DANIELLE'S POV
I placed a hand on my chest to calm my palpitating heart as I drove fast to the garden.
   I couldn't comprehend what happened when I saw him.
Or is it? No it can't be. Definitely not! It really shouldn't be. I'm not sure I'm ready now. Oh my! what do i do? Even if it is, why should it be a jerk like him? No no...
I arrived at the private garden and carefully parked my car at the garage.
~~~~~
I hopped gingerly into the garden beaming with smiles. I can't let what happened few minutes ago with that jerk ruin my day.
Wait! who am I kidding? Not when I know what that meant.
My friends will definitely catch on me.
Ehm whatever...
   Damn! I was super late or maybe a bit late. I mean... the party already started.
Hip hop music boomed gently on the background.
I look around, everyone was already present. I was the late comer.
   I smiled and shook hands with several people, some crew members and friends.
I scanned around for my friends and took no time in locating them. They sat at one corner laughing and talking with the director.
Lia raised a brow immediately she saw me, a lopsided smile playing on her lips.
I'm in trouble...
I tried averting my eyes somewhere else but then...
   "Hey Diva! Over here," My director called with glee immediately he saw me.
I chuckled and walked over.
   "Congratulations my chocomilo, you guys made me proud again." He said happily as we hugged.
He's a middle aged black man, probably in his forties or so. He loves calling me his chocomilo, I also love the name.
   "It's all due to your consistent hard work and efforts towards making us better Mr Brown. Right girls?" I said as I sat down on the empty seat next to my friends and poured wine into an empty glass on the table.
   "Very true Diva, even though you haven't explain the reason for your lateness." Tania said with an eyeroll.
I quickly gave her an apologetic look. She smiled understandingly.
   "Mr Brownie here have been the best of directors so far in our dancing career." Cilia said as she sipped from her glass.
   "For the umpteenth time Saline it's Brown not Brownie," He frowned making Lia giggle.
   "But I think Brownie suits you more don't you think?" She cooed, winking at him.
Mr Brown's frown deepened. I chuckled.
Lia could be so annoying when she wants to be.
   "I'm so sorry guys for coming a little...late, something came up." I apologized sweetly.
   "Oh yeah! A little I see," Lia drawled sarcastically. "You call thirty minutes past the agreed time a little?" She said with a smirk while playing with her wine glass.
   "Oh dear me! Okay I'm sorry for coming so late. Hope I'm forgiven now?" I apologize, twinkling my lashes and making a puppy face. Everyone laughed.
   "Now that's a good girl," Tania laughed.
I smiled and raised my wine glass.
   "And now, here is a toast to Mr Brown, the best director of times. Cheers guys!"
Mr Brown smiled genuinely. They raised their glasses as well.
   "Cheers," We all said and cheered downing the content of our wine glass.
   "Thanks so much guys, I feel so loved right now." He smiled.
   "You areeee loved Mr Brownie," Cilia drawled, making us laugh again. Rosy and I that is.
Mr Brown seriously dislikes being called that way, but Saline due to her personality, seriously takes pride in annoying him.
Lest I forget!
We go by our middle names when with the Crew, which is also our stage names.
Cilia's full names are: Cilia Saline Wilbert.
Tania's: Tania Rosalie Smithson.
Mine: Princess Danielle Diva Scotts.
But I added Black to my stage name.
Why? Because I love it.
   "Celebrating without me are you?" I smiled when I heard his voice from behind.
   "If it isn't the Lanky little Wilfred," Lia chirped. He chuckled and sat down next to the director.
He's our Manager Thomas Wilfred, another victim of Cilia's annoyance.
   He's a nice young guy of about thirty though he's married with surprisingly three kids.
   "Hello girls, having a good time are you?" He shook hands with Mr Brown.
   "Sure we are Thomas, what's with you?" I said dropping my glass.
   "Nothing much Diva, just thought to say a big congratulations to you guys. You did well." He said with a smile.
   "Thanks Tom. Without you guys it wouldn't have been a success." Tania said.
   "That's very true," Lia said as she gulped down a reasonable amount of wine. "It would have been terrible if I didn't get to see sweet old Mr Brownie and Lanky Wilfred." She dropped the almost empty glass with a wink.
Thomas rolled his eyes. He was already used to her endless taunts on him.
