I HAVE NO clue what possessed me to volunteer to help cater the gala. Oh yeah, that's right. It was before I knew I was going to be wearing heels and almost snapping both of my ankles every second step. 

I skittered down the hall behind Penn, fixing my ponytail on top of my head as we rushed to the kitchen. I honestly wasn't expecting this many people come to the gala but now I realise why the staff were so adamant on having as much help as they could. 

"Get these platters out now!" One of the chefs shouts as we burst through the doors with a few other students behind us. I flatten out my tight black skirt before grabbing a silver tray with my sweat palms and head back out ot the main hall. 

Somehow, the school actually had managed to look decent. I was kinda in awe when I entered the first time before getting yelled out by one of the uptight planners.

I calm my ragged breathing before stepping through the maze of tables and the crowd of people, offering what honestly looked like mini vaginas to people. Some people took them, others didn't even look at me and then most just asked for more champagne and wine.

After an elderly lady sitting alone at a table pocketed about twelve mini vaginas from my tray, I turn around to head back only to almost run into the back of someone. 

He turns around with a small smile, "Watch where you're going Jones." 

"I could say the same to you Everett." I scoff as I balance the tray back onto my palm. His hazel eyes scale me down to my toes and I didn't like it. I almost felt naked under his gaze, like he could see literally everything. 

"You look good in that uniform." Chase smirks, damn sexy as ever and I almost choke right then and there. 

Except I brush it off and mirror his smirk, "It's a shame you don't." 

Of course he fucking did. Everett could literally pull off a trash bag if he wanted to. His long sleeved white button up hugged his torso and arms perfectly as did the black slacks on his legs. He didn't wear a tie like the rest of the males because he's Everett. But it made the whole look ten times better. 

I push past him, feeling his stare on me as I quickly make my way back to the kitchen. Most of my night was running back and forth between the hall and the kitchen. I ran into Chase only a few times, as well as Noah who was basically eating the snacks on his tray and not serving them to people. 

As the night continued, the table section of the hall became more and more deserted until it was just a few elderly people and Vera. She sat at a table, alone and very bored as she rested her chin on her palm and watched the rest of the crowd with tired eyes. She looked much more fancier than I did in her kitten heels and shiny copper slip dress that complimented her skin tone perfectly. I put my empty metal tray down and make my way over to her. 

"Hey lonely." I smirk as I walk through the maze of tables and sit down on the chair next to her, "How are you?"

"I am fucking bored." She groans as she leans back in her chair, "My parents are standing on opposite sides of the room, pretending they're not married while I'm sitting her pretending like I'm not in this shithole." 

"It's not that bad. I'm here." I grin at her she laughs lightly and places her manicured hand over mine, "Oh, and if you must know, a few bottles of wine have somehow been misplaced and might be ending up in Noah's dorm room." 

"I've already consumed about four but a few more won't hurt." She grins at me as I laugh, smelling the mix of alcohol and perfume from her. Her eyes were drooping and I felt bad that she had to sit through this night. 

From behind her, I noticed a guy walking towards us, fixing the lapels of his jacket. He was young, most probably near our age and incredibly handsome. He also looked rich as fuck. He had shaggy sandy blonde hair and even in the dim lighting i could see his piercing blue eyes. 

"Hi." He greets as he stands in front of the table, "I'm Sam." 

"Great." Vera hums as she looks up at him, "But we were in the middle of a conversation so you can go." 

A smile grows across my lips as Vera stares up at him with the most blank, uninterested expression while handsome boy Sam was grinning down at her. 

He leans one hand on the back of a chair, "Did you come here alone?"

"I'm a student here." Vera says unashamedly and I watch as Sam's smile falters slightly. Vera definitely catches it. "Yes, Sammy, pretty girls can be fucked up in the head too." 

I stand from the table, realising that was my cue to leave and get back to work. I push my chair in and glance at Sam. 

"Can you watch her for a little?" I ask him, already walking away from the table, "I'll be back in a second." 

"Uh, sure." He nods before sitting down next to her. I turn around, leaving them two be and grab my empty tray back before heading to the kitchen. Vera deserved to be with a very handsome boy, especially tonight. I know Vera doesn't like being with her parents often and I would try anything to make her at least the slightest bit happy. 

I take tray after tray full of food and drinks out to the crowd of people. After a while, I end up sculling back a few chutes of champagne just to get through this night. Why the hell did I even agree to do this? I'm not even getting fucking paid. 

I was clearing an empty table off rubbish while watching Vera talk the damn ear off of Sam. She was gossiping about who know's fucking what but Sam was listening like it was the most interesting thing in the whole world. He was gazing at her like she was fire and he had never seen it before. 

It was really cute to watch. 

I jump, startled slightly when I feel a hand on the small of my back as I was clearing the table of rubbish. I feel hot air against my neck as my shoulders straighten. 

"Someone's looking at your painting." Chase whispers into my air. My gaze instantly darts across the crowded hall to the silent auction section seeing that there was indeed someone staring at my picture. "Here, take my tray and offer him a drink." 

