4.47pm Jade drove me to Emy's fashion house to test the dresses for Saturday's showcase. Just one model was there when we arrived, others came in later and we started dressing, we tested just the dress and shoes, veil and other accessories would be used tomorrow evening. We spent hours testing before Emy allowed us to go, they were 12 different dresses, which meant we'd all be showcasing 2 dresses each.
we got home minutes past 8 to see Xiao Ling and Ariel at the living room, "hey, how are you feeling?" Xiao Ling asked hugging me
"I'm ok, how about you, are you comfortable at Darren's place?" I asked
"of course, I've been staying there sometimes before the incident and I was planning to spend the weekend so it's okay," she replied.
"Ling, how are you?" Jade asked coming inside the house.
"yes, thanks for asking," she replied
"And you must be Ariel, good to see you," Jade said shaking Ariel's hand, she was grinning from ear to ear
"It is an honour to meet you," she answered.
"come on guys let's go get ready. See you later honey," I kissed Jade briefly and went to my room with Xiao Ling and Ariel.
"Aunt Salin," Juliet shrieked in excitement and hugged Xiao Ling from behind
"My goodness UK, how will I explain to your daughter that my name is Xiao Ling and not Salin?" Xiao Ling asked
"UK you have a daughter?" Ariel asked
"She's Jade's daughter," I said
"Mommy UK, who is this woman in our house?" Juliet asked
"She's Mommy's friend pumpkin," I told her
"I'm off to bed now, good night Mommy," she said and went to her room.
"so have you decided what to wear?" Xiao Ling asked me
"yep, check out this cloth, my sister got it for me when I was shopping to travel over here," I said bringing out a khaki colour skirt and blouse.
The blouse was a sleeveless crop top, with with strappy backside and the skirt was a long skirt with a slit from my upper thigh.
"oh my goodness it's so pretty and sexy, what shoes are you wearing?" Xiao Ling asked about I showed her a khaki colour gladiator sandals.
"it is perfect" Ariel said.
we took our time to put on our make up and our dress.
Xiao Ling wore a short black and blue dress over a black pantyhose and black stilettos.
Ariel wore short, long sleeved, body hugging, pearl colour dress, which had white beads all over it.
"UK come on we're going to run late," Xiao Ling said as I was applying gel on the edge of my hair.
"okay, okay, I'm done," I said shoving face powder and clear lip gloss in my purse.
we walked in a straight line downstairs, Xiao Ling in front, Ariel next and me at the rear. Jade was talking with Scott, Max and 5 other bodyguards, "honey what's going on?" I asked walking up to him
"They would protect the three of you," he answered
"I don't need all of them, Scott or Max is enough for me," I told him
"I know, but you are not alone, Xiao Ling wouldn't have been alive right now if that crazy man had attacked her and not you, and Ariel is your friend too, she deserves to be protected. you can still enjoy your party without even knowing they are there. please do it, so that I can be at peace,"
"alright, goodbye,"
"UK, you are not allowed to talk to any guy except Darren, and try not to seduce all the guys there,"A typical young adult party is a noisy and fun one, looking back, I'd say that it was more like a club than a welcome party.
I steered clear from alcohol, Ariel, Xiao Ling and I took a spot on the counter, ordering non-alcoholic drinks, we wanted to have fun with our senses still intact, the fun part of it was that the drinks were free.
"Are we going to dance? Do something different from sitting here to drink?" Ariel asked
"we will, when the time is right, right now the dance floor is filled with great dancers, we need to draw every single person's attention to ourselves." Xiao Ling explained "By the way Ariel can you dance?"
"very well," Ariel answered
"I hope so" Xiao Ling said and returned to her drink
I didn't say anything, instead I used my nails to pull out a grapefruit from my drink, put it in my mouth and return the glass of drink on the counter.
"Come on ladies, let's show 'em what to do on the dance floor." I said hopping down from my stool "wait for me" Ariel said joining me and Xiao Ling followed close by.
The song playing was nice but not my type, when I'm in this kind of party, I prefer wild music. We moved into the heart of the crowd, swaying our body to the tune of the song.
"Do you believe in deja Vu, UK?" Xiao Ling shouted over the song
"I guess, why?" I replied
"Nothing, just keep believing" she said
"I love this music guys, it is so wild" Ariel shouted, jumping and pumping her fist
"You call this wild, I'll show you wild," she took of her shoes and jumped, waving her shoes high up
"Ling what on Earth are you doing?" I asked
she only said "wait for it..."
And then the music stopped and the light on the dance floor was switched off leaving the spot where the DJ stood and the bar illuminated.
