Chapter 7: Flower Power!

I introduced Daphne to my friends. They were athletes, geeks, and campus crushes. Daphne made an effort to get along with everyone. However, despite her effort, she only got along with the geeks. Kathryn and Julio were her new friends. Julio was a gamer, whereas Kathryn was a cosplayer. We spent the majority of our time with those geeks. Daphne and Kathryn entered Cosplay events, and I merely stood by and cheered them on because I didn't want to join the competitions.

I know I said Daphne didn't like to get dressed up. Cosplay competitions and major events, on the other hand, were an exception. On certain occasions, she liked to dress up and apply makeup. In those dresses, she looked incredibly cute and adorable. We played a variety of video games on Julio’s PlayStation. Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Marvel vs Capcom were among my favorite games. I didn't bring Daphne with me when I was with my other friends (Daphne referred to them as the "popular crowd") since she didn't like them. "Where's your girlfriend?" my teammates and the campus heartthrobs would frequently ask. I chuckled at them and explained that Daphne was at home studying. My friends always assumed that Daphne and I were a couple.

I could have been too enamored with Daphne. She was such a sweetheart. There was a costume contest in which participants of all genders competed. It was a costume party for floral gods and goddesses. You guessed it correctly. Competitors and spectators were required to wear clothing and outfits with brightly colored flowers. Everything else was adorned with flowers. Everything! Makeup, dresses, hair accessories, you name it! They had to put up their best effort to seem as flower gods and goddesses. They were standing and posing in a flower-filled garden with gorgeous plants and trees.

I attended that event with Daphne, Kathryn, and Julio. I was dressed up in a suit and tie. The dark blue tie I was wearing had flowers printed on it. My darker formal jacket also has a pink rose on the lapel. I dressed up to show my support and to avoid looking out of place.

"You look dapper!" Daphne admired my appearance.

I said, "Thank you," to Daphne.

Okay, maybe I did look nice. I also had put on my best perfume for this important occasion. I hope I smelled good. Daphne told me that I smelled nice. I was not sure why, but I felt like I was getting ready for our wedding. Shit. I sounded so corny.

Daphne was so beautiful. She was dressed in a pale pink gown with matching flowers on the bottom. The garment was strewn with little roses. Her shoes were also floral but not overly decorated. Her long brown wavy hair cascaded down her back. Her head was adorned with a flower crown. Her brows were arched and perfectly groomed. She had a pink smoky makeup and cat eyeliner on. Her cheeks were flushed with a coral pink blush. Her eyes twinkled with glitters. Her lips were a rosy shade of pink. They were glistening, but in a nice way. Her lashes were really lengthy. Pink pearl hanging earrings were dangling from her ears. She looked like a goddess.

I finally realized why I felt like I was at my own wedding. I imagined her as my lovely bride.

Her friends were all dressed up in flowery outfits and looked amazing.

My friends competed against other Cosplayers in this event. And, as you may have noticed, I referred to Daphne as my friend, despite the fact that I liked her more than that, since she was truly my friend. There were several attractive ladies dressed as goddesses in their unique outfits. Their attractiveness, however, paled in comparison to Daphne's divine beauty. I also saw that there were several males who were considerably more attractive than myself. I couldn't help but be jealous of them. I was hoping none of them approached Daphne. I was hoping none of them would ask for her phone number. I was hoping that if they did ask her out, she would say no. Daphne was all mine!

There were two hosts for this event. There was a male and a female host. They were well-known celebrities who worked as radio DJs. They appeared to be in nice shape and sounded great.

Alan Wilson was the male host, and Diana Hawkins was the female host. They were on the radio show Nightly Confessions. They imparted love advise to callers and featured local celebrities as guests every Friday. These celebs broadcasted their filthy little secrets on the radio as if they were placing their orders at a fast-food drive-thru. It's incredible how much these celebs were paid for such insignificant things.

