Making Our Mark

Chapter 24: Gala

Last night was my first night back home since starting school at Monsters University and I relished in the feeling of sleeping in the comfort of my own room again, surrounded by plush pillows and a warm comforter. Aside from gala logistics, my mind was free of pressing matters like assignment deadlines and upcoming dance classes. I was looking forward to spending the winter holiday break relaxing and recuperating before jumping back into studying and working mode.

Tonight was the big night of my family's charity gala, which had me descending the spiraling staircase of our stupidly large house in the red gown that I had purchased not too long ago. Once in the foyer, I turned to the wide mirror hanging on a nearby wall to examine my reflection, including my hair that I had drawn into a half updo tight enough to keep my platinum tiara in place. My makeup included smouldering eyeshadow, perfectly-curled lashes, and lips as red as my dress.

"You clean up well," Johnny's voice croaked from the adjacent room.

Stepping into the doorway leading into the living room, I found a very pale Johnny hanging over the couch and shuddered. "Geez, bro, you look like shit."

Johnny groaned, pulling his maroon comforter up to his neck. "I sure feel like it too."

"Good thing Dad isn't making you go like this," I pointed out, gesturing to his aching form. Since we had both returned home, we quickly learned that his constant coughing that started a few days prior was an early sign that he was coming down with the flu. Unfortunately, it had worsened to the point that he could barely keep food down, let alone move without triggering another wave of nausea, so attending the gala tonight was out of the question for him.

"I don't think I can even get off of this couch," Johnny admitted, closing his eyes wearily.

"Well, I better go uphold the Worthington name for us both then," I joked in an attempt to make him smile.

Johnny chuckled, "I have no doubt that you will."

"Such a sweet thing to say," I remarked as I toyed with my platinum tennis bracelets. "You're definitely ill."

Johnny shook his head, his eyes flying open to give me a look. "Get out of here, sis."

Before I could reply with something witty, the doorbell rang. Given that no one in our house was expecting anyone to show up on our doorstep tonight, I asked Johnny, "Did you order takeout?"

"You made a huge pot of that awesome pigeon soup," Johnny reminded me. "Why would I order in?"

"Good point," I said, re-entering the foyer and crossing it to the front door. Opening it, I found Javier standing on our porch. He was smiling charmingly at me and was decked out in a full suit of black with a tie that matched the colour of my gown.

Holy. Flying. Fangs.

"Bueñas noches, amor," Javier greeted, bringing his hand out from behind his back to reveal a bouquet of a dozen long-stemmed red roses, tied together with a matching silk ribbon, clutched in it.

Smiling, I accepted the roses that he offered and stepped aside. A thought then occurred to me. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm your date, aren't I?" Javier asked teasingly as he entered the house.

"Yes, but I was expecting to meet you at the banquet hall," I explained, shutting the door.

"And have you show up to your family's gala unescorted?" Javier questioned dramatically. "Not a chance, amor. Mi madre raised a gentlemonster."

"That's sweet of you," I said, bringing the rose petals to my nose for a whiff. As the relaxing perfume filled my nostrils, I felt Javier wrap a pair of his arms around my waist, closing the distance between us. The scent of his cologne – a mix of something woodsy and masculine – made me knees buckle under the many layers of silk taffeta.

"By the way," he whispered, pressing a claw under my chin to tilt it upwards, "you look stunning."

I smiled when our lips met in a kiss that was warm and tender, sending a jolt of electricity down to my manicured toes.

"Oi, I already feel nauseous enough!" Johnny's voice rang out from the living room.

Breaking the kiss to stare pointedly at Johnny, I said, "No one asked you to look."

"Ay dios mio, bro, you look like shit," Javier remarked, finally laying eyes on my flu-ridden brother.

I laughed at the déjà vu. "That's what I said!"

Johnny grunted, clearly unamused by our comments. "Don't make me get off of this couch and hurt you."

