CHAPTER 11

FINGER PAINTING: PINK PIXIE

Outside by the pool in their bikinis and one-piece swimsuits Caramella, Sandra and Amelia were seated around the round table drinking martinis. Meanwhile, Chef Yunoku was grilling tuna and chicken on the outdoor stone made grill. On the other hand, Annabelle and Sam played in volleyball in the pool while Dustin, Lucas and Christiano kept an eye on them and the women; while the rest men patrol the palace and kept watch from the surveillance room. Caramella swirled the straw around in the drink while Sandra smirked.

‘Oh, come on, Caramella at least live a little in the moment,’ she suggested.

Amelia agreed, ‘Sandra is right. What used to be an empty palace is now fill with hot bodyguards and a developing love story for you write an amazing piece for The Ball ending series, Caramella.’

‘Think about it, Clara and I’m pretty sure that Christiano guy likes you. Since he pisses you off so easily,’ Sandra smirked.

Caramella thought about what they said and shrugged, ‘I don’t know girls. Can’t see myself with him and I won’t go back another relationship. I need time to heal.’

‘Caramella, you’ve been grieving for way too long and you’re too serious, I miss your smiles and jokes. We just want the old you back, in time for my wedding, darling,’ Amelia smiled.

Caramella smiled, ‘I know but wait! You’re getting married? When? And where?’

‘Well we were hoping to host it here,’ Sandra wiggled her eyebrows.

Caramella answered, ‘It would be an honor to have your wedding here, Amelia. But I have tell Christiano about it I can’t just agreed to throw this event here without his consent, you know. The guy and the rest of guys work for my parents.’

‘We know, I told your mother and she thought it was great to have it here, Clara,’ Sandra replied. ‘And the Annabelle’s birthday party; I invited the girls football team and their mothers to palace celebrate it with her.’

Caramella chuckled before looking at the girls and caught someone else eyes looking her; it was Christiano who smiled. She looked away blushing, ‘Oh my gosh! Why is he looking at me?’ rolling her eyes.

‘We saw that, Caramella,’ Amelia laughed.

Sandra smirked, ‘He’s so into you, girl. You just don’t even see it yet.’

‘Will girls just let chill for a sec. and no, he’s not I’m buying that crap,’ Caramella frowned holding back the blush and throbbing heart.

Amelia replied, ‘Keep telling yourself that, Caramella. One day you’ll wake up and realised that guy is one for you no matter what’s going on in your life.’

‘Amelia is right, sweetheart and it’s no joke, because I see it too,’ Sandra commented firmly.

Caramella sighed in thought aloud, ‘Maybe I should try?’

‘Yes!’ Amelia and Sandra beamed with laughter.

Caramella palmed her face in embarrassment she found Christiano, Yunoku and Dustin watching her instantly with curiosity written all over their faces as her heart beat rapidly as she flushed cheeks was warmer than the sunshine, ‘I can’t like all three guys,’ she thought nervously. ‘And I can’t really like Christiano?’ she stared at him maybe little longer and a bit too much comfort and pouted gazing away. Later on at ten, Lionel came by and Sandra answered the door.

‘Oh? Hello, I’m here to see Caramella,’ Lionel smiled.

‘Hold on let me call her for you. I’m Sandra, her best friend by the way and you are?’ Sandra asked.

‘I’m Lionel, nice to meet you, Sandra,’ Lionel replied.

‘Likewise, Caramella you have a pretty hot visitor!’ Sandra yelled.

Caramella was dressed in a white blouse and denim jeans with flats. She descended the staircase with a board smile before greeting with a hug.

‘Lionel! How are you?’ She started releasing herself from his arms.

Lionel didn’t want to leave her but smiled, ‘I’m fine, Caramella. I was wondering if you would like to go on a friendly date with me.’

‘I would love too but I was just about to finger paint the wall in my bedroom, would like to join me? Our friendly date could be in my bedroom if you don’t mind,’ Caramella smirked.

Lionel laughed at her cuteness and replied, ‘I’ll have to cancel my reservation at the restaurant then.’

‘No, it is all paid for?’ Caramella asked with concern.

Lionel shrugged, ‘Yeah’ and looked at Sandra who stared at them in awe. ‘Why don’t you have it, Sandra? I’m sure your boyfriend will go with you’ and handed her the restaurants’ address.

‘No need for any boyfriend, Amelia and the girls will love it, Lionel,’ Sandra smiled.

Lionel responded, ‘Great!’ before facing Caramella who smiled at his generous actions. ‘Let’s start painting your wall, sweetheart.’

‘Of course, follow me, Lionel,’ Caramella smiled gesturing with her hand.

Sandra chirped in, ‘Clara, tomorrow Annabelle’s and Sam’s girls’ football team and their mothers will arrive. See you guys later.’

