Chapter 82 - Promenade Preparations

Winter is starting to have a different impression of Anne.   

She reminds her of Violet in a way, considering that she actually does not like Marcellus even though she also agreed to go on a date with him before. They are some of the few who have not fallen for his irresistible charms after the first date. However, instead of being timid and diffident like her, she is intrepid and feisty in terms of character.   

"And here I thought he'd go all out after finally finding a girl he really likes! But to think that he didn't actually ask you out on dates?! The nerve of him! He did that to other girls, but he wouldn't do it to you?!" Anne continued to rant, coming up with one misunderstanding after another.

"I-It's not that, Ms. Collins..." Winter reluctantly tried to clarify, having no choice but to admit certain things she did not want to admit.

"Okay,  ummm... Sir Lexington did ask me out, but I didn't accept it. I really don't see him that way, either." 

"Huh?! You don't?!"

"No, I don't."

Winter may have said that, but she knows for herself that Marcellus is still someone important to her.

She never wanted to deal with this topic since she herself could not understand what she truly felt. It's also probably not a good idea to say a thing at all, especially since she didn't want any more rumors to spread nor get any more popular than she said she already was.

If the Middleton's happen to catch wind of this, they might come to learn about her earlier than she wants them to - about who she really is and what she is like, more particularly. 

'On second thought, Sir Lexington really shouldn't have went around and wooed me like what he's doing. Even when he said that he'd make sure I won't get any unwanted attention, he can't possibly keep others from knowing that he has a thing for me. Many people always have their eyes on him, after all. He'll never get out of the spotlight no matter how much he tries to,' Winter brooded over, not liking where this 'popularity' of hers was going.

Anne regards her in silence at that moment, contemplating about something.

She can read half of what she is thinking. It shows through her uneasy fidgeting and overwrought look, giving her the impression that she is not enjoying this conversation about her blooming romance with Marcellus. Now, she feels a little bad for being such a meddlesome blabbermouth.

But more than that, she is starting to take pity on him for ending up liking someone who doesn't like him back - talk about total karma. 

"As much as I want to say that it's a well-deserved punishment for a playboy like him, I find it a little hard to believe that you actually don't like him. I mean, most girls would, especially if they're in your position," Anne commented, thinking of taking Marcellus' side for a bit.   

"Let's just say I'm not one of them, then," Winter dryly said and shrugged dismissively.

"Okay, but have you ever imagined what it would be like to date the country's hottest man - and not to mention, one of the richest?"

"Excuse me?"

Winter can't help but react incredulous to that, not expecting that coming.

For some reason, she is getting a feeling that Anne is up to something. She did mention that she liked messing around with Marcellus, but at this point, she was no longer sure if that only applied to him. If she actually thinks that messing with her can mean messing with him as well, then she is not about to play her game. 

"Ms. Collins, I don't think I-"

"Hey, what's this about dating the hottest, richest guy?!"

Right when Winter was about to say something again, Violet appeared from behind her all of the sudden. 

She came to a still as soon as she saw Anne with her. Not expecting to see her, she stares at her in surprise and confusion while she does the same. They seemed to have recognized each other straight away.

"Ms. Collins?!"

"Ms. Miller?!"

Both of them then bolted those out in sync. 

Winter doesn't know what's the relationship between them two. But going by how extra their reactions are, she can tell that they're acquaintances with a shared past at the very least. It also appears to her that they have mixed feelings about seeing each other.

"Ms. Collins, just what kind of ideas are you giving to Winter? What do you mean by dating what guy?" Violet muttered through gritted teeth, forcing out a smile and standing in between them.

"Oh,  u-ummm... You two actually know each other, huh...?" Anne blurted out with a forced smile of her own, tensing up a little at how unusually intimidating she was acting.

"I was just asking her if she's looking for a dress to wear on her date-"

"Prom. You mean prom. It's not a date."

"Oh, a prom...?! So, it's actually her prom, huh~?"

"Yeah, it is."

"But you know, Ms. Miller, she can still go on a date at a prom. Boys can ask her out and take her there, can't they?"   

"Now that you mentioned it, I believe they can."

That's when Violet turns back around and stares at Winter.

She's taken aback to see her looking somewhat enlightened. Her gaze is intent and contemplative. It's almost like a light bulb suddenly appeared on top of her head, making her wonder what kind of idea she had come up with right then - with how strange she's acting, it's probably a strange one.   

"Say, Winter, how about Ace take you to the prom?" Violet then suggested out of nowhere, striking Winter dumbfounded. 

"Uhhh... Ms. Miller? I think you haven't heard the news yet..." Anne chimed in, chuckling a little at how clueless Violet seemed. 

"Too bad for your boy, Ace, there's another guy who'll do a much better job in taking her to that prom-"

"Another guy?! What guy?!"

"Well, you know, it's-"

"Winter, what are you doing there with Ms. Violet?

Just before Winter started to panic, August came to her rescue and kept Anne from mentioning Marcellus to Violet.   

It would do better for her if the people around her were still not aware of his intention to ask her out. Not only because this brother of hers will completely lose it, but it's also because even her classmate's sister seems against it like him. If she knows about her little brother's crush on her, it's only to be expected that she'll be on his side. 

"Sorry, Ms. Collins. We have to get going now. Please, excuse us," Winter told Anne as she started to drag Violet away from there, making their way back to where August was.

This is only supposed to be a preparation for the upcoming Senior Prom, but even though the main event is still two weeks away, Winter feels like she is already worn out. 

---

"The venue of the prom changed?"

One week before the much-awaited prom.

And the senior students of Marie Claire High School were taken by surprise when they learned that the place where the event would happen had changed. The shocking news had only been broken down to them that day. But it wasn't really the change in plans that threw everyone off guard - rather, it was the new venue itself.   

"Wait, did they just say a five-star hotel?!" Winter exclaimed, completely astonished.

"Yeah. Seems like we'll be having the prom at some luxurious event hall," Ace said with a sigh, a little overwhelmed himself. 

"Ohoh! Fancyyy~" Courtney chirped in a sing-song voice. 

"We're only a public school, though. How can we afford such a rich ass hotel? Do they want us broke?" Maxine muttered with a skeptic look, finding it too good to be true.

"I heard that a huge ass company would be sponsoring the event. Everything is free," Xander told them while smirking. 

"The hell?! Are you serious?!"

"I'm serious! I couldn't believe it myself!"

"Which company is it?!"

"Beats me. Only the principal and other faculty staff know."

"What's the point of the sponsorship, then? Aren't they doing that to advertise themselves or endorse something?"

"I don't know. Maybe it'll be announced on the night of the prom? You know, like a surprise."

Just by hearing all of this, Winter already has an idea about who the sponsor is, but because she doesn't want to assume that this certain someone will go this far, she decided to keep it to herself. Considering that she doesn't recall anything about the Senior Prom getting a sponsorship at the last minute, she is almost sure that it's this particular individual who did this. 

Winter noticed that even Ace could tell who it was. With that, the two of them only stayed quiet while their classmates carried on with their mini guessing game. They would all just have to wait for the promenade to know the truth. 

'If I really end up seeing you there, Marcellus Lexington, I swear I'll choke you,' Winter thought to herself, already starting to get unnerved by what Marcellus was truly capable of.