Broken Promises

The Gala

After we were done buying the dress we headed back to Lucas’s house, I was skeptical obviously but his parents wanted me to get ready with his sister so I obliged.

“Rylee!” Elis yelled as I walked in.

“Elis!” I yelled running to her.

“I missed you so much” She whined.

“I missed you to kiddo!” I smiled.

“Rylee!” Lucas mom walked over to me.

“Mrs. Huntsberger!” I smiled.

“Hello darling, I've missed you terribly!” She smiled and pulled me into a hug.

“I missed you to” I smiled again.

“We have a hair dresser and a makeup artist ready for you!” She said cheerfully.

“Thank you, but you didn’t have to go through so much trouble.” I insisted.

“Are you kidding?! You are our favorite after all!” She insisted leading me over to the chair.

“I’m thinking curls and light makeup, what about you?” She smiled pleasantly.

“Whatever you think will work with my dress, you’ve never steered me wrong” I smiled again.

“I think it will look nicely with whatever you wear” She paused for a moment.

“You look wonderfully by the way” She smiled and walked away leaving me to my thoughts

While the hairdresser did my hair and the makeup artist did my makeup. I couldn’t help but let my mind wonder, this is where I'm supposed to be, who I am supposed to be around. I was thrown into a house with people who love and care about me yes, but not with people who make me feel like me or encourage me and my dreams. I am supposed to be a part of big events and galas, going to cocktail parties and making the most of my teen years. Partying with the up and comers and taking the world by storm with my last name, being treated like a person and not a woman who was orphaned.

“I notice Lucas hasn’t taken his eyes off of you all night” Mrs. Huntsberger whispered in my ear.

“Oh really, I hadn’t noticed” I smiled.

“You okay dear?” She asked pointing to my arm.

“This? Oh yeah, I just tripped and fell walking home from school, it’s pretty bad so I just covered it with makeup” lying through my teeth.

“I’ll have Marissa cover that up for you” She smiled.

“Thank you” I smiled back and she walked away. Marissa came back and covered it better than I could, with water proof stuff so it wouldn’t drip or fall while I was at the gala. But in order to do that she had to wipe all the makeup off, so the whole bruise. Lucas looked furious when he saw what she was doing and saw it. He was more focused on it then the pain flashing through my face as she wiped it.

“Ry” He pulled me aside.

“Yeah?” I smiled.

“What happened to your arm?” He asked concerned.

“I fell” lie

“Where?” He asked

“On my way home from school” lie

“When?” He asked

“Yesterday” lie

“I didn’t see you fall” he said quickly.

“It was down away from the school” lie

“Oh, okay. So, Jason didn’t do this?” He asked irritated.

“No” lie.

“Okay, I won't bring it up again” He smiled.

Lie, lie, lie, lie, lie. I feel like that’s all I do anymore, to him and to everyone else.

“Oh Rylee, you look absolutely delightful.” Mr. Huntsberger said.

“Why thank you Mr. Huntsberger” I smiled.

“I hope you’ll come back for our after gala special?” He smiled.

“I will definitely try!” I smiled again.

“Okay, see you there then!” He smiled

“Yes, you will!” I smiled again as he walked out the door as well as everyone but Lucas and I.

I wondered around the house while Lucas got ready. Taking in every photo, remembering memories of our past.

“Hey” Lukas voice traveled as he walked towards me.

“Hey Luka!” I smiled.

“Max wanted me to make sure you were okay” he said lowly.

“I’m fine Luka. Thanks for checking” I smiled, trying to brush off being uncomfortable. I don’t like talking about my home life around Lucas. He doesn’t understand any of it.

“You sure?” He said raising a brow at me.

“Luka I’m fine” I giggled trying to play it off as Lucas walked towards us.

“Okay, if you say so” He answered with a sigh and lowered his voice so only I could hear.

“Ready to go Rylee?” Lucas asked with a smirk as he snaked an arm around my waist sending chills throughout my body.

“Yes” I smiled, giving into a night of being rich.

“What was that about?” Lucas asked as we walked to the car.

“What do you mean? Luka was just talking to me” I smiled, playing it off as if it was nothing important.

“About what?” He scoffed. Lucas was jealous anytime Luka talked to me, but tonight it was worse.

“About the party last night” I smiled, trying to push away any anxiety that was rising.

“Whose Max?” He sighed as we pulled up to the Gala.

“Never mind, we can talk about it later” He smiled and he stopped at the valet and stepped out of the car.

