I have this weird feeling in the pit of my stomach that I'm missing something. Not missing Ethan… I mean missing as in I can't quite put the pieces of our encounter together. I try to shake it off by keeping busy with my rendez-vous with Ana but I can't seem to get his blue eyes and his beautiful smile out of my mind. Why do I feel so drawn to him? I ask Mr. Norton this question.
"Sometimes Miss. Grey there are people in this world that are supposed to walk into your life and they serve a purpose to your life's meaning" God bless Mr. Norton he's wise beyond anyone I know. "And if you feel that strongly about this young man then he will come back to you if he's really meant to be in your life"
This gives me enough closure in order to get ready for my lunch with Ana. If Ethan and I are meant to be, we'll meet again. What do they say? 'if you let you someone go and they come back to you, it's truly yours forever.'
I decided on my mint green hi-low dress that hits me just above my knees and the back extends just above my ankles. I throw on a pair of nude platform pumps and I quickly curl my hair for loose waves. I put some tinted moisturizer and I set it with a full coverage pressed powder. I keep my eyes very neutral, nothing too dramatic. I wing my eyeliner out and I apply a pinky-nude lip and top it off with my favourite gloss.
I check the time and realize that I've taken about two hours to get ready and I start to laugh out loud. I recall Ethan making a joke about me taking forever to get ready. He was right, but in my defense I did talk to Mr. Norton for a long time!
I decided to call Lily to finally get her opinion on my outfit.
"Hey Lils! It's Mia what are you up to right now?"
"Oh hey Mia! Nothing really, the usual you know? I'm getting ready for the day. What's up?"
"I need your opinion on something I'm meeting An-" I stop before I finish saying Ana's name. Last time I saw Ana we were at the Masquerade Charity Ball and Lily did NOT respond well to her and Christian together. Lily got it into her head that her and Christian were going to be madly in love and one day he's wake up and realize that she's the one, and always has been the one for him.
In her dreams, I'm not blind I know my brother is gorgeous but there's more to him than a pretty face. Lily's superficial outlook on life gets to me sometimes because she knows absolutely nothing about Christian and she told me last year that if he asked her to be his wife she would agree no questions asked. I know Lily and I know Christian and they would not be good for each other. Sometimes I think they are too similar, which in some cases makes for disastrous relationships.
But she's always been a good friend to me and we have so much history together that I would never betray her loyalty and trust. But a white lie once and a while never hurt anyone.
"I'm meeting an old friend and I want your opinion on my outfit. It's the first time we'll see each other in a long time and I want to make a good first impression" I almost stopped but I added, "again, you know?"
"Oh yeah sure no problem sweet cheeks" she replies and I roll my eyes. I hate when she says 'sweet cheeks' like really? I just find it unnecessarily annoying.
"Okay I'll email you a picture of everything I'm wearing! Just like old times, eh?" we both laugh. When Lily and I were younger we used to do this every morning before school. Take and give fashion advice from each other. But now Lily and I have very different lives and we hardly have time to get together.
I snap the pictures on my DSLR and upload them unto my MacBook and email they to her.
To: Lily Martens
Subject: OOTD
Date: May 26th 2011 at 11:45am
From: Mia Grey
Hey Lils,
The photos are attached!
Let me know what you think and be brutally honest!
Mia Grey.
I press send.
"Ohhhhh LOVE LOVE LOVE THE DRESS! The color is parfait and you look stunning babes!" she squeals.
"Thanks! What do you think of pairing gold accessories with the mint?" I ask
"Yeah I like it but it depends on the occasion really. Silver for casual and gold for fancy. Who are you meeting again? Is it a guy? Oh my gosh Mimi you've been holding out on me! Is he cute?" I panic for a second, should I just lie and tell her I'm meeting up with Ethan… ? If I do I'll have so much to explain to her and to him if I ever get to see him again. I don't know what to say.
"Yeah just an old friend for lunch, you know nothing fancy and it's not a guy" I reply
"Oh why so vague Mimi? And bummer, I was so glad you got rid of that Sean, you can do so much better than that douche" She was right.
