Standard Disclaimer: check the prologue
Okay this was supposed to be part of the last chapter, but I wanted to move along as quickly as possible. Sorry for the wait!!
After Layla and Magenta were picked up by their respective dates, Maya and Aunt Paige and the arsenal of pretty-making servants descended on me with scary ferocity that I was done with half an hour to wait for Lee to pick me up. Yay, I have thirty minutes to kill before I go to the Mayor's Super Ball and I can't do anything very fun or I'll muss up my hair or my lacy crème color gown will tear. (Inspiration found: http://www.dariuscordell-dot-com/dresses.htm, number B3299) Why would anyone wear such clothes when it's just not practical? Right, it's just for prettiness.
Carefully I stepped down the stairs to the den where Sophie's play area was set up to lead her to bed. Her giggle wafted around me and instantly I knew that Warren was there, only he could really make her that happy. God, if any of the others knew of his soft, playful side I'm almost certain his reputation of a bad boy 'I will incinerate you if you cross me' will be shattered.
"Mommy!" Sophie scrambled off the den floor to the step I sat on to hug me with her dirty little fingers. Ooh not good! Involuntarily I squeezed my eyes shut expecting a little body to slam into me, only to hear Sophie squealing excitedly. Warren saved my gown from my niece.
"Hi." I squeaked nervously.
"Hey." His brow furrowed at my sudden onslaught of shyness, I was still under the shadows of the stairs until he beckoned me under the florescent lights. "Nice."
"You think he'll like it?" I nibbled my lip with a slight twirl. I barely notice the change of expression when my attention was brought back with my niece's squealing.
"Mommy pwetty!" Sophie struggled in Warren's grasp reaching for me, but of course 'Daddy' was far too strong. The tiny girl let out a large yawn and slumped against Warren's shoulder.
"I guess we should tuck her in, huh?"
"Yeah." We trudged up the steps to Sophie's nursery where she snuggled under her cartoon elephant bedcovers with a raggedy elephant stuffed animal that used to be mine (only I'm not releasing to information to anyone, especially not Warren).
"Goodnight baby," I whispered against Sophie's golden curls when I leaned in to kiss her. My ankles wobbled a bit from the heels, but Warren's hand shot out to steady me after stroking Sophie's head gently. Oh yeah, Warren's 'Big-Bad-I-will-incinerate-you' image would definitely be destroyed in a heartbeat if anyone knew.
As we closed the door, he had to help steady me down the steps where at the main entrance hall waited James with the cordless phone. He gave us a look that I silenced with my own piercing glare.
"Mistress Oshi, there is a Lee Chang on the telephone."
"Oh, I'll take it," I said excitedly quickly wobbling down the remaining steps only to trip over my feet and fall flat onto my face with a heavy thud. "Ow."
"Mistress Oshi!"
"Oshi!" The clatter of feet rushed over to me as several pairs of hands lifted me off the floor. I was laughing.
"I'm fine, I'm –ow- fine." I gently pushed away their hands as I stood wobbly on my own and clutched the phone to my chest. With an excited grin, I hurried over into my father's office, "Hi Lee."
"Hey, I heard a crash, is everything okay?"
Chuckling nervously, I bit my lip. "Yeah, just a little mishap, but everything is fine. Are you ready, should I send for the limo to get you?"
"Um…that's kinda why I needed to call, it looks like I can't go. Something's come up. I'm sorry."
"Oh." I couldn't believe it, in truth, this was my first date ever and now I was being stood up. "Well, if something's come up I understand. It's not like I was totally ready anyway." I forced a laugh to hide my creeping disappointment.
"I feel really bad, Josephina…"
"No. Its fine really, I'll just hang out at home and sleep or something. Besides dances aren't my thing." I desperately tried to reason, who was I trying to convince, him or myself?
"Are you sure? I'm pretty sure I can get a buddy of mine to take you, I'd hate for you to have had put all this effort in the dance and not go."
"Really, its fine. Promise." Thank God I was on the phone because then he couldn't see how distressed I became. "Listen, I've gotta make some calls so I'll just see you in school okay?" My voice squeaked a bit as I desperately grasped at my fading composure.
"Yeah, yeah, okay." He sounded relieved as the line went dead.
"Mistress Oshi, shall I have Stewart fetch your young man?" James questioned politely as I exited my father's office. Warren and James looked away from one glaring at one another to watch me with a fake calm smile plastered on my face.
"No, James, he just called to say that he couldn't come. Would you do me a favor and call Aaron's mobile and tell him I won't be attending the Mayor's Ball? Thank you. Good night Warren, James." I slipped off my heels and ascended the stairs.
"Oshi, you okay?" Warren called after me, James had already made himself scarce.
"I don't know." He gave me a look before racing up the stairs and forcing me to plop down on the carpeted steps. "Disappointed, I think. It's weird because I was really looking forward to this, y'know? I was excited to see something I'd done turn out good for once…Don't you have a Valentine's Dance at your school to go to?" Warren shrugged and lay back against the stairs.
"Ever since the homecoming fiasco, I tend to avoid dances." My lips puckered in thought.
"Right…that's too bad. Because I was gonna suggest you come with me to the Mayor's Ball and my Valentine's Day Dance."
"But didn't you just say you weren't going?" He brow rose at my sudden change in mood.
"Well if you want me to get thrown to the wolves, then some friend you are, Warren." I grinned him. In talking to Lee, I had an epiphany. "See I've got two choices, I could either stay here fattening up on strawberry push-pops, or I can go to the Mayor's Ball like I promised and the Valentine's Dance I worked my ass off on."
"Yeah, me not going could pose a problem."
"Who says you aren't going?" My grin widened. "You've just volunteered to be my date."
A/N: Soo sorry for the long delay and that this is so short. I've had so much to do and not enough time. I'm so tired of college, my lower div classes are so tedious I should've graduated already!! Anyway please review.