Alan Wilson was a tall, handsome man with a beard and long hair. He was dressed in a white robe and golden sandals with a flower wreath. He resembled a Greek god or anything along those lines. Diana Hawkins was a thin and attractive woman with long red hair. She was dressed in a white floral dress with golden heels and a floral headband.

They looked fantastic. Since they were celebrities, I was sure a lot of people told them they looked great on a daily basis. They did, however, appear to be more attractive than usual.

"Dear ladies and gentlemen, good evening. Alan Wilson addressed the audience and his co-host, Diana, by saying, "Good evening, Diana."

"Yes, good evening to everyone," Diana answered, "and good evening to you, too, Alan."

"You look beautiful!” Diana was complimented by Alan.

“You, Alan, look handsome," Diana said in response to the compliment. "Our audience appears to be awe-inspiring."

Alan said, "Indeed, they are. We've come to view the competitors in this competition. I'm already looking forward to seeing them, partner. I'm sure they look heavenly in their costumes."

"You're totally correct," Diana said. "After all, this is a Cosplay competition for floral gods and goddesses. Tonight, I'm hoping to witness glamorous and flowery gods and goddesses. And I'm sure the audience is excited, right? " She addressed the audience with the microphone.

"Yes!" exclaimed the audience.

"Come on, I didn't hear you correctly. Are you all excited? " Alan posed the question to the crowd.

A resounding "yeah!" was heard from the audience.

“All right, let's get this competition started!" Diana declared.

Every participant was presented by the hosts. Every time a contestant's name was mentioned, the contestant smoothly moved to the center of the stage and posed.

Brad Penn was a twenty-one-year-old California resident. He had his hair in a curtain style and had a well-defined jawline. He was dressed in a white gown with a golden flowery belt and jewelry, as well as silver shoes.

Isaias George was a twenty-three-year-old Los Angeles resident. He had curly hair and was lanky. He wore a floral headgear with a navy-blue polo, black slacks, and floral shoes.

Zechariah Sawyer was a seventeen-year-old Australian guy. He was tall and slender, with shaggy hair. He was dressed in a silver gown with a golden floral headpiece, golden dangling earrings, and silver-gray shoes.

Gideon Braden, who lived in Nightshade City, was thirteen years old. He had a rough crop haircut, was pimply, and was short. He was dressed in a flowery polo, white jeans, a brown belt, and a floral bracelet, as well as black shoes.

Cody Wilson was a fourteen-year-old San Francisco resident. He was tall, muscular, and had a black complexion. He wore his hair in a comb-over style and had a goatee. He was dressed in a white gown with a golden belt and shoes, as well as a floral bracelet and necklace.

Xavier Smith was a nineteen-year-old Emerald City resident. He was lanky, fair-skinned, and his hair was green. He wore his hair in a spiky style with a sweeping fringe. He was dressed in a faded pair of denim, a white floral polo with a red collar, and floral sneakers.

Douglas Jones was an eighteen-year-old Chicago resident. He was tall, slender, and white-skinned. He sported a spiky hairstyle and had short black hair. He was dressed in a pearl white gown with a flower wreath, necklace, and white sandals.

Robin Jones was a twenty-year-old Chicago resident. He was tall, dark-skinned, and had long black hair braided into a ponytail. He was dressed in a sky-blue suit with a tie that had flowers on it, light blue slacks, and brilliant blue shoes. Douglas and Robin, according to the host, were a couple. Wow, and they're so supportive of each other!

Jude Miller was a sixteen-year-old Pennsylvania resident. He was short, brown-skinned, and had a medium physique. His hair was neatly clipped and short. He was dressed in a steel blue robe with a rose gold belt, golden sandals, a flower wreath, and icy blue contacts.

Julio Flair was a thirteen-year-old Sapphire City resident. He was a tall, slender blonde. His hair was wavy, and he had a golden rose wreath on his head. He was dressed in a cream gown with golden winged sandals on his feet. On the side of his neck, he had a fake red rose tattoo. On his eyelids, he wore a blue butterfly eyeshadow and a lot of glitter. He had green contact lenses on.