My anxiety was rising as he walked around to my side, ‘talk about it later’ what did that even mean? He opened my car door and held out his hand for me to step out. I took his hand and stepped out, a smile on my face as I pushed the anxiety to the back of my head, trying to control my breathing. I stepped onto the red carpet with my arm linked with Lucas as he led the way through the flashes of the cameras. Some people asked where I’ve been since the last big event, others asked if Lucas and I were a couple, which Lucas shut down quickly answering that we were just friends. Lucas and I don’t hangout much but usually when we do, we aren’t just friends.

“Mr. Huntsberger. Mrs. Banks.” The man smiled checking over his list.

“Is there a problem?” Lucas huffed.

“N-No sir” He smiled opening the door for Lucas and I as we walked inside, I was met with some old friends I hadn’t seen or even talked to in months.

“Rylee you made it!” The laughed as they ran towards me.

Play the part, it's just for one night. Just play the f*****g part. I thought in my head repeatedly as they got closer and closer, was I trying to convince myself or demanding myself, I wasn’t sure which one I could believe more.

“Girls, how are you” I smiled, opening my arms for a welcoming hug.

“Rylee it's been to long dear how are you?” Ashlynn said

“Everything is fine Ashlynn” I smiled holding my arm close as they backed away.

“Girls if you will excuse us, we really need to meet up with my parents” Lucas smiled pulling me with him.

“I know you don’t like them but pretend they aren’t horrible people for one night.” he said lowly pulling me into the ball room.

“I’m already pretending you aren't a horrible person” I scoffed.

“Honestly Rylee, just try to act like you belong here” He scoffed as we walked towards his parents.

“Rylee you look stunning” Alisha smiled as we got closer.

“Thank you” I smiled back. Alisha was the one person here I didn’t hate.

“Too bad you came with Lucas” She smirked, I felt my cheeks getting red and hot.

“Hey now, she's mine for the night” Lucas smirked, pulling me closer to him.

I feel reckless, like doing them both at the same time would be such a horrible idea right? Alisha is Bi, and Lucas is straight but what man doesn’t want a three way? I laughed to myself as I felt my body getting hotter and hotter and a small pool starting between my legs of the images flashing throughout my mind of what it could or would look like.

“What’s so funny?” Lucas smirked as if he could read my mind.

“Nothing” I answered quickly pushing down the thoughts.

“Was Rylee thinking something dirty?” Alisha teased as she walked around me.

“No” I shook it off, standing straight.

“Leave her alone” Luka smiled as he walked towards us. My savior.

“If Rylee has dirty thoughts, they are hers to have” He smirked as he looked me up and down.

“She’s here with me Luka” Lucas said firmly.

“I’m not saying she's not, just stating that she’s allowed to think freely” He smirked again and walked away towards the bar.

“You frustrate me” Alisha whispered in my ear.

“How?” I smirked.

“Seeing you with him means I don’t have you all to myself” she said lowly before walking away.

“What does that mean?” Lucas asked confused.

“I’m not sure honestly” I paused for a moment letting my mind wonder, “I need a drink” I smiled and I pulled him to the bar.

“And what will you have?” The bartender asked delightfully.

“She’ll have a club soda” Lucas smiled.

“Ordering for her?” Luka scoffed.

“Enough you two!” Mr. Huntsberger interjected on their cat fight.

“Thank you” I smiled as I took my club soda.

“You both are being immature.” He said lowly.

“Luka, settle this when you get home, Rylee. May I speak to you” He asked lowly.

“Yes sir.” I smiled as he led me over to the table we were sitting at.

“Alone” He huffed as Lucas and Luka tried to follow.

I giggled at their sudden stop. I’m sure he just wanted to talk to me about how the home is going and how I'm doing.

“So, Rylee, we have talked to your foster parents” He smiled as we sat down.

“Okay?” I said confused.

“They have agreed to let you stay with us for the night” He smiled.

“Oh, okay” I smiled.

“On the terms that you go back in the morning to help clean” He smiled.

“That normal.” I smile. He looks at me confused and I study him for a second.

“Oh no, I didn’t mean it like that I just meant that cleaning is part of the chore list” I laughed, hopefully he didn’t get the wrong idea.

“Oh okay!” He laughed.

“You can go back to the children now” He scoffed.

“And please, keep them in line tonight” he smirked as I stood up.

“of course, Sir” I smiled making my way back through the crowd of people.

“Whose Max Luka” I heard Lucas say as I got closer.

“None of your business Lucas” He smirked.