Halfway through the night of the Masquerade Charity Ball I ditched Sean. I had introduced him to my family he was so polite and everything was going swimmingly. But when he met Christian things went downhill from there. The king of intimidation narrowed his eyes and inspected every inch of my date. I recall the conversation Sean and I had after that in a deserted room.
"Sorry he's my older brother and he's protective what can I say?" I shrugged my shoulders
"Yeah he seems like an ass," he snorted
"Hey! That's my brother! Don't talk about him like that!" I attempted to grab his arm but instead he grabbed mine and twisted my arm behind my back. I had my back to his chest and he whispered into my ear "oh yeah what are you going to do about it Mia?" I wasn't sure if he was joking or if he was serious so I try to calm him down.
"Christian's just concerned for me and he's done that to all my boyfriends and dates" I didn't know what to do in that situation. We were alone and he was hurting me "Let me go, Sean" I said as I forced a giggle and he began to kiss my neck.
"You smell divine Mia" He inhales my scent.
"Thank you Sean" I respond to his touch "now can you let me go so I can kiss you?" he immediately loosened his grip on my arm and he turned me to face him and we kissed. The kiss tasted of beef and cheese it was absolutely the most disgusting taste and kiss I've ever had the misfortune of experiencing. I break the kiss and he's peering down at me. He lifts my hair and takes a quick sniff without breaking eye contact with me. I couldn't let him know that he was freaking me out.
"Hmmm, I'll get us some drinks babe and I'll get the good stuff from my Dad's stash" I give him a quick peck and wink at him. I make my way out the door. I finally exhale and when I see Lily and I practically run into her arms.
"Hey what's wrong Mimi?" she asks as she wraps her arms around me.
"I need you to do me a favor Lils," I said "I'm going to get some drinks for me and Sean we're in the room down the hall, the third one. I need you to listen very carefully to me"
"What's going on? You're scaring me Mia" She pulls me aside to the kitchen and I grab two champagne glasses. I grab her arm and take her to my dad's office.
"Sorry I promised him the good stuff, you remember?" I joked
"Enough with the jokes Mia tell me what's going on! I'm worried about you. What did that asshole do to you?" she snapped
"Okay Shhh!" I put one finger up to my lips and quickly check to see if anyone followed us and close my father's door "I'm not sure if Sean is drunk or something but I'm afraid he's going to cause a scene and God knows we don't need that. Do you know how embarrassing that would be for me and my family?"
"Of course, what do you need me to do?" she asks concerned
"I'm going to go into the room, you remember which one right?" she nods and I continue, "give him the drink and you're going to inform the valet that Sean is ready to leave. He's got a black pea coat jacket the ticket is in his one of his pockets"
"Okay sounds good! For a second I thought he hurt you, don't you ever do that to me again Mimi, you hear?" she hugged me and I hugged her back. Despite her crazy jealously towards Ana she's always been a great friend to me.
"Also if you could inform a security guard to come in if I'm not out by the time you get back from the valet that would be great."
"Yes of course"
"Please don't tell my parents or my brothers! Promise me!" I begged, "I don't want to ruin their night"
"I promise" and with that we hug and she was off to get Sean's jacket for the valet ticket and I pour the drinks and made my way back to the room. But on my way there I see out of the corner of my eye, my brother Christian looking in my direction and I played it cool. I quietly snuck into the room and I turn to find Sean making out with another girl.
"Sean?" I asked, "What is this?" I gasped. Sean and I had been out on a couple of dates before the Ball and I really liked this guy and he does this to me? I'm about to get myself into trouble because I can feel the steam radiating off of my body. I am livid! I step forward and set the drinks down.
"Baby come and join us" he unbuckles his belt and walks towards me. I step back and raise one hand in order to keep him from touching me I feel a hot tear roll down my cheek.
"WHAT. IS. THIS?" I said through my teeth. The girl doesn't seem to care what is going on and assumes the fetal position and goes to bed. She's too drunk to realize this guy is a scumbag and could essentially take advantage of her.
"Oh come on baby, don't be like this" he grabs my hand and pulls me to his chest.
"DON'T YOU DARE TOUCH ME! GET THE FUCK OFF OF ME RIGHT NOW SEAN!" I begin to struggle against him. He kisses my forehead.
