Whitney

1 week later

Stepping out of the Limo the crisp New York air caught in Whitney's throat. Here she was at a New York Cotillion at the Plaza hotel, she could only have ever dreamt of a night like this when they were back in Cali. Of course they had events, but nothing held the same magical feeling that New York seemed to. The entrance was lined with ornate flower displays on high plinths; a red carpet covered the floor all the way out to where the cars pulled up.

Although they had always grown-up wealthy it was a completely different vibe in LA for Owen and Whitney. They had gone to a top school and of course they had lived in a beautiful house, but this was like a different world, everything was important here even as a teenager. In LA you had to look perfect but the rest of the time it was chilled bonfires and pool parties. Here it was formal events and limos to school, Whitney enjoyed the change in pace.

Christian held the door open as she passed him and held his elbow out to her. "Miss Maxwell," His citrine eyes glistened in the moonlight as he leaned in close to her cheek. "You look stunning."

Christian looked as close to a Greek god as Whitney could imagine, he had dark features and thick curly hair, he stood at around her height, maybe an inch taller and wore a light grey tuxedo with a crisp blue shirt underneath and a grey bow tie. He reached behind his back slowly pulling out the most stunning corsage she'd ever seen. It was white Lillys mixed with a deep blue flowers to match her dress. She was wearing a floor length navy Dior dress; it had a silk cowl neck and buttons lining the left side all the way from her bust to her waist. It was sleeveless with large thick bows atop each of her shoulders and she wore her wild mane of hair in a delicate chignon, some strands falling into her face to frame it. "May I?" He asked reaching for her wrist and she outstretched it. "Something nearly as gorgeous as you."

Her stomach was doing backflips, Christian was so lovely it did feel a little too good to be true. She felt her cheeks warm as he finished tying the corsage to her wrist. "Perfect," She smiled anxiously. "Maybe it's time for a tiny bit of liquid courage?"

"Oh, this is going to go swimmingly." Christian chuckled, waking toward to door with her arm in arm. As they stepped inside, she could see Leni and Owen up ahead, having a disagreement about something. Whatever had gone on between them at Leni's birthday party was looking worlds away now and Whitney was wondering how good of an idea it had been to pair them up at such a prestigious event. Especially when her mother was running it.

"Hey you two!" Whitney called over to them. "Honeymoon period over already?" Leni turned to face her, and she looked so perfect she barely looked real. She wore a deep emerald strapless dress that matched her eyes, its material was woven, and it had flecks of glitter throughout it. The top fell into a deep v which was lined with shimmering beads. The dress was skin-tight to just above the knee and then flared out with sparkling tulle. Her hair flowed down her back in a high wavy ponytail, and she had small black lace gloves covering her petite hands. She looked like a porcelain doll.

Owen had matched her in a forest green tux, he had a white shirt and black bowtie. He looked completely uncomfortable, and it was no surprising seeing his hair was gelled to his head and pushed to the side. Malibu surfer boy was a far cry away. "Nice hair," Whitney sniggered, reaching up to touch it. "Wow rock solid."

"Yeah, but nothing is right, no matter how hard your hair is," he rolled his eyes, reaching out a hand to shake Christian's.

Christian took his hand shaking it, while wrapping is other arm around Whitney's shoulders with a smile until his eyes landed on Leni. "You look like you need a drink."

Leni rose her eyes to look at him, utterly underwhelmed. "Champagne," She sighed, scanning the room. "For everyone." she pointed a finger between the group.

Christian nodded as he left for the bar and Whitney and Owen exchanged an irritated look. "I'll check on how Mom's doing," Owen looked back at Leni. "Is that allowed?"

Leni nodded, eyes still darting across the room and Whitney stepped forward toward her tugging on her elbow. "Leni..." She paused watching her agitated expression. "I don't think they're going to be here."

Leni stopped, her eyes meeting Whitney's. The sorrowful expression was clear on her face. "True, my parents have never once surprised me, kind of pathetic to hope they will now I guess?"

