A BIG NIGHT.
2171 Words
Chapter 01.
A BIG NIGHT.
Kara's POV.
Sitting at the back, I glanced at the manor on my side of the window as the taxi came to a stop. I sighed. For one, I didn't see any reason why the school authority decided to rent a hall when there were several others in the school that could have been used. Nonetheless, I opened my purse, and took out some dollar notes.
“Here.” I said, extending a hand towards the taxi driver as I paid for the ride.
“Thank you.” he received it from me, and put it in the chest pocket of his shirt.
I opened the door, got down from the taxi, and stood on the sidewalk for a few seconds. While standing on the sidewalk, I swept my eyes up and down the manor, then I looked at the entrance.
There were two men on black suits standing on opposite sides of the entrance with the hands clasped in front of them. I closed my eyes, and drew in a deep, calming breath. Just then, I heard the sounds of footsteps approaching, and I opened my eyes.
“I knew it.” the voice came from my left side. “I knew it just had to be you Kara. What are you doing here?”
“Well, what do you think, Sarah?” I asked, shrugging a shoulder while staring at the manor. “I am taking a moment to get myself ready. Besides, it's the famous 'Ty's Manor'.”
I did the air quotes.
“Although, it's something we see everyday, but you know quite well that it's difficult to set foot in there. If you're lucky enough, you might only set foot in there once in a lifetime.” I added with a smile.
“Come on, Kara.” she said, nudging me in the arm playfully. “I am sure we'll still get another opportunity to check out the manor after tonight.”
“You can't be so sure.” I said, shaking my head. “At first, I was wondering why the school authorities chose this place as the venue, and not one of the halls in the school, but I think I understand better now.”
“Me too.” she said, looking at the manor. “I thought the same because they could have saved up the money used to rent this place. But now I know why they wanted it by all means possible.”
“Isn't it beautiful?” I sighed, and then smiled. “I really hope that it's not the last time I set foot in here.”
“It won't be.” she said, turning to face me. “Besides, did you just arrive?”
“Yes, I did not quite long.” I said, nodding my head. “What about you? Did you just arrive?”
“No, not really.” she said, shaking her head. “I arrived about an hour ago.”
“An hour ago?” I arched a brow in shock. “Are you kidding right now? If you arrived an hour ago, then you arrived by 6pm. The event was said to start by 7pm. Why would you come that early?”
“I know, right?” she sighed, and her shoulders slumped. “However, I didn't have a choice. I just couldn't wait to get here. Besides, I wanted to arrive here before every other person.”
“So, did you?” I asked, narrowing my gaze at the words.
“No, I didn't.” she said, shaking her head. “Elena had arrived by the time I got here. You know her right? She just wouldn't stay at a place; she'd been moving from here to there taking pictures of the whole place.”
“And what about you?” I arched a brow. “What have you been doing since you got here?”
“Well, what do you think?” she asked, shrugging a shoulder. “I was waiting for you. But it seemed like you weren't coming, so I decided to take a few pictures with my dad.”
“Your dad is here?” I gasped, covering my mouth with my hands while blinking my eyes in surprise. “I thought you mentioned that he wasn't going to come. What changed? Besides, where's he?”
“He decided that he couldn't miss out on a night like this.” she said with a smile. “Besides, he's over there.”
She lifted a hand, and pointed in the direction.
“Uh, I can't see him.” I said, trying to identify her father among the people gathered under the floodlights at the far end of the manor. “What is he putting on?”
“Even if I told you, I don't think you'll be able to see him.” she said. “There are just too many people there. What about you? Are your parents coming?”
“I doubt it.” I said, glancing at my wristwatch. “My dad is working a night shift tonight. So he won't be able to make it.”
“And your mom?” she c****d a brow in curiosity.
“You know how her job is, right?” I sighed. “I can't really say if she'll be coming, or not. Right now, I just have to hope that she eventually shows up. Besides, you know that she closes from work quite late.”
“Yes, I understand.” she said, nodding her head. “However, all that matters is that you're here now.”
“And so am I.” the voice came from a distance.
“Sophie!” Sarah exclaimed, and spread out her arms for a hug. “Come over here.”
While they hugged each other, I sighed, and looked around, especially behind me. If anything, I just wished that my mother would show up. But it didn't seem like it. Before leaving home earlier today, she'd mentioned that she would most likely return late.
“What are we waiting for?” Sophie asked, darting her gaze back and forth. “Let's go in.”
“We should.” I said with a smile.
Together, we all walked towards the entrance. As we got in to the hall, I swept my eyes all over the place. There were chandeliers hanging in the ceiling.