   "I'm not old Saline. I'm barely Forty yet. I'm still very much young and strong. Thank you," Mr Brown grumbled.
He was the one person Lia enjoys taunting more amongst the crew since she always get to him.
   "Oh is that?" she grinned innocently.
I look at Tania and we couldn't help but laugh.
Lia is crazy...
   "Girls, girls it's okay. I would like to introduce you to someone soon." Thomas interrupted.
   "Okayyy who?" Tania asked drawlingly.
   "A very popular personnel. She's gonna be very helpful to the crew. I mean, having her as the fourth member of the DSD wouldn't be a bad idea at all." He added.
   "Another female?" Lia asked unbelievably.
   "Thomas," I called "...what did I say about having another member in the DSD?" I asked with a smile.
   "I know but..."
   "But what Thomas? We don't need another member amongst us. We are doing just fine. I mean, look at us." Tania snapped.
   "She's not bad either. Trust me girls, she's very good at what she does. You won't regret this I promise." He pressed.
I look at Mr Brown with raised brows. He shrugged.
   "I've seen her videos too and she's doing great. She's popular though but not as much, you know what I mean. But since you guys don't need a new member, then I guess it's fine." He said.
This coming from the director himself does mean that she's good. We don't want anyone or anything that would ruin our highly placed reputation.
   I look at my friends, Tania slowly nodded in agreement and Lia, she chuckled and asked.
   "Is she cute? What's her name?"
I look back at Thomas, but was interrupted by Justin, our dance instructor.
   He's a cute guy of about 26 years old and a finalist here in Royalty Empire University.
He smiled at us.
   "Girls, it's time for your little speech." I nodded at my friends.
   "Ok Justin, give us a minute." He nodded and walked back to the group.
   "Thomas bring her to us in two saturdays, we'll see about her by ourselves then."
   "Okay," He agreed eagerly before engaging in a conversation with Mr Brown.
We stood up and walked with smiles to the little podium at the center of the group.
Immediately we mounted the podium, high pitched squealing and whistling sounds filled the air. Many brought out their phones and videoed. There was a background camera mounted though with a guy controlling it to ensure the occasion was fully covered, some took photos.
 
   Altogether the group wasn't more than thirty persons. About Fourty percentage of people were members but the rest Sixty percent comprised of very close friends and some top fans.
   We laughed happily at the enthusiasm of the crowd.
   "Thanks guys....guys it's okay." I laughed.
Seconds later, everywhere was calm as they looked eagerly at us.
   My eyes located Jade amongst the cheering crowd. He winked with a smile at me.
I was surprised.
Jade's really trying to win my heart by any reasonable means possible.
I smiled at him.
   Over the past weeks he sent me good morning and evening text messages, and bouquets about twice in a week. He also offered dropping me off to classes some days but I declined. I can ride myself to wherever I want with my car. Dad bought that for me as a gift during my birthday last august. 
This present car was the sixth car I have ever used although there are many others I'm yet to ride yet. I love this my latest Ferrari more.
I focused on the crowd.
   "Y'all have been so good to us, your efforts, love and supports towards making DSD successful can't be over emphasized. As the leader of the Dazzling Stars Dancers, I want to say a big thank you friends and family. Without your support and encouragement we wouldn't have achieved this," I paused as I smiled.
They cheered.
   "...Black DIVA, Rosy and Saline says a big thank you. We can't appreciate you enough," They all laughed and cheered on. "...here is a little something for you." I concluded.
   "DJ bring it on," Tania shouted as the crowd squealed excitedly.
   Some seconds passed before a loud blasting hip-hop music came on.
   "Up DSD! Up DSD!!" the crowd hailed as we started dancing.
   "Whoa ho!" Someone squealed.
   "I'ma loving this." Another added.
There was continuous squealing and shrieking as we danced, showing off some of our new dance steps.
   We stopped after about ten minutes and gave a low bow.
The crowd murmured with dissatisfaction when we stopped.
   "We would have continued guys but time ain't on our side. Always stay blessed. We love you guys. Kisses to ya all." We blew air kisses to them.
They clapped and cheered continually.
   "Let the party continue." Lia squealed.
   "Have fun friends," Tania added as she smiled.
We smiled and waved before stepping down from the podium.
Jade walked over to us with a bouquet in his hand.
He's lucky I love them, I'm a plants person you know.
   "Hi girls! A big congratulations to you." He said as he and Tania hugged.
