Tryin' to be perfect
Tryin' not to let you down, yeah
Honesty is honestly
The hardest thing for me right now
-Kris Allen, The Truth

April 3, 2016: 4:24 p.m.

I wasn't very fond of black tie events. They were always so conventional and well-boring. But this life was full of them whether it was a publicity event or awards show. You had to attend and I wasn't an exception no matter how much I had bugged Cooper.

This one was for a nonprofit organization that dealt with children and health. I had forgotten the name of it already which may not have been the smartest move.

"I didn't realize that people would be so-" McKenna trailed off as we entered the building.

"Old?" I finished looking around. The place was full with men and women dressed sophisticatedly. They were all talking in small groups as the slow, peaceful music filled the room.

McKenna thwacked my shoulder. "Not old," she defended, "Just older."

I scoffed at her rationale. Granted most of the people looked like they were in there late thirties, but there were some senior citizens here giving their support as well. "They're pretty old."

McKenna rolled her eyes, but smiled nonetheless.

She had a nice smile. I mean, it was the same one as always, but yeah. I guess I hadn't noticed it before.

She was wearing a backless, burgundy floor-length dress. Her hair was up in a bun with strands falling down around her face in delicate curls. She was elegant and it was hard not to appreciate it.

I turned away before I started to look like a creeper. "Look, food." Not waiting for a reply, I walked toward the buffet. I grinned spotting the one food I wouldn't mind eating. These places always had a variety of food, but almost always they provided mini hot dogs.

God's gift to mankind.

"Seriously?" McKenna questioned as I picked up a plate and started stacking it with the small irresistible bites.

I looked at her accusingly, "We're here for you. At least let me enjoy my mini hot dogs." This was her charity event. She was donating as well as promoting and I was her date.

The building was well lit and drenched in gold from the impressive chandeliers to the chairs. There was a stage at the front with stairs leading up to it. There were various tables, most of which were occupied. Candles were lit on each which didn't make much sense to me since the lighting was already good. There were also stands situated around the place, but I couldn't tell what they were for.

"Fine," McKenna said. She looked down at my plate and before I could turn away she swiped one off.

"Hey, there's more over there," I said shielding my plate which was useless now.

She smirked. "Learn to share," she said before taking a bite.

I silently mocked her as I began cleaning up my plate.

Oh man, I needed the chef's number. They were delicious!

"So what are we supposed to do here anyways," I asked looking around the room. Everyone was talking secludedly for the most part. I didn't mind standing by the food before, but now I got what I needed from it.

"Mingle?" McKenna questioned, but she didn't look all that sure. She began walking and I followed, realizing she was going to a table.

Looking at my watch, I yawned. It was barely eight.

McKenna hit my shoulder again.

"What was that for?" I looked at her incredulously. Was it hit Reece day?

"Stop yawning," she declared.

"It was involuntary. I can't stop it from happening," I defended.

"This is a charity event to help kids. The least you can do is act like you're into it," McKenna said.

"It's not like the kids are here."

I shut my mouth when McKenna glared at me.

"It's a basic human instinct," I muttered unable to help myself as I refrained to yawn again.

How do you even stop a yawn? It's human nature. You get tired, you yawn. You think about things and you just yawn. It happens.

I bit the inside of my cheeks trying to stop myself, but it was no use. It was too late.

"Reece!" McKenna hissed.

I raised my hands up in surrender. "I'm sorry! You were telling me not to yawn and then I kept thinking about not yawning and you know you yawn when you think about yawning."

McKenna rubbed her temple, shaking her head. "Public event. This is a public event. It would be bad to hit him," she muttered.

I loved public events.

"It won't happen again," I promised, a little amused.

I was tired; I couldn't help it. It was the amount of hours I was putting in at the studio. There was also the fact that I keep finding myself awake half way through the night knowing that was all the sleep I was going to get. I was exhausted and trying to make it work. I couldn't tell McKenna, though. She was already on my case about not looking too well.

"What's this event for anyway?" I asked.

"It's dedicated to fund research to treat and prevent congenital heart disease in children." McKenna informed me, "It's a birth defect and tragically common here. So many lives are impacted by it, Reece."

I remained silent, not knowing what to say. The fact that we were here for something real and devastating hadn't hit me before.

This was real. Kids were suffering from this and McKenna was helping. I've been in this world full of money and greed for three years and the idea never even crossed my mind.

"It's great. That you wanted to help out," I said looking over at her.

She shrugged, "Whatever you can do to help right?"

Right.

