A/N: Huzzah! The gala! Like I said in the last chapter, if I had to, I'd break this into two parts...well, I did. The other part should be out within 24 hours. (It would have been about 9 pages in Word otherwise)
Enjoy!
The
six of us had a late lunch that day. And after lunch, I had to run
(unwillingly) back to the drug store to get make-up.
I hate wearing make-up about as much as I hate wearing dresses.
By the time I came back from the store, I had to get ready.
Locking myself in the bedroom, so I wouldn't be bothered, I took a quick shower. I then put on the blue gown, and put my hair up in a simple bun. Then, I went back to the bathroom to put on the make up...and I was grumbling the whole time. I just put on some eye shadow, blush, and lip gloss, but if you were me, you wouldn't like doing it either.
Going back into the bedroom, I found my sliver shoes, which, somehow ended up under the bed, and strapped them on.
As soon as I got the second shoe on, a knock came on the door.
"Alex, are you ready yet?" Ian asked, through the door.
"Almost. Just give me another minute," I said back through the door.
I went back into the bathroom to grab the eye shadow, blush, and lip gloss and shoved them all in the small purse I had.
I walked to the door, and once there, I took a deep breath, then unlocked it. I slowly turned the knob, and just as slowly opened the door.
Ian was leaning against the wall in the small hallway, looking at his feet with his arms crossed over his chest. He had changed his clothes earlier (before I got into the bedroom) and was wearing black pants, a dark gray pull over, over a light brown t-shirt, and a light, black jacket over everything else.
When Ian saw me, his jaw dropped and eyes widened, again. He pushed off the wall, and walked to me.
I took a few steps towards him, grinning. When we stopped, I reached up and closed his mouth.
"You look..." he started.
"Odd. Strange. Crazy..." I offered, raising an eyebrow.
"No..." he said, quietly, shaking his head, and never letting his eyes stray from mine. "You look stunning."
Damn...he just made me feel really uncomfortable, and I think I enhanced the color of my blush.
I had to look away from him, so I looked at the floor briefly, then back up at him.
"Thank you," I mumbled, and tried to walk passed him.
I took about a step (maybe two), before Ian threw his hand out, catching me at my waist. I looked up at him, and he did this side step thing, so he was standing in front of me again. His other hand went to the other side of my waist, and he gently pushed me against the wall. Leaning his head down, he kissed me softly, which turned to a more passionate kiss.
"Ian," I said, pushing on his shoulders to stop his torrent of kissing. "Now's not the time...you're the one who hadn't stopped talking about this damn treasure since you heard about it. Are you just going to let Ben take it without at least putting up a fight?"
"Damn. You're right...as usual," he replied, resting his forehead on my bare shoulder.
My hand, that wasn't holding the purse, went around Ian's shoulders.
"Maybe later, though, okay? Depends on how late we all get back," I said, turning my head slightly to speak softly into his ear.
"Yeah," I heard him mumble.
Ian picked his head up off of my shoulder, relinquished his hold on me, and with a quick kiss, we walked out into the main room.
As soon as I stepped into the room, one of them whistled. Looking in the direction the whistle came from, I shot a look at Phil.
"Oh, thank you. That makes me feel so much better," I said sarcastically, and rolled my eyes for all they're worth.
"You look good," Shaw said.
"Thanks, but I feel, so...exposed," I said, seriously, making a face.
From behind me, I heard Ian chuckle.
"Come on. We have some things for you," he said, walking up behind me.
He put his hand on my lower back, and guided me to the 'dinning room' table, where all six of us sat down.
There was a lot of stuff scattered across the table, but it was relatively tidy, which was kind of odd.
Shaw handed me a small envelope.
"That is your identification; it's just a driver's license, and your company photo ID. Fake, obviously," he explained.
"Obviously," I muttered, opening the envelope, and looking at the license. "Eww, why'd you use that picture? I look like a dork."
"It was the only one I could find on short notice," he defended.
I scoffed.
"Hello? I do take my digital camera everywhere I go. You could have told me," I said. "But, whatever, it's done."
Shippen handed me a small box this time.
In the box was a bracelet, and some small, clear thing.
I looked up at everyone with a confused look...well, I knew what the bracelet was, but I didn't know the clear thing.
"What's the clear thing?" I asked.
"An ear piece," Victor replied.