"It's not like we're exclusive Mia, now come it'll be fun" he loosens his grip and I knee him in the crotch. He screams catches himself with a chair or something I couldn't tell through my tears.
"Don't you fucking dare come near me again you asshole" I turn and walk towards the door and he attacks me from behind
"You bitch" his tackle knocks the table with our drinks and they come crashing down on the floor near the door. I begin to scream because the music and chatter is so loud that I am afraid that no one will hear me.
"No one is coming for you Mia" he whispers breathlessly I couldn't even cry anymore I was just numb. I didn't want to believe that this is what was going to happen and I stopped struggling and just lay there. I looked up at my last hope, the door and hoped to god that Lily told a security guard to come in here and kick this asshole out.
He began to kiss my neck and he lifted my dress up. Just has he had been taking his pants off the door swings open and I see Christian towering over the two of us.
I looked into Sean's eyes and I reply "Wanna bet?" I smiled. Christian lifts Sean off of me and throws him across the room and comes to me.
"What did he do to you? Did he touch you Mia?" I've never seen him this angry before. "ANSWER ME!"
"He was trying to take advantage of me Christian, he was kissing my neck and he lifted my dress up" I said breathlessly. I notice that Lily is at the door. "Lily!" I cried. I open my arms and she comes to me.
"Shit Mia what the fuck is going on here?" she gasp
I open my mouth to answer her but Christian bolts up presses Sean into the wall and begins to utter a million threats and he slams Sean into the wall multiple times. I get up and walk over to them and I grab Christian.
"Christian he's not worth it! Let's not cause a scene please for Mom's sake" I begged
"No Mia he deserves to be beaten to death" and he slams Sean into the wall and raises his fist. I pull Christian off of Sean and put myself between them. I'm facing Christian and I hold my hands out and attempt to put it on his chest. I know how much he hates it "please Christian" he backs off and puts his fist down. "I would beat the shit out of you right now if Mia wasn't standing there. I could kill you"
Sean starts to laugh uncontrollably. Christian steps forward and attempts to lift his fist again and I grab his wrists "enough!" I said. Christian turns around and kicks a chair. I turn around and face Sean and he's puckering up at me. I lift my fist and with all my might I punch the living daylights out of him and I let him fall to the floor. I kick him in his stomach and I walk away.
"Mia you fucking bitch!" he calls form behind and Christian runs back and gives him a good punch and kick to the groin and abdomen. I don't stop him because I know Christian would be angry with me for not allowing him to protect me. He always felt like he was responsible for everyone around him. Plus I knew Sean deserved to have the hope of not getting beaten up by my brother ripped from him.
"Satisfied?" I ask him as he puts his hand over my shoulder.
"I could kill him" he says and he almost heads back. I hold him back this time "Christian I'm fine" I grab his chin, "look at me I'm fine nothing happened, you did your job he didn't do anything because you got here in time"
"But if I didn't-" he starts
"Stop, but you did Christian and I'm fine. See?" I turn to the guards waiting at the door "please would you escort this guest to his car and ensure he gets home safely"
The memory drifts and I'm back faced with reality. "Yeah Lily, you're right I do deserve better than you know who." I think of blue eyes, blond hair and a beautiful mouth and I'm at peace.
"Sorry I forgot you didn't want to mention him again" Lily pauses "you look gorgeous Mimi, as always. Just don't get yourself into too much trouble"
"I won't! Look I've got to run and change into silver accessories. Thanks so much for your advice and I miss you a ton. Let's get together ASAP?"
"Miss you too sweet cheeks! Call or text me!"
"Bye Lils love ya!"
"Bye Mimi! MUHA!" we both hang up.
I change into my silver accessories and take a good look at myself in the mirror and I am satisfied with my look. Lily was right the silver accessories really make the look. I make my way out of my room and grab my hot pink bag and my beige trench coat and head down the spiraling stairs.
"Mr. Norton I'm heading out to meet with Ana Steele for lunch. If my parents or my brother Elliot come home let them know I'm on a mission!" I laugh
"Very good Miss. Grey, enjoy your lunch with Miss. Steele" he replies
And with that I get into my car and drive off towards Ana's workplace to pick her up.