章節 10: Chapter 6 - Part 3

I look in the mirror to see flushed cheeks and wild eyes staring back at me. I don't know what had happened at the dance floor or how they escalated to that state in a blink of eye. I can see two pairs of eyes looking at me with concerns and a bit curiosity from the mirror, but I'm grateful that both Kylen and Beth stay silent.

I take another deep breath to regulate my raging heart. I feel my brain slowly coming back online, and my eyes turn to its calm state.

After successfully calming myself down, I look at Beth and Kylen as they stand near the door. I say nothing to their concerned gazes. Not now. I need to organize my thoughts before I can tell them anything. Tonight is already wild enough to last me a lifetime.

As I walk closer to them to say that I'm ready to go back, two girls come rushing in and talking animatedly to her friend about some band members and how they want to get inside their pants.

Kylen suddenly grabs my hand and squaels at me, talking fast about something lucky and how I should do that too.

What? Get inside someone's pants?

Girl, I can barely slow-dance with Edward, and I avoid his kiss like its the plague. What do you mean?

"Calm down, K! What are you even saying?" I stop her, and instead I tell her that I want to go home.

She stops talking and starts dragging me out of the bathroom, beaming at me sideways.

What the heck? Does she fall on her head at the dance floor? Oh God, she probably does. I should ask Beth to bring her to the hospital right now. I remember back then, she-

"Luke's here." She cuts my rambling thought.

Thank God, she sounds fine now.

No, wait. What did she just say?!

I whip my head to look at her with both eyes wide in shock. I probably look like a deer in front of a highlight.

"What? How? I mean WHERE?" I ask, baffled at the new information.

I look at Beth for confirmation, and she just giggles at me. What's so funny? This is a matter of life and death! Okay, I'm overreacting, but it's Luke we're talking about right now.

"Look at your face!" Kylen laughs at me. I pout.

"Is this some kind of your sick joke?" I feel myself annoyed and disappointed at the same time. I shouldn't trust her that much.

I mean, I know I won't do anything even if he's here, but it would be really nice if I got to see a glimpse of him on my birthday. It's the best birthday gift ever!

"Aww... girl, are you mad? I'm sorry, I just can't help but laugh at your expression. It's hilarious." Kylen laughs some more, "And about Luke, I'm not lying. The band's here. The girls in the bathroom are all going crazy over them."

My heart goes wild at this. Luke is here? I can see him?

I'm so excited about Luke that I totally forgot about my problem with Edward a moment ago.

"Let's go meet them!" Kylen clasps my hand with eagerness. I find it funny before what she says registers in my brain.

"What? No!" I stop her. No, I'm not ready to meet him. I'm not sure I can meet him and not act like a total fool. I mean, this is Luke we are talking about, my celebrity crush of a lifetime!

"Don't you want to see him? Isn't that what you've been dreaming about, J?" Kylen asks me, puzzles clear in her eyes.

"You said you want to meet him; this is your chance, Jean." Beth adds, supporting Kylen's idea.

"Yeah, what are you waiting for? Come on!" Kyle states decisively as she drags me, yet again like I'm some useless pet, without waiting for my response.

What's with the dragging today? Hello? Am I not the birthday girl?

"You guys go ahead; I'll wait over here." Beth says as she stands near the staircase.

What the heck?

I mean, how could she leave me with Kylen when we all know very well that she could turn everything into disaster? And before I can perform the word 'traitor' in my head, we arrive in front of the band's private room. My body turns stiff like a flagpole.

Oh God, what should I do? I don't think I can do this right now. My fragile little heart is in shock and trepidation about what's to come.

"Kyl, maybe we shouldn't be here. Let's just go home, okay?" I plead to her with misty eyes as I feel my legs shaking from the possibility of meeting Luke tonight.

"What are you talking about? We're here already. Don't worry, I'm here with you, okay?"

It's exactly because of that that I'm shaking in fright. I'm already stupid enough as it is when it comes to Luke, and I doubt you'll help me do something good in there. The possibility of making myself a joke in front of Luke is enough to shake my inner core.

But before I could plead another response, a voice sounded behind us.

