Chapter 19

Lila's POV:

I didn't know how much time had passed, but I knew I was still at dinner with the Sparks. It still felt too good to be true. But we were all talking and laughing amidst eating different food… Well everyone except Dean. He barely said over four sentences ever since I arrived, and he had been staring at me in a strange way. I say that because I've experienced nothing like it before. His stares were literally boring holes through my body, but I pretended not to notice. Eventually, when I found the courage, I'd glance at him, but he'd look away. I wonder why.

***

Dean's POV:

There she goes again, laughing at every joke Nico cracked. She'd shoot her head back in amusement and someway her long flowing hair would find their way to her face, forcing her to push it back. She was drunk, but I don't think she was aware of that yet.

Amid laughter, Chad picked up her wineglass and poured more into it, but she stopped him, slowly shaking her head as her speech slurred. Hmm, she's quite cute when she's drunk.

Chad whispered something to her and after pondering on it for a while, nodded a yes. Does she want to go home? Well thank God, it's really late. Suddenly I had a gnawing feeling at the pit of my stomach, almost as if I didn't want her to leave. Get yourself together Dean! I scolded. What's wrong with you?

Later on, she laid her head on his shoulder while he rounded up the dinner.

"Okay, times up. We had fun, and that's the point. As you can see, our celebrant is drunk and I want to take her home before she drops." Chad rapped.

"It's strange the way it rhymes." Min ho pointed out. Chad grinned, and I scoffed. Show off.

The other guys started packing up as the restaurant attendants started clearing up the table on their way out of the restaurant. I made to leave as well, but Chad stopped me.

"We'll see you at home guys." Chad said to the rest of them and turned to me." Dean, wait. You are going to help me." He said as he dragged Lila up.

"Help you do what?"

"Help me take Lila home. She's quite heavy." He said as he walked closer to me, Lila still holding his hands. Looks like she had fallen asleep on his shoulders. By now, the boys had already left. He thrust her bag to me. I protested, but he raised his brows.

"Fine whatever." I groaned, and he smiled.

"Thanks Dean.". He said and tried to adjust Lila do due could put his weight on her. He miscalculated and Lila slipped and subconsciously I reached out to her and caught her. Her eyes were slightly closed, but she seemed oblivious to the mishap that was about to befall her.

I had only held her for about three seconds, but they were the most intense and electrifying seconds of my life with a girl. My hands tightened around her as I took in her features. Pretty big eyes with long fluttering lashes that suited her heart-shaped face perfectly, a small pointed nose, and lips that were also heart-shaped and the pinkest natural lips I had ever seen. The gloss she wore made it even prettier, and I had a caveman instinct to take lips her on mine. Let's not even mention her hair, I just want to bury my face in it and breathe her in.

Snap out of this Dean! I reminded myself again and placed her back to Chad, holding her bag tightly and striding out of the restaurant and into the car. Then closed my eyes and tried to calm myself by taking deep breaths.

Chad soon came in with her and once the door closed, the driver began taking us to the Temporary Base.

***

The ride to the Base was quiet, Chad was on his phone the entire time, and Lila was sleeping softly right there in the middle. I had tried hard not to stare at her, but I couldn't help stealing glances at her face. She wouldn't stop moving her lips in her sleep, almost as if she was whispering to someone. I feel like Chad did this on purpose.

At one point, the car swayed, and since she didn't have any control over her body anymore, she swayed with it and landed perfectly on my shoulders. A part of me wanted to jerk her off, but another part wanted her to stay there. I gave in to the latter and she stayed the both of us intertwined.

It didn't last long however, as we had already gotten to the base and the driver was already parking at the entrance. Chad had already made some calls, so the second we pulled over the entrance lights came on. He took Lila out and helped her work to the entrance while holding her bag for her. I pursed my lips.

Just before the officials came over to take Lila, he leaned closer and from the car where I was, I saw him kiss her. Why would he do that? I mean, she's drunk. I looked away and fisted my fingers. I seriously don't know why I'm reacting this way. He walked back to the car and got in, and we drove back to the penthouse. Not a word exchanged between the two of us. It felt better that way.

***

(The next day)

Lila's POV:

I woke with a pounding headache. Groaning softly, I ran my hands through my hair and reached out. Well, it didn't stop the headache. Slowly I opened my eyes and realized I was on the bed. Uh? How did I get here? Startled, I looked up and realized that I was in my room with the girls. I hurriedly stood up but groaned in pain. I was still in my evening clothes.

