Later on that night, my parents decided to Skype me which they never do, so I guess it was important. They only ever try to contact me when my grades are low, they need something or I have to do something. Let’s see what it could be this time. I stop brushing my hair and stare at the screen for a second almost annoyed to see my parents profile pic being our horrendous family portrait. I pick up the call finally on the fifth ring.
“Hi.” I said with a fake smile. I have perfected my fake smile when I was about eight. Meeting all these important people, and not like celebrities all the time but real important to England kind of people, just got old way too fast and boring too. I would always have to be dressed up in fancy attire in my parent’s house, that’s why I’m so glad to be in college, to be almost normal. My dad invented the electric beverage heater, a banana slicer and bunch of irrelevant things that I don’t think I’ve ever really used. And I believe he owns some company.
“Hello love. Penelope, do you have any important plans for tomorrow?” asks my too-lady-like mother. ‘No’ is what I say to myself.
“Yes, so busy! I don’t think I have a break to myself tomorrow!” I exaggerated. My parents frowned at me.
“Well, what is it that’s so important?” asks my dad. I was not ready for this question and I am terrible under pressure. I don’t know what I’d do if my friends tried to convince me to do drugs or any sort of smoking. I hesitated a little too long.
“Err, what did you say? It lagged…” I lied. I thought hard and fast but nothing came up that was believable.
“Oh, why are you so busy? What are you doing?” asked my father again, shouting slowly into the little mic next to the little web cam.
“Well just a really important girl’s day out after our classes.”
“Yeah? Well, you can bring them too if you want. Perfect girl’s day!” Suggest my mother.
“Wait, what is it?” I asked confused.
“We are hosting a very important ball and this time celebrities will be there. It’s a masquerade ball, your dress can be ordered from a website, and I’ll put the link in the chat box, and your girl friends as well…”
“More like friend… but okay I’ll ask if she would like to come.”
“She must not be modest with her money. Money is not an issue.” chuckled my father.
“Okay…”
“We expect you two to be there tomorrow at the mansion, you do know where the mansion is right, Penelope?” I nodded hesitantly trying to remember. My parents thought money wasn't important and bought a mansion, then realized it was too big for me because they were rarely ever home so they had bought me a smaller home when I turned 13. It was ridiculous though I loved my little home. I had a nanny, a chauffer, and a chef who lived with me. They were mostly my family than workers. My chef was like a dad, my nanny like a mum, and chauffer my hilarious uncle that everyone loves. My parents were rarely ever there. I’d visit them every weekend in the mansion, it was funny because I’d go back to the mansion to see them but I moved out and got my own little place because they weren’t there. When I was there I’d be very bored. I had nothing to do.
“We’ll send your chauffer, Mitchell, to pick you two up after classes.” he grinned formally, if that makes sense.
“Alright, goodbye.” I said ending the call. “Brenna, do you think you would mind going to a masquerade ball with me tomorrow?” I asked, she took her ear bud out of one ear and gave me a look that read ‘didn't hear you.’ So I repeated myself.
“YES. I’ve always wanted to dress up like a princess.”
“It’s not like that; we’re not going to a cotillion or something, no poofy dresses. Come, let’s look at the dresses.” I said bringing my laptop to her bed. There was one that I liked a lot. It was black and lacy, with a very slim corset and a high neckline with no sleeves. The back was laced but not like the front, there was a v cut that was only laced so you could see my back. It was a high-low skirt too. Very ruffled in the back and more calm in the front. I knew exactly what shoes and what my mask would look like. My black stilettos and a mask the resembled lace but harder. Brenna decided on a red simply looking dress that was long but transparent on the legs. The actual dress was shorter though and had a transparent longer dress over it that opened for walking legs and it was strapless. It was very elegant and scandalous at the same time. We ordered them and made sure they would be sent by tomorrow at the mansion.
“This is so exciting, I’ve always wanted to go to a ball.” smiled Brenna. I smiled back but I didn't really care for it…
****************************************
“Brenna hurry up we’ve got to go.” I said rushing her after class as she rushed clumsily putting away all her papers.
“Okay, okay. Let’s go.” She said finishing and standing up. She ran ahead, out of the room.
We ran to the front of campus where Uncle Mitchell would be waiting for us. He opened the car door for us and he ran to his driver spot.