"Okay, okay, we're going," I insisted, quickly observing my surroundings. "I just need to find a vase first."

"Javier!" my mother greeted, popping out of the kitchen in her gala ensemble: a fitted gown of silver-grey satin with elbow-length sleeves. "Don't you look quite handsome?"

"Thank you Missus Worthington," Javier responded, flashing her a charming smile, "and you look lovely as well."

"Thank you!" my mother said bashfully, holding a hand out to me. "I'll put those in some water for you, sweetie. You two get going to the gala."

"You sure, Mom?" I asked, passing her the bouquet.

"Absolutely," my mother assured me as the phone rang. "Go on ahead and make sure everything is in place. Your father and I will be along shortly."

I nodded and slipped my arm into Javier's. With one last wave to Johnny, I followed Javier out of the house and down the steps of our porch where a bright yellow taxi was waiting for us.

Javier opened the door to the backseat and gestured for me to sit first. "After you, amor."

"What, no motorcycle tonight?" I joked with a laugh.

"We're too dressed up for my ride," said Javier with an amused grin. "Another time, I promise."

I carefully lifted my billowy skirt and climbed into the back seat, scooting over so Javier could sit next to me. I gave the driver the destination and leaned back against the seat, the dance steps that I was to perform within the next few hours crossing my mind in a rehearsal fashion.

Javier laced his fingers through mine as the taxi pulled away from the house.

By sundown, the Golden Pearl Banquet Hall, dripping in lights and garlands of red and green, was bustling with merriment and music. Monsters, dressed to the nines, were mingling with each other throughout the hall, many of them with their claws wrapped around flutes of champagne or glasses of wine. Some couples were on the dance floor, swaying to the soft foxtrot tune emanating from the speakers set up at select locations around the hall.

While my father greeted guests at the door and my mother disappeared into the kitchen to check that dinner preparation was underway, I drifted around the hall to interact with the attendees already present. Some I was meeting for the first time while others, such as those belonging to the Greek community, I was catching up with. Regardless of who I was speaking to, Javier never once left my side; he joked with his fellow students and was the epitome of class whenever he spoke to monsters of great importance, including some members of the board of directors at Monsters Inc. I swear, his ability to charm anyone he meets sometimes baffles me.

"So how am I doing, amor?" Javier whispered to me as the Chief of Staff of Monstropolis General Hospital and his wife politely excused themselves to grab more drinks. "Am I a decent plus one?"

"Colour me impressed, mi cielo," I told him, squeezing his arm affectionately. "You've been polite, charming, debonair, and you haven't made a single cheeky comment since we got here. I'm starting to think there's hope in saving you from Johnny's corruption."

Javier laughed. "Have a little faith in me and, while you're at it, tell your padre to stop glaring at me."

Looking over at the entrance to the hall, I spotted my father watching us, unaware that another couple of guests had greeted him upon their arrival. His stern gaze was directed towards us – probably more so at Javier – but softened when I gave him a smile and a calm wave with the hand that was not looped around Javier's arm.

"I don't think he likes me," Javier murmured as he steered us further away from the entrance.

"Oh, he does," I assured him. "You're a Rios and a RΩR, so he thinks I hit Scaring royalty. However, in his eyes, you're also a hormonal monster who is a few years older than his only Worthington daughter and has the hots for her."

Javier leaned over to whisper in my ear, "He's not wrong, you know."

I hummed at the feeling of his warm breath making my neck tingle. "I'm flattered, but I would behave if I were you or he'll see to it that you lose an arm."

"I believe that, amor," said Javier, looking alarmed at the graphic visual that I just painted.

Casting a quick glance at the analog clock above the bar, I said, "The gala will officially be starting soon. I should go meet up with Dmitry."

My mother approaching stopped us from walking any further. The look of concern on her face instantly worried me. Various scenarios that could be the cause crossed my mind, each worse than the last.

Did we miscalculate the number of tables and chairs that we would need?