"Why this charity? There's so many, why'd you choose this one."

McKenna turned toward me as if contemplating whether to speak.

"You can tell me," I encouraged wanting her to trust me.

McKenna let out a sigh. She pursed her lips as if she debating on whether she should before she finally spoke. "It's not-Uh, my brother-Justin-he got a concussion two years back. He's fine now, but the idiot was playing football in the street and hit his head on the curb. He was admitted overnight and when we visited I decided to wander. I don't know how, but I ended up on a different floor and met this little boy....He was three and was just there hanging out in the hall. I talked to him for a while. He was the sweetest little kid, honestly," she let out a small laugh.

"But he'd been in the hospital for months; he had a weak heart. Anyway, Justin had short term memory loss and when he came in for his check ups, I'd go see the little kid too. And then one day, there was no one left to visit. His heart couldn't take anymore and it failed the night before. He was gone at four years old. He was only four."

McKenna's eyes were misty, but she gave me a sad smile, "I didn't know him for long, but I swear his heart may have been weak but it was golden. I began donating when I could after that. Only small amounts, but I did what I could. And now, I could do a lot more so I'm doing it."

"You're a really good person," I said, my thoughts spoken out loud.

"Thanks," she said the surprise evident on her face, "but I wouldn't go as far as saying that"

"Why not?" I asked in disbelief. She was like a freaking saint and she wouldn't even accept that she was good. In this world of lies, deception and fuck ups, she was good.

I would drink to that.

God, that sounded like a good idea.

"High school wasn't the best time for me. This was just one moment that resulted in something worthwhile." She said slowly as if she was choosing her words carefully.

I furrowed my eyebrows, confused, "What does that mean?"

"Exactly what I said," she remarked giving nothing away.

"But-"

"Can't we just leave it at that?" McKenna asked but it was more like a statement.

"I rather not," I commented honestly wanting her to tell me.

She stared at me with a look I couldn't place before turning away. "He's in charge of this event ," she nodded toward a man with grey hair and a charming smile who was talking up a few guests, "I'm going to go talk to him."

Without waiting for a reply, she walked in his direction. I watched her leave realizing she had left me alone with no answers. She placed a hand on his shoulder and he turned around. Upon seeing her, his grin widened and they hugged like they knew each other.

They had already started up a conversation and I was dumb-struck. Why the hell wouldn't she tell me?

I gave a closed smile as a few guests sat down at my table. They greeted me, but began talking to themselves quickly.

Great.

Realizing McKenna wasn't coming back any time soon, I got out of my seat to look around.

"Good evening, sir."

I nodded at the worker behind one of the tables. He stood with his hands behind his back, poised. His bow tie was slightly crooked, though. Looking down at the papers placed neatly on the table, I picked up a clipboard. There were names going down with high prices next to them.

"What is this?" I asked.

"An auction. We have a few going," the guy filled me in, "This is for an antique vase." He pointed toward a picture on the table.

Well it was definitely antique.

I put the clipboard down and moved on, now understanding why they were having this event. I moved past a few tables that were occupied by people already. One of the last tables didn't have anything to auction. It was simply a donation and it already had quite a few signatures on it.

Making up my mind, I picked up my pencil and added my name to the list. For the kids with hearts of gold.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen," a thick voice ran through the speakers. I looked up at the stage along with the rest of the crowd. "I would like to thank you all for attending tonight. This is a great cause and I am extremely grateful all of you are part of it."

I applauded in appreciation along with the rest. It was the same guy that was talking to McKenna earlier. I looked around for her, but there were too many guests that were walking over to the stage to get a better view.

Giving up on finding her, I joined the crowd.

"As you all know, today is an event to raise money for this organization. And right now, we have a beautiful young lady who has agreed to auction off a dance to raise money. Everyone, please give a hand for the talented, McKenna Ellis."

My eyed widened as the crowd applauded louder than they had before.

Another thing I did not know. Me not knowing was becoming an actual thing.

My eyes darted to the middle of the stage. McKenna took the guy's outstretched hand and made her way onto the stage. She gave the crowd a smile, moving a few strands of hair behind her ear.

I found myself smiling at her nervousness.

"We've had many proposals. But this auction has come to an end with a dance from Ms Ellis raising $275,000." The guy stopped for a second allowing the crowd to clap in appreciation. The shock was evident in McKenna's expression. That was a shitload of money for a dance. "The generous and lucky gentlemen is Beck Shokur."

