Chapter Sixteen

Jared, Ian, and Evan stood there all holding a corsage in their hands. All three looked like they wanted to bolt for how nervous they all were.
"Well, look at the three of you." he said, trying to hold his laugh in. "I'm sure I don't have to be the overprotecting father, now do I?" He quirks an eyebrow looking to each of them in turn.
Evan and Ian both said no so fast he started laughing. Ian already got his ass chewed out by Selena's father when he had arrived with Evan, that he was sure it was going to stay with him throughout the entire night.
Evan on the other hand suddenly remembered the little speech that Gale had told him and even though he didn't say much, it was enough to keep his head straight when it came to Mila. Hell, he wasn't sure if he even wanted to touch her hand he was so terrified of that man.
Jared was the only one that didn't get a lecture by his date's father. The man wasn't present after all. But regardless, he knew the boundaries and didn't even plan on, ever, to pass them. Especially with Kristan. His body shivered with the unwelcome thought of that outcome.
"Well, come on in." He moved aside for them to proceed further into the home.
"Alright girls, they're here!" He yelled down the hallway as they all filed in a line to get to the living room.
The first one to appear was Selena. Ian just stood there staring in awe as she laughed and came forward to him, a hint of pink on her already blushed cheeks. She tenderly kissed him on the cheek making him smile warmly at her.
Kristan was right behind her and quickly plastered herself to Jared's side and it took all of his strength to not jerk her away from his body. His best friend looked like he wanted to bust up laughing at his uncomfortable situation.
He gave him a death glare that only made him grin wider. Then they both turned, tensing at the sudden vision before them. They held their breaths when Mila finally came around the corner and became a sight to behold.
Even Ian couldn't help but to stare at her in amazement until Selena ribbed him in his side with her elbow and gave him a look. Jared couldn't take his eyes away from her and just for an unguarded moment the love he felt showed unfiltered on his features.
Both Selena and Kristan noticed the look before it was quickly masked away from their view. Kristan squeezed his arm tightly to her chest, the jealousy and hate strong within her chest. But she doesn't voice it aloud, afraid of the unwanted attention that they would face, creating a thick atmosphere throughout the night. Besides, she didn't want Mila to be aware of Jared's possible feelings towards her.
Evan walked up to her and takes a hold of her hand. "Wow." Was all he could manage to get out, not once looking away from her.
She blushed prettily, beaming at his reaction.
Jared had to look away. A strong feeling of his own jealousy and irritation of the situation hitting him hard, causing him to clench his jaw tight. However, there was one thing he had noticed before he averted his gaze. He was wearing a matching bowtie and vest, the same color as Mila's dress.
The three of them were all wearing nearly matching tuxedos with different bowtie and vest colors. He didn't even bother to ask what color Kristan was wearing, since he didn't even care. Maybe he should have made the effort, but why should he when he didn't even want to go with her in the first place?
As for Evan, the guy wore a red one and he guessed it was because it was his favorite color. He more than likely didn't bother to ask either, since he probably didn't know he needed too. Ian was the only one that matched his date. Smart boy there to think of finding out what his sister what wearing for the event. She seemed highly pleased as Ian carefully placed the corsage on her wrist and gently raises her hand to tenderly kiss the back of it causing for her to flush prettily at his out of character gesture.
He clenched his hand into a fist by his side knowing this was the work of Gale. He had come by his home earlier that day to give him the set. At first, he was just going to wear a simple black one, but it was his favorite color. He just assumed since Gale knew that, that he had found one and thought of him.
Apparently, that wasn't the case at all.
The fact that they were matching was definitely not lost on him. She looked beautiful in the deep midnight blue. The glitter of the lace making her sparkle like tiny little stars, her skin looking soft and smooth. If he could, he would stare at her all night long, like a creep.
"You look so beautiful, Mila. That color really suits you." Evan gushed to her as he raked his eyes up and down her figure, a smile on his handsome face.
Jared wanted to roll his eyes at him, hating the fact that he had to stand here and watch this painful display of the two. It was like rubbing salt in an open wound that keeps refusing to close. But he did agree with Evan.
His favorite color looked damn good on her.
"Thank you, my grandpa helped me pick it out." She shyly stated as she rubs her earring in nervousness.
Of fucking course, he did, Jared thought grimly. That old man knew exactly what the hell he had been doing.
"Is that for me?" Kristan suddenly spoke up next to him, snapping him out of his dismal spiral of depression.
"Oh, uh, yeah. Here." He mumbled as he takes the flower decoration out of its container but before he could slip it on, Evan speaks up.
"Um, Jared, can we switch? It seems ours got mixed up." Evan looked over to him holding out the corsage that was definitely holding dark blue ribbons, while Evan's were green.
Again, another accessory that was given to them by Gale. It seems the only thing he had gotten right was Ian's, who had asked politely to acquire his for him as well.
"Yeah, it seems we did." Jared hesitantly hands it over and slips the new one on Kristan's wrist.
"May I?" Evan asked as he holds up his own towards Mila.
She again beams at him and allows him to do the same.
It was like Gale was purposely trying to grab their attention with all this. Instead of helping, he was making the situation worse. And Jared already wished the entire night was already over and done with.
Kristan wouldn't let his arm go as she clutched it even tighter to her. He grimaced at the action but didn't say a word. He looked over to Mila to see her staring down at the corsage, gently touching the strands of the ribbons, a small smile playing at her lips as she seemed to be lost in thought.
He quickly looked away staring down to look at his dress shoes that looked way too shiny for his comfort.
"Alright everyone! Picture time!" Her mother came rushing in with a very expensive camera in her hands, a huge smile on her face.