   "Thanks pumpkin we appreciate." Cilia chirped as she hugged him.
There goes another nickname...
I chuckled as he stared at me from her shoulder. They disengaged and he walked to me.
   "Congratulations babe," He smiled giving me the flowers.
He wouldn't stop calling me that over the weeks now. I smiled as we hugged.
   "Thanks Jade. You didn't have to do this you know," I stressed as we disengaged.
He chuckled.
   "I told you I'm not giving up on you. I would do anything to win your love." He said.
I rolled my eyes away.
   "Ah hemm," Tania cleared her throat. "Mr Brown wants to see us girls." She said dragging me and Lia away.
How could I thank her for this amazing rescue...
 
   "I'm sorry Jade but I've gotta go, thanks for coming. See you around." I said over my shoulders.
Tania took us to a quiet side of the garden.
   "Girl, I could swear the director didn't ask for us." Lia smiled as she sank into a seat.
   "I did that to save Elle's ass idiot," Tania said with a giggle as we sat down too.
   "Thanks Tania. I couldn't thank you enough," I smiled at her.
She suddenly frowned as she look at me.
I raised a brow confusedly.
   "Forget that and tell us what happened that you're looking so worried."
I opened my mouth to ask her how she figured.
   "...don't even think about it Elle, we are your best friends. We know you in and out. We can tell when something is bothering you. Don't hesitate and spill em out." She gushed then drank from a water bottle.
   "Yes Elle. We are all alone now so you can tell us. I guess it's got to do with your late coming," Lia said supportively as she twirled a strand of hair.
They did really catch on me. Despite all my plastered smiles and all, they could still figure it out.
Idiot! They are your best friends. They know all about you even things you yourself may not know... My subconscious said.
I smiled deflatedly and opened up to them all that caused my lateness and even about the fight with Daniel Roberts.
   "Wow! That's a lot in there" Lia exclaimed immediately I was done.
   "I know right?" I smiled.
   "I bet he looked so hot you were possible drooling," She added with a smirk.
   "Lia!" Nia scolded.
   "What?" She asked innocently.
He WAS hot!
I thought within me, letting myself drift back to the time I saw him.
   His jet-black hair was jelled back, allowing only a few strands to fall on his face partially covering his left eye.
 
   His eyes were a lovely pair of honey-brown with long full lashes that concealed them in a sexy way.
His face though serious looking was the most handsome I've ever seen. He had a clear and neat jawline, height and structure that made him look like a Demi god. 
   And damn! He was a great dresser. He wasn't a super model for nothing.
He was wearing a black  expensive leather jacket over a black top, tight dark jean pants and a black boot.
   He had his hands tucked in his jean pockets as he stared at me.
I snapped back to the present as my face suddenly felt hot.
   "See she's blushing," Lia added wiggling her brows with a lopsided smile on.
I chuckled amusingly and tried to deny.
   "No I'm not,"
   "Uh huh," She sang.
Tania rolled her eyes.
   "Girls it's getting late let's talk about this fast and head home. I'm hungry." She said. As if on cue, her stomach rumbled loudly making us laugh.
She frowned.
   "You see what am saying," She whined.
   "Oh dear! Easy girl." Lia laughed.
   "Now back to something serious," Tania began.
   "I get that you guys had a fight or whatever that was. But still, you haven't told us exactly why you seem so worried."
Well that! She did hit the point.
   "Or is it that you are probably scared of him? No that's not even possible. Elle you are scared of no one. One thing I know is that you fear only God and respect man. So tell us, we are listening..." She stared at Lia who had a silly suggestive smile on "...at least I am," She said.
   "Well, I am too." Cilia said cupping her face and placing her elbows on her lap.
She blinked cutely.
I stared at my friends for a while. There isn't anything I hide from them, they've been part of my life since I was little.
I breath in and exhaled.
They ought to know this too...
   "Well you girls are right. Danielle isn't scared of no one."
   "Tell us baby girl, why then are you worried?" Lia urged.
I fiddled with my fingers before finally dropping the bomb shell.
   "It's because I think I've finally met my soulmate!"
They stared at me wide eyed.
Cilia mouthed an "Oh," finally getting it.
Now they won't let me hear the end of it especially Lia.
  I faced palm myself when Tania's shocked face turned to that of recognition.
I'm in trouble......