"Not at all," Whitney smiled softly, as Christian approached with two glasses of champagne. "And for now, we have champagne." The girls both took a glass, clinking them together and sipping. The inside of the ball was stunning, entirely adorned in gold with arches lining either side and heavy velvet curtains. The ceiling had ornate scalloped designs around the edge and in the centre slightly spread out were two handsome chandeliers sparkling like the nights sky. There was a stage up ahead with a band setting up and they began to play elegant string music. It was one of the most incredible places Whitney had ever seen.

"Don't shoot the messenger," Christian said to Leni. "But Henry heard who your date is and he's looking for you."

"Perfect!" Leni seemed truly pleased, taking one more sip of her drink and handing it back to Christian. "I'll see you both in a bit."

She sped away, Chanel heels clicking as she did so, and Whitney looked to Christian apologetically. "So, I'm her waiter and cleaner?" He muttered. "Girl is unbelievable."

"Welcome ladies and Gentlemen to our annual Cotillion Debutante Ball, we will begin announcements in fifteen minutes, so debs and escorts please insure you are prepared ahead of time and getting ready to line up and parents and guests please take your seats." The announcer spoke haughtily into the microphone and gave a stern look to the room.

Let the show begin.

Owen

"Mom." Owen waved his mother over, and Alice looked to him with a beaming smile. Alice had joined the school board not long after they had moved to Manhattan. It hadn't been an easy feat to convince the other mothers as an out of towner that she deserved a spot alongside them, but as time had gone on and they realised the value and wealth the Maxwell's had at their disposal they became more welcoming.

This was the first event Alice was helping to lead on and it was pretty important it went off without a hitch. "Alice, is this your son?" One of the board members asked. "So handsome! Is he walking with someone tonight?"

"Eleni Arden," She squealed, taking in their impressed expressions. "He's very lucky-"

"Mom, please?" Owen interrupted. "I Just need to borrow her momentarily ladies, you'll have to pardon me."

Alice looked at her son confused and quietly excused herself as they stepped into a quiet back room. She was holding herself well, but Owen could tell she was stressed, his mother was very good at masking her own feelings in order to make everyone else feel better. "What's the matter Owen?"

"I don't know if I should do this... with Leni..."

"Why not? Owen what is going on?" She sighed gently. "Have you got a crush on her or something?"

"Mom - no, what would make you think that?" He screwed his face up in disgust. "That is the last thing that could ever happen."

"I don't know, she's very pretty and would it be so bad...it would take your mind off of Clara."

He couldn't stand this, if only she really knew. Owen had agreed with Leni to do what needed to be done to get Henry riled up, but as that moment got closer Owen's concern grew greater. He didn't really know these people, how could he put his mother's big moment in the spotlight in such jeopardy. "Well, that's not it," Owen looked to his mother's hopeful expression and felt bad. "I just don't want to mess anything up for you, I don't want to ruin your big night."

"You could never," She reached up, kissing him softly on the cheek and checking her watch. "You better get ready to line up, you two are one of the first, I'll see you afterwards." She squeezed his hand. "I love you Owen, I'm so proud of you."

"I love you too Mom," Owen smiled giving her a small hug before she tapped her notepad and disappeared off again. He didn't want to do this. How had he gotten wrapped up with this and how had he managed to end up paired with Leni. Now he just had to try and make the experience as pain free as possible for his mother and himself, but he wasn't sure that would be possible with whatever Leni had planned. He took a deep breath and stepped back into the ballroom, eyes locking with Henry Rowe as he did.

"Arden and Astor," Henry snarled as he took his spot next to him. "How lucky are we to get to be so close Maxwell."

"My eleven, eleven wish clearly paying off," Owen jeered, quickly jogging up the steps to Leni. "Please tell me this isn't going to end in bloodshed."