Interested in putting a face to the familiar name, I strained to look over the crowd. A guy in a black suit similar to mine came up on stage. He smiled showing his perfect teeth. The music came on playing Photograph by Ed Sheeran as McKenna took his hand. He brought her in close and they began dancing as the guy in charge got off stage.

McKenna laughed at something he had said and he turned toward the crowd for a moment, showing his perfect teeth as he smiled yet again.

His face clicked in my memory and I realized where I had heard his name before. He was an actor on some tv show. He was faired skin and his jet black hair was spiked up. He wasn't more than a few years older than me. I was surprised I hadn't seen him here before.

He looked like a wannabe Taylor Lautner in his werewolf days.

The crowd had started joining in offstage now making their own dance floor. I turned away since by date had ran off only to be face to face with an older lady.

"Now, where are you going?" she exclaimed putting her hands on her hips. She was fairly short and looked nowhere near mean with her bright blue eyes. Her hair was white as snow and curled short.

"Uh, my date is preoccupied," I told her pointing toward the stage.

She looked over before waving my excuse off. "Please, sweetie I'm right here."

I raised my eyebrows, taken back at her outstretched hand. I chuckled taking it, "Right this way."

"There you go. That's the right answer," she laughed dancing with me in the midst of the crowd. "You know, you remind me of my grandson."

"Really?"

"Oh yea," she said, "But he wouldn't let another man dance with his girlfriend."

"I-uh," I chuckled nervously unable to reply under her scrutinizing gaze. "It's for charity?"

"Humph," she disapproved, "It is now, but you wait. She's going to run off with him and you'll be left here with little old me."

"You think so?" I questioned looking back at the stage. He was a little too close for a charity dance.

"With a face like that. And the way that suit fits him," she gave me a meaningful look, "You're in some deep trouble."

I scrunched my eyebrows not knowing if I should feel insulted. "Well if that does happen. I wouldn't mind being stuck here with you."

She laughed, "Well thank you dear."

"Excuse me, do you mind if we switch partners?" We looked over to see McKenna. The song had switched over without our noticing.

"That depends. Were you still with that Beck boy?" she asked looking behind McKenna.

"Yes," McKenna said, amused.

She looked over at me, raising her eyebrows, "Thanks for the dance." Without another word, she moved along.

I watched, my mouth agape.

She literally ran off.

"I didn't even get her name," I muttered.

"She looks like a real heartbreaker," McKenna says encircling her arms around my neck.

I placed my hands on her hips, feigning hurt. "Beck better watch out."

Iris began playing as more people joined in. "I didn't know you were auctioning off a dance."

McKenna let out a relieved laugh, "Well it wasn't my idea and I was nervous. Beck was nice, though."

"He seemed friendly," I said a little sourly.

"Yeah. He told me he donates to a few charities around here. He recently heard of this one." McKenna went on, unphased.

"He sounds delightful."

"Apparently, there's a charity cause for cleft lift pallets. He bought a painting that was donated," she went on admiringly.

He should have just bought a painting here.

"The painting was a-"

"Won't Noah be a little mad. Now you got two new boyfriends," I interrupted not wanting to hear her talk about Beck anymore.

McKenna looked taken back, her hazel eyes analyzing mine. "What're you talking about?"

I shrugged, "Noah, me and now Beck? Pretty soon, it's going to be too many to count. How's he cool with all this?"

"Thats none of your business." She sounded hurt, but I refused to look at her as I continued.

"I'm just asking what's his deal. The guy loves to share-"

"Stop," McKenna said coldly. She turned to make sure no one was listening; we were barely swaying to the music now. Her glare was deadly and I knew I messed up. "You don't know anything about me so stop talking about things you have no clue about. I don't need you to bring it up and you definitely have no right to."

"I-"

"I need to leave," McKenna let out a frustrated sigh.

She moved away from me, but I followed. She couldn't just leave. She might be pissed but walking away wasn't going to help for shit.

It only made things worse.

"You can't just walk away," I grabbed her hand when she wouldn't listen. "Would you stop and just listen to me?"

My mind was racing with questions, one being what part of what I said exactly ticked her off. Another being what the hell was I going to say if she did stop.

"No, Reece," McKenna turned around, "Because I swear if you say one more word I just might slap you and then we're going to have to spend weeks more together to fix that mess and I don't want that. So let me go."

I clenched my jaw not allowing her brutal honesty to show its effect. I let go of her hand and watched as she broke our gaze and went out the door.

A/N: Probably some errors in there. Sorry! Anyways it was a kind of interesting chapter for me to write. Love to hear what y'all have to say!

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