I had a hunch our friend Julio would come out on top in this contest. I'm hoping I was correct. He performed an excellent job and stuck to the subject to the letter. Julio received a standing ovation when he strolled, modelled, and posed.

“Wow! Julio seems to be the crowd's favorite!” Diana made a remark.

"It appears to be the case. However, don't get your hopes up just yet. We'd have to keep this competition going," Alan said. The two hosts then expressed their gratitude to the competition's sponsors.

Alan announced, "Let's take a commercial break."

The female contenders will now take to the stage one by one.

Marie Davis was a twelve-year-old girl from New York. She was blonde, tiny, and tanned. A peach headband with flowers and gems adorned her head. Her wavy hair reached her butt. Her toes were adorned with cream heels. She wore natural makeup.

Celine Brown, who lived in Houston, Texas, was sixteen years old. She was petite, pale, and of average stature. Her long brown wavy hair was pulled back into a stylish ponytail. As she went, her hair bounced cheerfully. A silver floral crown adorned her head. Her bow was pale pink, as was her outfit. She was wearing nude heels. Her coral earrings were small and circular. She matched her rosy pink eyeshadows with a rosy pink gradient lipstick.

Katherine Mitchell, who lived in Phoenix, Arizona, was fourteen years old. She was tall, slender, and had beige skin. Her brown wavy hair was long and cascaded below her shoulders. A beautiful white silver tiara adorned her head. Her mermaid gown was white and featured exquisite floral motifs. White stilettos were on her feet. Her eyeshadow was gold, and she wore watermelon pink lipstick.

Aiko Palmer, who lived in Los Angeles, California, was seventeen years old. Her complexion was as white as sand, and she was voluptuous and tall. Her outfit consisted of a brilliant blue knee-length dress and matching heels. Her clothing was decorated with a flower motif. Her lipstick was flamingo pink and her eyeshadow was frosty blue. Her blonde hair was layered and straight. She wore a corsage of brilliant blue roses.

Patricia Mason was a twenty-two-year-old New Jersey resident. Her complexion was white as limestone, and she was curvaceous and broad-shouldered. Her light blonde hair was straight and stretched all the way to the back of her head. She had a red rose tucked into her ear. Her slip dress was red, and she wore red pumps on her feet. Her lipstick was vamp red and her eyeshadow was smoky red. Her wrist was adorned with a floral bracelet.

Caroline Warren was a fifteen-year-old Florida resident. She was petite, fair-skinned, and wore her golden-brown hair down. A fuchsia dress with a rose on the sleeve, matching heels, dangling pink rose earrings, and a floral necklace completed her ensemble. She wore hot pink makeup and lipstick, as well as cat eyeliner.

Celestine Williams, who lived in Oklahoma, was eighteen years old. She was tall, slim, and had moonlight-white skin. She was dressed in a rose gold tulle gown and high shoes to match. Her brown hair was long, straight, and hung down to her little waist. Her makeup look was glitzy. She wore a delicate flower crown.

Emma Rios, who lived in Denver, Colorado, was thirteen years old. She was a brunette with honey skin. Her hair was done in gorgeous space buns and she was dressed in a green empire dress. Each of her buns was adorned with a red rose. Her slingback heels were a pale green color. Her lipstick was blush pink and her eyeshadow was pale green.

Kathryn Holmes was a twelve-year-old girl from Meraki City. She was small, brown-skinned, and her hair was jet black. Her silky hair cascaded down her back like a waterfall. She was dressed in a peach party dress with light pink flowers on the front and kitten heels to match. Her flowery crown was made up entirely of pale pink flowers. She had peach eyeshadow and lipstick on.

Daphne Rose, my darling bride, I mean friend, looked stunning in her gown, makeup, and hair. She was certainly as lovely as a rose, as her last name suggested.

The winners were later announced by the hosts. It was Julio and a contestant named Celestine Williams. Daphne may not have won the competition, but she won my heart.