I bet the chefs overcooked the monkfish. No one's going to want a rubbery dinner…

Please don't let it be a fight. It's too early in the night for someone to be wasted…

"Sweetie, Dmitry's parents are here," my mother revealed, interrupting my chain of thoughts.

"Oh, good," I answered, exhaling in relief. "For a minute there, Mom, I thought you had bad news."

"Just his parents," my mother elaborated with a sad smile.

I realized then what she was implying and it made my heart sink. "Where's Dmitry?"

"Unfortunately, he fell victim to this year's horrible flu season," my mother explained. "Just like Johnny did. His mother called as soon as you and Javier left the house."

"Oh, no," I gasped for more reasons than one. "Is he okay?"

"He's resting easy," my mother assured me, "but he won't be here to dance with you tonight."

"Well, I'm glad that he's putting his health first," I said and then shook my head, "but I don't know how we're going to explain that to everyone else here in attendance."

"Yes, our guests look forward to seeing you and Dmitry open the gala every year with your dancing," my mother mentioned, looking deep in thought. "The performance tends to get them to open their pockets a bit more for a good cause."

I sighed, furrowing my eyebrows in determination. "Well, Dmitry or no Dmitry, the show must go on. We can't let the Downtown Mission of Monstropolis down."

My mother blinked at me. "Are you saying you're going to dance without a partner?"

"Wouldn't be the first time I did," I reminded her, referring to my Latin solos during previous recitals. Resting a manicured claw over my lips in thought. "I've never seen a solo waltz done before though, but if you can get the emcee to prolong the opening of the gala long enough for me to rework some of the choreography, I might be able to – "

"No need."

I whipped my head around when Javier spoke up. In the midst of mentally coming up with a plan B, I forgot that he was still standing next to me.

"I'll dance with you," said Javier, his face serious.

"What?" I yelped in surprise.

"I'll dance with her," Javier told my mother, seemingly unfazed by my sudden outburst.

"You dance, Javier?" my mother asked with an air of surprise and excitement.

"A little," Javier answered as humbly as he could. Looking back to me, he said, "Like you said, amor, the show must go on."

"You don't have to," I said, my voice a whisper.

"I don't mind," Javier reassured me. Winking at my mother, he added, "It's for a good cause, right?"

"It is indeed," my mother agreed, smiling gleefully.

"But we don't know a routine," I protested.

"Sure we do," said Javier cheerfully. "The one you and Dmitry have spent hours practising. I've seen it enough times to be able to take his place."

"In that case, I'll go inform the emcee of the change in program," my mother offered.

Before I could say anything to object, my mother strolled off, leaving me to consider Javier's suggestion. He had enjoyed popping into my rehearsals with Dmitry to pick up a few pointers from him, so he had seen us dance the routine multiple times. However, it was not the same as actually dancing it with me and that, among other matters, made me concerned.

"You okay, amor?" Javier asked, giving me a slight nudge.

"Are you sure about this?" I questioned.

"Dancing with the most beautiful lady I know?" Javier asked with a sly smile. "Absolutely sure."

"Not that," I said with a small laugh. "I mean, are you sure you want to dance in front of all these monsters and having Johnny finding out? He may not be here tonight, but there are monsters from campus who are." Jutting a thumb behind me, I continued, "Baboso and his parents, yeah, are over there at a table with the Williams family."

"It's just waltzing for charity," said Javier. "Johnny isn't against charity. Let him think I did it for that and for you. Who's going to tell him that I actually like dancing? Goblin knows you won't."

I gnawed on my bottom lip in hesitation. "But –"

"We'll be fine, amor," Javier assured me. "Worst comes to worst, we'll just wing it."

"We can't just wing something for charity!" I hissed as though he merely suggested that we jump off of a cliff without any safety gear. "You know how long Dmitry and I practised our number! Hell, this whole gala itself took months to plan. We had to choose the venue, ensure that the decorations reflected the theme, decide on the food, finalize the program - "

Javier's lips on mine halted any further rambling from me.