“How are you, ladies? Excited for tonight?”
“Yes!” Brenna half shouted then giggled.
“Great, great… Pick out your dresses?” he smiled in the rear view mirror.
“Of course, Uncle Mitch. Think we’re going like this?” I said gesturing our sweatpants and t-shirts. He chuckled. We arrived at the mansion quite quick. We rushed out of the car and said thank you and goodbye to Uncle Mitchell.
“Holy shit! This is your mansion?!” gasped Brenna.
“No my parents…”
“Same thing!” she said shooing my comment. I rolled my eyes.
“Welcome Miss Penelope and friend.” greeted the doorman.
“Brenna.” smiled Brenna at the doorman. “Wow this is so cool!” she squealed, making it echo throughout the entire mansion.
Then two maids came around the corner and showed us to our room where our dresses would be. We climbed three flights of long, wide stairs and by the third I felt like I had ran a mile.
“Jesus! I don’t remember my room being so high up or the stairs so long.” I panted. The maids were perfectly fine though. They must be in shape!
“Right this way.” squeaked one of them. One opened the room up with a key like if it was a secret to be kept and the other smiled at me as if she couldn’t wait for my reaction. My eyebrows were furrowed, not knowing what to expect.
“Vwala.” gestured one. I opened the door all the way and gasped. It was a room full of dresses and accessories. In the middle of the room were two specific dresses, the dresses we chose for the ball.
“Wow.” we both said. The maids closed the door and giggled.
We took turns showering in the very convenient bathroom the room had. I took out my shoes I knew were bound to be in the room. I found them and took the selected mask off a rack full of them. Mine had rhinestones at the corner of the eyes and sparkly black feathers on the top right corner of the mask. Brenna finished showering. She came out of the bathroom combing her short blonde hair. I ran to the bathroom and had the towel in my hands. I quickly stripped and hopped in the shower. When I finished, I wrapped my towel around myself and had an epiphany.
“Did you happen to bring underwear?!” I said rushing out of the bathroom to find Brenna still in her towel and rummaging through her bag. She shook her head a bit panicked.
“Brenna calm down, we probably could find some in here, this is a closet for God sakes.” I laughed nervously. She nodded. I walked over to the big white dresser in the corner of the room. I opened about five of the drawers until I found a drawer full of Victoria Secret laundre.
“WOOH UNDERWEAR!” I screamed holding up a corset that was pretty sexy in my opinion. Brenna’s cackling echoed in the room. She ran over and grabbed a red thong and push up bra. I decided to actually use the corset in the dress so I grabbed a black laced thong and black bra. I then grabbed a robe and went into the bathroom.
“What are you going to do with your hair?”
“I don’t know probably loose curls, you?”
“I wanna put it up but I don’t know what to do.”
“I’ll do something with it when I’m done. Go put on your dress and make up and I’ll be done.” I suggested and she smiled and nodded. As I finished my second to last clump of hair, she came in almost completely ready.
“Okay great, I’m almost done just give me a couple minutes?” I said glancing over at her. I finally finished and looked down at my phone and it was already six and it started at seven. I still needed to do my makeup and put on my dress though I did have a reputation of being fashionably late. I started to curl Brenna’s hair in big chunks like mine.
“Don’t do to me what you did to yourself.” She said annoyed. I rolled my eyes.
“Calm down”, I smiled at her “your hair will be up.”
After I had curled it all loosely I braided three loose braids in the back of her head. I rolled up the braids very loosely on the back of her head. The curls I put in her hair gave off little waves in her hair and a few strands fell out to the front of her hair naturally.
“There you go.” I smiled. She looked gorgeous. She smiled and admired her hair.
“Thank you! What time is it?” she asked me. I picked up my phone and showed her.
“Seven-thirty? Aren’t we late?” she asked confused.
“Yeah, but its okay, you don’t want to be the first ones at the party anyways.” I scoffed. I walked into the room and to my dress. I unzipped the fitting dress and slipped it on. I zipped up the dress and put on my stilettos. I went straight to the makeup table. I gave myself I light smokey eye, a bit of blush, concealer, powder, and my red lip stick. I flipped my dark brown hair then put a bit of hairspray.
Brenna and I picked out our jewelry and put on our masks.
“Ready?”
