Anne's POV
I tried once again to draw my brows but ended up drawing a map to a treasure island. At least, that's what I thought it looked like.
"It's no use, I've messed up my face," I sighed, looking up at my two stunning, gorgeously dressed roomies.
They both gasped on seeing my face.
"Anny! What have you done? You just couldn't wait, could you?" That was Jane, the make-up artist.
The party was today at 7 pm and it was 5 pm already.
"Yikes, Jenny! Come on, it's already five!" I wailed.
Jane laughed at my nervousness and came over to do my hair and makeup.
Andrew had also invited Jane and Pamela to his dad's party and they were so psyched about it. I was happier because I would be seeing more familiar faces other than Andrew and Vincent's. With my friends, real fun was assured.
They had both returned after the holidays and we went shopping a week prior for dresses and shoes to match. They helped me pick out a dress.
Jane had on a strapless peach gown that hugged her slender waist, cascading down to her ankle with a front side slit ending mid-thigh. She had added extensions to her hair and packed it in a bun.
Pamela, on the other hand, was wearing a blue embroidered off-shoulder gown with a plunging backline showing off her smooth skin and curvy waist. Her hair was also styled in a bun.
As Jane came over to do my makeup, we heard a knock at the door. Pamela went to answer it. After a short while, she returned, carrying a box in her hand and a surprised look on her face. Just then, my phone began ringing.
"Hey big head, what's up?" I teased Andrew.
I heard a deep throaty laugh.
"Did you get the dress I sent you?" he asked casually. "Sorry it's coming late. I was supposed to send it yesterday but I drove Mum on errands."
"Drew, what are you talking about?"
"You didn't get it?" he asked in alarm.
"Mmm… Pam just brought in a large box."
"That's it, it's for you," he said excitedly.
"Aww… Drew, you didn't have to." I cooed.
"I want to. I know you might already have a dress, I still got it," he said calmly.
"Thanks, I appreciate it."
"Anytime. Gotta go, duty calls. See you soon!"
"Yea."
He hung up.
I stared from my phone to my roommates who were already pouncing on the box, gasping as they brought out its contents.
"Ooh la la, this dress is stunning!" Jane squealed, placing it against her body.
It was a shiny silver dress with tiny straps and a plunging backline like Pamela's.
"Babe, it's settled. He's definitely into you," Jane stated, holding up the heels.
"Don't be ridiculous," I puffed. "We're close, but nothing romantic."
"Fact: he spends almost all his free time with you. You're the other person he calls, aside from his brother, to listen to his songs. Including the one he recently wrote for his dad!" Jane continued.
“That's not true, right, Pam?”
Pamela stared from me to the box. “Well,” she started slowly, “Anny, you don't see us with our own boxes, do you?”
That made me shut up.
Jane continued rambling while Pamela nodded in agreement.
"Guys, enough! We'll be late. Let's talk about this later, okay?"
I had thought Andrew fancied Pamela, with the way he was playful with her and everything.
'He played with everyone like that, dummy.'
True.
We might have stopped talking about it and gone ahead to prepare, but what they said lingered. It all seemed true.
But then again, he'd never asked me out on a solo date. He'd always brought Pamela and Jane along. And during those outings, he was either talking animatedly with Jane or pranking Pam.
The only time we spent alone was when he wanted me to listen to his tracks. We'd stay cooped up in his room listening, critiquing, and making adjustments. Even then, he'd still send a copy to Jane and Pamela.
I had taken that as what close friends do and nothing more.
Had I been so engrossed in my crush on Vincent that I couldn't see it?
Nah.
Maybe my roomies and I were reading too much into the whole thing.
These thoughts plagued me as I slid into my new silver dress. It was not until my roommates gasped loudly in unison that I realized how perfectly the dress fit. My eyes shone as I stared at my beautiful reflection in the full-length mirror.
The dress was all shiny and rough to the touch but soft on the inside. The neckline stopped at my collarbone with the plunging backline ending at my waist. It hugged my body from the top to my knee, where it flowed like the lower half of a mermaid's tail.
I wore the silver earrings that came with it, then slid into a pair of silver stilettos, consisting of nothing more than two delicate, shimmering straps and a razor-thin heel.
I couldn't believe I was the one staring back at myself. It didn't seem real. I gushed at my image, smiling like an idiot.
"This is way better than the dress we bought, phew! Drew has outdone himself this time." This was Jane, who was packing my hair into matching buns with theirs.
"You're beautiful, Anny," Pamela exclaimed dreamily, pinching my cheeks. "I'm a proud mother," she fawned dramatically, holding her chest and dabbing at her entirely nonexistent tears. Jane and I burst out laughing at her ridiculous performance.
The party hadn't begun when we arrived. Drew had surprised us again by sending a limo to pick us up, making us feel like absolute royalty. We squealed the entire ride, earning increasingly impatient looks from the driver, which eventually crossed from curiosity into open irritation because we simply would not stop.
At the party, things intensified. As soon as we stepped out one after the other, with the help of the driver, everyone began staring.
I was so conscious because I'd never been the center of attraction in a large gathering.
I don't know about my friends, but I was determined to walk in those heels without tripping and falling flat on my face in front of all those watching eyes.
I had seen ladies in beautiful dresses arriving at the party, but I couldn't admire them, or hold anyone's gaze because then I'd find them already looking at me, and I'd look away.
The ushers greeted us, complimenting our outfits as they led us to one of the round, beautifully decorated tables arranged in the large, exquisite room. Each table had names written on gold-foiled cards. Ours had our names in bold, each facing a seat. Two other male names were on our table, making it a table of five.
I couldn't believe this was Andrew and Vincent's parents' house. It was far bigger than the one they were staying in.
A small stage was erected at the corner of the hall where a band played soft music. It brought my thoughts back to Andrew. I wondered whether he was going to play the song he wrote for his dad. This was a great opportunity to make his father realize the potential of his music.
Before the party, I had begged and begged him to play it here, but he blatantly refused. Even Vincent had threatened to release his songs without him if he didn't play it today, yet stubborn Andrew said no.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you Richard Sawyer and his beautiful family," the MC announced through the microphone.
This pulled me out of my thoughts and back to the room full of tuxedos and elegant dresses. Everyone stood on their feet, applauding the arrival of the hosts.
I scrambled to my feet, glancing around to check if anyone had noticed my delayed reaction. No one had. They were all too absorbed in the scene unfolding at the top of the stairs.
When I looked up, my breath hitched. I was sure my face mirrored everyone else's as I stared, stupefied.