"What did you do that for?" I questioned in confusion once he pulled back.

"Because you worry too much," said Javier with a grin. "Just follow my lead."

"Oh, very funny pun there, Jav," I said sarcastically.

"I'm serious," said Javier, holding out a hand for me to take. "Just trust me, okay?"

I stared at his offered hand, contemplating whether or not I was really going to agree to this, when the emcee's voice rang out from the speakers, kindly requesting everyone in attendance to find their seats. Time was up. My choices were limited.

"I trust you to do your part," Javier told me sincerely, his smile exuding confidence. "Trust me to do your partner's."

I exhaled loudly in an attempt to rid myself of the nerves in my belly and nodded.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemonsters," said the emcee. "On behalf of the Worthington family, I would like to thank you for coming out tonight in support of the Downtown Mission of Monstropolis. The proceeds from tonight will go towards providing delicious Clawsmas meals for those less fortunate living within our local community."

I nearly jumped when I felt my left hand being encased, but relaxed immediately when I realized that it was simply Javier taking it in one of his right. I squeezed it as though it was a stress ball. The jitters in my stomach settled the moment I felt him bringing my hand up to his lips for a kiss.

"Before dinner is served," the emcee continued, "a pair of monsters tonight would like to celebrate this season of giving with a special dance in your honour."

I barely registered the announcement of our names during our stroll onto the dance floor. I kept my head held high and regal despite the intense gazes of the guests that threatened to make my knees collapse. Although I trusted Javier to lead me, I knew that he did not know the routine as well as I did. It was important that I concentrated, so I could take the reins at any point during the performance if it was needed.

Reaching the center of the dance floor, I gave Javier's hand another squeeze to get his attention. As soon as he stopped walking and I met his eyes, I nodded before turning my back to him. I breathed a sigh of relief when I felt his back press against mine, just like Dmitry's would whenever we rehearsed the starting point of the routine. I bowed my head and smiled when I felt Javier squeeze my hand back, perhaps his silent way of promising me that everything would be fine, and then let it go.

Not long after Javier and I faced away from each other did the familiar waltz melody begin to play from the speakers. I took a few slow steps forward to the soft beat, one after another, before I felt Javier take my hand in his again. I turned when he gently tugged me back towards him and I glided in his direction as though a magnetic force was dragging us back to each other. Once I was standing before him again, he brushed the back of his upper hands down my cheeks in a tender manner. Smiling lovingly, I took advantage of his lack of hold on me and spun back out to the right, only for him to grasp my hand in his once more. I extended my right arm out gracefully before I let him spin me back to him and take me in hold, leaning me back into a dip.

As the chorus of the song began, Javier lead me into a natural spin turn before sweeping me briskly across the floor in a series of consecutive overturns, eliciting gasps that were audible over the music. Either we were wowing them with the way that we seemed to be skating along the floor like it was an ice rink or we were so out of sync and it clearly showed.

But I don't feel out of sync with him.

As my skirt skimmed the floor around my ankles, I joined Javier in executing a turning lock to the right, followed by a wing and an open telemark. I could hear my voice in my head reminding me of the steps that followed, which kept me focused and prepared to regain control if we somehow stumbled.

Back whisk, a weave from promenade, natural turn…

To my utmost surprise, I found myself relaxing as the routine continued to unfold. Perhaps it had to do with trusting Javier as my dance partner, trusting that he would keep leading me well. Before long, I found myself being dipped again. By this point, I fully believed that Javier would not drop me, so I leaned back with ease and kicked my left foot into the air, sending the ruffled taffeta of my dress flying in a dramatic fashion and the audience into another round of applause.

As we neared the end of the routine and the music began to fade, Javier twirled me out and then back towards him. He then looped his left arms under his my knees and his right ones around my waist, scooping me with ease and curling me against him. He pressed his forehead pressed against mine, his pink orbs boring into my purple ones, and spun us around in a slow circle.

