Behind a facade

3.

“What is all this about?” Dakota smirked. “Suddenly a party?”

Josh chuckled, putting his arm around Emma, who is searching for something in her handbag. “It’s Miles. He suggested throwing a small bachelor party kind of thing before my marriage. I was like, why not…”

“Miles? Bachelor party?” Dakota raised one of her brows. With busy lifestyles, taking care of old friendships sounded quite admirable to Dakota. In Dakota’s life, she missed maintaining old friendships thanks to transferring schools in the middle of high school.

“It sounds funny, isn’t it, DK?” Emma inclined her head slightly. “They called it a bachelor party, yet girls also coming. Plus, the wedding is in three days.”

Dakota nodded while smiling. “It sounds exactly like Josh and Miles,”

“Caleb, Ashley and Maddison will be here too,”

“What?” Dakota showed her surprise. “It makes sense Caleb is going to be here. He was a part of the football team, but Ashley and Maddison?”

“Just don’t think about it too much. This is a small town, people cannot avoid others even if they want to.”

“But Em...,”

“DK, consider all those things in the past. There are so many things you have to catch up on. You will see,” Emma gently explained.

“Ignore them, as you always do DK. You know, I agree with Miles. It’s really hard to catch up with everyone because of work and everything. When we get a rare chance like this, we shouldn’t let it go,” Josh expressed how contended he is about the rushed yet tempting meetup while entering the nightclub.

The Fiestro club had its own widespread onerous reputation for being the centre attraction of the downtown. It looked majestic, exactly like in Dakota’s memories. When her brother, Ryker Kent, was working in this club as a part-time worker, she was once able to take a peek inside the club. She couldn’t hang out in the club back then, because she was a minor at that time.

Fate has such an irony, and sometimes no one can make sense of it. The cruel taste of fate often paralyzes people’s hearts with addictive memories. Ten years ago, Ryker was still there, playfully pushing Dakota outside of the club while making fun of her being a teenager. Dakota is no longer that teenager who Ryker often made fun of. Yet her brother is not in the world to see how fast his little sister has grown into a strong independent person, as he always wished to see.

“Hey… Josh, here…”

Someone shouted, breaking Dakota’s attention from her thoughtful observation. Her eyes found a bulky man who was waving his hand while standing up from a table in a far corner of the club. The zone he was in gave off a vibe like the setting of a VIP area. She could see there was a group of people also sitting around the table, except for the bulky man.

“Miles, what’s up?” Josh smacked the bulky man’s back with a friendly smile.

No wonder Dakota couldn’t recognize the man at first glance. Miles has gained quite a lot of muscle during these years. His faux hawk hairstyle and the anchor tattoo on the side of his neck brought him a bad boy look, which was totally unlike his personality. Miles, whom Dakota knew in high school, was a simple person with a neutral attitude to everything. He never had a bold sense of fashion either.

“Dakota Kent!” Miles blurted while extending his hand to shake hands. “I must say I couldn’t recognize you at first,”

“ The same goes for you, Miles Garcia,” Dakota replied. She flashed an enigmatic smile. “I never expected to see you as a bodybuilder,”

“Now you are exaggerating it,” Miles made a nasal sound. “I might have gained some extra muscles. That doesn’t make me a bodybuilder.”

“Whatever you say,”

“I can see you are laughing Dakota,” Miles shook his from side to side, trying to hold his laugh. “Come on, here… sit next to me. Josh and Emma move next to Tessa. You two are the stars tonight.”

Dakota took a seat next to Miles, surveying people around the table. She recognized a few familiar faces around the table, such as Caleb Smith, Vincent Kang, Maddison Weil, Ashley Jackson and Tessa Brown.

She couldn’t help but smile, remembering how these people interacted with each other during their high school days, including herself. Getting along with each other was an impossible task for them when they were sixteen-year-old teenagers. Their personalities were so different to the point, conflicts were an inevitable part among them whenever they met face to face. It was indeed disastrous back then.

After many years, when looking back, the way they behaved in the past felt so silly to Dakota. Most of the time, they fought, not even knowing the reason.