"Argh!" I said, holding my head.

"Hangover…" I heard Zoey say.

"Good morning." I muttered, then looked at her. "When did I get home?"

"Pretty late. We were already fast asleep when the workers showed up with a drunk Lila at the door. You were already sleeping." I tried to remember anything that happened last night, but my brain was all mush. I gave up trying.

"You've got any hangover pills I can use?"

"Yep." Zoey said and took out some tablets from her drawer and a bottle of water. She handed it over to me and I collected it. I used the pills and drank some contents in the bottle.

"So how was your dinner?" Zoey asked excitedly. My eyes lit up.

"Awesome, even better than I imagined." I said happily.

"Conner dropped you off. I saw you guys through the window."

"Of course he had to," I said. I stopped and sighed. "Zoey, there's something I want to tell you but you have to promise to keep it a secret, like not tell anyone."

"What is it?" she said and leaned closer. I looked around the room and frowned. "Where's Paige?" I asked.

"Oh…her," she muttered. "She went out early this morning. She said she wanted to go for a walk."

"Oh… Well, back to what I wanted to tell you. The guy who has been picking me up and dropping me off isn't Conner. I lied about his name."

"What's his name then?"

"Can I trust you?"

"Of course. I promise never to tell anyone. Cross my heart and hope to die." She said and made the sign.

"It's Chad. As in, Chad from the Sparks… You know, the boy band?"

She looked confused at first, but when it sank in, her eyes widened as big as saucers.

"You mean Chad Turner!?"

I nodded. She froze at first and started jumping around crazily and laughing. I stared at her.

"Girl! Are you a witch or something! First it was Ximena and now Chad? How did you get to hit the good side of these people?"

"Shh!" I motioned. "You're screaming."

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry," she whispered and scooted closer. "So you've met Chad, have you met the rest of the guys too?"

"Yeah…"

"Nico?"

"Hmm."

"Min ho, Jayden… Even Dean!?"

"Yep."

"Do you have pictures of it?" She asked, and I stopped.

"No…"

"What? How can you meet them and not take pictures? It's okay, it's okay… Next time you see them you have to take pictures of them, with you in it. Can you do that?"

"Yep."

"Awesome… All of my dreams are coming true!" Zoey muttered and put her head on her chin, staring into space. Just then the door unlocked and Paige walked in. It looked like she had come from a run.

"Good morning Paige." I greeted, and she looked at me, then mumbled a reply and went straight to her bed. I was surprised Paige had never reacted like that before. Zoey had this skeptical look on her face as she stared at Paige, who was preparing to use the bathroom. I glanced at Zoey.

"What's wrong with Paige?" I whispered.

"Don't know. She's been like that since last night."

"Why?"

"Like I said, I don't know. Just stay away from her." Zoey said and went back to her bed. I sat down on mine, lost in thought. What could have happened last night?

***

(The Sparks' penthouse)

Dean's POV:

We were all sat at the dining table having our breakfast. Chad was yet to join us and although there was a plate of food in front, I didn't have any appetite, so I used my phone. Chad eventually emerged from his room and joined us. He greeted and immediately set to eat.

Jayden was the first to speak up.

"Hey Chad, I've been wondering. That Lila, are you planning to date her?"

I glanced up from my phone.

"I don't know…" Chad slowly began. "Although I'm considering it, it won't be now."

"Why? You like her, don't ya?" Nico asked.

"well I do, but she's still a trainee. Any relationship now might distract her, don't you think? I want her to achieve her dreams and if she's willing to go down that road, well yeah."

"That's good thinking. Any relationship now would definitely distract her." Jayden said.

"What about you Dean? What's your take?" Min ho asked, turning to me. They all looked at me and is said the first thing that came to my head.

"Do you know if she likes you, like sincerely?"

Chad puckered up his brows.

"What's that supposed to mean?"

"I don't know. Do you know if she really loves you? What if she's playing with you feelings?"

Chad smirked. "Stop being miserable Dean. Just because your relationship with Ximena didn't go so well doesn't mean all girls behave the same."

"I'm not…" I began but stopped. "You know what? Just do whatever you want. I don't care."

