Chapter 23

(The temporary base)

Zoey's POV:

I was quietly staring at Paige, who was busy reading a novel. She had barely said anything ever since Lila left. Unable to take it any longer, I stood up from my bed and went towards hers, snatching the book from her.

"Hey! What was that for?" She asked, as she looked up at me. Furious. I hissed.

"Why do I feel like Lila's disqualification has something to do with you?" I asked.

She scoffed and rolled her eyes.

"You're talking nonsense." She muttered and tried to collect the novel from me. I took it further away.

"Give it back!"

"You've not answered my question. Why do I feel like Lila's disqualification has something to do with you?"

"What do you mean?"

"You know exactly what I mean!" I shot back. "Lila gets disqualified by Nikita. You saw Nikita not too long ago. In case you don't know, I don't believe in coincidence."

"What do you mean, I saw Nikita?" She asked, her voice suspiciously low. I smirked.

"That time you went out of the base, it wasn't to see your mom, was it?"

"It's official, you've gone completely crazy."

"Oh, don't deny it. You didn't go see your mom."

"Okay then, prove it."

"Prove I shall." I said and brought out my phone. Opening the gallery, I clicked on the pictures I took earlier and gave it to her. I watched as her expression went from anger to shock.

"H-how did you get this?" she stammered, staring at me. I ignored her question.

"I'm asking you one last time. What were you doing with Nikita?"

"…"

***

(The Sparks' penthouse)

Lila's POV:

After the guys begrudgingly agreed for my stay, Chad led me out of the living room.

"Come, let me show you your room." He said as we walked down the hallway. I looked around the house. Each corner was even more breathtaking than the rest. I realized we were going downstairs.

"Um… Chad? Where are you taking me?" I asked, and he turned to me and smiled.

"Well, there's a room downstairs, partly disconnected from the rest of the house. That way you don't get to bump into the boys often."

"Oh…" I muttered. "That's thoughtful."

"Look, we're almost there." He said, and I looked up. There it was, a door that I guessed had a room behind it. We stopped it and Chad pressed in the password door. Once it unlocked, Chad opened it and beckoned for me to get inside. I nodded thanks and walked in.

A gasp escaped my lips as I stared at the decoration of the room. A queen-sized bed was placed at the center of the room, and there was lots of space around it too. Not to mention a huge wardrobe standing at a corner with mirrors as the door and a chair and table with another mirror mounted on it.

I realized that the room was actually beneath the house because I could see the entrance from the windows and the dance studio as well. The room was actually connected to the garden and the backyard pool.

"This is beautiful." I muttered as I stared out the window. "Which room is that?" I asked pointing at the room which lights were on. I couldn't see in.

"That's Dean's." Chad replied.

"Oh," I turned towards Chad, bowing. "Thanks a lot, Chad. I really appreciate it."

He walked up to me and tucked my hair behind my ears.

"No need. I'll be leaving now, so you can make yourself comfortable here. I'll drop the code for the door so you can unlock it as well, and anything else that you need will be sorted out tomorrow."

"Okay, thanks Chad."

He kissed my forehead. "Have a goodnight," he whispered.

I chuckled and blushed. "You too," I whispered back.

He smiled and stepped back a bit. Then brought out a card and pen, scribbling some things on it. That must be the code.

Dropping it on the table close to the door, strode out. I gently closed the door behind him and smiled gleefully to myself.

I can't believe this! It's totally happening to me! I guess I must be really lucky. Still wanting to enjoy the view my window offered me, I walked back there. I stared out and took in my surroundings. This is way more beautiful than the Temporary Base. I glanced up at the room Chad said was Dean's and saw a figure staring out of it as well.

I froze. He can easily see me from here. Okay, this is weird. I know I should go back in, but I continued staring out. Eventually he saw me and though he was quite far, I could sense his displeasure. He immediately walked out the window and turned off lights.

Hmm, I thought sadly. He also doesn't like me.

***

(The temporary base)

Zoey's POV:

"You've not said anything." I reminded Paige, who had been staring at everything but me. Finally, she sighed and looked at me.

"Fine. What do you want to know?"

"Everything. Why you went to see Nikita and if it has anything to do with Lila's disqualification."

"I don't know if whatever I did has anything to do with Lila's disqualification… But what I know is, Nikita asked a favor from me."

"And what would that be?"

"She asked me to get some strands of Lila's hair." Paige said quietly.

"And you did?"

She nodded. It made little sense to me, but I was still infuriated.

"How could you? Lila is our friend! And even if she isn't yours, we are supposed to treat each other like teammates! Is that what teammates do? Talk about them with other people without their consent? I expected more from you, Paige, but you've disappointed me. This shouldn't be coming from you!"