‘Okay, Sandra,’ Caramella and Lionel said in sync before smiling at each other and strolled up the staircase onto the second floor where they met Christiano who looked annoyed and pretended to smile a little.

‘Caramella, haven’t told you don’t plan events without my consent?’ Christiano asked.

‘Lionel is my friend, Christiano and you’re my bodyguard. He wanted to take me on a date. But I decided to have him help me out finger-painting the wall in my bedroom. Are you going to be chaperon?’ Caramella retorted.

Christiano smirked, ‘As a matter of fact, yes’ before glaring at Lionel who frowned.

‘Stop the staring contest and let’s go guys,’ Caramella interrupted them walking down the hall to her bedroom. They entered the room approaching the white wall she wanted to paint on. She handed the guys two cans of pink paint.

‘Why pink paint? Are you in love, sweetie?’ Lionel flirted.

Caramella blushed, ‘I wouldn’t say so but I’m girl who loves strawberry pink.’

‘Remember we’re finger painting and not horny flirt painting,’ Christiano teased placing one hand in the liquid and printing it on the wall. ‘Cool; look it’s my hand, princess.’

Caramella said, ‘And it’s going to stay on the wall’ and mumbled, ‘and not on me.’

‘Are you guys dating each other?’ Lionel blurted out.

‘What? No, what made you think that, Lionel?’ Caramella frowned and Christiano laughed.

‘Me? Date her? Not in a billionaire years, man,’ Christiano laughed placing another print on the wall.

Lionel joined the hand-painting on the wall and added, ‘You just seem really closer that’s all.’

‘He’s my bodyguard of course he’s supposed to be close but not so close,’ Caramella answered glaring at Christiano.

He winked at her, ‘You’ve got it wrong, Lionel. She’s a hard to tame trust me.’

‘I’m right here you idiot,’ Caramella said about to his arm when he stopped her and put pink paint on her cheeks. ‘What are you doing? We’re not body painting?’ dipping her hands in Lionel’s paint can before she pressed her palms against Christiano’s cheeks. ‘Ha, ha, ha…look at you; you’re cute as a pink mushroom princess.’

Christiano cracked a wicked smile as she ran, ‘Come here, Caramella and I won’t punish you.’

‘I thought I had a chance with her,’ Lionel thought frowning. ‘I’m not done yet,’ he whispered mischievously and threw paint all over her body; ‘Got you!’

Caramella wiped the paint from her neck and shirt, ‘I’m going to get it you guys for this!’ grabbing the paint can and threw it at them; as painted soaked their clothes.

‘Caramella we’re going give you a hug,’ Christiano smirked.

Lionel smirked, ‘It’s necessary for us to forgive you then paint the rest of body.’

Caramella poked her tongue out and ran away from them until they caught her while laughing as she frowned, ‘You guys are the worse let go of me!’ but ends up smiling and chuckling with them.

Minutes later, they lay beside side each other in paint and got to know Caramella better.

‘I’ve never went to prom,’ Caramella started and the guys look at her surprisingly.

‘You’re serious?’ Lionel asked.

‘Why didn’t you go?’ Christiano questioned.

‘No one ask and I didn’t feel like going either. Who would want me as their prom date?’ Caramella smiled.

Christiano was about to answer but Lionel spoke to quick, ‘I would; you’re beautiful and prom with you would have been great.’

‘I appreciate the honesty, Lionel,’ Caramella smiled before she caught Christiano looking at her softly with a smile.

Lionel gazed at the clock on the wall and got up, ‘Anyway, it was fun finger-painting with you Caramella’ and helped her up as well and then looked her bodyguard, ‘and Christiano,’ he smirked. ‘I have an appointment in scheduled at twelve; I’ll visit you another time. Hopefully for a lunch met if you think that’s possible with you, Caramella.’

‘Of course, Lionel,’ Caramella hugged him and pulled back. ‘Enjoy the rest of your day.’

‘I will, see you soon, Caramella,’ Lionel smiled before looking at Christiano. ‘And you too, Christiano.’

‘Yeah,’ Christiano answered and got Dustin to escort him out.

As soon as the door closed Caramella faced Christiano hold her laughter because he looked funny and extremely cute in pink.

‘You think I look funny, don’t you?’ Christiano asked smirking.

Caramella quipped, ‘No, no, you’re just prefect as a pink pixie’ and laughed, suddenly he wrapped his arms around her waist and pulled her close to his chest as she stared up at him; as he gazed into her curious brown eyes. ‘What’s the matter now, Christiano?’ She asked.

‘Go shower and I’ll get you something to change into, okay,’ Christiano said.

Caramella nodded surprisingly, ‘All right,’ after taking a bath, she returned to bedroom and found Christiano freshly cleaned and dressed in a suit waiting for her. She spotted a beautiful gown on her bed to change into.

‘Christiano, what’s this all about?’ Caramella asked smiling.