“No tripping okay?”
“I wont.” I laughed emphasizing ‘I’. She laughed and rolled her eyes. We were finally ready we walked out of the room and the two maids were climbing the stairs probably to come fetch us. My parents really thought my friend would have skipped this ball.
“No need to fetch us ladies, we are ready.” I said hooking arms with Brenna. Brenna beamed at the two maids who were whispering to each other about our dresses.
We walked down the three flights of stairs and I showed her the way to the ball room in the front of the house. We could here the orchestra.
“Blech, do you hear how boring it sounds?” I asked.
“It sounds classy Penny.”
“No this will not do.”
“Penny, don’t get yourself into trouble.” Brenna told me. I opened the door to the ball room. Brenna took it all in; I just wanted to find the damn orchestra.
“Is it just me or is that Rihanna?” she asked in awe.
“Yeah, there are a lot of celebrities here supposedly.” I said unfazed.
“WOW.” She said surprised and excited.
“Brenna calm down, they're going to know you’re a fan.”
“Fine.”
“Let’s get a drink?”
“Yes please.” she exaggerated. We both laughed. We walked over to the very crowded bar. We would not be served for a while.
“Damn, I need a drink.” I said through my teeth. That’s when I heard an almost familiar voice behind me.
“Hello beautiful.”
“Hi.” said Brenna sort of flustered. I turned around to see who she was talking to and it was so weird how I recognized him but didn't. He offered her coke and rum. His mint green eyes looked so familiar.
“Who are you?” she asked before she took a sip.
“I wont tell if you wont.” He said in her ear. She laughed.
“Oh trust me I’m no one important, but I’m Brenna. Now who are you?” She smiled at him. He sighed and grinned at her making a dimple show. His curly hair reminded me of someone.
“My name is Harry.” he smiled.
“Harry Styles.” she proclaimed completely aware of who he was now. If Harry was here, didn't that mean the rest of them were here? Butlers were all over the place now offering drinks.
“Would you like to dance Brenna?” he smiled. My mouth opened a bit to find Brenna leaving me with Harry. Then I realized, ‘Wow this music really sucks really badly.’ I walked over to a butler offering Patron and took one off the trays. I took the shot on my way around the room and put the empty shot glass on another tray, not stopping.
“Where’s that fucking orchestra?” I said through my teeth. I searched but not even a D.J. was in the room. I walked over to one of the butlers to see if they knew where the music was playing from.
“The speaker’s, ma’am, the room at the top of the stairs is where it is being played.” whispered the cute, young butler.
“Thanks.” I said winking at him. His face became flushed and he didn't know what to do next but to continue staring at me. I laughed to myself and quickly went to the back of the room and climbed the stairs. I opened the door and found a butler in a DJ booth but asleep. I couldn’t blame him either.
“Hey wake up.” I said and he did. “Do you mind playing something more up beat and better than this really boring music? No like clubbing music, just better ball room music, something to snap your fingers to and ballroom dance to.”
“I’m not allowed, ma’am, you shouldn’t even be in here.”
“I am the daughter of the people who hired you. You should do what I say.” I blackmailed. “Besides you’re the D.J. you shouldn’t be bored of the things you play. Mix it up a bit.” I laughed and he chuckled. “And if my father comes up here to see why you changed it. Blame it on me okay? I’ll pay you later.” He agreed and changed the music.
I walked out of the room and went down the stairs. I took another shot on my way to Brenna and Harry.
“Your welcome.” I smiled to them and they smiled back. I walked over to Rihanna and said hi.
“This is a great ball, Penny.” She said in her gorgeous accent.
“Don’t thank me, thank my parents.”
“Yeah but the music was you right? I know that was you.” She giggled.
“Yeah just about… oh thank you. Who is this from?” I was distracted by a butler giving me a margarita.
“Oh cutie coming your way.” said Rihanna looking past me.
“Yes him.” chuckled the butler as he walked away.
“Really, do you know who it might be?”
“No… Nope I have no idea.” she smiled nervously at me. We both laughed. She walked away slowly.
“Hi.” said the cute mystery guy.
“Hello.” I giggled. I raised my glass at him.
“How are you?” he smiled. I was almost confused.
“Fine…... I’m sorry, do I know you?” I asked him.
