Chapter 5 Selena

• I gazed at my reflection, my lips curving into a smile as I admired my outfit. It was tastefully chic, avoiding any hint of exposure that would surely send me back to my wardrobe if my brothers caught a glimpse. My makeup was understated yet elegant-a dab of lip gloss to accentuate my smile and a gentle sweep of the brush to define my eyebrows.
• I enveloped myself in a cloud of my favorite perfumes and body sprays, the fragrant mist settling softly on my skin.
• Cyrus would be there, so I have to scent and look good.
• After a final, approving glance in the mirror, I descended the stairs with a lightness in my step. My mother's smile was wide and welcoming as she caught sight of me.
• "You look delicious," she beamed, and my smile mirrored hers.
• "Right," I responded, a playful lilt in my voice.
• "I am sure that he won't be able to take his eyes off you all evening," she said, her enthusiasm infectious even though I harbored doubts. Cyrus, noticing me? It seemed unlikely, but the thought was tantalizing.
• "I wish," I murmured, allowing myself a sliver of hope.
• "We're going," Blue announced, pulling me from my reverie. I gave my mother a quick peck on the cheek before hurrying to join them.
• Ezra's gaze seemed to sweep over me, a silent appraisal that left me self-conscious, while Reggie's eyes flicked from my dress back to Ezra, as if seeking confirmation.
• "Are you trying to attract the attention of every guy there or what?" Blue's voice was teasing but carried an undertone of concern.
• "What? Am I supposed to dress ugly?" I retorted, my eyes darting to Ezra, whose opinion seemed to carry an unspoken weight.
• "It's not about dressing ugly, you just look too..." Reggie trailed off, unwilling to voice the compliment that teetered on the edge of his tongue.
• "Dressed," Ezra finished bluntly, prompting an exasperated eye roll from me.
• "What? Mom..." I called out, turning back towards the kitchen where I had last seen her.
• "What's wrong?" Her voice was immediate, tinged with concern as she saw me approach.
• "I can't stand those guys sometimes," I confessed, the frustration evident in my voice.
• "Why should I change my clothes? It looks perfect," I asserted, meeting Mom's gaze with determination.
• "Yeah, there's nothing wrong with it," Mom agreed, giving my dress a quick once-over.
• "Right... please talk to them, because they're making me feel like I can't breathe with how controlling they're being," I confided, feeling suffocated by their scrutiny.
• "Don't worry, let me go talk to them," Mom reassured me, and I smiled gratefully as I followed her to confront my brothers.
• "There's nothing wrong with what she's wearing," Mom stated firmly, addressing Ezra.
• "She's just too dressed," Reggie remarked, casting a disdainful look my way.
• I rolled my eyes, unable to contain my frustration, and discreetly flipped him off.
• "Do you want her to dress ugly or wear something revealing?" Mom challenged, her patience wearing thin.
• "Even worse," Blue chimed in, adding fuel to the fire.
• "I just think she should stay at home, right Ezra?" Reggie suggested, turning to our older brother for support.
• "Ezra, your sister's clothes are fine. What's the problem?" Mom demanded, her gaze piercing.
• "Attention," Ezra muttered, evoking a puzzled frown from Mom.
• "What do you mean by attention?" she pressed, growing increasingly exasperated.
• "Mom, we're not going to be with her because we have friends. She should dress more decently, maybe even ugly," Blue interjected, earning a stern warning from Mom.
• "One more word from you, and I'll tell your father you're talking back to me," Mom warned, her tone sharp.
• "And you, don't anger me," she scolded Reggie, her authority unwavering.
• Turning back to Ezra, Mom issued a firm rebuke. "This is a beautiful dress, and your sister deserves to live her life. I'm not saying you shouldn't protect her, but at least let her talk to whoever she wants."
• "Fine, but she shouldn't just talk to anybody," Ezra conceded reluctantly.
• "Whatever, just make sure she's comfortable," Mom concluded, her tone final.
• "What! Are we babysitters or what??" Reggie exclaimed, his frustration boiling over.
• "Aziel!" Mom called out, invoking the name of my dad as a warning.
• "Sorry, I was just joking," Reggie quickly backtracked, sensing the tension in the air before heading towards the car.
• With a sigh of relief, Mom brought an end to the confrontation. "No, everything is solved. Bye, take care of yourselves," she said, her tone softened as she bid us farewell.
• ~~
• I quickly darted to claim the passenger seat before Blue or Reggie could beat me to it. Their growls of annoyance fell on deaf ears as I settled into the coveted spot.
• Well Ezra is the first child, then Reggie, followed by the twins, and finally me, and then Anya.
• "Don't misbehave when we get there," Ezra cautioned as he settled into the driver's seat.
• "I'll try," I replied nonchalantly, retrieving my phone from my bag.
• "She's going to kill the fun," Reggie and Blue muttered in agreement.
• "Shut up," I retorted with an eye roll, accustomed to their teasing.
