The Lavender Charity Ball

The limo driver opened the door and we stepped in. Cybil was sitting beside Demetrius. Her eyes were on my dress and then she scoffed obviously not liking it. Lorenzo whispered something in Carly's ear that made her giggle. I sighed and sat back in the car. "You look beautiful, Reina" Lorenzo told me. I smiled at him. "Thank you" I replied. Cybil scoffed again. Reina looked up at Demetrius through thick lashes to see he was looking at her. Reina immediately averted her gaze. Cybil started talking to Demetrius and started pushing closer to him. If she were any closer she would be on his lap- Reina thought. Carly put her hand over mine and smiled at me.

When they arrived at the ball they all got out. Demetrius came to stand beside me, he put his arm around my waist making me jump. Obviously Cybil didn't like that because she came and stood in front of Reina when they photographers were taking the picture. I shook my head as I unwound Demetrius's arm from around my waist and walked to stand beside Carly and Lorenzo who were busy taking pictures. "She has nothing on you" Lorenzo whispered. I nodded. "Ms. Cortes, are you proud of what you have accomplished in the community?" the news reporter asked. "My best friend Carly Mendez and I are very proud. A lot of kids can now go to different community centers around their neighborhoods" I told her. "Is it true that you are here alone?" she asked. When did the topic change from talking about the charity to her lack of a date. "Yes, I am alone" I told her. "So where is Malik Conner?" she asked. "He should be arriving soon" I told her. "So why isn't he your date?" she pressed. "Uh..." I couldn't answer that question. "That is enough questions" Lorenzo told the news reporter. "Let's go in" Lorenzo ushered both Reina and Carly into the ball. They took their seats. "Will Demetrius be sitting with us?" Carly asked. "Yes" Lorenzo answered. Cybil and Demetrius came and sat opposite to Reina. 

"This ball is in honor of Reina Cortes and Carly Mendez. A round of applause for them please" the MC said as the spotlight fell on our table. Even though the MC didn't say Cybil's name she stood when Reina and Carly did. They waved. "You sure know how to pick them" Lorenzo whispered to Demetrius. "Now shall we begin" the MC said. "This is rather fun, isn't it darling?" Cybil asked Demetrius. He didn't hear her because he was busy watching Reina. She was looking down at the table and he couldn't help but stare at her. She was so beautiful! Didn't she know? "Would you like to dance?" Lorenzo asked Carly. She nodded and took his hand. Demetrius got up but Cybil latched on to his arm. He gently pulled out of her grasp. 

"Dance with me" he told Reina. She looked up at him as if he were mad. He smiled and gently pulled her to her feet. He led her to the dance floor. "W-why are doing this? What about Cybil?" she asked. "Right now I don't give a damn about Cybil. I am dancing with the most beautiful woman in the world" he smiled. "Don't say stuff you don't mean" Reina told him. He pulled away to look at her. "You don't know how beautiful you are, do you?" he asked. She shook her head. "You are, Reina" Demetrius told her. He led her out of the ball and around the back to the lawn. "Why are we here?" she asked him. He smiled and bent his head. She let him kiss her, oh how he had missed this mouth. "Why are you with Cybil?" Reina asked when he pulled away. "Let's not talk about her right now" Demetrius told her. He bent and kissed her neck. She tilted her head to give him more room. Before Reina knew it Demetrius was unzipping her dress and she didn't even care. It fell to the ground. "Muy linda!" he said in Spanish.  "Demetrius" she sighed. "Shhh... Just think about here and now, you and me. Nothing else" he had told her as he had taken her. "You are perfect" Demetrius said as he dipped his head and kissed Reina. 

She pulled on her dress and allowed him to zip her up before she walked away. Her eyes were stinging with unspilled tears. She was such a fool. Reina stopped at the ladies room before going back to the ball. As she was making sure her hair was back to it's neat condition Cybil walked in. "So how was he?" Cybil asked her. "I don't know what you mean" Reina replied. "I saw you two walk out of the ball" Cybil said as she applied lipstick. Reina was making her way to the door when Cybil said "He doesn't want you anymore". "What makes you think that?" Reina heard herself ask. "Because little girl, you are just a play thing. Demetrius has had his fun now just like the other toys he throws you away and the fact that he is marrying me" Cybil told her as she turned to look at her. "M-marry you?" Reina stuttered. Cybil smiled. "Of course! After he finds out I am pregnant with his child, he will do right by me and his unborn child by marrying me" Cybil told her. Reina just stood there dumbfounded. Who wouldn't be? "Well little girl. I have to go. My fiance awaits" Cybil winked as she walked pass Reina. All of Reina's hopes and dreams shattered to pieces. She looked at herself in the mirror and steeled herself not to say a word to Demetrius when she went back to the table.

"Ah! There she is! The lady of the hour" the MC said. The spotlight fell on Reina. "Come on up, Ms. Cortes. Come say a few words" he told her. Reina braved it out and went on stage. "Hi everyone. Don't worry I am not going to bore you with a long speech- Reina smiled at the audience and they laughed. "When I was about twelve a friend told me what it meant to be truly poor. At first I didn't believe him because I thought everyone was as privileged as I was, boy was I wrong! He told me about some families that didn't even know where there next dinner was going to come from and the hardships some children faced. I felt horrible about being privileged and not making use of some of the opportunities that came my way. It was then my best friend Carly Mendez and I started working with numerous charities when we turned sixteen. Never thought our little deed would become such a big thing but it did! I met a lot of wonderful people along the way and I will never forget any of them. We will make it our top priority that there are less children begging on the streets. Thank you. Enjoy your night everyone" I walked as I walked off stage.

Lorenzo congratulated me and Demetrius smiled but I pretended not to see it. It is working like a charm -Cybil thought to herself. Demetrius was hers and this little Spanish speaking bitched wasn't going to take him from her. A couple of minutes later, Reina asked Lorenzo to take her home. "I am sorry, sweetheart but the ball has barely even begun" Lorenzo told me. "I want to go home. Please Lorenzo" Reina begged. "Carly I will be right back" Lorenzo said as he got up. "I'll come" Carly offered. I shook my head. It wouldn't be fair to make Carly end her date so soon with Lorenzo after she had waited years to get one. She sat back down. "I will see you at home" Reina told Carly as she hugged her. Lorenzo wrapped his arm around his little sister and led her out of the ball. "What happened Reina? Why do you want to leave?" he asked as he blocked the paparazzi from taking anymore pictures of Reina. "I-I just don't feel in the mood, Lorenzo. I'm fine" I told him. He knew I was lying but he didn't push it. "Take her home, Walters" Lorenzo told the limo driver. Reina hugged her big brother and went into the limo.