Cal had picked up Rose in a brand new Cadillac – chauffeur included. Rose thought of Cal as her knight in shining armour, who would surely do anything for her.

He too had paid for her dress for tonight, though George knew nothing of it – Ruth hadn't told him. When Cal had arrived he had brought flowers for Ruth and a bottle of the best chardonnay for George in hope that this one would win him over.

George had thanked him, but his eyes had remained unmoved.

Rose meanwhile had been more than happy eyeing Cal from the side.

God, I do hope that he doesn't recognize how nervous I am.

Albeit this wouldn't be a date alone, Rose was still alerted, probably even more since she would meet his parents tonight and wanted to make a good impression. Cal, who somehow sensed her anxiety, smiled at her – her apprehension growing.

He's much better than James.

All girls in her former school had had a crush on James, but Rose by now understood that he had been nothing more, but a dream. Cal was reality.

And a really nice one that is.

'You'll bring her home at ten, Mr Hockley. Not one minute later.'

Cal had bowed his head knowing it better not to mess up with Rose's father.

…..

Stepping out of the car and opening the door to her, Cal took her hand and arms linked; they went inside, where the party was already in full swing.

"I'm so nervous," Rose got out.

"There's no need to be. You'll be the queen of the ball."

Rose couldn't have been happier. The evening would surely proof to be great.

Cal led her over to a table with chairs quickly introducing her to everyone. Rose smiled to each one feeling like Cinderella.

"Can I get you something to drink, my dear?"

"Yes, orange juice please…I'm still…I'm not yet allowed to drink alcohol," she quickly added, when she saw Cal's friends stare at her in wonder and amusement.

With Cal gone they started to whisper and observed her, making Rose suddenly feel uncomfortable.

"So, Rose…"

Rose turned her head to the one she remembered as Oliver.

"I may call you Rose, right?"

"Sure," she mumbled hastily looking out for Cal.

"Ah, don't worry, he's going to return soon enough," the other one Michael – called Mike for short – assured her.

"You must be new in town, Rose. I've never seen you in school."

"Yes, Oliver," Rose cleared her throat not being used to this attention. Although being popular in her previous school she had never been around boys like this – let alone with one that she knew nothing about and had only just met. "My family and I we moved here about a week ago."

Oliver grinned at her clearly interested in more.

Rose shifted uneasy around in her chair.

Whatever was taking Cal so long? He wasn't even in view by now anymore.

"Rose, I knew it was you."

At hearing her name Rose turned around seeing Helga standing there. She dimly recalled getting together with her in the park with the others.

"Helga?"

"Yes," the other girl grinned at her.

"What are you doing here?"

"She's personnel," Mike choked out receiving a laugh from Oliver.

Helga ignored him knowing that they were already slightly drunk. They surely weren't the only ones here with this problem and having worked more often for this kind of festivities Helga was used to it and knew how to keep the distance.

"Yes, Fabrizio and I are employed here. It's our holiday job. Well it's not much, but it earns us good money. I'm sorry I would really like to talk with you some more, but you see I've got to take orders and you're not my table," she hastily apologized.

"Oh, what a pity," Oliver laughed.

"Indeed," Mike answered the two of them seemingly amused.

Their waiter was some mean old man – old at least to them – who hadn't got any sense of humour. Helga would've been a change for the better, but of course that didn't stop them from making fun of her.

"I hope to see you soon, Rose," Helga waved at her while already turning to another guest.

Rose wished that she would've stayed.

"I would never let my girlfriend work," Mike said once Helga had left towards Oliver, who only nodded. "I mean what's this kind of a man, who can't provide for his woman?"

Both laughed at this.

Rose decided that she better not tell them about her own job.

"Not really the best contact you're having, Rose," Oliver mocked her.

Rose liked Helga and Fabrizio despite not really knowing them - they had seemed nice to her, but now she wanted to make a good impression on Cal and that included being on good terms with Mike and Oliver.

"Oh, I barely know her," Rose answered her voice belittling.