The minute my feet found solid ground again, I took a few steps towards the audience who was on their feet and cheering for us. With a smile as bright as the lights strung around the room, I raised my arms out to the side and bent my knees and head in a graceful curtsy. Straightening up afterwards, I glanced to my left to find Javier in the middle of a humble bow, his entire body radiating poise and charm.

"Ladies and gentlemonsters," the emcee's voice rang out, "give it up one more time for Danica Worthington and Javier Rios!"

After his bow, Javier pulled himself back up and turned to approach me. His smile was warm, one that I returned with one of my own.

"I can't believe we just pulled that off," I muttered through my smile as I graciously accepted the hand that he had offered.

"Told you that we could," Javier mumbled back, nodding his head politely at the applauding monsters that we passed by on our way off of the dance floor.

"It wasn't perfect," I pointed out, "but pretty good considering we didn't dance this together beforehand."

"Hey, the crowd bought it," Javier reminded me, "and that's what matters."

Arriving at our designated table bordering the dance floor, my parents were the first to greet us. My father grasped one of Javier's hands for a firm handshake and gave him a grunt of acknowledgement before my mother pulled him in for a warm embrace. My father then took wrapped an arm around me and pressed a kiss to my forehead, whispering a few words of praise that, considering his usual demeanor, spoke volumes.

"You were brilliant as always, sweetie!" my mother gushed, squeezing me tight the moment I drifted over to her.

"Thank you, Mom," I said, returning the hug and then pulling back. I looked from her dazzling smile to Javier who was chatting animatedly with two bug-like monsters that were as tall as he was: his parents. The Rios patriarch stood proudly and confidently, his broad shoulders pushed back and his chest puffed out in importance. His wife, from whom Javier inherited his quartet of pink orbs, exuded an aura as refined as the way she carried herself in her gown of rose gold. Her gaze flitted from Javier to me as though she sensed that I was watching and, to my good fortune, smiled at me.

Javier, who either was following his mother's gaze or felt my eyes boring into his back, turned to face me. The minute his eyes met mine, he smiled reassuringly and held out a hand to me, a silent signal for me to come over and join them.

After one big exhale, I straightened my back and walked over to the Rios family, keeping my gaze on Javier because his confidence brought me much comfort. I took his hand and felt him squeeze it tenderly, a move that calmed my erratically beating heart.

"Madre, Padre," said Javier, addressing his parents, "I'd like you to properly introduce you to my girlfriend, Danica."

Taking my outstretched hand in a gentle handshake, Javier's mother beamed at me and said, "It's so good to see you again, Danica, especially now that you and my son are courting."

"It's nice to see you too, Doctor Rios," I responded with a shy smile.

"Stefania," Javier's mother corrected me kindly before turning to her husband and telling him, "She's gorgeous, absolutely gorgeous, isn't she?"

Shaking my hand next, Javier's father smiled at me and said, "Yes, I can see why my son can't shut up about you."

"Pa!" Javier cried in horror.

I couldn't help but laugh at the embarrassed expression on Javier's reddening face. "Good things I hope?"

"Absolutely," Mister Rios responded, "and given that you're a Worthington, I can't say I'm surprised."

I felt myself blush, not used to all this praise.

"Double major, if I recall correctly," said Mister Rios to me. "Spanish Studies and Education, a dance instructor at the MU fitness center, an award-winning ballroom dancer, and a local philanthropist?"

"Si, Señor," I answered politely, feeling as though I was sitting through a job interview and Javier's father was going through my resume with a fine tooth comb.

"Very impressive," said Mister Rios before turning to Javier and nodding towards me. "She's a keeper. Be good to her."

"Si, Pa," Javier answered with a sigh.

I giggled, rubbing Javier's arm. "He's always good to me, Señor Rios."