“Luka I’m not in the mood for f*****g games” he hissed.

“Max is a friend of Jasons” Luka smirked pausing for a moment, “Nice to see you still get worked up over guys Brother” Luka laughed, shaking his head as our eyes met. My face fell as his jaw tightened when he saw me. I walked the other way heading straight for the bathroom as I bumped into people on accident.

“I’m so sorry” I mumbled as I pushed my way inside the bathroom stall.

“Rylee are you okay?” Alisha asked concerned.

“Yes...No.” I answer honestly, lying isn’t getting me as far as I had hoped tonight.

“Why don’t we step outside and talk about it?” She asked.

“Sure” I answered wiping the single tear I left fall and opening the door.

She took me by the hand and led me out the back door, away from prying eyes where there were no cameras and reporters.

“So, talk to me” She smiled as she sat down on the bench lighting a cigarette.

“I’m just tired of lying to everyone and trying to make everyone else happy!” I said exhaustedly.

“Keep going” she sighed.

“I’m tired of drinking and doing drugs to f*****g feel something other than the f*****g pain” I replied lowly.

“More” she said.

“I’m tired of never feeling good enough, I’m tired of fighting to stay alive, I’m tired of taking care of kids that aren’t mind and dealing with everyone else’s problems, I’m tired of being tired, and my f*****g arm hurts so f*****g much” I yelled.

“Okay, keep it down tiger. What’s wrong with your arm?” She asked confused.

“I fell” I scoffed.

“Liar.” She answered. Alisha could read me through and through, she knew I was hurting before I even said anything.

“f*****g Jason” I sighed taking the cigarette from her lips and bringing it to mine.

“What happened?” Alisha asked biting her tongue.

“It’s all a blur, I was kinda messing around with this new kid at our school, Grayson. He came to a party last night; he’s hot don’t get me wrong but he has a girlfriend. Jason got mad and cornered me, Max tried to help but it only made his grip tighten. I crawled my way outside and sat on the side of the house riding out a panic attack when Max came out with Grayson, trying to scare him off is my best bet. Then Jason came out and they started talking about how much he cheated on me and I lost it, well so did he. His grip tightened again but Max distracted him long enough for me to get away, Jason’s never hurt me before. I’m not sure what his problem was.” I answered honestly watching the smoke leave my mouth.

“So, Jason hurt you because you were flirting with the new kid?” She scoffed.

“Pretty much yeah” I laughed inhaling again.

“You don’t belong there” She sighed.

“Don’t do this Alisha.” I answered putting my head down.

“You should’ve stayed with us like your mom wanted” She answered lowly.

“Stop!” I yelled.

“I’m tired of hearing all of this s**t about how my life was supposed to be. I f*****g know okay, I should’ve been with people that loved me, or at least wanted me. I should’ve been with people that are like me and could help me learn the crowd but I’m not okay!” I said angerily standing up and steeping back, looking at her.

“You're not because of me Rylee” Alisha said lowly as she walked towards me.

“Don’t put the blame all on yourself. It wasn’t just you” I replied, my chest feeling heavy as my breathing became more rapid with each step, she took towards me.

“Answer me this Rylee, if I wouldn’t have started to flirt with you, or send you dirty text messages at night, would you have kissed me? Would things have gone beyond that?” she sighed as she cupped my face.

“I don’t know Alisha” I sighed letting my head fall heavy into her hands.

“Those thoughts you had earlier, did they include me?” She whispered in my ear.

“Yes” I inhaled sharply as her lips met my Jaw.

“Did they include Lucas?” She asked biting at my neck.

“Yes” I moaned as she nipped at my neck.

“Gross” She laughed.

“So, three way huh?” Lucas laughed.

“Not with you” Alisha laughed.

“When did you even get out here?” I asked confused.

“Right about the time Alisha was spilling all the details of why you ‘left’ their house” Lucas laughed.

“Come on Ry, let's dance” He smiled. I was so conflicted, Alisha walked inside without a second thought but my body felt the need for her touch again. Lucas wrapped his hand around my waist pulling me closer to him, a small pool started between my legs as I imagined all the ways tonight could go but I pushed them out of my head, getting through this Gala was the one thing I knew I needed to do. I could focus on everything else later. For the rest of the night, I was on my best behavior; I just wanted it to be over but I forgot how long they drag these things on for, I was nice to all the people I genuinely hated. I didn’t see much of Alisha for the rest of the night but when her mom saw me, I figured I wouldn’t.