Alors on Danse was the hottest club in the city, it had fashionable weekend party themes that was attended by everyone who was anyone and everyone who wanted to be noticed by anyone, and also people like me who were underdressed and just wanted to drink their stupidity away.

Unlike the rest of the underdressed and sober stupid, I have friends like Eden and Ruth, who always make sure they are on the A-list. Eden loves the partying and Ruth enjoys criticising the fashion and both of them love me enough to always sneak my name in.

I was dressed in my casual blue skinny jeans and baggy top as I stood outside and waited for Eden. The bouncer kept a wary eye on me as he let people in who were dressed appropriately for the occasion which was Red and Chic.

Fortunately, soon Eden rushed to my rescue. She had a tight, skimpy red dress –perfect for this party.

“Thank God you’re here,” said Eden, smiling at me oddly. “I thought you said you couldn’t make it but I’m so glad you did!”

“I guess, if you’re glad so am I,” I said, suspicious of her over-enthusiasm.

My suspicions grew when she suddenly hugged me tightly like we just hadn’t seen each other this afternoon. “I hate my date,” she whispered in my ear and I glanced over her shoulder, noticing her date.

He looked like he came out of a model magazine, he had a strong jaw, jet black hair and piercing green eyes.

“What’s wrong with him?” I whispered in her ear.

“Everything,” she said, distastefully, letting me go from the embrace.

I sighed, preparing my mind for a vicious battle against her beautiful hated date.

“Geez, I told you the party was themed, Red and Chic,” said Eden, eying my clothes. “Why are you wearing your ‘lunch clothes’ from this afternoon?”

“I think she looks fine,” said Eden’s date, his raspy voice matching his appearance perfectly..

“Except she isn’t wearing any red,” replied Eden, rolling her eyes at him. “I’ll go get you my emergency dress –and you, Gabriel,” she pointed at her date, “keep her company.”

“Wait a minute!” I said quickly, sending Eden a ‘what the hell are you doing? I’m not mentally prepared yet’ glare.

“What’s wrong? You need a dress for the party. You know I keep an emergency dress for all occasions,” replied Eden, too sweetly like she hadn’t received my glare.

“Oh, I just wanted to know what dress do you have as an emergency? It isn’t the shimmering one with the side frills, is it?” I asked, buying some time to mentally prepare for a battle with a fallen angel –maybe I could verbally insult his pretty eyes.

“That’s just the one,” said Eden, in heightened tones of happiness, “and they aren’t side frills –they are called furbelows. Ruth would have your head if she heard you still use side frills.”

“Right, furbelows,” I said, inspecting Gabriel for a flaw but not finding one. I was blinded by his gorgeousness and I wasn’t anywhere near ready for a verbal battle.

“Speaking of furbelows, Gabriel, be a good furbelow and keep Mackenzie company,” instructed Eden, shoving Gabriel in my arms.

“Eden!” I stammered out, surprised by the sudden motion. I tried to keep my balance to avoid falling over and luckily Gabriel found his balance and steadied both of us.

“I’m going to kill her instead of you,” I blurted, watching Eden escape back inside Alors on Danse.

“You want to kill me?” said Gabriel, his raspy breath tingling my neck.

I pulled away from him. “No, that would be ridiculous –I don’t even know you,” I said, red faced.

“And Eden’s impolite introduction didn’t help much,” said Gabriel, “What kind of girl pushes her date into the arms of her friend I barely met?”

“She didn’t push you into my arms,” I bit back, upset at description he was fabricating of Eden. “She’s my best friend and the most considerate person I know.”

“Oh? Should I ignore the fact that you wanted to kill her just seconds ago,” retorted Gabriel, adjusting his red tie.

“That was a once off outburst, it isn’t as if you haven’t had one,” I said, pinpointing the reason why Eden disliked him. He might be handsome but his soul was the image of an asshole. “Forgive me, if we aren’t so prim and proper like you, your majesty,” I said, doing a sarcastic curtsey.

“It’s basic manners,” said Gabriel, sharply.

“And that is something you lack,” I said just as sharply.