Her eyes met familiar sapphire eyes looking at her along with others. She slowly averts her eyes, reminding herself of how she got lost in those captivating eyes in the past. Whenever that happened, nothing good came to her life. In the end, all she received was hurt. The last thing Dakota wanted was the mixing up her chaotic past with her peaceful present.

“I think I don’t need to introduce everyone here. We are all familiar with each other, right?”

For Miles’ question, the girl next to him answered with a honeyed voice. “Are you sure? Dakota Kent, it seems you couldn’t recognize me?”

Dakota deliberately took her time to answer. She gave a lopsided grin before answering the girl, who is showing an arrogant attitude. “Hey, Ashley Jackson,”

“Thank god… I am happy that you didn’t forget me,” Ashley’s satirical tone was the same as in their school days.

Dakota shook her head, thinking there is still someone who hadn’t changed a bit during all these years. No matter, if they are twenty-six years old or sixteen years old, Ashley got the same annoying attitude and terrible personality. Someone like Ashley won’t change. It’s impossible to see a positive development in a person’s character if that person is ignorant, self-centred and lacking humanity.

“It’s impossible to forget the Wicked Witch of the West,” Josh smoothly mocked. Caleb and Josh shared a glance at the same time and burst into a laugh like crazy people. It made others laugh as well.

“Let me correct you, Rooney,” Caleb uttered, in the middle of the laugh. “Wicked Witch of Lakeville,”

Miles pressed his lips, trying not to laugh, seeing that Ashley scowled. “Okay… everyone, that’s enough of teasing my girlfriend,”

Dakota’s mouth fell open upon hearing those words. That was the greatest shock she received after she came back to Lakeville. Miles and Ashley become a couple… It sounds as if the world is about to end. Dakota wanted to confirm whether she heard it correctly.

“You and her… a couple?”

“You don’t have to be that surprised,” Ashley groaned, directing a glare at Dakota. She prevents Miles from speaking, shifting her murderous glare from Dakota to Miles. “Why... can't I be in a relationship?”

“I didn’t mean it that way.”

“Okay, okay… let’s just start the party, guys,” Miles interrupted, changing the topic. Dakota gave a thankful nod to Miles, silently admiring his courage to be with Ashley.

After another hour of drinking and listening to others’ life experiences, Dakota felt a bit tired. She was never that party person who enjoyed too much chattering and gatherings.

“Oh... hey that’s Brian, right?” Caleb suddenly pointed out somewhere near the dancing floor. Everyone turned their attention to where Caleb was pointing. “I thought he is not in town.”

Dakota recognized the familiar features of Brian Parker. Except for his beard, nothing had changed in Brian’s appearance. There was an attractive girl next to him. Their interactions were intimate. Dakota wondered who is the girl beside him.

“When did he come?” Josh shared a confused glance.

“This is unexpected, indeed,” Maddison also gave a half-shrug.

“What does that mean?” Dakota lowered her voice and asked Miles. “He is not in town?”

“Ah... he lives in California. Rarely visit Lakeville. We haven’t seen him for years,” Miles replied. “He is hard to catch these days,”

Ashley rolled her eyes as if she wants to show her uninterested nature.

“Is that so?” Dakota mumbled, getting even more confused. Ten years ago the situation was entirely different from what Dakota is witnessing at the present moment. Back in those days, these people were attached as if they were inseparable. They were always together and did everything together. The attitude they are showing in the present shocked Dakota. It almost looked as if they despise each other to death.

“Why don’t we ask him to join us? This is great,” Caleb rose to his feet and walk to Brian before anyone could stop him.

“He never listens,” Miles let out a sigh, shaking his head.

Suddenly, the atmosphere around the table got quite colder for some reason. Tessa looked like she wanted to punch Caleb. From the beginning, Dakota noticed Tessa is not close to her high school best friends anymore. She behaved as if she has forced to sit together with her mortal enemy. Though Dakota didn’t know what caused the cold war between them, she could understand something big has caused this distance between them.

“Jesus! Everyone is here it seems,” Brian who came with Caleb stated, observing the people around the table. The girl also followed Brian and stood next to him.