I turn around, shaking my head, "He probably doesn't want to be bothered. He's just looking at it and then he'll move onto the next one—" 

"Jones, go talk to him." Chase tells me, his hazel gaze hitting me like a fucking train. He extends the tray of champagne flutes towards me, "The worst that could happen is that he laughs at your painting and walks away." 

"You're fucking terrible at this whole pep talk thing, Everett." I grumble as he chuckles lightly at me, "But thank you." 

"Thank me later when you become a famous artist." He grins cheekily as I take the tray from his hands and begin walking away. 

"I'll be dead but sure." I reply as I glance over my shoulder at him and continue on my way to the man who was clearly mentally deranged because he found my art the slightest bit interesting. 

 I try to keep my composure as I make my way towards the silent auction section. The man was still looking at the canvas, his hand placed to his grey bearded chin and his brows wrinkled in concentration. I clear my throat of nerves before a reach him and place a soft smile on my terrified face. 

"Would you like a drink, sir?" I question, lowering the tray and extending it towards him. He drops his hand and turns to me, dark green eyes frowning at me through dark rimmed glasses. 

He waves his hand which had a large, silver ring attached to his pinky and shakes his head, "Oh, no thank you. I've quite a few already. Any more and I'd be stumbling all over the place." 

"Okay." I smile but internally I was retreating, my cringe levels hitting it's highest peak. Okay? Really Hayden? I go to turn, ready to hit myself in the face with this stupid tray when he stops me. 

"Would you mind telling me who I talk to about this painting?" He questions and I almost trip over my own feet. He stares back at the canvas propped up by a small easel, "Do you know if he or she is a local artist?" 

"I believe she's a student here." I hum, securing my grip on the tray as I slowly step forward towards him. 

"A student...wow..." He mutters to himself as if deep in thought, "Such talent she has. I would love to display some of her work in one of my galleries." 

His galleries? As in he owns a gallery? As in fucking multiple? 

I splutter, unable to contain my thoughts and deranged emotions, "You own a gallery?" 

"Two. I own two galleries." He corrects me, holding up the exact number on his fingers. "One in New York and the other in San Fransico. I also have a small gallery opening up in Seattle."

"Wow," I breath heavily, "You must really love art." 

"Oh, it's not me, it was my wife who truly loved art." He chuckles softly, staring at the picture softly, "This piece reminded me of her. Rosalyn had the same fiery red hair." 

I slip a piece of hair behind my ear, "I'm sorry." 

"No, you're not really sorry." He smiles as he places a hand on my shoulder, "You just say that because you're faced with a confronting situation and you just don't know how to respond." 

"I'm so—" I stop myself as he lifts his eyebrows in waiting. I smile and glance down at my heels. 

"It's alright. She died six years ago from leukaemia." He explains as I stay tight lipped, fighting against the sorry words wanting to escape. " I buy and create galleries, kind of like a memorial of sort to her. She would've loved all the art in one room at the exact same time. My name is Edgar Larsson, if you've heard of me."

"I haven't." I say before I could stop myself. My eyes widen as I glance at him. "Oh shit, I'm sorry. Fuck I swore in front of you. Shit I did it again. Oh my god—" 

Edgar throws his head back, laughing loudly, "It's okay. What's your name?" 

"Hayden Jones." I answer, incredibly embarrassed because of my massive mouth and the non existence of a fucking filter. 

"Well, you've created a master piece, Hayden." Edgar explains as we both stare at my artwork in silence. Then, slowly but all at once, everything clicks. 

I stumble back, frowning at him, "Wait. How do you know it's mine?" 

"You could call it a hunch." He explains with a small shrug. He then glances at me and points to the collar of my white button up blouse,  "Or it could be the fact that you've yet to wash the blue paint streak from your neck, dear." 

I had been painting all afternoon and had totally forgotten about the gala. I had no time to shower and all I could do was wash the paint from my face and hands with bathroom soap that smelled of peppermint. 

"Edgar, it's lovely to see you again." Miss Rowan announces happily as she elegantly sweeps towards us in her bohemian floral gown. They greet each other with a kiss to either cheek like those fancy people do in the movies. "I see one piece has caught you're eye." 

"Oh, yes. And a magnificent piece indeed." Edgar smiles as the two adults turn and glance back at the canvas. I step back, ready to leave the two adults to adult but he stops me once more. "It was lovely to meet you, Miss Jones. I do hope we meet again." 

"Me too." I give him a small smile before turning around and walking back to the kitchen. I only got a few meters down the empty hall before I emptied two chutes into my mouth. 

I'm here for a good time not a long time. 

sorry i went m.i.a on you guys

some real shiiiiiiiiiiiiiit has been going down so i've had to take a bit of a break

but i'm back and hopefully can get back on my feet with updating on time!

also the art in the media box is how i pictured hayden's art work. 

all credit go to the amazing artist