The winners received a ten-thousand-dollar prize each as well as a trip to Hawaii.

Three bands performed after the Cosplay competition. These bands were Aesteria, Saydie, and Lacuna Coil. We bobbed our heads, headbanged, and formed a mosh pit. We had a terrific time listening to these bands and singing along with them. They were great. The audience was ecstatic.

Following the bands' performances, a large number of fans approached the members of each band and requested photographs with them. All of the members of these bands consented to pose for photos with the fans.

When they posed for photos with the attractive and talented female vocalists, many people were happy. The female vocalists were gorgeous. They were incredibly appealing to the eye. We spoke with them and found them to be quite nice and welcoming, as well as much more attractive in person. They were certainly attractive in their music videos and other televised events, but they were even more so in person.

After the event, we had dinner at the banquet hall. A black carpet with many gorgeous flowers as a design adorns the hall. The carpet's edges were gold. The ceiling lights brightened the entire hall. The round back chairs had golden rails and matched the carpet's color and style. The walls and ceilings were also white. The tables were round and covered with white floral tablecloths.

There was a buffet with a variety of delectable and unusual delicacies. Our food was presented on silver plates as we waited in line one by one for our dinners.

We sat at a table as soon as we received our meals. I was with Julio, Kathryn, Daphne, and Celestine Williams, the female champion. Julio's plate was piled high with every type of sushi he could find.

"Wow, Julio!" I exclaimed" Are you trying to gain weight?"

"You moron, people like me don't get fat!" He retorted. That made me giggle.

However, this was correct. Julio was unlikely to gain weight at his age. Plus, he was extremely thin, and it runs in his family. We all saw his family members, and they were all really thin.

"You appear to be in such good spirits," Kathryn observed. A heaping scoop of spaghetti fettucine was masticated by her.

"I am, in fact!" responded Julio. "Who wouldn't be happy if they were given ten thousand dollars and plane tickets to Hawaii?" He took a mouthful of his salmon sushi after dipping it in a sauce.

Daphne congratulated Julio and Celestine, saying, "Congratulations to both of you." Daphne ate a Tiramisu dessert slice. She then sipped her beloved Nescafe Alegria coffee. "You earned the victory."

Celestine told Daphne, "Oh, please, just call me Célest."

"All right, Célest," Daphne said, a little sheepishly. Celestine ate tomato-sauced spaghetti. Around Celestine, I sensed Daphne and Kathryn were a little insecure and shy. Celestine was, after all, a professional model. That's what she said.

She complimented Daphne and Kathryn, saying, "You both look wonderful." She appeared to be able to read their minds, or at the very least the atmosphere. She wished for the girls to be confident. They thanked her. Daphne reddened a little. Was Daphne attracted to Celestine? I was abruptly overcome with a feeling of envy.

I looked at Julio and Celestine as we all concentrated on finishing our dinners. They were engrossed in their chat. They were giggling, conversing, and booping each other's noses at the same time. They appeared to be getting close. "It was nice meeting you all," Celestine said as she stood up after finishing her meal. Her voice was sweet. “My driver is already waiting for me, and I need to get some rest before my photo shoot tomorrow. Good night, and I'll see you again soon. Julio, I'll be seeing you shortly. She kissed Julio on the cheek and said, "Let's meet at the airport next week for our trip to Hawaii."

When Celestine left and out of earshot, I told Julio, “All this time, I thought you were gay.”

“Well, I am!” He replied in a high-pitched tone.

“Then why are you flirting Celestine?” I asked him.

“Huh? What gives you that idea? I was not flirting her.” He vehemently denied my accusation.

“You seemed pretty close and touchy.” I remarked.

“We were talking about a reality show and I was complimenting her look, you silly boy! I was admiring her beauty and I asked for glam tips. I want to look like her!” He confessed.

“Ohh,” I muttered.

“Yeah,” he nodded.

“Haha!” He laughed.