"Of course not," Leni whispered. "We've all got reputations to upkeep." She said cooly.

Owen gave her a gentle nod and made his way back down the steps, giving a quick wave to his sister from his spot. The announcer took her position at the microphone, welcoming everyone and began calling out names. "Miss Liana Blythe Andrews-"

And so, it goes...

"Announcing, Miss Eleni Arden, daughter of Apolline and Christopher Arden, escorted by Owen Carter Maxwell," The announcer spoke to the crowd. "Eleni hopes to attend Columbia university and give back to the community, volunteering at local animal shelters and organising charity events to benefit the community."

Leni

Leni took a step down on the stairs looking around once more for her parents foolishly. If they couldn't be present for her birthdays they were hardly going to be here right now.

She made her way down meeting Owen at the bottom, his expression tense but soft as Leni's eyes became glassy. Leni looked at his face their eyes meeting, and he smiled encouragingly perhaps noting her sudden un-comfortability as he took her hand tucking it into the crook of his arm.

She felt weak with all the eyes and whispers surrounding the room. The majority wondering why she and Henry Rowe weren't arm in arm. Honestly, she wondered the same. They walked to take their places for the dance line up and waited as other's were called.

Astor. Bamford. Barclay. Cargill. Ford. Hearst. Jackson. Laurent. And finally...

"Miss Whitney Olivia Maxwell, daughter of school board member Alice Maxwell and her husband Donovan Maxwell, escorted by Christian James Morgan. Whitney hopes to attend NYU and to travel in her summers to teach English and provide care to underprivileged children."

As the list came to completion, Leni looked to her left where Amelia Astor stood, blonde, tall, perfection. She exchanged a look with Henry, and he shook his head at her, scoffing angrily. Of course he was angry, she'd gone against him for once.

The music began to play and they followed the routine they had been practicing, their paths crossing and each girl dancing with each boy for a moment. Owen held Leni's waist just before the switch and she couldn't help but laugh at his poor footwork. He hadn't taken too well to the practices even though he typically seemed to have a decent rhythm when it came to sport.

"Coach won't be happy I'm injured the rest of the season for taking you for a spin Arden," Owen sniggered, but then his eyes met Henry's. "I think whatever we're doing here is definitely working." He twirled her and as he did so, next in line was Henry. He bowed to her before taking her hand and pulling her into him.

"What the hell is this, El?" He whispered angrily into her ear, and she smiled. "You really think turning up with him is going to make me jealous? You lied to me."

"It wasn't my plan to make you look jealous Henry, but you seem to be doing it pretty well all by yourself." She could feel his hot breath against her ear, he was practically spitting he was so enraged. "You need to calm down."

"Right, you really expect me to believe you didn't do this to get at me? Not exactly a top draw partnership though I have to say Eleni."

Leni thought he would be angry, she had even expected it but the way he was talking to her with such malice in his tone was surprising. She hadn't realised quite how much Owen got to him until this very moment. "You can't seriously be mad," She furrowed her brow. "You brought someone else, what did you think? I would stand here and dance alone? You must be delusional."

"Hardly," He glared at Owen once again, his voice raised. "But you promised me it wouldn't be him? Seriously you knew that would piss me off." He pulled back standing in the centre of the dancefloor. "El you know exactly where we stand and you showing up here with this trash," he gestured toward Owen who had come to stand behind her. "It wasn't going to end well, was it? You are the company you keep; you know that right?"

The crowd and music had stopped, all eyes on the three as the rage between the boys grew. Leni stood in the middle of them unsure what she should do as the whispers began around the room. She had to commit to this now because now everyone was watching. Henry would be embarrassed, he would be weak and she would finally get what she wanted. "Yeah well, maybe I like him," Leni stated smugly. "Maybe I've moved on from you and I'm not waiting around anymore."