‘You’re going to prom with me,’ Christiano replied smirking. ‘Now get dress so I can this corsage on you.’ He watched her eyes sparkled with tenderness, ‘She loves it,’ he thought before turning to face the window to hide his blush and sense of accomplishment.

Caramella approached the bed picking up the cream, golden silk mermaid gown, the heels and ribbon. She went into her walk-closet and changed before returning all dress; hair combed in a ponytail enlaced with a golden ribbon-bow.

‘I’m done you can look now,’ Caramella said.

‘Seriously?’ Christiano asked facing front mind-blow away by her stunning gorgeousness. Her caramel; tan skin glowed in the gown and her strawberry kissable lips glossed with a shine of temptation, it everything in his power not to kiss her in this moment. ‘It fits perfectly and you look very nice like a golden apple, princess.’

Caramella laughed before looking in the long mirror and thought, ‘I do look like a golden apple and the dress is beautiful on me’ and rolled her eyes, ‘Very funny, so what were you planning? And where exactly are we going, Christiano? The moon?’

He offered his arm as she enlaced her arm in his, ‘I wish; just follow me and stop asking so many questions.’

‘Okay, okay, you pushy walnut,’ Caramella smiled.

Christiano escorts her to the ballroom. It was elegantly decorated; with white and golden flowers and balloons with a banner hang up from the ceiling written: Welcome To Prom!

‘Christiano you did all this?’ Caramella questioned looking everything in amazement.

‘Because you said you never went to prom and I thought not why bring the prom to you,’ Christiano smirked and watched her smile broadened.

‘Thank you, Christiano,’ Caramella blushed. ‘It’s everything I dream of, it’s just right.’

‘Glad to be at your service, princess,’ Christiano smiled. ‘Shall we dance?’

‘Yeah…eh,’ Caramella laughed as he led the way to the dance floor.

She saw the bodyguards dressed in different coloured suits were dancing with each other. The music was a bit of everything, she loved. Caramella noticed in the centre of the dance floor Sandra and Amelia alongside her daughter, Annabelle and niece, Sam was dancing too with the guys. They were all dressed up for the occasion.

‘Caramella, welcome to prom!’ everyone yelled cheerfully.

‘It was all Christiano’s idea,’ Sandra and Amelia pointed out.

‘And it came out beautiful I must say,’ Caramella smiled looking at him.

Christiano shrugged with a cocky smirk, ‘I need help too’ narrowing him thumb to Yunoku, Dustin, Lucas and the guys.

‘I bet you did to pull this off,’ Caramella quipped laughing.

Annabelle smiled, ‘Let’s dance the night away.’

‘It’s eleven; it’s morning, Annabelle,’ Sam laughed and everyone joined.

The cuisines, pastries and desserts were delicious; Caramella couldn’t stop complimenting Chef Yunoku who thanked her with a simple nod and smile.

‘I really enjoy the food; Yunoku. Will you teach me how to make a chocolate cake?’ Caramella smiled.

Yunoku replied, ‘Thanks, if you buy the kitchen later I’ll show you have to make it. I haven’t finished baking the other recipes I had plan for this event yet.’

‘Great, can’t wait,’ Caramella smiled and afterward she danced with him before Christiano stole her away for a dance; and it was very romantic.

‘Even though we’re not under the moonlight you look prettier under the crystal chandelier,’ Christiano flirted.

‘This is the best line I’ve heard from you,’ Caramella laughed with a smile.

‘There’s more where that came from?’ Christiano joked before he got serious and leaned his forehead unto hers.

‘We’re not going to kiss again, are you?’ Caramella asked blushing.

‘In this crowd? Probably not, but I want too,’ Christiano said.

Then Dustin grabbed the microphone toning down the music. ‘Ladies, little girls and gentlemen; the moment you’ve been all waiting for, your Prom Kings and Queens.’

Everyone cheered and he continued, ‘We’ve counted the ballot box; this prom was rigged. So everyone is Prom Kings and Queens; who about that for something awesome!’

‘Honestly, be fair and pick two couples already, Dustin,’ Sandra yelled.

‘Okay, okay, your Prom Kings and Queens drum roll please,’ Dustin smirked.

The guys did the drum roll sound effects before laughing and the lights dimmed on the pair. It was the most shocking review, Amelia, Lucas and Christiano and Caramella.

‘Congrats to you two and may begin your dancing; I’m tired of MCing, someone take over,’ Dustin said and the other guy took over doing his job.

They slowed danced and without a word said, Christiano pulled Caramella closer and kissed her in front of everyone. His actions angered Yunoku and Dustin, they were completely jealous. She pushed him away utterly happy but pretended to be shock in front of everyone who watched them in awe as silence impacted but the music still played swooning the moment. Caramella left him and she found her Sandra with two favourite little girls before she started dancing with them.

Christiano stared at her smirking in thought, ‘She can’t control herself any longer neither can I.’