24. Mia's ballet performance.

Elena.

It had been two whole weeks since I was accepted into the Ferrari pack and I had been living amazingly okay with them without any issues.

Yet.

I had even grown so close to Camila and I've grown to understand in my little way about friendship and relationships with people. Camila had been nothing but nice to me, she gists me about everything and anything. She was like the sister and bestfriend I have always wanted but never got. Another thing I liked about her was how she never asked about my background or where I was from, it was almost as if she knew I didn't want to talk nor reminisce about that aspect of me at all. She was also responsible for the clothes I put on, she gave me clothes from time to time especially body hugging gowns claiming that I would look better in them just because I had a tinier waist.

I had just returned from Diego's school where I had gone to bring him back home and I joined Camila and her mom in the lounge where they both sat, talking.

The fact that Camila didn't even have to struggle with using the right body lotions, soap or even worry about acne or eczema was really amazing and worth envying. She had told me that she always used coconut oil since she was a child. She also said she uses the oil on her Afro-thick hair too thus giving her the sweet coconut scent every time.

It was so easy to tell that she loved these parts of herself as she was alwaysvery comfortable showcasing them at all time. She had on a shiny black sleeveless dress that stopped just about three inches above her knees, and on her legs was her favorite yellow crocs.

"I hope Mia doesn't come home late today, it is really starting to become unusually regular for her." I said as I took my seat beside Camila who immediately offered the bowl of fruits on her lap to me, I took some of it while saying thank you to her.

"Uh... I don't think she'll be back early today either, is today not supposed to be one of her ballets?" Camila said, looking like she was trying so hard to remember something.

"Ballet? Oh, is that what she's always practicing for? She's a ballerina?" I asked.

"Yes, she is. I think today is one of her performances. She's definitely going to be late." Camila confirmed while I looked at her, confused.

"If that is really today, why is the alpha dressing up or getting ready to go to her school for her? Is nobody going to show up to see her perform?" I questioned, almost annoyed.

"Uh... I don't think her dad shows up to things like that anymore, at least not since... uhm... what happened." Camila replied me with a sad shrug.

"What? That's... that's just preposterous. There's absolutely no excuse not to show up one's own daughter's performances, she'll be out there dancing her heart out, doing everything she's practiced for months and nobody, non of her family will be there to even cheer her on? That's bad." I said as I got on my feet, unsatisfied about what I had just heard.

"Uh... so where are you going?" Camila called after me as I went in the direction of the Alpha's study.

"You'll see!" I replied and then disappeared down the corner, but then my confidence began to seep away little by little as I approached his office, knowing fully well that I was going to have to face him after i had successfully evaded him for days.

On getting there, I carefully attempted to smooth my hair and clothing then I knocked on the door. "Come in.” My breath caught and a small gasp escaped my lips at the tone of his voice. He didn’t sound angry, it was worse. He sounded bored. I think this is what they mean by the fight or flight reflex.

Taking another deep breath, I reached out and turned the knob slightly, I then straightened my shoulders and walked into the dimly lit space. He looked up at me, not responding, his blue eyes piercing my front.

"Yes? Elena? To what do I owe your presence today to?" He asked, in an amusing tone.

I tried to look around anywhere but his eyes as I spoke, feigning the bravery I obviously lacked. "Uhm... sir? I just got to know that today is uh... Mia's ballet performance and I was really surprised that no one especially uh... y you sir... plan to go see her... and honestly, I think that's just unfair to her." I let out, almost trembling.

There was silence for seconds that I almost thought that he was probably going to ask me to get the hell out of his office and stop pokenosing but then, he spoke, "hm... so what do you propose I do?"

"Uh... I think you need to go watch her performance sir. Asides from the fact that uts expected of you, I'm small of the notion that it's sure to do something in your strained relationship with her." I said, a little bit free, unlike seconds ago.

He took another few seconds before he responded much to my shock, "Okay."

Uh... what?

"Uh... thank you? Sir?" I said in a questioning tone because I had not expected him to simply heed to what I had said so easily. I proceeded to leave when he stopped me.

"Go dress up and let's meet at the garage. Tell Sofia to give Diego the day off so we can go together." He instructed and I simply nodded, going out of his room to do as he had instructed.

When I let Sofia know, she was almost pissed for absolutely nonreason and I found myself wondering why she was always so off-putting whenever it comes to me. "Since when doe she go to things like that and why on earth would you three be the ones going to Mia's performance?" She had asked while eyeing me.

"I don't know, that was his instructions, so how about you ask him?" I said politely as I walked out of the kids' lecture room.

Diego was more than excited to be out with me and so was I. I had dressed up in one of the short new bodycon dresses that Camila has gifted me and I paired it with a converse. We got into Mr Deangelo's red GLE and soon, we zoomed off.

The ride to Mia's school had nothing short of an awkward and uncomfortable silence as I sat beside Mr. Deangelo in the front seats while Diego was strapped to the car seat at the backseat.

Not a word was exchanged between the alpha and I as we both kept our distances. Only Diego made conversations.

Soon, we were at Mia's school. I followed Mr. Deangelo as he walked into the hall that the performance was holding, we walked past at least twenty people seating in the hall, and it seemed like the alpha had decided on sitting at the extreme front, much to my own awkwardness. Soon we, got to his choice of seats and he gestured for me to seat beside with Diego in between the both of us.

“Thank you.” I smiled before I fell into it awkwardly. I couldnt help but feel like I really should have stayed home because I was feeling very uncomfortable and out of place here. I quickly put on my facemask while avoiding Mr. Deangelo's suspicious gaze on me.

Soon, a lady joined us on our Row and took a seat right beside Mr. Deangelo.

“Hy, Deangelo, right? Remember me? We met at the kids parents' meeting months ago??" She said, trying to juggle his memory..

"Oh, Grace? How are you doing? How are the twins?" He responded sweetly, which was surprising for me who have always witnessed him in stern tones.

"I called you so many times after that and you never picked up. Did you get my messages?” Grace asked in a high-pitched voice, trying too hard to sound casual. He hesitated. “No, I didn’t, sorry.”

“I wanted to see if you would love to go the school dinner party coming up soon together. I could drive so you can have a few drinks.” She asked.

“Erm…” He hesitated again, and I bite the inside of my cheek to stop myself from smiling as I stared at the stage. “I’m sorry, I already have a date for that night. Some other time, perhaps?”

Awkward.

“Oh,” she sighed, dejected. “I didn’t realize you were seeing anyone.”

“It’s new,” he said quietly. My smile falter a bit because even though I was stupidly elated that he wasn't interested in going on a date with Grace. I couldn't help but wonder about the new person he was seeing. Is it the girl who was riding him the other night?

They fell into an uncomfortable silence until I couldn't take the awkwardness of it anymore. “I’m going to go and get us drinks.”

“Would you like a soda , Grace?” I asked as courtesy demands.

“Yes, please, darling. Just one with no sugar. I’m sweet enough.” She winked and gave a sexy little shrug of her shoulder.

I smiled as I walked out of the hall, I soon spotted Mia amongst other girls that seem to be her friends.

Or not.

Three girls in the same ballet costume as she surrounded her, and I could tell by Mia's body language that they were so not her friends. She seemed so uncomfortable amongst them.

I watched them and unease filled me. I looked around, but nobody else seemed to be noticing this exchange. Maybe they are her friends and I was just imagining things?

But then, one of them suddenly slapped Mia, hard and then I was ultimately convinced that those aren't friends so I started to walk up to them.

"What on earth do you girls think you're doing?"