Henry sniggered patronisingly, holding his hands up and clapping them together. "Well, that's great Eleni, really and no hard feelings right buddy?" Henry nudged Owen's shoulder roughly as he yelled. "I can't imagine being the placeholder is ever easy?" She could hear it in his tone now, he was drunk or on something that was giving him the insane delusion he was the one in the right in this scenario.

Leni could see Mrs Rowe, her usually unmoving features twisted in wrathful angles as she looked at her son. She also caught Owen's glance toward the crowd at his mother as she stared back pleadingly. He took a deep breath and shook his head before smiling tightly. "No hard feelings at all buddy," He reached out a hand to shake Henry's, as he leant in slightly lowering his voice. "And on placeholder's I wouldn't know... you'd have to ask your own date how that feels."
Leni tittered as Owen pulled her away and back into the routine as the music began to play once more. His face was etched with rage, jaw tense and grimaced. "Not bad from you Maxwell, didn't know you had such a bitchy side," Leni wrested her hand on his shoulder as he took her other in his hand. "I'm shocked you felt the need to defend my honour so strongly."

"Well don't be, I just can't stand that guy," He glared at the back of Henry's head. "The way her looks down on people so scathingly should be considered a skill." His eyes fell back on her. "One I'm sure you coached him on too."

"People like me and Henry and born with it," She shrugged. "It's in our blood."

"Which is exactly why I want nothing to with any of you so let's just get this over with." He couldn't even look at her, his eyes fixated on his mother whose face flushed with embarrassment as she tried to apologise profusely to some stuffy older women.

Leni felt that pang deep down, it was rare when she did but she knew exactly what it was and as far as she was concerned it could stay nice and buried and hidden. "You need to relax Owen; it's just a game and it doesn't need to be taken so seriously-"

"Really?" He cut her off frustrated. "That's exactly what people like you and his problem is. You drag people into your messes and don't care how it makes them feel." He dropped her hand. "You knew this was a pretty important night for my mom, who kindly took you in and you practically ruined it, but you don't care about that. You don't care about anyone but yourself." He scowled as the music hit it's ending. "You're just so selfish Leni and I can't believe you had me thinking this stupid set up was actually a good idea."

The song finally ended and the crowd gossiping reached its peak levels of noise. Owen took this as his chance to escape the room leaving Leni standing alone. He was right, that was exactly what she had done and she had known it would go this way really. That's why that feeling bubbled inside her, tried to boil over and create the emotional response it craved. But she wouldn't allow it, she couldn't allow it, because if she did it would destroy her. "What happened?" Whitney shifted next to her watching Owen leave.

"Nothing," Leni flipped her hair over one shoulder, pulling that still indifference back over herself. "But you should tell your brother if he can't handle this arrangement, he shouldn't have gotten involved in the first place." She leaned in close to Whitney. "I don't need emotional outbursts ruining my night either, if he can't keep his cool this plan is never going to work. Perhaps I overestimated the both of you." Leni watched as Owen's back turned a corner. "And now I'm shiny with stress and I need to powder my nose." She smiled at Whitney in a way that made sure she knew it was fake, in a way that didn't quite reach her eyes.

Her heels echoed through the room as she headed for the ladies' room, the noise around her though couldn't quieten her blaring inner-voice. That she had been wrong and she had been bad and she should be punished. She pulled the door open and slammed it tight, resting her forehead against its coolness. Her breathing was haggard, her chest full, so full of what wanted to escape, all those feelings she pushed down and down and down dismantling the walls she had pushed them into. She gasped for breath when she felt a presence. "Leni? -"

She was face to face with Alice Maxwell, who looked just mildly less flustered than she felt. Her kind face flushed with embarrassment from Leni and Owen's uproar. "Mrs Maxwell, about what just happened-"

"Eleni dear, are you okay?" Alice spoke softly taking Leni into her arms. "Just breathe." She instructed her as she breathed with her until Leni's chest calmed, until it stopped feeling like it was starved for air. "I know it's must have been so hard for you recently and I can image two young men fighting over you isn't quite as glamorous as it seems from the outside?"

