Chapter 3. The Sean Harris

Ivy's POV

As soon as I hung up, I squealed into my pillow. I'd just asked a strange guy to be my prom date, and he agreed.

Was this really happening?

He was so nice, and his voice…I fanned my face as it got hotter. It was low, sexy, with a timbre that sent a shiver down my spine. That helpline must get a lot of calls.

That voice has to belong to someone equally visually captivating. But why would an attractive man agree to go to prom with a random girl?

I grabbed my phone and video-called my best friend, Zoe. I couldn't wait to share the exciting news. She would think I'm crazy, but at this point, I didn't care. I was just happy to have a date for prom.

"Hey, Ivy. What's up?"

"You won't believe what just happened," I told her excitedly.

Zoe raised her brows. "Spill."

"So, I've been having a hard time finding a prom date–"

"You?" She cut me off incredulously. "Are the boys at that school blind?"

"Clearly," I agreed quickly, eager to get to the point. "But it doesn't matter anymore."

"Are you going to miss the prom?" she asked.

"No. I found someone to go with me. I called a helpline to vent, and guess what. The guy agreed to be my date."

"What? A stranger? Are you crazy?"

"He was nice!"

"Do you even know his name?"

"Sean Harris!"

Zoe's brows pulled together. "Did you say, Sean Harris?"

"Yes."

"The Sean Harris?" she emphasized.

"What do you mean? Do you know him?"

"There's a popular guy from my campus with that same name. If he is the one you talked to, girl…I'd say you are playing with fire. Women worship the ground he walks on, and he soaks up the attention like sunshine. Rumor has it that he has a different girl in his bed every night."

I chuckle. "That must be an exaggeration."

"If you saw him, you'd see it's quite possible," Zoe insisted. "He's just…I can't explain it to you. Trust me, you don't know a celebrity who is hotter than him."

"I'm sure my Sean is not that Sean," I told her. "Why would such a guy accept a date from a random girl?"

"He could be bored and looking for his next plaything," Zoe deduced. "Let me send you a pic."

Moments later, the photo arrived. My eyes widened as I looked at the man in the photo. I swallowed and nodded. "Okay, you are right. Who wouldn't want to jump that?"

"Told you. He is a serious player."

"Well, it can't be him," I told her. "First of all, as I said, there's no reason for a guy who looks like that to accept a strange girl's proposal. Second, I'm not that lucky."

"Let's hope so," Zoe said.

I stared at the guy in the photo a bit more. He was ridiculously good-looking. Zoe was right; I couldn't think of a celebrity who was this good-looking.

I was sure he could not be my Sean Harris, but…just saying, his face would totally match the voice over the phone.

And such a combination? I couldn't even begin to imagine how lethal it would be in real life.

"I just hope he won't stand me up," I told her. I was excited, but I knew he could fail to show up.

He had insisted on accompanying me, but I wouldn't blame him if he changed his mind.

Zoe clapped her hands together. "Now that you've found yourself a date, I'll be in charge of your makeover. I'll turn you into a princess and make those meanies at your school eat dirt."

"I already have a dress," I said, getting out of bed and heading to my closet. "I found it a few months ago and held on to it. Let me show you."

I opened my closet and removed the dress. It was a red sleeveless mermaid gown embellished with rhinestones.

"Wow, that's perfect," Zoe said, giving me a thumbs up. "Once I do your makeup and hair, they won't know what hit them."

***

The next day, Zoe came to my house and did my makeup and hair as promised.

Sean had not retracted his offer. In fact, he called me in the morning to confirm our date. After hearing his voice again, I'd been thinking about him all day, imagining what he'd look like in person.

Once Zoe finished my makeup and hair, I showed her the scarf I had knitted overnight. "I made this for my date. Do you think it's fine?"

Zoe took the scarf and examined it. "This is so beautiful. It must have taken a while to make."

"Yes, but it's worth it. He's saving my ass, so I wanted to give him a gift in gratitude."

Zoe wiggled her brow at me. "I'm saving your ass too; what will I get?"

I grinned at her. "What do you want?"

***

My mother dropped me at the prom venue and wished me luck, demanding to see photos of my prom date once I got home.

I stood outside the venue, waiting and watching my schoolmates arrive. Everyone was dressed to the nines and in a happy mood.

While I waited for Sean to show up, I attracted a lot of attention. I caught a few of the words as people went by.

"Hold on, who's that?"

"Does she go to our school?"

"I've never seen her before."

"Are you blind? That's the new girl in senior year."

"What new girl…Ivy?"

"Oh my god, it's really her!"

"Wow, look at that dress. Where did she get it? It looks designer."

"Didn't people say she is a poor small-town girl? She doesn't look like one right now."

"Let's take a picture with her."

"Uh…but we don't really know her."

"Who cares? Come on! I want to know where she got her dress."

The two girls approached me, smiling. "Hello, Ivy. You are so gorgeous. Where did you get your dress?"

"I found it online."

"Really? What's the name of the shop? I have to check it out!"

Before I knew it, I was talking with five different girls I had never spoken to before. Some wanted to know about my dress; others, my hair and makeup. It was the first time any of them had started a conversation with me or regarded me with anything besides contempt.

Even though Sean hadn't shown up yet, I started feeling relaxed. See? It was a good idea to show up despite everything. Maybe after this, I could make a few friends.

"What on earth is going on here?" Demi's annoyed voice broke through the circle.

As if they had been caught red-handed doing something wrong, the girls all backed away from me.

Demi walked forward, backed by her clique of girls who always followed her everywhere like she was the center of their world.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, looking me up and down, her lips twisted in a sneer.

"I'm here for the prom, what else?" I asked.

"Only couples are allowed inside," she told me. "And you don't have a date."

"What is she wearing?" Casey, her main minion, asked. "This looks like something from a thrift store."

