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Of course there were those that, unlike Jada and Gabbie, did honestly thrive in the spotlight like an orchid in a hothouse.
Although Tallulah Cowden hadn't seen it, Jaimie Leontyne had been born and bred in this particular brier patch.

The slight limp from his healing leg aside, he almost glided through the crowd to the refreshment table, selecting a few delicate pastries and small sandwiches and assembling them on a napkin. He filled two glasses halfway with punch to avoid overflow, and then cupped them neatly in his other hand, heading back toward Gabbie and offered out the hand with the glasses. "Punch?" He offered.

"Normally I this wouldn't be so bad but I just got out of a cast not that long ago myself. Broken ankle. Casts suck huh?" He noted, conversationally. "...I think they ought to use them as an interrogation device. You just have to trade information for the ability to itch."

"When we met I didn't quite know what I was doing school wise, so I couldn't really ask where it was you were attending. Shame we don't have any classes together, I could use company in some of them." She knew she was glad for Lilith's company in English.

"Now that I'm settled into school and my classes/living arrangements, I should have more time to call you. We need to hang out more." Then a smile to Esen. "I'll have to drag you along when we have time as well~ I'm sure the three of us would have lots of fun~"

It seemed that her son was popular this evening. One auburn haired girl had been begging for his attention, and now a pretty little blonde approached the pair. The brunette glanced to her side to her son expectantly, but found a rather strange expression upon his face. Normally the lad was very particular about how any sort of rude gestures, but now his jaw seemed to have dropped in surprise.

"Now, now, son. We must not be rude!" Motherly scolding aside, the woman slid her hand under the boy's jaw and promptly tucked it back up so his mouth was no longer gaping open like some sort of fish. The woman glanced to the girl who had yet to be introduced and smiled apologetically.

His mouth remained tucked closed for a bit until he ventured to confirm the identity of this young lady. "Miss Calintha Johnson." He blinked at the girl before politely letting himself loose from his mother's arm so he could give the girl the proper kiss to her hand. He was always a firm believer of a proper greeting for a young lady, but in this sort of setting, it seemed even more natural for him to melt into his manners. After a gentle touch of his lips to the girl's hand, he stood himself up, then glanced to his mother.

"This is my mother, Mrs. Anastasia Wickham." Where many Americans would have butchered his mother's first name by making sloppy "Z" sounds at the second "S" in her first name, Howl was very careful to pronounce each letter as they were intended. In turn, he addressed the brunette to give the introductions as well.

"Mother, this enchanting young lady is Miss Calintha Johnson."

Anastasia nodded her head and glanced to the girl expectantly. "It is a pleasure to make your acquaintance, Miss Johnson."

Oh, if there was only a way for Howl to gesture with merely his eyeballs that his mother was looking for a curtsy in greeting.

Serah was proud to announce to her parents that she did not have an escort. Her dad had wished her a happy time at the party and her mother had thrown a fit. It would certainly cause no stir-- After all, girls had gone stag before. Even if her mother protested as she grabbed her purse to flee the house, Serah saw nothing wrong with it.

She adjusted her heel before entering the already crowded room, hand tugging her heel strap up. She was in a white dress, pink hair arranged delicately over her shoulder. Her dress was adorned simply-- by several bunnies. (She was infamous for them, okay.) She looked around for the host and hostess of the party-- only to see them surrounded by so many guests.

"I suppose I'll have to wait my turn." She voiced aloud, leaning against the wall, scanning the room. She supposed she should get out into society more-- there seems to be few that she recognized in the immediate vicinity. "Um--" She said aloud to herself, not quite accustomed to such formal parties. What was she supposed to do now? Her brother had always led her before but he wasn't here now. Was she supposed to head for the seats?

Complicated stuff should be simple.

Lucas took Miss Sorryano over to the chairs, handing her into one with a courteous little bow. Next to her was the girl who had been with one of Mamas friends- oh, what was her name? "I'll have to get my dance after Jayj has been presented." He told her seriously, smiling over at Elke. "Since that'll be soon." Less than ten minutes!