"I'm so pleased to hear that," said Stefania, beaming proudly at her son. "So, shall we find our seats?"

"We shall," I agreed, waving a hand towards our table. "Dinner should be out shortly."

Dinner, as expected, tasted as delicious as the day my mother and I sampled the dishes. Unfortunately, it was not enough to prevent my parents and Javier's parents from making the dining experience awkward at times. My parents, for example, tried to pass off embarrassing stories about me as 'advice' to Javier ("Danica has a tendency to get hangry, but give her a few tacos and she lights up considerably."). Javier, being an only monster, did not have it much better. His mother, in between mouthfuls of spicy peanut soup, gushed about Javier when he was younger, going as far as to circulate photos of him that she carried around in her purse for us all at the table to see. By the time the main courses were brought out, I was not sure which was redder: the tomato sauce on the monkfish or Javier's face.

I got a sense that the universe sought to give us some sort of way out because a soft classical tune struck up in the middle of dessert that saw Javier rise to his feet at the same time that his mother began to pull yet another photograph from her bottomless purse. Offering a hand to me, Javier asked, "Let's dance, shall we?"

The pointed look that Javier was giving told me that what he said was not a question. Sliding my half-eaten cheesecake aside, I accepted his hand and accompanied him back onto the dance floor full of guests who had also taken the floor for some more dancing.

"Finally," Javier exhaled, sliding all four arms around me, his hands resting on my lower back.

"You okay?" I asked.

Javier nodded. "Sí, just wanted to spare you the horror of seeing a photo of me being potty-trained. It's not pretty."

I laughed. "If it was anything like that shot of you in diapers, I'm sure it was adorable."

"Only you would think that," Javier scoffed.

"So, I'm your girlfriend," I reminded him. "My opinion of you is the only one that matters."

"True," said Javier with a laugh as he continued to sway us in a circle.

"Despite the photos, are you enjoying yourself tonight?" I asked.

"Sí, it was nice to get out, catch up with other monsters, and enjoy some good food," Javier answered. "The cherry on top was that I got to dance with the most beautiful girl in the room."

I feigned a look of shock. "Was I in the bathroom when you did this?"

"You were there, amor," Javier chuckled, pressing his forehead against mine. "You know firsthand how gorgeous she is. I couldn't resist."

"Let's face it, you couldn't resist her from the moment you met her," I pointed out, smiling coyly.

"And I'm not ashamed of it," said Javier.

Sliding my hands up from his chest to cup his neck, I said, "Thank you."

"For what?" Javier asked with a grin.

"For everything," I answered honestly. "For being here with me tonight, for calming me when I was freaking out earlier about Dmitry not being here, for performing with me, for,,,just being you. I don't think anyone else could have taken on the change of events of tonight as smoothly as you did. I'm grateful to have you here with me."

Caressing my lower back, Javier murmured, "There's no place I'd rather be, amor."

I smiled as Javier leaned in for a kiss, only to pull back abruptly at the sound of a throat clearing and I laughed.

Javier grimaced and whispered, "Your dad's right behind me, isn't he?"

I nodded before turning to smile innocently at my father who was glaring menacingly at Javier with folded arms. I immediately felt Javier's hands jolt upwards to rest over the middle of my back, an area that he apparently deemed safe in the eyes of my father.

My mother, who had been dancing with my father, smiled knowingly at me before taking the lead and gliding both of them away to another part of the dance floor. The moment they disappeared in the crowd of twirling guests, the tension in Javier's shoulder dissipated.

"Wow, who knew a Worthington could terrify a Rios?" I teased, giving him a playful jab in the chest.

"Like I needed the extra motivation to treat you well," said Javier with a nervous laugh.

"Oh, you already treat me well," I told him, running a finger along his chiselled jaw. "You treat me like a Queen."

"That's because that's what you are," said Javier before meeting my lips in a sweet kiss, one that lasted well into the next song that we danced to.