The second minion, Annie, reached forward and tugged on the dress. "I know, right? It's so tacky."

I pushed her hand and stepped back. "What do you want?" I asked Demi.

"For you to leave," she said. "We put a lot into this prom. The last thing we need is some has-been ruining it."

"What is this?" Casey asked, grabbing the gift from my hand. Annie blocked me when I tried to get it. Within seconds, Casey tore off the wrapping and opened the box.

Suddenly, she started laughing. "Oh my god! What are you, an old lady?" She lifted the scarf and showed everyone. "Is this supposed to be a gift for your date?"

"Give it back," I demanded.

"It could be a bribe to some poor boy to take her to prom," Stacy, the third minion, said. "As expected of small-town trash."

"Who would accept this?" Demi asked. "This is the ugliest scarf I've ever seen."

Casey held it out to me. "Here."

I reached for it, but she laughed and threw it at Annie. Annie threw it to Stacy. Meanwhile, Demi produced a lighter from her purse.

Seeing her intention, I rushed to stop her, but Casey pushed me back. I barely caught my balance to keep from falling. By the time I recovered, Demi had set the scarf on fire.

***

Anger brewed in me as I watched the scarf I'd knitted burning on the ground. I hadn't slept all night while making it for my date, but now it was ruined.

"Why did you do that?" I demanded, glaring at Demi. "I made that for my date."

"Date?" she scoffed. "Who would be foolish enough to be your partner? Is he brave enough to go against me?"

"Not everyone is afraid of you," I told her. "I wouldn't want to go with any of those cowards who tuck their tails between their legs in front of you."

"Is that so? Who is your brave knight? Huh? Who is it who agreed to be the dance partner to a country bumpkin like you?"

"I'm curious too," Casey said. "You must have lied about your identity. Anyone who knows you knows better."

"She must have hired some dude from outside school," Stacy said.

"You are right," Annie agreed.

"If that's so, I hate to break it to you, but outsiders are not allowed to our prom," Demi said.

"You are lying," I called her out. "I've seen many students enter the ballroom with outsiders."

"They are members of the pack, so they have special privileges. You are not a member of the Twilight Pack, are you?"

I grind my teeth in frustration. There was no such rule. But Demi was the daughter of Twilight Pack's Beta. If she wanted to deny me entrance into the ballroom, even the teachers would side with her.

Demi stepped closer to me, narrowing her eyes. "Are you empty-headed? I've told you we don't want you here, and yet you keep showing your ugly face. I've been nice until now, but not anymore."

"You are not even the Alpha's daughter, but you act like you own the place," I retorted. "I'm not going anywhere, deal with it."

She sneered. "Let's see about that."

She raised her hands and clapped twice. A few moments later, two security guards appeared. Demi pointed at me. "Drag her out; she is not invited to the prom."

"I'm a student here, and I have the right to be here!"

The two security guards stepped in front of me. "Come with us."

"No. I didn't do anything wrong."

Without another word, they stepped forward, each grabbing my arm. I fought against them, but my strength was nothing compared to theirs.

Effortlessly, they dragged me away from the venue.

"Lock her up in the security room," Demi instructed. "She was trying to sabotage the party and should be investigated."

What?

"That's not true!" I yelled, panic setting in. Throwing me out was one thing; locking me up was another. What if Sean showed up and I wasn't around? I couldn't stand him up when he was doing me such a huge favor.

As the guards pulled me away, a loud rumble filled the air. Everybody's attention shifted from us to the sound. When I looked, I saw a red Ferrari pulling up to the venue.

The door opened, and a tall man dressed in a tuxedo stepped out.

I blinked as my eyes took in his face.

It was Sean. The Sean that Zoe had shown me.

Holy cow, how was it possible that he looked even hotter in real life?

He was at least 6'3". His blond hair was slicked back, exposing his thick brows. His skin glowed under the night lights, giving him an ethereal appearance.

His tuxedo fit him like a glove, accentuating his well-built body, wide shoulders, and long legs.

I noticed then that Demi, her entourage and everyone else looked stunned.

Sean walked from the car toward the two guards and me. Then I noticed the guards had also frozen in place.

"Let her go," Sean said, his voice the same as I had heard over the phone. My stomach felt hot all of a sudden. Was Zoe's Sean my Sean?

The guards did not hesitate. They quickly let go of me and stepped back.

Sean gave me an apologetic smile. "Ivy, right?"

I swallowed hard and nodded, struck speechless.

He was ridiculously handsome.

"I'm so sorry for arriving late," he apologized. "Has the party started?"

I blinked. Then I shook my head. Then I muttered, "No." Gathering my wits, I repeated, "No, it hasn't."

"Great!" Then, he put his arm around my waist. "Shall we?"

Shall we what?

He smiled at me gently and steered me towards the ballroom. He must have thought I was airheaded.

I could as well be. My brain was having a hard time registering the fact that the popular guy Zoe talked about was, in fact, my date.

We made it inside the ballroom when Demi's shriek stopped us.

"Sean! What are you doing?" she demanded, rushing to block our path. She nailed me with a venomous glare. "Do you have any idea who she is?"

"Yes," Sean told her. "She is my date."

"That's impossible!" she shouted. "Why would you go to prom with someone like her? She is a wolfless nobody from god knows where. No boy at school wanted to go to the prom with her. How can a werewolf of your stature be her date?"

My hand curled into itself, nails digging into flesh. Demi had ruined all my chances of getting a date tonight. I'd just not thought she'd also ruin this for me.

So far, everybody had been influenced by her, treating me like an outcast.

Looking at Sean, he could go to prom with any girl he wanted. He must have been simply curious when he agreed to be my date.

Now that Demi had told him the truth about me, would he turn against me like all the others?