THE UNMARKED GEM; A Girl Nobody Desired

Chapter 25: House arrest

For every party there's that group that comes early, usually the friends to the host who want to help them out and ensure everything is under control. For Mason it was some of the guys on the school soccer team who showed up in style that afternoon. The rides screamed effluence and their dress code echoed it, tuxedos and shoes worth a fortune to those who belonged in the low and middle classes, some went ahead and brought their girlfriends, plus one's, dates and side chicks...yeah, side chicks. The irony of the entire thing was however that they were not helping in preparing anything really, Mason had aides for that and they had already done a good job.

Those who came early were having a mini before-party by the pool with food and drinks-energy drinks and juice, nothing alcoholic they were saving that for the main party and maybe the after party. Still in shorts and T-shirt, walking around the massive a manor was Mason, he was putting on the final touches and picking calls left right and center, looking out for last minute details that would have left him with a bad name, that was his greatest fear, failing to impress. Speaking of which, the party was also meant to impress Audrey, the winning move on his chase board and the one he wanted to catapult him to winning the bet.

"Slow down there my man"

"What's up cap, ran out of juice?" Mason asked slowing down in the living room.

"Naah am good" he raised his glass, "you're working too hard this party is already lit"

"It's not enough I want it smoking hot, you know rooftop levels...what's up let's chat as I move got a lot of ground to cover"

"Cool, wasn't doing anything anyway"

"Really? You've been hitting on everyone's girlfriend apparently"

Team captain looked surprised. Mason pat him on the back and laughed it off heading upstairs where they met with the butler, a nod came from him before he let the boys pass.

"Walls have ears"

"Just small talk dude"

"It's always small talk until you end up pants down giving them back shots"

"You s*x maniac, smashed the fat ugly bet yet"

"Her name is Audrey"

"Of course, I know what her name is but that's just what she is. Am worried about you, she coming?"

His heart sank. Was her coming going to be a problem? He didn't see it as that, in fact he saw it as an opportunity to win the bet in the shortest time possible.

"Is it going to be a problem?"

"You didn't answer my damn question bro"

One thing he wasn't ready to do was call Audrey and tell her the party was cancelled. Now that one was easy to say but the guilt of how she was going to feel after he took his time to convince her. Hell, she was ready to leave her comfort zone for him or the idea of attending his party. Meeting him halfway, even if he was not interested in her was the least he could do.

"She is coming, is there a problem?"

"No, I just wanted to know. Relax dude your face got stiff there for a minute" he mocked him taking a sip from his glass.

Mason's facial muscles relaxed to a smile of relief, his benefactor and friend almost send him into a conundrum.

"You understand man I don't like letting people down"

"And that's your biggest flaw" he walked to the window pocketing with one hand the other holding his glass, bare chest in a pair of shorts and sandals one would have confused him for a live-in but he was just a guest, that's how comfortable he was.

"I'm waiting for you to elaborate" Mason joined him the two of them watched their friends having fun at the pool downstairs, playing games in the water and sunbathing with music blaring the speakers, the captain was right, it was a classy party.

"In most cases the people who try to make everyone happy end up as the saddest, and loneliest..."

"Relax Shakespeare, I'm not lonely. I got you guys"

"Yeah, you do. But how many of this people can you tell they like you for you?"

A cold shiver hit his body. Those were the uncomfortable scary, spine wrecking conversations he was used to having alone in the dead of the night.

"We're famous men, at our age we got everything we think we need but that's not the case. Sometimes we need to identify those who really have us at heart and that requires disappointing some people"

"Okay, let me get this straight. What the f**k do you mean?"

"Nothing, I'm just drunk..." he left making for the door.

"On juice? Dude!"

"See you around MK. Nice party by the way"

"Whatever men"

Moments after he left Mason collapsed on the bed, zonked from moving around since morning. He had not even found time to sit and take a sip of juice or chew a bread crumb, lucky for him someone noticed.

"Hi? Can I come in?"

"Yes" Mason sanctioned still lying in bed with his eyes shut, he didn't bother to look at whoever was walking in not that he had the strength to even raise his head.

"Hmm, it's hard to imagine that a few hours ago we were going at it here in this bed"

It took him a split second to analyze one; the meaning of that statement and two the voice. When he noticed who it was he sprung up and to his surprise if was the same girl he abandoned at his gate, in a yellow bikini and carrying a tray with a plate of rice and chicken, salad and sauce, a spoon and a table knife with a glass of juice.