A flower vase was standing on the round tables which were covered with silver tablecloths. There was a red carpet from the entrance to the stage.
“You've got to be kidding me.” I muttered the words under my breath as I blinked my eyes in surprise.
“Oh my God!” Sarah gasped, covering her mouth with her hands. “This is so beautiful.”
“Of course it is.” Sophie said, looking all over the place while walking with her back in front. “I never thought I'd set my foot in here. But, here I am.”
She spread out her arms, closed her eyes, and turned around a few times with a smile.
“Hey, look at the that.” I said, nudging Sarah in the arm. “It has started already.”
“Sophie?” Sarah called, cupping her mouth with her hands. “Sophie, stop.”
Just then, Sophie stopped turning, and looked at Sarah.
“What?” she asked, dropping her arms.
“Look.” Sarah said, ducking her head to the side. “It has started already; we should find a place to sit. Come on.”
She returned to us, and together we began to walk, searching for a place to sit. The hall was almost full.
“Over there.” I said, pointing to an empty table.
We weaved through a few tables, and then settled down. Just then, Mrs Doyle, the Dean of the college, climbed up the stage with a microphone in one hand, and a tablet in her other hand. As she got to the centre of the stage, she stopped.
“Good evening to you all.” she said, holding the microphone to her mouth. “I am happy to have you all here on a night like this. For me, it's an honor to have you all here.”
The crowd responded with a round of applause.
“As you well know, the event started some minutes ago.” she said, taking some steps forward. “And now, I've the privilege to announce the best student of the year.”
She operated the tablet in her hand for a few seconds.
“Who do you think it'll be?” Sarah asked, in a curious tone. “Do you think it'll be Kiera again just like the last time.”
“I really don't know.” I said, shaking my head. “I guess we'll just have to see.”
“Ahem,” Mrs Doyle cleared her throat. “Alright, the award for the best student this year goes to Kara Jayne.”
As her words fell upon my ears, my heart sank. I covered my mouth with my hands, while blinking my eyes in shock. For one, I never expected it to be me.
“I am so proud of you Kara.” Sarah grinned. “All your efforts finally paid off.”
I pulled myself together, got up from my seat, and walked towards the stage. As I did, I felt over a hundred eyes on me. I climbed up the stage. Just then, Mr Vincent, one of the school's administrators climbed up the stage with the award in his hand. He handed it over to Mrs Doyle.
“Where are you parents?” she took the microphone away from her mouth and asked while receiving the award from Mr Vincent.
“They couldn't make it.” I said, shaking my head.
“Alright. On behalf of the school,” she said, pulling me closer with a hand. “We hereby present this award to Kara Jayne.”
The hall exploded with a rain of applause as I received the award from her. Just then, some men with cameras stepped forward. The sound of their cameras shuttering filled the place as they took pictures of me while Mrs Doyle put a hand around my shoulder.
“You can return to your seat now.” she said with a smile.
With the award in my hand, I walked back to my seat.
“Your mom would have been so proud of you if she was here right now.” Sophie said, lacing her fingers under her jaw as she stared at me.
“I know that too.” I said, settling on the chair. “But the situation can't be helped.”
“Why don't you try giving her a call?” Sarah suggested, and shrugged as she looked at Sophie. “Or what do you think?”
“I think you should.” Sophie said, nodding her head. “She just has to be here.”
“Alright then.” I got up from my chair, and took out my phone from my purse which was on the table. “Keep an eye on this for me.”
I put the award on the table, then I walked out of the hall. Outside, I walked down the road to avoid being disturbed by the noises of those who were outside the manor. I stopped as I realized that I'd gotten far away from them, then I rang my mom's line.
“Mom,” I said as the line connected. “Where are you?”
“I am sorry sweetheart.” her voice came from the other end of the line. “I am afraid I won't be able to make it. I've to go now.”
“Mom… mom?”
The line went dead. I sighed, and returned to the manor.
“What did she say?” Sarah asked as I settled on my seat. “Did she say she's coming?”
“No, she's not.” I said, shaking my head. “I guess she still has a lot to do at work.”
“Still she should have taken out some time to be with you today.” Sarah said.
“She has to work.” I raised the wineglass on the table, and drank a little wine from it.
“You are Kara, right?” a young boy asked as he walked towards me.
Sophie, and I exchanged puzzled glances for a moment, then I returned my gaze to him.
“Yes, I am. Is there a problem?” I asked.
“You can never be my mate.” he said with a firm voice.
“Pardon?”
“I, Dylan Hopper, reject you as my mate.” he said with a cold gaze.
As his words fell upon my ears, my heart sank. The wineglass in my grip fell on the floor, and shattered.
- Writer