Leni took her in, her kindness was overwhelming. There seemed to be a light that shone out of Alice that was so warm, so loving. Leni couldn't imagine how her own mother would have reacted had she been in the room when everything had happened. How disappointed she would have been, how cold she would have acted. "Thank you so much," Leni spoke, tears catching in her throat. That feeling finally broke free of its cages, it filled every vein in her body with raw, painful guilt. "I can't really say much in regard that, I'm the one with the hypersensitive ex."

"Yes well, I think you have an equally hypersensitive date," She sighed, releasing Leni's shoulders. "Truly an event like this is Owen's worst nightmare, he always feels so uncomfortable with these things so you must have done something pretty special to get his to come to this with you." But she hadn't done something special. She'd used his sensitivity against him and forced him to come with her knowing what destruction would be caused by her if he didn't.

And she hadn't cared, this was exactly why she didn't let herself feel things anymore, now she had allowed the feeling to be free it was spreading like wild fire. "Maybe you should both get out of here?" Alice suggested softly. "You don't look like you're enjoying it too much and I know there's nothing Owen would want more in the world right now than getting out of here."

"I'll think about it," Leni spoke softly, turning back to the door. "I hope I didn't mess up anything tonight for you."

"You didn't," Her smiled crinkled her eyes. "At least you made it memorable."

Leni smiled once more exiting the bathroom, she felt so much comfort from Alice but she also felt so much guilt. To Leni dramatic events like this involving Henry were her bread and butter, it wouldn't have felt right to end the night without some sort of destruction. But Owen wasn't like that, he was decent, and he needed a little more help when it came to scheming.

Although, she wasn't so sure he would even be open to helping her anymore after what had just occurred. Or if he would even speak to her. She caught a glimpse of him standing outside the entrance in the shadows.

No time like the present to find out.

Owen

Owen reached into his suit and pulled out a packet of cigarettes from the inside pocket. He had tried to lay off them since getting to New York, especially with the alcohol consumption he was currently partaking in, but he needed one right now. He put the cigarette to his mouth flicking a lighter and the end shone into the darkness.

"Cigarettes will kill you." Leni sauntered over to him, shivering in the cool evening air as she plucked it from his lips.

"If you don't first," He replied irritated, but shrugged his jacket off anyway placing it around her shoulders. "Why are you out here? Have you organised a brawl next?"

"No, I just ran into your mother, and I don't know she just got me thinking about some things," Leni said, taking a drag and passing the cigarette back. "So, do you want to maybe get out of here?"

He looked down at her entirely baffled, taking another drag. Owen didn't know what to make of this situation with Leni. On the one hand he couldn't stand her but on the other hand anything to leave this event was good for him. "What the hell is that supposed to mean?"

"Do you want to go? Somewhere else-" Her forehead scrunched in exasperation.

"Leave cotillion?" His voice raised in utter disbelief. "But this was your big 'plan.'"

"I think it already had the desired effect," She smirked, reaching into her bag and pulling out her phone. She held it up and had twelve missed calls already from Henry. "Leaving might actually make it better."

"And we're going where exactly?"

"You choose."

He pondered it for a moment, his mind spanning what situation he could put her in to pull her the most out of her comfort zone. Something to give her the tiniest taste of what being here tonight had felt like for him. "Bowling-" He dropped the cigarette to the floor stubbing it out.

"Bowling? Ew."

"I'll go easy on you," He smiled, delighted at her distain. "How do you feel about midtown?"

She watched him for a few seconds, and he couldn't make out anything, she had an amazing poker face that was for sure. "Fine," She tilted her head gesturing to her outfit. "I think you probably have an advantage dress code wise anyway."

Owen shook his head, pulling his phone out to text his mother and sister quickly. "Let's go." He gestured to her feet. "You want to leave a shoe behind or something? Really give in to that troupe?"

