23  my friend fabio

I jogged to my boss’ side. He didn’t notice me, but I sure as heck noticed the six foot ladder that was being swung my way. I gasped and dropped to the ground. Another one of the party people stepped on my delicate fingers with his heeled shoes.

I cringed and bit down on my tongue to hold back a curse.

“Lena,” Derek says my name. “What on earth are you doing on the floor?” he sounds disgusted with me, like I’m an insignificant leech in the way of his proper party planning.

I fly up off the ground like a spring. I wipe my hands along my jeans and glance around the room casually at the tens of people he’s employed to set up the soiree. I really just wish I wasn’t here.

“I uh,” I fumble with my words when I notice a maid across the room teetering on one foot, trying her best to dust a tall bookshelf. “I’m just trying to stay out of the way,” I stop speaking again as I hurry to get out of a buffet tables way as it slides across the marble floor.

“Why did you leave the children upstairs?” Derek asks me halfheartedly, never once looking up from his mobile phone screen.

“You called for me sir,” I answer and almost roll my eyes. Really, how dense could he possibly be?

From somewhere in the formal dining hall a crash sounds. I cringe, worried for the life of the poor soul, but Derek pretends to not have heard it. I guess with all the chaos happening he has much bigger things to worry about. Like maybe the chandelier that’s being polished overhead by men wearing ropes around their midsections.

The house is a circus: flying acrobats included.

“Oh yes, I did summon you didn’t I?”

Summon? What century did he pop in from??

“Yes you did sir,” I answer cordially. But in my head all I can scream is “LETS GET THIS PARTY STARTED AND OVER WITH SO I CAN GO HOME AND DRINK AN ALE”.

“Are you aware that the ball starts in four hours?”

Is this a trick question…?

“Umm,” I answer timidly. Not really sure how to approach this one, TBH.

“So I suggest you busy yourself with readying the children and such,” he says strictly.

MEOW. Jeesh, who spit in this lad’s cheerios?

I grumble inside my head. Spreading the most artificial grin on my face I say, “Of course sir. Then I’ll put on that lovely dress you so kindly paid for.”

Derek turns to me and tilts his fat head to the side. With a raise of his graying eye caterpillars he states, “Very good.” And then strides off to get his manor ready for his “ball”.

Such a snob.

I roll my eyes with a growl. How did I get dragged into this, anyway?

Maneuvering past maids and caterers I walk back upstairs at a leisurely pace. I’m not at all anxious about tonight’s events, only anxious for them to be over with. Don’t get me wrong dear, I am a girl and I love a good dress…. But I’m not at all excited to put myself into the awkward situation of attending the same benefit as One Direction and my creepy stalker boss. It’s gonna be a heck of a show, that’s for sure.

I’m so preoccupied with my own thoughts that I almost walk right past Liam without noticing him. But my Handsome Hunk radar exploded, so I froze to the spot. With my bare feet glued to the carpet Liam smiled casually towards me then disappeared into his room.

That was almost a moment between us.

“What are you doing out here?” Ben asks with a curl of his lip. He’s been watching me stare at the empty spot in the hallway that Liam was just occupying. I probably look like a freak show.

“I uh,” I say with a hand in my hair. “I thought I saw something.”

Ben blinks. “Like a monster?”

I shake my head.

“Okay, those monsters are some serious sheet.”

It was my turn to blink. “What did you just say?”

Ben turns pale. “I didn’t say anything,” he lies. Before I can comment again he ducks back inside his room.

Did he just… attempt at a dirty word? I can’t believe how much those Direction boys rub off on him- I even heard him mumble something about craic the other night.

I laugh- not a proper chuckle, more like a heavy sigh mixed with a snort- then duck into the room Ben just went into.

“LENA LENA!” I’m greeted with Cade screams. He’s got half of his hair gelled and the other half combed over his baby blue eyes. “Abby is pulling my hair!”

“Am not!” The girl shouts. She appears from somewhere, holding a hairbrush in one hand and a jar in the other, and crosses her arms. “I’m only trying to get his blonde mop somewhat presentable before tonight.”

“Easy there, Fabio,” I say.

“Who’s Fadio?” Cade asks, utterly confused.

I sigh, “It’s a cliché groomer name I just came up with. It was just a joke.”

“Aren’t jokes supposed to be funny?” Ben sasses. Again- I can’t help but see a glimmer of Louis in his eyes as he says that.

I stare at the lot of blonde kids before giving up on the matter. Lena will never be fully appreciated for her sense of humor, unfortunately.

“Never mind Fabio,” I say. “You tater tots have to be dressed and prepped in the next few hours. I say we get Cade in a bath, Abigail in front of her mirror and-”

“NONONONO!” Cade screams. He stomps his bare feet on the ground and dashes out of my reach. He rolls on his side and hides under his brother’s bed. I can still hear him chanting, “No bath no bath no bath no bath”.

I stuff my face into my hands.

“Indira will be here anytime; I have to wait for her,” Abigail says.

I look at the dainty girl. “Another? I don’t need another,” I note exasperatedly. Three minors are ENOUGH.