"Yeah, you don't but you couldn't stop staring at Lila the entire evening." Chad muttered, and my heart skipped a beat.

"What did you say?"

"nothing. I thought you said you didn't care." He replied.

"It's been a year Dean, try to get over whatever it is Ximena did to you. It's not healthy." Chad said and continued with his food. The rest of breakfast continued in silence, but no matter how hard I tried to suppress the growing feelings inside of me, they just seemed to rage faster… And it scared me.

I don't want to have a crush on Lila.

***

Paige's POV:

I watched Lila as she practiced a new choreography we had been learning. Even though it wasn't obvious, you could tell Lila was extraordinary without even trying. And am saying this because I practiced with her. The choreography we presented that day was the hardest I had ever encountered, but she did it so effortlessly. I took a deep breath and let it out. Maybe that woman is right, she might be a threat to all of us who are competing for a spot in the beamer girls.

Does that mean I should give in to her requests? They didn't seem to prove any real harm whatsoever, but why did she want me to do it? There has to be a reason, isn't it? I went away from the rest of the girls had gone to grab a bottle of water. Staring at Lila again, I watched as she got every step I was struggling to memorize and even added her own style. Everything that woman said came rushing back to me.

(Flashback)

She shifted closer until she was staring directly into my eyes. I held my breath. This is no ordinary woman.

"I want you to get me some strands of Lila's hair." She announced. I widened my eyes.

"What? Why?"

"For some research." She said, and I was surprised. Why would she want strands of Lila's hair?

"What research?"

"Consider it a favor that I'm not telling you."

"I'm sorry… But I can't. I don't know why you want it. Are you planning to hurt her?"

"No, no, no. Not that at all. Will you do it?"

"No. I can't. I can't betray Lila." I said vehemently.

"Don't you want to win this contest? Be part of the beamer girls?" She asked, and I glanced at her. What's she getting at?

"What do you mean?" I asked, and she sighed.

"See, I know Lila is your friend, but you are hardly hurting her. Look at it this way, as a sacrifice you have to pay to get to the top."

"I'm sorry but I just can't…" She cut me off.

"Lila is no ordinary person. You've been with her for a while now, you should know. It'll be easy for her to win and she'll easily get you all disqualified. But if you help me, I'll see that she doesn't and you can rise to the top."

My heart pounded at hearing that. I'll be one of the Beamer girls? I've always wanted that! To be there up on the stage, fans cheering my name gaining all the attention. Lila could easily get us all disqualified? Well, for Ximena to especially congratulate her, that could be true. But then, it means I'll betray Lila, and I don't even know why this woman wants it so badly.

Unable to handle it, I stood up and walked out of the office, trying to process my thoughts. It was all too much to take in. I wanted to be a beamer girl, but at the expense of betraying Lila, I didn't know. She walked out right after and stopped me.

"I'll not force you to give me an answer. You can think about it. But like it or not, I'll still get what I want from Lila, if not through you, but another girl. And what a shame it would be if another girl rises to be a beamer girl just because you couldn't seize the chance that was presented to you on a golden platter." Then she held my cheeks and muttered. "Think about it." She said and walked away, leaving me lost in my thoughts.

She'll still get what she wants? And another girl will become a beamer girl? Oh gosh, this is more complicated than I thought.

(Present)

I glanced at Lila one time and saw as one official, Mira walked over to her and commend her. Lately she's been on the good side of everyone, even that strange guy that is always taking her out.

I took a deep breath and decided on what to do. Yes, there's no going back now.

***

(Evening)

We were done with rehearsals and had retired to our rooms. I sat on my bed fixing my nails when I noticed Lila was getting ready to shower. Zoey was on her laptop, watching some music videos and eating popcorn. We would soon be out for our general dinner. I watched as she walked to the bathroom and waited until she was out to execute my plan.

After waiting for almost half an hour, she came out of the bathroom all dried up, but her hair was dripping wet, and I noticed she didn't have a hair dryer so she had to comb dry it. She sat in front of her mirror and applied her hair cream on it and combed dry it. That's when I stood up and brought out my hair dryer. Then I walked up to her and stretched it in front of her. She looked at it, surprised, then turned to me.

"What is this?" She asked. I put on the sweetest smile I had and asked softly.

"Can I help with that?" I asked, hoping she'd answer. She stared at me.

"Well…"