He hailed a cab, leaning in to open the door for her and she squeezed passed dragging the train of thick tulle with her. She looked like the dark academia version of candy floss once she was in, surrounded by fluff. The vibe between them was certainly peculiar, she'd gone from telling him to pull himself together to offering him the refuge of leaving. It almost felt like a trap and if he hadn't been so desperate to get out of there, he probably wouldn't have agreed to this impromptu bowling night.

"So, I really thought my parents would show up tonight," She began talking and it pulled him out of his internal battle. "I don't know why I thought that seeing as I know my mother is in Europe and well you know the deal with my dad, but yeah when I looked around, I really thought they'd just be there." She looked to him with a crooked smile. "And the only reason I'm telling you this, is because I know you don't give a shit and will forget it by the morning."

Owen eyed her unsure how far deep he wanted to get into life with Leni. At the moment it seemed as if she was being honest. But he had seen exactly how untruthful she was to others, and it was hard to get past that even if the things she told him became more and more heart-breaking. "It's not the craziest thing to expect to see, they are your parents after all."

"You're really lucky you know," She sighed. "To have your parents and like a real family. You don't see that much around here."

"I've noticed," They pulled up to the Bowlero in Time Square, the illuminated red and golden lights almost magical in comparison to the dark trenches of cotillion. He pondered as he looked at her sidelong, no matter how badly Leni's family was, her treatment of other people was still wrong, especially when it came to using his families' important accomplishments as pawns in her games. "It does suck that your parents are lousy, but it doesn't mean you should just turn into them."

"Funny you should say that." She looked back earnestly with a laugh. "My therapist is making the big bucks attempting to prevent exactly that."

They stepped up to the counter and Owen paid, turning to face her again with humour all over his face. "You know you have the borrow the shoes, right?" He smirked.

"Ew," Her expression was panicked. "I don't have socks, and I am not getting a disease from those," She eyed him furiously. "I knew there was some ulterior motive you had to bringing me here."

"You think my ulterior motive is hoping you'll catch a shoe bound disease that will kill you?" Owen smirked peeking at her as he bent down unlacing his shoes. She was enraged, her petite face scrunched so tightly it was almost mishappen. He tugged a sock off holding it up in front of her and she looked at him confused and unimpressed. "You can use my socks," He tugged off the other one. "Protect you from catching anything too advanced."

She eyed him silently, her guise still one of disgust. "What about the diseases they already have?"

"You're screwed." He smirked as they collected the shoes and approached their lane, the weight of the situation suddenly hitting Owen. He was bowling on cotillion night with Leni Arden in a Bowlero. It felt like the worst kind of fever dream.

The last time he had been to one of these places had been with Clara and they had gotten into a huge fight. She had been flirting with the bartender whilst Owen was using the bathroom. Classic Clara really. "Drinks?" A waiter stood beside them with an iPad. "We have 123oz cocktail specials, but those are only for four people or more, are there others joining your party?"

Owen and Leni exchanged a look and she smiled slyly. "There are actually, so we'll take whichever one of those is the most like a margarita."

The waiter looked between them both suspiciously. "I'm going to need to see your IDs and I won't be able to serve you that till I see the rest of the party."

Leni sighed deeply, ruffling around in her purse for money but seemingly unlucky she turned to Owen and nudged him. He gritted his teeth pulling his wallet out to see four crisp hundred-dollar bills. "Can you just bring it and stop being such a party pooper?" Leni took the cash holding it out to the server who took it gratefully. "And make it strong."

Owen walked to the bowling balls, holding one out in front of him, a mischievous grin on his mouth. "You want to go first?" He watched her startled expression. "Do you know how to do this?"

"Yes," She nodded her head haughtily. "You just throw it... over there."