“I’m not the one dressed inappropriately for an event and using her so called best friend’s frilly dress to sneak into the club,” said Gabriel, condescendingly.

“It’s not frilly – it’s furbelow!” I corrected, “and I’m not sneaking into the club. I’ve been invited here numerous times, my name is on the RSVP.”

“Just save it for someone who cares,” said Gabriel, cutting me off like I was an insolent child.

“Just who the hell do you think you are?” I snapped and began poking my finger at Gabriel’s chest. “You think you are some royal prince that can do whatever you please! I’ve got news for you – this my pauper friend is a democracy not a monarch! And yes, I called you a pauper.”

“Mackenzie?” called a voice from behind me.

I turned around, following the voice that echoed my name and was sharply disappointed. “What are you doing here Sebastian?” I said, wanting to pull my hair out.

“I invited him,” replied Gabriel. “You know her?” Gabriel asked Sebastian.

“Yeah, of course I do. As a matter of fact, she could be considered my current best friend –she knows more secrets about me than you do, Gabe,” said Sebastian, deliberately smiling at me.

“I should have known you two knew each other,” I said, curtly. “Gabriel the Ass and Sebastian the –“

“I’m not an ass,” interrupted Gabriel. “An ass would have not saved your life and endured your ridiculous poking session.”

“You think breaking my tiny fall is saving my life?” I scoffed. “You exaggerate so much that it isn’t surprising that your head is so far up your –“

“Did I miss something here?” interrupted Sebastian, “I’m a big fan of warfare and battles but I’d like to have some context so I could choose the winning side.”

“Seb, this is one of Eden’s friends,” said Gabriel like it was an insult and the insult explained everything.

“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” I said, livid.

“Exactly, what I meant – would you like me to repeat it?” asked Gabriel, far too sweetly to sound sincere.

“Harris!” cautioned Sebastian, standing between me and Gabriel. “This isn’t like you to get so riled up,” he told Gabriel, firmly holding the side of his shoulders. “You never once started a fight with a girl –imagine what your mother – the Dean would say and not to mention your father.”

“I’m not about to start a fight with a girl Sebastian,” confirmed Gabriel with a sigh. “I’m just keeping her company like her best friend said I should.”

“Wait a minute…” I said, folding my arms as my mind’s neutrons began linking important details. “You’re Dean Harris’ son?”

“Yes,” said Gabriel, staring at me like I was an idiot.

“And you’re Sebastian’s friend?” I asked, like the idiot that he thought I was.

Gabriel nodded.

Everything was linking and the light bulb in my head lit up like Christmas lights. Sebastian was having an affair with Gabriel’s mother –his friend’s mother! Did Gabriel know? Maybe he did considering his asshole personality… there was only one way to find out.

“Are you aware that Dean Harris –your mother and Sebastian are having an –“

“Early meeting tomorrow,” Sebastian interrupted me. “I can’t make breakfast with you Gabriel –you know how your mother is a slave driver and a perfectionist. Remember when we were younger and we thought she wanted those ordinary highlighters but she wanted those customised highlighters and she drew her dragon breath and we were burnt.”

“Yeah, I remember. It lasted for two weeks,” said Gabriel. “You don’t have to worry about breakfast, I’ll ask Nick instead but Seb, how does she know you and my mother are having breakfast? How do you know her?”

“Funny story,” replied Sebastian, easily concocting a story through his ramblings. “We met at the library. She’s the studious type which surprisingly happens to be my type. I love how she reads and writes so intently. I could not manage one more moment without looking at her studious, reading face and now we’re dating.”

“No, we aren’t,” I said in disbelief at Sebastian lying. “I would never date someone like you.”

“So are you dating or not?” asked Gabriel, directly.

“A lover’s spat,” improvised Sebastian, swiftly. “Ups and downs but it seems more downs than ups –relationships are tough aren’t they, babe?”

I glared at Sebastian, frowning of the use of the endearment-babe and utterly disgusted at his smooth lying ability to his friend. I was about to firmly protest against his lies and tell the honest truth when Eden returned with the red furbelow dress.