there was only a few of us. This was, inappropriate, but my question was answered in a few seconds.

Mary, looking as beautiful as she has ever before, appeared before my eyes. Followed behind her was a few other girls I was acquainted with: Lauren, Gessi, Gillian, Melissa, Katy and last but not least, Lynette.

I was momentarily lost for words, but I sprinted in a jiffy and hugged Mary. She was wearing a gown, aquamarine-coloured and her figure was so poignant I started wondering if Dame was secretly looking at her. I then greeted her other friends, when Cece joined me. She smiled at them as they walked past us to take their seats on each other, as if she'd known them long ago. Adam walked in after a few minutes, wearing a tuxedo, looking akwardly strange. He'd never wore a tux before, and I was guessing it was Dad's. "Hey," I hugged him as he wide-eyedly stared at me. "How are you doing?"

"I'm good," he answered back, "you look awesome, I did NOT just say that out loud."

"Ah, it's just Cece. Anyway, do you know what's going on? I was held hostage by Cece and now I'm here, clueless as ever."

He looked at me suspiciously, "You don't look clueless."

"I'm good at pretending."

And then Mary came around and hugged Adam, and Adam felt so blissed around her arms. They let go of each other instantaneously when a few people started pouring in again. Adam went and join Mary on my table. The few people that came next were Ian's jock of friends. "Hey," I greeted Ian, when he waved at me. His friend took their places on another table.

It was the last batch of friends, I guess, because the tables were filled with guests and food.

Lynette went flaunting herself when Ian appeared. She linked arms with a lot of boys, Dame included - much to my shock - to probably make Ian jealous or regret that he'd lost her which wasn't the case. She doesn't know his story like I do, just like what Taylor Swift had sang.

The night went on and I had completely forgotten about what the event was about. Everyone was having fun, and so gradually I did, too. I was so ecstatic to have my group of friends, uncluding Mary, sit around me, talking like they'd known each other a few centuries ago. Lynette, thankfully, didn't make much trouble and she had also stopped her act after knowing that none of the boys were interested in her, especially Dame who had heartlessly left her when she was talking to him and came to help me when my bracelet got stuck between two chairs. You should have seen Lynette's face, it was priceless.

The dinner, when ended, went from grand to super. A few boys had sang in front of the crowd to wow the audience, a few girls clapping as they sang. Some girls even joined in. I watched them and wished I was one of them, that could carelessly walk right up and not care of what others would think. I didn't think much, and I did what my conscious told me to do. The boys had walked down with the group of girls, now challenging who would want to sing. I started to back out, I didn't want to be alone singing. I thought that I'd joined them. My heart beat faster, "Go!", "Don't Go!, "It's okay, just have fun.", "No, you'll have another chance like this. Don't go."

Someone pushed me from behind and I fell facedown on the floor. Everyone gasped. I hurriedly stood up, and scanned the whole room. Everyone was silent, and since I was here, I'll just do it. I looked down, Dame. He had pushed me, because he wanted me to do it. I didn't smile, in case if his deed was not worthy, I didn't need to explain to him about anything. He smiled, though, having faith that he knows what he's doing.

I don't.

Mary and Cece were coming through the crowd to join Dame, and the music deliberatedly start. I jumped a little at the abrupt change, and Dame's face looked concerned. Cece and Mary looked relaxed. The other people were just waiting for me. Lynette was staring at me with eyes like blades. Ian looked, anxious, scared, sorry. Everything mixed into one. I didn't like what I saw in his eyes, it churned my stomach, and I looked away.

The beat was slowing down, and it was my cue to sing. I grabbed the mic, and unconsciously started mumbling the words. Only until the bridge then that I realized that this song was so familiar, something I'd sang over and over again. It was my song, Taylor Swift's song - Fifteen.

Cuz when you're fifteen,

Somebody's gonna tell you they love you,

You're gonna believe them.

And when you're fifteen,

feeling like there's nothing to figure out.

I sang out, my eyes were still scanning under my eyelids, my ears suddenly tuned in to every movement, every little sense. I was waiting for somebody to laugh. I'd sang soulfully, hoping to hit every high note. I slowly opened my lids as I sang the second verse, nobody was laughing, that was true. But everyone's mouth was agape and I abruptly stopped. I looked at my trios, and they had a biiiig smile on their face. "What?" I mouthed as the song looped on.

They signaled me to continue, and so I did.

Before the song ended, I could hear Adam's voice from the back of the rooming chanting, "ENCORE."

Feeling light, I laughed at him. The others started chanting along, but they stopped,too, when Lynette suddenly shout at the top of her lungs. "Gimme that mic, you sucka. I can sing better than you."

She strode up, pushing everyone away that was getting on her way. I braced myself and spoke into the mic, "You can sing better? So that proves I sang good, right?"

A few people laughed, and Lynette stopped in her tracks. She was half-running now, and I gave her the mic willingly. I stepped down, and the song started looping again, another song. You Belong With Me, by the same artist. It must be either Mary, Cece or Dame that had instructed somebody to put on a Taylor Swift album so I could sang all night.

She sang then, and she was glad she had that song. It reminded her of Ian, I guess, since the song was so relevant yet so irrelevant.

It had lyrics like,

She wears short skirts, I wear T-shirts,

She's cheer captain and I'm on the bleachers.

Those were totally unlike her. She was the con, and I was the pro. But then, it also had lyrics like these,

And I know your favourite songs and you tell me 'bout your dreams,

I think I know where you belong, think I know it's with me.

That, I could agree. He did somehow belong to Lynette, and not anyone else, specifically me. I'd be more than willing to give him to her, but Ian was not for sale. I looked for Ian, but I couldn't find him. He had probably walked out when Lynette stepped up. Seeing how Lynette had been trying to cover it up, Ian had probably guessed that Lynette would do something outrageous, to win him over by not trying to show it.

Well, too bad, she was just too beyond obvious.

After the party had ended, Lynette singing three songs in total when only one person chanting her to encore, she had totally given up as a lot of people were starting to pour out. I gave her an apologetic look, but then she dismissed it and walked off to, throwing the mic with a thud.

"I hate you, you...you..."

I censored the last words, female dog, mother something. I had just responded with silence as she waited for me to say something. And then she walked off with everybody else, got a cab and sped off. I stared at the ghost of her, and I didn't feel at all bad. She chose to show off her skills, unfortunately not appreciated by any sort of party except that one guy that had tried to chase every girl in the school, and decided to call the shots with Lynette. Lynette, knowingly, had turned him down eons ago, but then he never stopped.

There were only the trios left, and Adam. Everyone had said their goodbyes, followed by 'Good luck, you'll need it.' I had looked in Cece and Mary's way but their faces didn't show me that they knew what was going on, so I let it go. We had a group hug after that, and Cece had openly gave me a ticket - which I had been wondering what it was about - and told me to sleep early tonight. I took the ticket numbly and as I stared at it, I couldn't digest the words. It wrote alien language, to me.

"Tomorrow's gonna be a HUGE day," she had said, and then her mum showed up. And she was gone.