Abigail glares at me, her thin plucked eyebrows morphing into one. “We’ll be downstairs,” She says sourly. Pretty soon the Ice Queen has left us with a puff of cold air still lingering in her path.

“Brrr,” Ben voices my thoughts. The midget looks up at me, “I’m glad she left.”

“Don’t ever tell her, but I am too,” I mutter silently.

“NO BATH!” I hear Cade scream again.

I glance over at the seven year old beside me. Peering through his glasses I ask, “Whaddya think? Two against a toddler?”

Ben cracks his neck. “I’ll get the bath running.”

****************************************MUCH MUCH LATER*************************************

“I hate Lena,” I hear Cade mutter under his breath.

“I can live with that,” I mumble around the needle I have between my lips.

All four kids- Indira included- are presently standing in front of the mirrored wall in the mending room. Yes, this place has a room for sewing. It’s stupid.

Anyway, I’m playing seamstress now. Don’t ask me why we didn’t hire anyone to do this job: most likely because no one would want to work with these divas. And I only have an hour to do it- bathing the babe took a whole lotta time out of my schedule.

“Ouch!” Cade winces.

“I HAVEN’T EVEN TOUCHED YOU!” I argue. It’s true; I’m still measuring his waist.

Cade jumps off his stool and trudges away with a lopsided getup. His left pant leg is a whole slice of bread longer than the other.

“Where do you think you’re going?” I call out after him.

“AWAY!” He shouts at me.

I roll my eyes and gesture for the next kid to step up. Abigail floats to the center of the room and twirls.

“Stand still,” I say and take her by the bony shoulders.

Abigail does what I say and freezes. Her huge sapphire eyes watch me patiently as I tamper with the fabric around her knees.

“What’s wrong?” She asks quietly, almost like she’s asking for a secret.

“Nothing,” I answer bitterly. “Why?”

Abigail fights a smile. “Because you’ve poked yourself so many times you’re starting to bleed,” she tells me.

I stare at my sore fingertip.

I wipe the red stuff on my jeans.

“Nothing’s wrong,” I sigh impatiently. “I just wanna get tonight over with I guess.”

“But it’s going to be fun!”

“For you maybe,” I say. “But this isn’t my natural habitat.”

I try to steady my hands as I pin the waist of her gown. But it’s hard not to shake when you’ve got a skeptic thirteen year old staring at you like a circus clown.

“What now, Abigail?” I ask with a sigh.

The girl rolls her eyes. “Give me the needles,” She says with a smile. Her blush sparkles in this light.

I blink.

“Go get ready. You haven’t even done your hair yet,” Abigail tells me. When I don’t make a move she nudges my arm. “Go!” She laughs, “You look bloody awful!”

I stand up and say, “Wow thanks. Really makes me feel beautiful when you say things like that.”

“Just get outta here,” Abigail tells me one last time.

I look around at the bunch of kids in the room. Indira is smiling at me from beside Ben, her long hair braided to her waist. Ben catches my eye and shrugs. I doubt he even knows what’s going on.

“Fine,” I say. I point to the lot of them. “But I’ll be in my room if anyone needs me.”

“We won’t,” Abigail says.

With a roll of my eyes I escape the room. At the door I ruffle Cade’s hair. He turns to the wall and ignores me.

I dash through the halls and to the main room. The mansion’s been turned into a bee hive: a glittering one. The walls are draped with pale blue silk and the walkway to the ballroom has been lined with satin ropes.

I regret staring when I body slam into someone.

“Oh I’m so sorry-” I start to ramble. I trail my eyes up the toned torso of a blondie to see the innocent face of Niall Horan. I suddenly become painfully aware of his hands that reached out to brace against my shoulders.

I gulp.

While I sit there like a fish out of water he faintly smiles then walks away, hands in his jeans pockets.

Way to be smooth, Edwards.

I mentally punch myself in the face. After that’s been done I resume my walk to the basement. I have to puzzle my way past dozens of party planners to make it to my bedroom in one piece.

I close and lock my door.

My eyes are drawn to a bright white sack that’s on my green duvet. I know just what’s in that wretched bag- as I assume you do too.

(Hint: it rhymes with DRESS).

I paddle my bare feet over to the bedside. I stare at the thing. What would happen if the dress just… disappeared? Would Lena be able to… to attend a party?

No Lena. Stop it. You aren’t that evil.

I carelessly unzip the bag and stare at the glittery fabric. I still have no clue what possessed me to buy this one. I should have gone with something a little less… slutty.

I run the fabric between my fingers. It’s like touching a cloud or something.

I glance at the clock. Alright, I only have an hour to transform myself into Barbie.

Then to the royal ball I go.

We're almost done, my friends. This is the home stretch... by the end of tonight everything will be back to normal.

If I can survive this party, that is.

SOS

A/N

Sorry about the wait... BUT THE HOLIDAYS ARE HERE! I'll be updating again soon, I swear. I'll make up for this filler fluffy chapter :) If you want to see Lena's dress I put it in a link on this chappie! Comment, like and vote folks!

Oh and if you have any last minute predictions about what's going to happen with her love triangle I'd love to hear it!

Love, SL2627