"So, what I'm getting from this is that I should go first." Leni waved him off and Owen rolled his eyes turning to take the first round. An easy strike. He looked back proudly only to see Leni happily chatting to the waiter again, twirling a strand of hair around her finger. Could he not bring anyone here without them ditching him for the first available wait staff they saw? "What was that all about?" He asked approaching her. "You missed a great lesson just now-"

"Oh no! How will I know how to toss a ball to knock some things down now?" She faked a shocked impression. "He's bringing shots for us, amazing what a little hair twirl can do for you in Midtown honestly." The waiter arrived back moments later with four shots of undistinguishable contents, he looked to Leni for some more of her favour, but she was uninterested in him now, holding a glass out to Owen excitedly. "Cheers Maxwell, happy cotillion."

They both downed two each in such quick concession and if felt like a lot, especially considering the jacuzzi sized cocktail that arrived moments later. Four hundred dollars well spent. "Okay you're up." Owen reclined in the booth folding his arms behind his head. "I can't wait to see this 'throwing' skill I've heard so much about."

"Fine," Leni smiled determinedly, slurping back some of the cocktail through a straw as the alcohol boosted her confidence. "You will." She stood at the end of the alley, collecting the smallest ball Owen had ever seen. She was surrounded in the cloud that was her fluffy dress, so much so that when she pulled her arm back to take a shot the dress blocked her. It bounced against the floor twice before just hitting one pin on the edge and rolling away. She span around to face Owen again her brow furrowed and her bottom lip jutting out. "Wow," He clapped at her. "So much worse than I could have imagined."

"It's this dress," She fluffed its sides up towards the ceiling aggressively. "It's stopping me from doing it properly."

"I'm sure." Owen sniggered, completely pleased with her irritation. Finally, she could get a feeling for how he'd felt stuck at Cotilion all evening. "Let's move on to my turn shall we?"

Leni narrowed her eyes and watched him, her gaze flitting between her dress and him a few times. "Give me your jacket," She reached an arm out wiggling her fingers. "I'll prove it to you." He stood concernedly, walking to stand next to her and holding it out so she could slip her arms within it. "Okay reach inside and unzip me." Leni whispered with her back to him.

"Wait, what?" He asked in shock. "I don't know how much coverage my suit jacket it going to provide Leni-"

"Oh, for God's sake," She sighed. "I have a slip on underneath Owen, I'm not planning to flash you in a Bowlero."

Owen coughed nervously and did as she said, reaching through the side of his jacket and gently pulling the zip down on her gown with shaking fingertips. It fell to the ground pooling around her ankles like petals falling from a peony as she stepped out of it delicately. His jacket stopped at just above her knees and he could just about make out her stockings. Her hair had also unravelled now, laying in soft curls all down her back.

Leni stepped up, taking a larger ball this time and wound her arm back determinedly before rolling the ball out in front of her. It had an impressive speed, this time rolling in an entirely straight line and smacking against the centre pin in an amazing strike. She finally turned to face him, wide grin on her face and he could see her new get-up clearly. She wore a deep green silk slip, which under his jacket actually could pass for its very own dress. It was lacey and embellished and if Owen was honest was much more Leni than the poufy mousse she was previously wearing. "I told you I could do it," She said gleefully. "It was the dress."

"That was really good!" He grinned back. "How'd you learn how to do that?"

She got quiet suddenly, her smile dripping back, and she pulled his jacket around herself self-consciously. "I used to come here with my dad as a kid," She nodded sadly. "Every Thursday."

She walked past him heading toward the booth and sat down in a heap, leaning over immediately to gulp down some of the giant cocktail. Owen bent down collecting her dress in his arms and coming to sit next to her. "You want this back?" He smiled crookedly. "I'd take it but I'm not sure it'd suit me."

"What don't you like my updated look?" She gestured to her outfit. "I thought it was quite fetching."

He leant forward sipping the drink through one of the many straws inside it. "You're right I'll get rid of the dress, I like the new look." He admitted.

She stared back at him silently before also leaning forward to drink from the glass bowl alongside him greedily.

Drinking from the poison chalice.