“What’s up, Brian? We didn’t know you are here,”

“Oh, I had to come, Miles,” Brian replied. He turns his attention to Josh and Emma next. His eyes filled with mischievous amusement. “Rooney.. so you are getting married ah? Just now, Caleb told me,”

“Yeah. It’s time I guess,”

“You should thank me, Rooney,” Brian winked, laughing loudly. “If I am not wrong, I played a big part in bringing your future wife into your life,”

“....”

No one bothered to reply, making the atmosphere quite weird. Dakota silently observed the reactions of everyone around the table. Except for Caleb, they all look like they want Brian to disappear.

“Haha... why don’t we have another shot and headed to the dance floor?” Miles suggested in a troubled manner. Dakota felt pity for Miles who is trying his best to keep everyone in peace.

“I’m afraid I can’t Miles,” said Brian. “My girlfriend and I are here for another matter. You guys have fun... em... Rooney, I wish you and your girl a happy married life. See you guys around,”

After Brian took his leave, Dakota understood that she knew nothing about people in Lakeville. A lot of things have changed. Even, Brian has a new girlfriend...

She didn’t know what to feel about Tessa and Brian’s separation. What caused their breakup? Does she have the right to feel anything about it? Is she even in a position to make a judgment about Tessa’s affairs? From the beginning, it wasn’t her place. That’s the truth Dakota couldn’t accept in the past and the reality she is still hesitating to admit sometimes.

When they headed to the dance floor her eyes secretly found Tessa, who is on the dance floor with Emma and the other girls. Dakota was standing a few feet away from her. Even so, the distance between them felt like miles, exactly like in the old days.

“Dakota… Dakota… you never learn your lesson,” Dakota mused, forcing herself to pay no attention to the side where Tessa was. She turned her back to that side, with a grumpy mood.

“So, Dakota Kent,” Brian, who suddenly came from nowhere, directed a provoking smile. His sudden arrival shocked Dakota and, didn’t give Dakota a good feeling. “You have improved,”

“What?” Dakota raised her voice, trying to catch up with Brian’s words.

“I can see some girls are already hitting on you. Not bad ah..”

Dakota faked a fixed smile, not knowing what to say. Brian and Dakota never had a pleasant friendship during their school years. Friendship aside, they didn’t even talk to each other unless there wasn’t an argument. Dakota wondered what made Brian want to talk to her, considering their past relationship.

“Shouldn’t you be with your girlfriend?” Dakota asked, indicating Brian’s girlfriend, who is standing near the bar counter. The awkwardness in her words gave a cringe feeling to Dakota, making her want to retake her own words.

“Nina?”

“Yeah,”

“She can look after herself,”

“Oh... I see,”

Brian scoffed. “You never change Dakota Kent. At first, I thought you have changed after staying in France for many years, but you are still the same,”

Dakota felt Brian’s words taking her nerves. She narrowed her eyes. “What do you mean?”

Brian took his time to answer Dakota. “Still got no communication skills and worry about others like a fool,”

“Whatever,” Dakota lowered her voice, barely keeping her dancing movements according to the rhythm.

Brian starts laughing. He leaned towards Dakota and whispered with a condemning smile on his face. “Forget about that. I wanted to say thank you,”

“For what?”

“For not looking at me like an abnormal animal, and always being real with me,”

“Eh?”

Brian shrugged his shoulders with a solid grin. “I assume you have already seen how others are treating me,”

Dakota knitted her brows, trying to carefully listen to Brian. There was something in Brian’s voice Dakota couldn’t neglect. Was that regret? Or pain?

“You know, Kent, I am not a good person. I am not trying to hide it. Back in our school days or now, I am always like this. But, let me tell you something. I am better than them,” Brian used his gaze to show Josh, Caleb, Miles, Tessa, Emma, Ashley, Vincent and Maddison who are dancing.

“What are you trying to say?”

“Dakota Kent, you don’t know them as I do. So, be careful with them. Just wanted to tell you this,”

Brian stepped down the dancing floor and walked away while Dakota found herself in a dumbfounded state. For the first time, she felt Brian had sincerely spoken to her. Somewhere in her mind, she knew he was trying to warn her about something she had no idea about.