This is the continuation of the fashion show and more surprises to come!
BOO! Surprise! Oh, it was cheesy? Sorry.
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Chapter 16 - Passione Per La Moda (Passion For Fashion) || Cassidy's POV
"To the genius person behind everything of this, Ms. Bridget Brown!" Everyone around me clapped, including me. I could not be more thankful that it was the end of the fashion show. I heard others screaming and giving more applause as Ms. Bridget Brown received a bouquet of flowers.
"Now, we're close to the end of the show but before it really ends. There will be a raffle containing every guest on the audience's names on this very box." Everyone awed in surprise. They were looking at each other and asking what the price might be. I looked at Clarissa if she got any idea about this but she didn't bother look back at me. Her eyes stayed on the host's hands, which is roaming around the transparent box that is filled with names.
I rolled my eyes, wanting all of this to be over so I can leave this place. This is a déjà vu like what happened at the Elementary Spelling Bee.
"Are you guys ready for the winners?" the host asked. The audience cheered. I did too, less enthusiasm, that is.
"If there's always a raffle after every fashion show, I would totally go here every now and then," I heard some guys behind me said.
"I thought it was the end of the show," I whispered to Reese who seemed to have more attention to the surrounding than the raffle itself.
"I know. I couldn't be happier to leave," he complained. The audience cheered and hoped that that their names are chosen. I rolled my eyes and sighed as I thought of waiting another ten minutes before leaving.
"I bet that you're going to win an outfit or something relatively to fashion," I mumbled.
"Duh," Reese joked and nudged my shoulders. The lights on the stage seemed to be going off and on, making effects.
"The first winner is ... Connor Jones! Please come on the stage," the host welcomed.
"No way, seriously?" Clarissa whined.
The guys behind me, I realized, was them. The people who I tried to avoid. I still can't believe that they are in the same place as I am. I mean, out of all places, why here? Don't they hang-out somewhere and eat and chat there? How come I just saw them across the runway and now they're behind me? Rather than laughing at the thought of someone like Connor won a contest like this, I was busy thinking on why I have to be on the same area as them.
"Go up there, man!" someone encouraged. I heard a deep voice saying no and something being shy, but it didn't sound like Connor.
"I see him! Join me on the stage." The host pointed at the direction behind us, everyone turned around except me. After five seconds of feeling everyone's eyes indirectly on me, I followed them looking at Connor.
The spotlight was on Connor as the light behind us was on him. He covered his eyes and walked towards the stage. Everyone cheered and praised him. Okay, how did they all know Connor's face would be? He might be the guy who has long dreadlocks hair who is on the right side of the room or the small kid that is holding onto his mother's hand.
"Now for the second winner, I think it's time. Connor, the first winner, will pick a name on this very box and I will read it, is it okay for everyone else?" the host asked. Everyone cheered again. I looked at the clock and it says 7:01pm.
Connor was already in the stage, quite embarrassed. He put his right hand inside the box and roams around it, teasing the audience and when he finally got a name, he smiled when he saw it and gave it to the host-which-I-never-learned-her-name.
"Ooh, another boy." The host winked. I can feel shivers on my arms as I waited for another cheer for the lucky guy who won something related to fashion.
"I didn't know boys are secretly into fashion, maybe fate did this to them and to me," Clarissa grumbled. It's obvious on Clarissa's face that she wants to win so badly. Reese comforted her as she rolled her eyes as the crowd cheered to say the winner.
"Let's welcome at the stage ... Xavier Princeton!" The host screamed. I can feel my ears hurting and I think I'm going deaf as the girls whistled Xavier as he went to the stage.
Xavier and Connor did a handshake which I never understand. The host welcomed them and she's now standing between the two of the guys.
"Is it just me or does this all sounds so, I don't know, impossible?" Reese asked. We all looked at him and couldn't help but agree.
"Out of all people." Clarissa shook her head as she sighed in defeat. I can hear girls grunting, probably they deserved it more than the people on stage who are winning, but who cares, I want to get out of this place ASAP.
"Here's what everyone's waiting for. The winner gets to have a prize, of course. But not just any prize. These boys get to have a weekend trip to the fashion capital of the world! Does anyone know where it is?" The host smiled widely. The girls all looked like they're going to explode as they cursed under their breaths. I was going to ask Clarissa what the host was talking about since neither me nor Reese knows where it is but Clarissa seemed to be as gobsmacked as the others.