“I don’t know, do you?” he chuckled teasing me. I scoffed and looked at all the people dancing especially Brenna.
“You got me this right?” I said sipping my drink.
“Yes.” he smiled.
“This is my favorite. Drink. How did you know that?” I asked. I was already really tipsy.
“I’m magic.” he said wiggling his fingers. I grinned at him. “Are you, um, here with anybody?” he asked. My eyebrows furrowed, this guy is acting weird.
“No… why? What would you like?” asked quietly. His eyes widened and I let out a chuckle.“You are not alone, I know that.” I teased, grinning down at my drink. I gulped down the last of my margarita.“Lets dance.” I smiled grabbing his wrist as I put my drink down on a tray. He did the same quickly as I dragged him to the dance floor.
“Are you ready sir?” I asked formally then giggled.
“Very.” he said putting his hand on the small of my back and grabbed my other hand. I gasped.
“Naughty!” I whispered, getting closer to his face. I moved his hand higher to the middle of my back I stood up straight and softly placed my hand over his again. My ice blue eyes pierced his brown in concentration. I took a moment to look at him. His scruff looked like it was starting to come back on his strong jaw, his small, warm brown eyes looked safe, like he wouldn’t do anything to hurt anybody and would only protect. His eye brows were full just like his lips that he was nervously biting. His cheek bones were refined.
“Now when you dance, you must lead the girl, I can’t lead you.” I said as I stopped and he began leading me. “You also must hold the girl as if she were a delicate flower flowing in the wind. Firmly but gently”, and he tightened his arms around me but had a gentle hand.
“Wow, I’m impressed.” I said smiling. He grinned nervously. After a few songs, I decided to drink with him.
“So, what do you do?” I asked the mystery guy.
“I sing, I’m a singer.” He says taking another sip of his vodka.
“Really? So you're like… famous?” I slurred emphasizing famous.
“Yeah, you could say that.” He chuckled. I finished the three out of four shots of tequila. I was way drunk by this point.
“Well, don’t tell me who you are, just give me clues. What kind of music do you sing?” I giggled as I sucked on the lime and salt.
“Pop, slow rock.” he smiled
“Your fan bases general age.”
“Like 15.”
“OHHHH okay, Justin Bieber.” I exclaimed. He smiled and shook his head.
“Yeah, you're right, his hair is bigger.” I said putting down the last shot. He watched me carefully with a concerned look on his face.
“How old are you?”
“I am 20 years old.” He grinned. I thought very hard but my intoxicated mind was foggy and it was hard to think. Harry and Brenna came to the bar and he ordered to waters.
“Pfft, wimps.” I slurred.
“Oh God, Penny you're drunk.” Brenna said completely concerned.
“Penny? Wow, nice to see you again. I didn't even recognize you!” greeted Harry, kissing my cheek. I smiled.
“Hey Harry.” smiled the mystery guy.
“Hey man.” He smiled and patted his arm. Then he whispered something in his ear.
“Secrets, secret are no fun unless you share with everyone.” I said seductively leaning over to the mystery guy as Harry and Brenna walked away. He chuckled.
“Okay, next question. Are you and your girlfriend talked about a lot?”
“How do you know I have a girlfriend?” he grinned, this time him being the one to lean in.
“Because you're charming” I said locking eyes with him then pulling away from his gaze.
“Well, we are taking a break at the moment. We’re still friends though.” he said sitting up straight again.
“Well, that dumb. Why do you lie to yourselves?” I scoffed now taking a sip of water.
“I'm not. Why?”
“Because you can’t become friends with your ex’s. How awkward. Like one time my boyfriend broke up with me because he was too good for me now that he was in, he went to boot camp and got into a group for the X-Factor. He broke up with me and told me we could be friends but then never answered my texts or calls or letters. I wasted so much time on him after he broke up with me. So just end it, don’t try and be friends again, ‘cause that’s just shit.” I nodded sarcastically. He looked so sad for a second taking a shot of Patron “Wanna here the funniest part?”
“What?”
“He might be here tonight, your friend Harry is in the same dumb boy band he’s in now. They’re actually pretty good but I don’t like my ex, so....”
“Really?” he asked sarcastically.
“I don’t know what I’ll do if I were to see him tonight…” I said staring off into space then taking another swig of water.
“Have you figured me out yet?” he said.