"Ladies and gentlemen, we are about to witness something spectacular, move aside if you don't wanna get hit"
"hold this for me will you?" Xiao Ling said giving me something that felt like a pen, I made a mistake to squeeze it, because a red light came out of it, immediately the red light shone, a spotlight fell on me.
"Ling..." I gnarled
The lights came up and 50 Cent's In da club started playing
"don't blame me, your boyfriend taught me," Xiao Ling said.
I couldn't remain upset with her, I threw the pen to her and started tapping my hand on my thigh. I was in a circle of students already, I picked up a faster pace when the music became wild. It felt like I was in the club, with Jade somewhere watching me, I closed my eyes and let my body dance to the music.
Cheers and hoots filled my ears, the DJ changed the song to Ciara's Level Up and I turned wild, I was dancing like a mad person, Xiao Ling and Ariel joined and then others joined slowly.
I danced until my legs hurt, "I need to hydrate," I told them and staggered to the bar, "I need an iced tea please" I said to the guy behind the counter.
"you were really awesome down there," he said placing my drink before me.
"you saw that?" I asked "who didn't" he replied and went to attend to someone else. I sat there sipping my drink and nodding to the beat of the music. "Hello princess," a guy said, slipping on the empty stool next to me. His face looked familiar, where did I see this face... I got it, the airport. "Trent?"
"UK?"
"oh my God, it's so good to see you," Trent said
"yeah me too, although I'm surprised to see you here," I told him
"oh my sister made me come with her, but she bailed on me the moment her friends came," he said
"oh, I understand,"
"so how were you able to resolve your flight issue?" he asked
"it was a misunderstanding, everything got sorted out," I replied vaguely
"wow, I'm so happy for you, I felt so bad when you weren't allowed to come in and we were seatmates," he said
Memories of that day came flashing and I smiled, "everything turned out to be perfect," I muttered to myself.
''Can I buy you a drink?" he asked
"the drinks are free and besides, I'm with a full glass already," I told him
"then how about coffee or something, tomorrow,"
"my plates are full,"
"fine can I please get your number?'' he asked
I was saved from saying anything when a girl I assumed was his sister showed up, i slipped out the moment he turned his attention to her.
I had been instructed not to talk to any guy except Darren, so while my two girlfriends were having a time of their lives on the dance floor, I searched for Darren. He stood behind a pool table at a corner of the big party hall, "hey handsome," I said walking up to him.
''Don't let my girlfriend hear you," he said smiling
"ooh, she's now your girlfriend, no more Ling Ling" I said smacking his shoulder
"wow girl you've got some nerves, weren't you flirting with my brother a minute ago and now you're with the guy I was talking with?" Trent's sister said walking up to the pool table, with her brother closely behind her.
"I beg your pardon?" I said walking up to them "what did you just say?"
"So you had a boyfriend few feet away from us and you made me look stupid in front of you, asking for your number and trying to ask you out? Not cool UK, not cool." Trent said to me.
"I think there is a misunderstanding here. first, I wasn't flirting with your brother, he's just someone who helped me at the airport and he came to me at the bar. Second, I do have a boyfriend but he's not this guy here, this is Darren and he's a very good friend of mine. He's taken by the way so you better back off!" I said
"Heyo peeps!" Xiao Ling called as she and Ariel joined
"OMG that was awesome Ling, I can't believe you could pull that stunt given the nature of your dress, but you were freaking awesome. UK you should have seen the way Ling was dancing, not as great as you were, but it was a sight to behold," Ariel rambled without pausing to breathe.
"You tell me to back off but you were standing right there with him, laughing and touching like some slut..." Trent's sister continued
"you watch your tongue bitch, nobody talks to UK that way, NO FUCKING BODY. capiche?" Ariel said defending me.
"UK what's going on here?" Xiao Ling asked and I explained everything to her
"you little imp!" Xiao Ling said ready to pounce on her but Darren and I held her,
"if we create a scene, they will come out to protect us but then I will be on the news, I don't want to be on the news because of something like this. Come on let's get out of here," I said to Xiao Ling.
"you can go, but I'm not leaving this party because of some people," Xiao Ling said.
"I didn't say leave the party, I said leave this particular place, I think I'm in need of something stronger than ice tea. I need a martini!!!" I said walking to the bar, I made sure that my right shoulder bumped into Trent's sister's. She was so infuriated. oh how much I loved the way her face was. This night was awesome, I had friends ready to fight for me and real fighters somewhere around. What more could I possibly ask for?