"That's right! These guys are going to Milan, Italy!" The host cheered. Everyone cheered except for the guys who looked unexcited about the idea. It clearly says on their faces that they're not into fashion at all. I pity them as I watched them accepting the certificate of the award.
"The voyage of their trip will be filmed at how they are having so much fun at Italy! There will be behind the scenes and a lot more. So to the winners, congratulazioni!" The host cheered once again.
"Oh, that would be fun to watch." Reese laughed. We all laughed as we watched the guys' expressions which clearly say 'Kill me.'
When Xavier and Connor saw us laughing, which is very obvious since we're the only one laughing out so loud, Xavier smirked at our direction. I gave him a questioning look, wondering why is he smiling at me when he just won something like that? Even I won't be happy to win something like that. I looked behind my back and saw his friends laughing without making any sounds.
Xavier waved at the audience and he whispered something to Connor and I can't see Connor's face because he hid behind Xavier, maybe because of embarrassment. There were a lot of photographers taking pictures of the winners. The host gave the microphone to the 'winners who were very honored to win something like that' and they gladly accepted her offer.
"Thank you so much for this wonderful prize. It really means a lot to me. But there's also someone that I think deserves this more than I do. I can hear her talking about fashion every single time I saw her. She would always babble about how she wants to go to Italy so badly but she has to wait until she's eighteen. She's a special friend of mine and I know how much she loves fashion so much. As much as I love this prize, I think she would love it more. I think this is the perfect time to surprise the girl who loves fashion the most," Xavier's female friends squeal not so quietly as he continued, " Cassidy Jones!"
"What the fu-" Clarissa looked at me sharply which made me stop talking. It could mean two things: one, she's jealous; two, she hates hearing people swear.
I was left shocked. Thinking if I was dreaming at all, I pinched myself on the arm. I think I saw Stella or is it Sheena who was giggling when Xavier was having his speech, maybe thinking Xavier's talking about them. Oh how we all wish.
"He's not serious, right?" Clarissa asked me. Even I don't know as Xavier pointed at me and the spotlight was on me. I covered my eyes on the bright light, realizing Connor was right about the lights.
No no no no no no.
This is not possible.
I mean, there are cameras here, how can they do something spontaneously?
NO.
Just, no.
The applause of the audience when they commented about how Xavier was so kind and giving to offer such reward, yeah right. He's just joking. He can't possibly announce in front of the whole room that he'd just offered me the ticket to Italy. Again, no marshmallow way, I'm just daydreaming.
"Pretty lady, please come on the stage." The host looked at me. I can see her eyes filled with amusement. I looked around me to see if she was looking at someone else but me. I saw Stella stomping her feet as she looked at me with a death glare. Okay, so much for being best friends. Sheena on the other hand was looking at me with daring eyes. I look back at Reese and Clarissa but they were as shocked as I am. Sigh, they're no help at all. Wait.. what if I announced to the cameras and said let Clarissa have my position and --. Suddenly, I felt someone pushing me in front and I turned around to see two crews.
"Woah, woah, woah! Careful!" I snapped. I looked at them in the eyes but all I see is their black glasses. I look at the host and she offered me a hand to the stage. I can sense that they're all waiting for me to move and I would embarrass the host if I let her offer her hand too long so I took it half-heartedly.
More applause as I entered the stage. "So, you're Cassidy this guy's been talking about on who loves fashion!" I can't help but give a weak smile. I can't handle the center of attention because I freak out and just stand like I've been frozen. After I smiled at the audience I stood near to Xavier and gave him the bury-for-six-feet-under look which I use only to scare people to hell. He took a step back but I stopped him as I gripped his hands hard.
"Are you going to accept Mr. Princeton's offer, beautiful lady?" The host questioned me. I looked back at the audience then to the mike that she offered me. I took deep breaths and master up my effort to talk.
"It would be too much to ask. I mean, I know I love fashion as much as you are, Xavier. But all of us know that you really deserve all of this," I said while motioning my hands on their prizes. The audience all oooh-ed as I replied the host. Xavier took the microphone and quickly replied, "Are you not accepting my offer in front of everyone and in television?" Xavier questioned me.