“No.” I said glaring at him. He then grabbed my hand and led me to the doors of the ballroom. He stopped right in front of me.
“One more hint: I’m a good kisser.” He smirked.
“That was not a good clue.” I said confused. He laughed.
“You're clueless.” He teased as he laughed. I opened my mouth to say something but then he went in for a kiss. He kissed me passionately and firmly. He started to move his lips against mine. He was a good kisser, he reminded me of Liam. We backed out of the room and let go.
“Come. I know where we can go.” I smiled, leading the way up one flight of stairs. I opened the first door and there was a king sized bed in the middle of the room. I turned around and mystery guy looked for my lips like it was water.
Liam POV:
I couldn’t say I didn't miss Penelope, I definitely did. Even if we aren’t sober, I wanted to show her how much I had missed her. I pushed her into the room with my kiss, my hand on the small of her back and the other searching for the light but she tells me not to, so I stopped.
“It’s not important. We don’t need to see each other, I only need to feel you.” She said between kisses and out of breath. She turned me on so much. I pinned her to the wall hard, making the bang loud enough for anyone on this floor to hear. She whimpered into the kisses as I reached for her thighs. I picked her up and she straddled me firmly making our hip bones connected in the front as my hands grabbed a hold of her bum under her dress. I grinded mine against hers as I became hard.
“Fuck!” she said throwing her head back. She sucked in a sharp breath through her teeth. The glow of passing cars lit up the room and against her face. She bit her red, full bottom lip and looked right into my masked brown eyes with her masked piercing blue eyes. She unwrapped her legs from around me and her feet dropped to the floor. She pushed me onto the bed roughly. She went back to lock the door and slowly made her way to the center of the room. She unzipped her dress and it fell to the floor revealing her half naked body. She came over to me quickly straddling me once more.
“My God.” I said eyebrows lifted looking her up and down. She kissed me quickly and forcefully. She then unbuttoned my shirt so fast that I almost forgot it was a button up.
“Maybe we shoul…”
“Shut up.” she commanded before she locked her lips with mine again. I reached into my wallet quickly and pulled out my emergency condom. She snatched it out of my hand and through it across the room.
“Naughty...” She purred in my ear. I let go in side my briefs a lot sooner than I wanted to. She giggled as I continued giving her love bites all over her neck. My phone started to ring and it said Zayn was calling me. Her nails dragged up and down my stomach making me hiss with pleasure.
“Hold on, Penelope... I –I gotta take this.” I panted quietly. Her hands rested on my chest so familiarly.
“Hello?”
“Hi. You with Penny?” he said getting right to the point.
“Yes.”
“We gotta go, man.” He said rushed.
“Why?”
“Trust me; you're going to want to listen to me. Get straight to the car, man.”
“Okay…” I said annoyed ending the call right after.
“Are you ditching me?” asked Penelope as she got off my lap.
“Unfortunately…” I said buttoning up my shirt quickly.
“Aw too bad.” she pouted, “You were getting to be so fun.” she whined.
“I’m sorry. Goodbye.” I said kissing the corner of her mouth.
“Bye Mystery Guy…” she said quietly. I ran out of the room, down the stairs and straight out of the door of the mansion. I quickly got in the car where Zayn and Louis were waiting for me. I looked at my watch that read 1:14 am
“So how was it?” asked Louis grinning from ear to ear
“How was what?” I asked almost annoyed. “She’s extremely sexy now and an amazing kisser, that’s it.”
“No…?” said Zayn as a finger went in and out of his o.k. sign. I shook my head at him disappointed.
“Well, save more for later.” chuckled Louis as he took off his mask. Zayn and I followed. I thought about what she called me.
“Guys, she never recognized me…”
“She didn't?” Louis said furrowing his eyebrows completely confused. I looked down at my mask that I held in my hand. Niall and Harry finally made it into the car and we drove off.
“Liam, what about Danielle?” nudged Harry.
“What about her…?”
“Weren't you two supposedly getting back together?” asked Niall. I looked at him for a while. ‘Why are you making things harder for me?’ I thought to myself.
“Yeah, we’re supposed to go out for dinner Saturday…”
“Didn't you say that you were going to meet up with Penny one of these days too?”
“Yeah but the purpose isn’t to date her, just friends again.”