Though she instantly felt bad for having somehow disowned Helga she stilled continued to smile at them.

…..

When Cal finally returned he didn't do so alone, but with some man at his side.

"Rose, may I introduce you to my father."

The elder Mr Hockley walked closer to Rose motioning for her to remain seated.

"She's even more beautiful than you've her described," Nathan whispered to Cal, who smiled up in victory.

Indeed it looked like Mike and Oliver were totally capitivated by her as well.

Cal was already bathing in his triumph.

"Don't you want to sit down, Mr Hockley?" Rose offered.

"Ah…no…Rose, I really would like to, but I've to meet my other guests. You'll realize it soon enough Rose – as the host you've never got a free minute," he laughed half-heartedly and Rose believed that he too would rather be somewhere else.

"I'm coming with you, father," Cal announced before Rose could stop him.

Rose shook her head.

He had completely forgotten about her drink too.

…..

"Cal is alerted again. Have you seen?"

"Yes especially as his mother hasn't shown up."

Rose looked at both surprised.

Why were they suddenly so amused?

"Cal's parents are divorced. His mother is living in Colorado with her new husband…sorry don't know his last name. Anyway Cal's stepfather seems to be pretty much at hand, when it comes to money, while his own…now well…"

"He's keeping him on a short leash," Mike finished.

Rose nodded turning around.

"Rumour has it that he too has some new woman around and for months Cal has tried to detect something about her, but obviously to no avail," he added.

Rose grinned at him though she didn't feel at all like it. She had awaited something else - Cal being there for the whole night. Instead she had to spend it with Oliver and Mike.

When the music began to play and people started dancing, it was all the more so boring.

"I'm going to get myself something to drink," she announced unexpectedly startling the two men.

….

From the distance Rose looked over at the table seeing Oliver and Mike making grimaces and fun of other people. Surely her father wouldn't like this kind of man.

Luckily daddy isn't here.

One of the men dancing bumped into her and Rose decided that albeit unnerving sitting with Mike and Oliver would still be better than be shoved around on the dance floor.

With a glass in hand it was even more complicated.

Back at the table she felt someone tipping her on her shoulder from behind.

It was Fabrizio.

"Helga told me that you're here," he smiled.

Oliver stood up from the table walking over, coming to stand aside Rose.

"I beg your pardon, but we don't communicate with staff. Isn't that right, Rose?"

"Yes," she answered, while in reality feeling bad.

"Well then I'm sorry to have disturbed you," Fabrizio said finding Rose acting like a prima donna and a very bad one that is.

"No, wait…," she wanted to take her words back, but he was already out of eavesdrop.

She didn't see Mike and Oliver grinning at each other and silently shaking hands.

Finally Cal offered to dance with her, which Rose of course gladly took. Cal proved to be a good dancer not at all stiff like one would've expected at first.

"I'm so sad that I had so little time for you, Rose," he told her, when leading her back to the table.

"It's no problem."

"Don't say that, Rose. I could've done much better, but you see my father wanted me to meet all sorts of people and I…"

"Listen, Cal, I do understand and it's no trouble at all, really," she reassured him once again putting a finger on his mouth, which was followed by a little kiss.

Cal finally sat down them and the three men began to talk about university and their families. It turned out that Oliver's family was engaged in brewing business, while Mike's father was a congress man.

"We have even met with some of Rose's friends," Mike suddenly spoke up seemingly to embarrass her in front of Cal or to make himself feel outstanding against the other trash here?...Actually Rose didn't know what.

"I already told you, Mike they're not my friends. I saw them somehow. They're friends with the people, who live in my house," she told him smiling a fake smile. "It's as simple as that."

Cal was squeezing her hand under the table totally content, coming in eye-contact with Helga, who had heard every word – as Cal quickly understood from the expression on her face.

Rose though didn't know and was gulping out of nervousness, but more so of shame.

"Cheers to you, Rose," Cal interrupted her dark thoughts, clapping their glasses together.