Wait, this is in television? Is it live? I looked at the photographers' side and I saw a red light on some of it. Holy chaperone. No way. I looked at Clarissa for help but she smiled and pointed at herself, I thought about giving the prize to her instead but it wouldn't look nice, passing the prize to someone then passes to the other. I know realize it sounds like I'm degrading this 'opportunity'.
I looked at Reese but he looked back at me nervously and biting his lip. They're really no help at all. Sheena was still looking at me like how she usually does even at school. My gaze was on Xavier when he pressed the mike to me.
"Well ... I don't know ... This is too much, really. You don't have to do this, seriously," I shyly said as I looked around me. I noticed that Xavier was rolling his eyes at the moment and for the first time since I have been on the stage, I looked at Connor. He looked ... nondescript. I can't really make out what his expression was. I looked at the audience as I heard them ranting.
"Take it. Take it. Take it. Take it."
I can feel myself getting angry and I tried to control myself by releasing all of my angriness to the mike. I can already feel my nerves popping out of my skin.
"I think I heard Cassidy agreed on Xavier's kind offer already!" The host comforted me as she grabbed the mike from me. Wait, I never said anything! I was just at the point of getting angry and almost screaming to Xavier when someone stole my mic.
The crowd cheered for the happy ending as I my eyes got wide and prepare for World War III. I was going to say no but I remembered the cameras. I'll tell them later when I get down from this very stage that I don't want any part of this. I don't want to embarrass myself more.
"Now, I want to finalize the winners. They are Connor Jones and Cassidy Jones, is it right?" The host asked me. I gave her the biggest smile ever showing my teeth and nod my head. She must have not noticed my sarcastic when she continued talking.
"These lucky winners will be having a trip to Italy next weekend and there will be videos of their trip and behind the scenes, like what I said before. They will be given allowances for the two days and one night at a five star hotel and they get to go to five fashion shows!" Everyone cheered except for the people on the stage. Five? How can I handle five fashion shows if I didn't survive this one?
"Uhm, excuse me?" I muttered politely. She didn't answer me which means she's really deaf or she's very stubborn.
"There will be no backing out now since their names are the official winners that will be posted on our page. Winners, please stay behind after the show for more information. Meanwhile to our lovely audience, have a good night!" She ended. Everyone scattered and exited faster than I thought.
The people there told Connor and I what are going to happen on our trips. Everything will be paid and we will be taken care of like a king and a queen. They were all talking so fast that I don't have time to speak since I was too busy absorbing thier information.
I was about to say something but they all left quickly leaving me alone on the stage, now they are all talking to different people. I looked around me and saw Connor and Xavier walked out of the stage and went along with Stella and the guys out. I walked down the stage and saw Reese and Clarissa walking towards to me and I looked at them with hurt.
"This is all..... bullsh-" I was going to curse but I saw Clarissa talking to someone on the phone, I don't really care who she really talks to because I am so filled with confusion and anger but when she mouthed me Lucas, I quickly stopped.
"He's asking me why you stopped talking," Clarissa whispered as she covered the speaker on her cell phone. I took her phone and quickly replied Lucas.
"I was about to say something about the bulldog we saw here! It's so cute you wouldn't believe it, it looks like a bulldog and a shih tzu! Now, don't worry, kid," I told him but it sounds more like I'm pleading.
After the talk with Lucas and promising I was not saying any bad words like a bad girl does, I closed the phone and returned it to Clarissa.
"Hell." I massaged my temples as I continued my life in reality.
"All of this would not happen if it weren't for you," I mumbled.
"I know," Clarissa said, taking the blame although it's not really her fault. We sometimes did this 'thing' wherein we take the blames even though it's not anyone's fault to make the other person happy. But it's not working on me as I continued to complain.
"On the good side, at least someone gets to go out of country," Reese said. I looked at the backseat to see him smiling but I just gave him a small smile and turn back from my problem.
"I don't want to go all around Italia to go to fashion shows! Are they oblivious enough to know that with what I am wearing?" I ranted.
"Well, your outfit looks kind of unique in a sense of such daring and creative style of fashion," Clarissa said nonchalantly.
"That sounds ... wrong." I judged.
"Hey, it was an impromptu speech," Clarissa retorted.
"How do you wear those clothes only when it's already winter anyway?" I motioned to Clarissa's outfit that is pure grey and sadness. It matches with her disappointing look that still can't believe why 'faith' chose Connor and Xavier, who chose me, than choosing her to win the trip to Italy. I would totally choose Clarissa if it wasn't that mic-stealer-host.