"Oh, where are my manors. Hi Mason, a truce?"

"What are you doing here?"

"Attending the party, just early. I know the early bird tickets are reserved for your friends and those close to you"

"And?"

"I'm sorry I couldn't resist the urge to see you again" she bit her lower lip blinking uncontrollably and fast.

"Last I checked you have a boyfriend"

"And last I checked you were starving. Let me take care of you" she served the food on his bed, stealing glances at him to see if he was staring at her bubble butt. No, he wasn't, "welcome, I'll just sit here silently and watch you eat"

"I'd be more comfortable if you were like not here" he said picking up the cutlery, a starving mind couldn't allow him to even think how she got that food from the kitchen in the first place. What if it wasn't from the kitchen? His kitchen?

"Okay. I'll wait outside. Let me know when you're done so I can collect the dishes. We don't want to break anything while at it. You know" she winked and scratched his bald chin with her smooth hand, her long red nails slightly pricked his toned skin injecting it with ripples of pleasure. To avoid falling in that trap again he kept his cool trying so hard not to think of s*x and her exposed cleavage, hollow bellybutton down to her camel toe. He stopped breathing to avoid inhaling her scent that would made things worse.

"Are you seriously holding your breath?"

"How..."

"Your eyes are bulging and your face is stiff...you don't want me to go" she tried to sit on his lap but he shoved her away, "Let me feed you then, no touching"

"Please leave, thank you for the food I can't do this right now or ever again am not a male w***e"

"I didn't say you're. It's just fun, no strings attached"

"Can we not do this right now? You have a boyfriend, go get some from him"

"That doesn't matter"

"It does, all of a sudden. Goodbye" he pushed her away until they hit a wall, she took it for another romantic moment, looking at him with her lazy eyes.

"Okay, I'll go. But just know I have my eyes on you, the whole night"

"Don't cause a fuss. I'll be busy" he shut the door in her face.

That was the first act of self-control in areas related to s*x. The body wanted it but somehow the mind didn't and he chose to listen to his gut as he rushed to eat, his body was already tapping into the energy reserves. He ate ravenously like a man who had just escaped a Nazi detention camp, taking quick sips of his juice. If indeed fame had its consequences then he was living in them. On the bright side, he had a party to curtain raise. Just after he woke up because he started feeling dizzy, the last thing he thought about was the food before lights went out and the last face he saw was hers, smiling broadly at him.

****

When Ivy learnt that the dynamic duo of Audrey and Tina were going to a high school party in one of the poshest neighborhoods in the city she was in automatically. They had to take a cab back home while Tina went to prep herself, lucky for them Ivy knew how to drive so there was no need for Tina to pick them up. A soft knock on the door made her rush across the room to get it, a lip bum at hand.

"You've been scarce"

"I went out, I don't sit in one place it's boring besides I love to explore"

"Okay, smells good in here. It smells ambrosial in here, what's cooking?"

"Nothing just a girl trying to look good" She was standing in front of a dressing mirror, in a black dress that extrapolated her slim s*x figure, high heel shoes, her hair woven into one long braid, eye shadow and purple lipstick. It surely attracted Luca's attention if only she was not his cousin.

"Going somewhere? Because I am and you look like you're ready to party"

"I'm going to a party"

"Trust me there is no party bigger than a Mason Klein party. He only attends them as the MC but this time he is the host"

"Oh, looks like we're going to the same party then. I've heard a lot about this mason it's time I met him"

"Great, I knew you'd want to go with me. He is actually your type if you need an intro I can link you guys, imagine being new in school..." he shut the door after she left the room with her sling bag hanging under her armpit, "...and rolling with the hottest and most famous dude"

"You're hot"

"And your cousin, I'm not as famous as him though"

They met with Audrey looking really not like Audrey in the living room. Even Lucas was a little surprised how beautiful she looked in that white high-low maroon dress and matching maroon shoes.

"There she is" Ivy turned around to face a dumbstruck Lucas, "see you at the party cuz"

"What the f**k? She is going too?"

"I'm her plus one and kind of her chauffer tonight"

Now that pained him. First, she looked way different and then she was invited to the sickest party in town. How? He should have known things were going to change from that very moment.