OTTE'

e distance. I sat with Elsie on a bamboo chair un

iet these past fe

d a lot on

heryl said?" Elsie pushed ag

the house, the sile

mansion. "He doesn't ta

"He barely looks at me. I des

erve mor

w what I des

ll si

on the path that

rlot

stood a few feet from us in

es

to be a dinner

din

companies coming toge

e telling m

nough time

you mention

pped my

," I said, rollin

ing that fit

ng else

ady on

pretend to be my

t us, Charlotte.

be r

is back as he slowly disappeared into t

you want me to help y

, I need to

to the boutique to

to wear in my closet. I got

y, m

look like someone

figure out the dress I should wear to the party

an emerald green dress that showed my figure. It had a tail and it w

mple makeup, ju

ered under the chandelier, hair pinned up, lips red. I

, smiling like a 16-y

over me. He looked at me from head

said

single

ay and walke

g and followed him.

the event hal

, everything was

Kingston!" a

idn't s

uietly, traili

ide and my sto

It was my m

, M

to a hug. "You l

I replie

us. "You cl

en know what he meant by tha

ndshake. "Glad we could

ed curtly.

am's eyes lingered on Barry a litt

eanor said, cool, formal, a

'am." I gave h

owing look. "E

o mingle, I've got

alke

ding my clutch wit

e. I sat down and took a drink. Guests buzze

ard a voic

rlot

urn

yl

you. "God, you have

od way,

unning doesn't

ed gen

rs. What are y

g like this, is where you gat

at make

at, how are you? I h

l, y

y the sa

ly, not

k to

hink he ev

he is

just be

ou were fierce, funny,

like that pe

are. I ca

a small, br

hat smile. God,

You are going

will catch

ven't c

u. You are just.

ge does

. I want to know wh

hat," I said, trying

an stood, stretching

d, feeling a bit

n, for the old days. I

ands were on my waist. We moved to soft mu

he air

rlot

art d

enched, eyes cold, and if looks cou

we were

p aw

st an ol

n shouted. Everyone

u are maki

ly. "Relax, we w

d your mom

Aiden," Dylan said,

he face, and everyone screamed. Dylan was on

my wrist. "C

ase you are

dn't

I stared out the window. H

oor, opened the front door for me to walk

thinking, dancing romant

me," I said, fiddling wi

? Smiling

happy f

th

ot that you were arou

some high school ro

ve some kindness

barrass

ery day, tonight

ed. "Do you know what the

eadlines," I replied, sitting down on the couch. My f

d like a p

iden, a multi-billionaire, and my

lways treating me ba

ay out of

ate

." I turned, tear

me, look at me, or even b

t dream

by Aiden'

rs to my room and

since the wedding, I