"I like my C&C California Long Sleeve Scoop A-Line Dress and how can you not love my Jeffrey Campbell Damsel-Crs and you said you liked my outfit when I changed after school," Clarissa stated.
"I said you looked better with your leggings than without. I didn't say I liked it," I corrected her. I wonder on how her heels work out with the car's pedal. I mean, is it even safe to wear those shoes when driving? What if we die in the middle of the road because of her shoes? Plus, how did she memorized what kind of clothes she's wearing - specifically the brand. I mean, I just don't understand her sometimes.
And I don't understand what just happened.
Clarissa ignored me as she put her attention on the road. I sighed and think about what happened today. I'm sure Mom and Dad wouldn't allow me going to Italy, but they won't even know I'm gone for the weekend. And what would the paparazzi say if I wasn't on the video? I would be embarrassed since they would probably give newspapers with my name on it and the school's name. Plus, I was forced to sign the contract with Connor to agree everything. Way to go, Cassidy! If Mom and Dad saw me on the newspapers and learned the information from someone else than myself, I would be probably good as dead. Whoppedoo!
"Is there any way I could-" I looked at Reese in the mirror as I started but he answered me halfway through what I was saying.
"For the tenth time, the answer is no. You already asked the crew even the manager, the answer is no," Reese said wearily. I gave a loud moan and rubbed my eyes.
"All of this could not have happen if it weren't for that sleazy Xavier." I couldn't help but blame other people. Could this day get any worse? Seriously.
"And your trip is here, Sir Stewart. Ciao!" Clarissa said as she stopped at Reese's house.
"Bye," I muttered, still thinking of a way to backfire the trip to Italy. Reese opened the door and exited then waved at us as he
"Off to Ms. Grumpy's house!" Clarissa declared. I gave out a loud mournful cry as I dramatized what Clarissa was saying.
"What if I got into an accident? Like, I make an excuse that my backbones got crushed from falling the stairs. They would believe me right?" I looked at Clarissa, who was busy concentrating the road.
I think I fell asleep while I was closing my eyes thinking of a way to ditch the trip because Clarissa pinched me in the arm and I hit her back unintentionally.
"I'm so sorry if I hurt you, it's just reflex. Are you hurt?" I worried.
There are only specific people that I hurt, which I learn martial arts from YouTube but anyway, I don't hit anyone except for bullies. Every time people try to put pranks on me, they always get what they deserve. But this time, hurting one of my best friends is the worst thing I would do to them.
"I'm not hurt, silly. Of course I got used to your reflex so I already backed away the second you moved." Clarissa winked at me. I sighed as I remembered that she did try to tickle me once and she was lucky not to get hurt.
"Thanks, by the way, for the ride. See you tomorrow!"
"Bye!"
I walked to the door and opened the knob. I'm practically dragging myself to the house and trying to smile so no one can notice what dearly happened to me today. I can hear Mom and Dad upstairs, probably working. I'm glad that they're home at least, since they rarely come home on time. Nothing felt like home sweet home and I let my problem slip out for a moment and think of the moment right now.
"Good evening, Ms. Jones," Sasha greeted me with a warm smile and I couldn't help but smile back and remember that I should cherish this moment of our whole family in the same place.
I heard a loud slam of the door upstairs, probably Dad busying himself following Mom's sound of heels walking to their room.
Sasha gave me a tired smile which I returned back. Well, this is my kind of home.
I went upstairs slowly, wishing I would be unconscious now and accidentally fall on the stairs which would lead me to the hospital then I would stay there for days then I would miss my classes at school then miss school then the people would miss me which would lead to people taking advantage of having not my presence and lead to more bullyi--. No. Stop. Stop being selfish, Cassidy.
People would worry if I get hurt. Like Reese, Clarissa, and Sasha. And hopefully my parents, too. I looked at my dad's office door and continued walking towards my bedroom.
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a u t h o r ' s n o t e :
What do you think would happen? Will she go or not? Comment below! Feel free to donate me some love aka stars aka votes before moving on to the next chapter :)
The picture above is what Clarissa would look like, except with leggings as what Cassidy suggested.
P.S. SMILE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :)
"I would crack a smile, but I don't like breaking things." ― Jarod Kintz, This Book is Not FOR SALE