After we had completed an obligatory first lap of the gymnasium, we have sufficiently and thoughtfully identified all the important areas;
The bar, the bathroom, the hot guys and the food.
Honestly, it's taking some time for me to get used to the whole "being 21 to drink thing" but to be fare, all it does is leave space for the students to invent new ways to sneak alcohol in to parties and events such as this. Back home, kids are drinking alcohol from their parents stashes at fourteen! This is not a new subject for me. But I feel like even though this age deterrent doesn't stop everyone, at events like this, it's a little harder to get something other than fruit punch.

However, with Candice as my side kick, I have learned that nothing is impossible.

As we finish our second lap of the event in our first hour here, we make our way into the corridor at the back of the gym that contains exits leading to bathrooms, the coaches offices and change rooms. We head into one of the change rooms when the coast is clear and I work as lookout. Candice takes two cups and a baby bottle of champagne from her purse and pours us a drink each. We finish that and then another and when we are suitably but subtlety buzzed, we make our way back to the party.

Giggling away and feeling just a little more relaxed, we set out in search of some food and maybe some of our team mates. We have a few designated tables somewhere and it would be nice to sit down and chat while we eat our surprisingly upmarket selection of snacks.

Here I was expecting cheap supermarket canapés but this committee went all out, I spotted salmon and baby lobster cakes somewhere on our second lap!

As we turn away from the selection of canapés and desserts, plates just slightly filled so we don't over do it and have me busting out of my volcano,I spy lexi waving at me from one of the long tables set up just beyond the designated dance floor area.

I nudge Candice and point my plate in that general direction and she smiles and nods as we make our way, weaving through many a costumed person, to meet up with our team.

It seems no one in our team has slacked on the theme front. Everyone looks amazing. Even the guys of our team have gone all out. They are seriously such a hot bunch, it's like looking at an advert for Halloween in the Hamptons or something. I start to feel slightly out of place and begin to fidget with my dress self consciously.

Candice, who never misses a single beat, spies me out of the corner of her heavily lashed eye and steers me to two empty seats at the end of one of the long tables so that we can sit and we are not standing in front of everyone, begging to be overly scrutinised.

I send her a grateful smile and look over the little plate of delicacies I have in front of me. I'm about to tuck into a pretty little tart of some sort when someone walking by in my peripheral vision makes me stop and take notice.

Bayne.

He is dressed head to toe in black; black button down shirt, tight black jeans and black boots. His hair is slightly neater than his usual messy locks, all pushed back and it suits him. I sneak a look at the girls sitting at my table and notice that almost everyone of them has their eyes on him as he walks past, taking in his appearance in a way that makes me feel weird observing them. And it's not just our table either. All over the room, girls are salivating and it makes me feel nauseous.

I swallow whatever it is I'm feeling down and lower my eyes back to my dessert, that at least that I can control.

"Holy Hell! He looks good tonight." Candice whispers in my ear as I shrug and pretend I have no clue who she is on about.

"Oh come on Ellis. You can at least appreciate the fact that he looks hot. It doesn't hurt to window shop you know." She says and nudges my shoulder a little.

"Besides, I want an excuse to talk to his hot friends", she adds, as we watch Bayne slide into a small table filled with an array of bear- like, burley, built guys.

And a couple of ridiculously hot girls.

"There is no way I'm going over there Candice." I state matter of factly, like I actually have a shot at bossing her about. I feel already so out of my league amongst my own crowd, I would be the plainest belle at the ball around all of his table.

"Who said anything about going over there?" Candice says, looking at me with an expression I can't quite decipher, perhaps part of an evil planning smirk.

"Whatever you have turning in the cogs of your mind Candice, no way I want any part of it." I stare at her to make sure she gets the point but I know my fate is already sealed. When she wants something, she gets it. That much I know for certain about her already. All I can do is hope it does not include me embarrassing myself.

"Ellis, don't worry. Just enjoy yourself. I can promise you, by the end of this evening, he will find a reason to speak to you." She winks at me and shoves a glittery gold macaron into her mouth whole.

"Candice." I worn sternly, but she just smiles sweetly and swallows another macaron victim.

Lexi interrupts my silent panic, clapping her hands in a swift motion in front of her to get our attention, like we are her very own VonTrappe troupe to command.

"Ok people, listen up. It's time for the annual team silent auction." She smiles so hard, that it reaches her eyes and I smile back at her, she obviously loves this event. Who doesn't love a silent auction?

"Tonight we will all be a part of the auction, with all the generous proceeds for our team members purchased going towards our new uniforms and equipment." She finishes and looks around the table with glee, almost everyone has a huge excited smile on their face.

What she just said hits me like a tonne of bricks.
We are all part of the auction. What exactly does that mean?

I nudge Candice and she turns to me with a twinkle in her eye and a dazzling smile.

"Candice, please tell me she means we are helping with the sale. Please tell me it's not what I think it is." I half beg, half sob into her ear. Though deep down, I know what is coming next. Candice just pats me on the leg softly as we turn our attention back to Lexi.

"That's right my new people. We are all up for sale! But before you get ideas, or before the buyers do more like it, there are strict rules that apply ok! You don't have any obligation to do anything with your buyer other than have a few drinks and a dance and spending an hour or so at the function with them or, if you choose to do so, you may put yourself forward for the date auction and your buyer can take you out on a date!" Her speech earns her a few wolf whistles and excited screeches from our group.

I feel sick to my stomach. I feel like i either regret having the secret drinks with Candice or I will need a whole lot more to get through this without a full blown, public panic attack.

Before I even have a chance to react, Lexi comes down to our end of the table and kneels down next to me, her hand rests on my shoulder as she whispers in my ear.

"It's ok, I'll make sure you get someone really easy to hang out with. Trust me ok? I will look after you." She smiles softly and I know that she means it. I also know that I need to try my hardest to be a part of these events if I want to succeed here.

"Don't let any duds buy me ok?" I try to smile back at her sincerely but I feel as if only a small thin line shows on my lips instead.

It seems to be enough for her because she taps me softly on the head and stands, commanding attention from the team.

"Let's go get the cash kids!" She says and lifts her hands together as if she is a conductor and we are her choir. Or her puppets perhaps, that feels more appropriate in this moment.

As everyone stands and collectively moves as one towards the stage set up, I feel more and more apprehensive. I swallow hard and try to put on my performance face, even if just for show.

This will be..... different.

Thanks for reading!!!

I wonder how Ellis and Candice will go with the auction?

And if Candice has something in mind to get Ellis and Bayne talking?

You will soon find out!

Xxxx Ali