"Ahh...who's voice do I get to hear in my head?" I asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Mine," Ian said, like it was a dumb question to ask...which it was, in a way, I guess.
I nodded. "And the bracelet? There has to be more to it than...just a bracelet if I get an ear piece."
"Put it on. There's a mic in the clasp, so you can communicate with Ian," Shaw explained.
I took the bracelet out of the box, and rested it on my left wrist. Ian grabbed my wrist and fastened it for me.
"It's light," I said, looking up at Shaw, after a quiet 'thank you' to Ian.
"That's because it's plastic...well, a material a little heavier than plastic, but it does the job," he said. "Since it is plastic, you won't set off any metal detectors."
"And the ear piece?"
"All plastic as well."
"Huh...interesting," I mumbled.
Just then, the phone rang. Shippen got up to get it.
I took my fake IDs and stuck them in my purse, along with the invitation and the pack of pictures I wanted to give to Ben (I took out the pictures of Ian...I didn't think Ben would want those). I put the ear piece in my left ear.
By that time, Shippen came back from answering the phone.
"Your ride's here, Alex?"
"My ride?" I questioned. "Why don't you guys tell me anything before hand? I feel like an idiot as it is."
"But then we wouldn't get to see the 'many faces of Alex Jensen,'" Ian joked, standing from the chair.
"Very funny, Ian," I said, sarcastically, punching him lightly in his stomach.
I was just a little ball of sarcasm that day...
Getting out of my chair, I went to the window and took a look down. There was a sleek, black limo waiting for...someone.
"Please tell me you didn't get a limo," I said, turning back to the others.
They all just stood there, grinning.
"We couldn't just let you go to something like this in a catering truck, now could we?" Phil retorted.
I took another look out the window.
"I guess not," I said, then turned back to them with a smile. "Thanks, guys."
They nodded, and Ian came over to me.
"Ready?" he asked.
"I just need my camera," I said.
I quickly walked back into the bedroom to grab my second love, and came back into the main room. Ian took my hand, then he, Shaw, and I went down so I could get 'my ride.'
I got a few glances in my direction as I walked through the lobby to the front doors. Some of those glances were from guys, who, I swear, were undressing me with their eyes; which made me feel really uncomfortable.
I guess Ian sensed my discomfort because he put his arm around my waist, pulling me closer to him.
I looked up at him and smiled, gratefully.
When we got outside to the limo, the chauffer opened the back door for me.
Ian let go of me, and gave me a soft shove to the door. He said something to Shaw, then came back over to me.
"Well, what're you waiting for? Get in," he said.
I raised an eyebrow, and stepped into the vehicle. I waited for the door to close, but it didn't...yet. Instead, Ian stepped in also.
He crawled to the opposite side of me, and sat down.
"What...?" I tried to ask something...anything.
"I couldn't let you have all the fun," he said, with that devilish smirk of his.
Closing my mouth, I smiled at him. "Guess not."
I moved closer to Ian, and he put his arm around my shoulders.
As the limo started moving, I could feel the anxiety start to well up. I rested my head against Ian, and inhaled.
I heard a rumble through his chest.
"Shut up," I said. "And I'm not worried; I'm nervous."
"I didn't say a word," he defended.
"But you're laughing," I countered.
"I'm sorry."
I could hear the smirk in his response.
"No, you're not," I smirked, looking up at him, and gave him a kiss.
Within minutes, the limo got in a lineup with the other 'rides' near the Archives.
I could feel my heart rate increase with every inch the limo took forward, and, again, Ian could sense my anxiety.
I was looking out of the window, when Ian shifted closer to me. He wrapped his arms around my waist from behind me, and rested his chin on my shoulder.
"Just stay calm. Take pictures, and get in your zone, but also keep an eye on Gates for us," he said, calmly, in my ear.
I took a deep breath and nodded. "Okay."
"Talk to me, if you need to," he continued, placing a kiss on my neck.
I nodded again, and turned my head to kiss him properly.
Our limo was next to pull up, so Ian let go of me, and slid into the shadows on the other side of the limo, out of view.
"See you in a few hours," I said, turning my head in his direction, then back to the window.
"Maybe sooner...just remember to use the side door I showed you when I call for you," he added.
"I got it."
A/N: More soon...like I said, within 24 hours!