"What was I supposed to do? Let someone else do it?" Paige tried to defend herself.

"Either way, you shouldn't have agreed. You know what? I'm going to call Lila now and tell her what you just told me." I said and made to do it, but she snatched the phone from me.

"Don't do it!" She suddenly said.

"Give me my phone Paige." I asked, stretching my hands.

"Don't do it." Paige said again, firmly.

"Why?"

"Because…because we don't know exactly what Nikita wants from Lila."

"And what is that supposed to mean?" I asked, confused.

"Who knows, if Lila knows that Nikita actually requested strands of her hair, it might endanger her life. Maybe we should let it be now that Lila is disqualified. We don't really know the connection between Nikita and Lila."

Somehow, she had a point. We really didn't know Nikita's intentions, and things might get worse if Lila becomes aware, considering the fact that they aren't related. Still, I looked at Paige angrily.

"I'm letting you off the hook, but it doesn't mean am not mad at you. What you did is no good for someone who wants to be part of a girl band." I said and stomped back to my bed, angry.

***

(The next day, morning)

Lila's POV:

I woke up with a start and stretched on the bed. With my eyes still closed, I reached for the bedside table. Didn't get it. I frowned slightly and rose from the bed. That's when I realized, I wasn't in the Temporary Base anymore, but I wasn't in Mrs. Stella's house either, where am I?

Remembering everything that happened last night, I gasped. Its real! I thought to myself, I'm actually in the Sparks house. This is amazing! I got out of bed and stared at my reflection in the mirror. I was still in yesterday's clothes and I badly needed a shower. I walked towards the bathroom door and opening it, peeked in.

"Wow!" I gasped. It's so beautiful! The floor was 3D painted at it felt so real, the walls adorned with very expensive marble tiles. I saw the jacuzzi tub and smiled. It was just perfect and I don't have to share it with anyone. Oh well, better soak, I thought to myself.

***

After a while, I was done. I came out of the bathroom with a towel wrapped around my body and one in my hair. Even the table already had creams, lotions and lots of perfumes. I sprayed one and inhaled the scent. Hmm, flowery. I checked the drawers and saw a hair dryer. I plugged it and began using it. Once I was through with my hair, I creamed my body with the lotion I saw. I wanted to pick some clothes but I remembered I didn't bring any. Oh gosh, what do I wear?

Someone knocked at my door.

"Who is it?" I called but didn't get any reply. I walked towards it and after punching in the code, opened it. There wasn't anyone in sight, but there was a bag. I took it in a checked it. It contained a dress. Oh wow. A card dropped from it. I picked it up.

From Chad.

It read. I smiled to myself. He kept his promise, after all. I immediately wore the dress and packed my hair in a half-up, half-down hairstyle. Once I was satisfied with my look, I walked out of the room with my phone. When I got to the living room, I didn't meet anyone in sight.

"Where are they?" I thought aloud. I strode up to one window and checked outside. That's when I saw them. They were out jogging. But they weren't complete. I could only see three. Going over to look for the rest of them, I turned to the hallway. I had barely covered any distance when my phone rang. I checked the caller ID. It was Zoey. I immediately picked it up.

"Hello, good morning." I greeted.

"Good morning Lila, how are you?"

"I'm good. What about you?"

"Fine. I miss you. They just told the rest of the girls that you've been disqualified and you've got to see the shock on their faces. No one was expecting it."

"Even I wasn't, but what can we do?"

"Where are you now? Did you find some place to stay?"

I paused for a bit when she said that. Should I tell her where I am or should I not. I took a deep breath and told her.

"Actually Zoey, you wouldn't believe me if I told you where am staying."

"Where are you staying?"

"Can you guess?"

"Oh Lila… Don't start with that. Of course I can't guess where you are. Just tell me already."

"Okay… Wait for it… I don't know how, but I'm living with the Sparks."

"Wait… Which Sparks exactly?"

"Come on, how many Sparks do you know?"

"You mean, the Sparks that has Chad and dean in it?"

"Yep."

"No way!

"Yes way!"

"Oh my gosh! Lila! Come on send me a picture!" She yelled excitedly.

"Hold on a minute." I said as I turned on the phone camera to take a picture of the interior that had the portraits of the Sparks in it.

"Whatcha doin'?" A male voice asked, and I jumped. I slowly turned in the direction of where the voice was coming from and swallowed. He came closer and stared at the phone in my hand.

"Hello, hello? Lila, are you there?"

Zoey's voice filtered through.

"Who is that and what are you doin'?" He asked again.

"I… um…" I stammered.

Oh God, I'm so dead.