• "Whatever," Reggie grumbled, dropping the subject.
• ---
• As we arrived at the party, the raucous noise from outside promised a night of excitement.
• "Keep your eyes on her," Ezra instructed Blue, who nodded in acknowledgment.
• "Whatever," I muttered under my breath, making my way into the crowded house.
• Inside, the scene was a whirlwind of activity-people dancing almost naked, others making out and the air thick with anticipation.
• Ezra's gaze met mine, his concern evident. He seemed to think I was some sort of saint, unaware of the many things I knew and had seen.
• "Stay here and don't go anywhere," Ezra murmured to me, and I nodded, obediently taking a seat on the couch.
• "If you leave, it won't be funny," he warned before turning his attention elsewhere.
• "At least get me a drink," I requested, prompting Ezra to glance at Reggie.
• "Get her one," he instructed Reggie, who nodded in response.
• One thing I appreciated about my brothers was their unwavering support and willingness to fulfill my requests. They would do anything for me, and I cherished that about them. However, there was one exception-they vehemently opposed the idea of me having a boyfriend. That, they refused to entertain.
• I settled onto the plush couch, the vibrant atmosphere of the party swirling around me as I sank into its depths. My gaze flitted eagerly from face to face, searching for that one familiar figure that never failed to quicken my pulse.
• Cyrus.
• Where was he hiding amidst the sea of partygoers?
• Reggie's interruption broke my concentration, his hand extending a drink towards me with a casual gesture.
• "Thanks," I murmured, accepting the glass and bringing it to my lips, the cool liquid offering a refreshing distraction. I took a sip, savoring the familiar taste, though I knew it wouldn't be spiked with anything stronger.
• "If you need another one, just give me a shout. No need to play the good girl; I've got your back. And remember, only accept drinks from me, Blue, Ezra, Teddy, and, well, Cyrus," Reggie advised.
• I nodded in agreement, a hint of amusement tugging at the corners of my lips as I hear Cyrus name, Reggie continued his cautionary tale.
• "Don't even bother on taking anything from Teddy. He's more trouble than he's worth most of the time," Reggie warned, his tone tinged with amusement as he recounted past escapades.
• "Got it," I replied, a soft chuckle escaping me as Reggie sauntered away, his presence adding a touch of levity to the evening.
• Returning my attention to the task at hand, I resumed my silent surveillance of the room, my eyes scanning every corner in search of that familiar silhouette. I knew that standing up would risk drawing unwanted attention from my vigilant brothers, so I remained seated, adopting an air of nonchalance as I covertly surveyed the crowd.
• Just as I was beginning to resign myself to the idea of a fruitless search, a ripple of excitement surged through me as I caught sight of him.
• There he was, striding confidently into the party, his presence commanding attention as he effortlessly navigated the throng of revelers.
• Damn.
• As he strutted into the room, oozing confidence and charm. He rocked a casual yet effortlessly cool look, wearing a snug-fitting black button-down shirt with a few buttons left undone, teasing a glimpse of his sculpted chest. The shirt hugged his toned physique, accentuating his rugged appeal.
• Paired with faded jeans that hugged his hips in all the right places, he exuded an air of laid-back allure. His tousled hair and stubble added to his rugged charm, giving him that irresistible bad-boy vibe that made heads turn wherever he went.
• As his gaze locked with mine across the crowded room, a jolt of electricity shot through me.
• Oh, Lord. He saw me staring at him. Panic surged through me as I quickly turned away, bringing my drink to my lips and gulping down a large mouthful.
• My heart raced as I glanced back, only to find him making his way towards me.
• Oh, Lord, not me... right?
• His intoxicating cologne enveloped me as he settled beside me, his presence sending a shiver down my spine.
• I didn't know what to do. Should I say hi? Or just remain silent and hope he didn't notice my earlier scrutiny?
• As the noise of the party swirled around us, my attention was drawn to a nearby couple moans, who seems to to making out making me blush furiously.
• What the hell...
• Cyrus seemed to notice too, his expression mirroring my incredulity as he made a wry comment.
• "Getting a room would be better," he remarked, and I couldn't help but laugh in agreement.
• "Yeah, definitely," I replied, my nerves settling slightly in his company.
• We lapsed into a comfortable silence, the only sound the pulsating beat of the music and the occasional burst of laughter from nearby revelers.
• I stole a glance at Ezra, who was watching us with an amused expression. I met his gaze and he rolled his eyes making me smile before giving him the middle finger.
• Cyrus broke the silence, surprising me with his question.
• "Do you like the party?" he asked, his voice unexpectedly warm.
• I was taken aback by his sudden interest. He never talked to me before.
• "Not really," I admitted, turning to meet his gaze.
• Our eyes locked, and for a moment, the world seemed to fade away, leaving only the two of us in our own little bubble.
• And then, he said it.
• "You have beautiful eyes," he murmured, his words sending a rush of warmth and shock through me.
• To be continued...