"Excuse me, ladies. Are you going inside? Not to rush or anything, but we can't stand here all night, do we?" Amusement is clear in his tone, and I strongly suspect the voice belongs to Alex.

Kylen turns to him and smiles apologetically.

"I'm sorry for standing in your way." Kylen starts, "But do you think we can go inside to say hi? You see, my friend Jean here is quite the fan of your band, especially Luke." Kylen finishes her speech with a grin and shows her charming white teeth.

"Sure. Let's go inside. I don't think the boys would mind a greeting from our fans." Alex chuckles and walks inside ahead to open the curtain.

Shit. That easy?

What should I do? Oh God, this is nerve-wracking!

Do I look up now? Do I smile now?

Kylen grabs my hand and I follow shortly after. I find him at a glance.

Luke.

Luke in all of his glory. My eyes are drawn to him like a moth to a flame. I want to keep looking at him, but I compel my eyes to slide down and look at the tips of my boots instead. I'm afraid he'll see what's inside.

I keep my mouth shut because I don't trust them at the moment. I'll let Kylen take control in this dire situation right now.

"Hey guys, I'm sorry to bother. My name's Kylen and my friend Jean here has been a fan of yours for a long time, and she wants to meet you."

I look up at Kylen and smile fondly at her inwardly. That's right, quick and simple is the way to go. Let's just say hi and go home.

You are my hero, Kylen! I know you can understand me best.

As if she could sense the love I send to her through my eyes, she turns her head to me and smiles. I smile back.

She looks up front again and daringly says, "Especially you, Luke. She's a diehard fan of you. Can you wish her happy birthday? It's been her dream to meet you and kiss you."

I gasp and look at her in horror.

Does she say what I think she says?

Oh my god.

I wish the ground would open up and swallow me whole. The horror and shame are eating me up from the inside; I really want to just disappear from here and never return.

Where is Harry Potter when I need his cloak of invisibility?

I move painfully slow as I tilt my head, look at their table to see what's their reaction, and pray that Luke doesn't hear what she just said.

Apparently God isn't on my side tonight because Luke is looking at me with a knowing smirk and amusement in his eyes. They're sparkling with mirth.

Good Lord. Bless him and his beautiful face and his beautiful voice.

Those magazine pictures or even their live video aren't doing any justice to him. Nothing could prepare me for what I see now. The embarrassment I felt moments ago flushes down the drain as I look at him.

He is the definition of perfect, in every way possible. God must have created him on a good day and then decided it's still not enough, so He put all the good things in him.

His beautiful blue eyes, the ones that I adore the most, now look deep blue in the dim light. They look so mesmerizing that I feel myself drawn to him immediately as everything else fades away. He makes me forget there's people watching us. Well, maybe more like watching me and my foolishness.

He's smiling now. Oh, how I love the way the corner of his eyes crinkles when he smiles. Adorable.

Oh Lord, those sexy dimples—they look like heaven. My fingers itch to trace them delicately to see how deep his dimples are. My heart's palpitating and melting at the same time. Is it even possible? I guess we could only see—

"Earth to Jean!" Kyle snaps her fingers in front of me, sadly bringing me back from admiring a work of art.

Oh shit. Did I stare too long? I probably did!

And from the chuckles and giggles I hear, I didn't do it in moderation.

"I.. Ugh.." I bring my hands up to my face to cover my embarrassment. Luke probably thinks I'm a creepy weirdo. This is a disaster!

Mission aborts. I repeat, mission aborts!

"Come on, sit with us. It looks like you can use some drinks too. My treat for the pretty girl and the birthday girl." Alex says, with a wink and playful smirk. He probably thought that I'm such a clown I can be their entertainer for the night.

No! I don't want to sit and embarrass myself any further. I want to go home.

I turn to Kylen to send her a signal with my pitiful eyes.

"Sounds good to me." Kylen answers him back with a wink. My eyes widen in shock.

Nooo...!

***

a/n: I'm sorry that I have to cut one chapter to 4 parts, because this one is already 1.7k words. ( ಥ _ಥ)

But to put them in a different chapter will make the flow kind of awkward. So please bear with me, dear Lords ( uωu人 )