*

By this point, all of the girls who were supposed to be in Jada's court were supposed to be up in that little room overlooking the ballroom. There were six girls other than Audrey and Fallon; the two of them were taking the places of Lisa and Vivian, one who had got hit by a car, the other who had a heart attack and died. Or so the public thought.

Most of the girls were in pastel evening gowns, most of them blonde and giggly. Szelem had picked them not because they were pretty- that would be stupid- but because of their family. Their escorts were all carefully matched for them, each of them from a wealthy but ineligible family.

Notably, Audrey and Fallon had no escorts. It would make them stand out, but if only Szelem knew how fabulous Jada thought it would make her friends look, with their different dresses. Naturally the other girls wanted the 'escort-less' to go in front of them. Get them out of the picture early. "No." Jada vetoed, firmly. Smash that. She wanted her friends as close to her as possible. Someone ran her hand near Jada's mouth, checking her blood-red lips. Nope, the lipstick was still picture-perfect.

The white bouquet her escort had picked out for her lay nearby, ready for her to lift when it was close to time.

Her insides fluttered. White dress, white bouquet; this was such an antiquated little ritual. She was excited, thinking about it. She was terrified. She was going to have the best-worst time of her life.

*

Well, well! Seth Eintetta. Szelem hid her surprise well as the young man entered with a young woman on his arm. He was sloppy, as she'd heard he had become, but he was easy enough to recognize, even if it had been.... goodness, some time. And he most likely hadn't seen Jada since that little issue when she was thirteen. Seth brushed her hand politely with his lips as she extended it, and Michael shook his hand, firm and friendly. "Such a delight to have you here, Seth. And such a surprise."

"A pleasure, Miss Summers." Michael extended his hand to her, boing courteously, as his wife slipped away yet another check into her endless pockets. The twin girls between them both gave their little curtseys to Seth and his date.

Eve's proper greeting was noted by Seth, seeing that she was used to, or practiced for such affairs. She carried herself well, befitting any high family. Seth's mother would have liked her. As for Jada's mother.. Szelem's reaction, which didn't disappoint. She hid her surprise well. It had been a long time since Seth had been to these types of affairs, at least a year or two. But Seth probably had an idea of her reaction though, having some knowledge of how he was thought of in today's circles. But he chose not to respond. Rather, all he murmured was, "Yes, a surprise." and lifted his head to meet hers with a cool gaze. Unlike people who had wanted to make a good impression, Seth had nothing to lose. Neither of them seemed to have lost any of their pride or demeanor over the past years, and Seth neglected to say anything more.

He turned to Michael to return his greetings, shaking his hand in return. His feelings were obvious in that he was glad to see Seth, Seth's face hadn't changed but the atmosphere between them had almost become.. warm? "It's good to see you."

And he gave a slight bow to the twin girls, Seth taking Eve's hand with a "If you'll excuse us? I'm sure you have a great deal of people to greet." and he guided Eve off to join the party. If Eve wanted to ask about his acquaintanceship with the Chamberlyn family, he probably wouldn't have replied.

"Do you see anybody that you recognize?" He asked quietly, spotting some familiar faces in the crowd. ... Hero, Jonathan, and Adira. Indeed, it had been a long time, since he had seen them.

Eve shook his hand, rather then expecting the kiss. Michael raised it to his lips anyway, brushing a kiss over the back. "I'm sure you'll both have a good time." Well, Eve might. Seth was going to be bored out of his mind. He nodded his goodbyes.

Almost 9:00.

Szelem tapped the twins, and Zora and Kayley trotted for the dais where they would be sitting. Slowly, Mr. and Mrs. Chamberlyn moved through the crowd, towards the dais where Szelem would make her little announcements.

Oh, this was really too good. Adira would recognize the face of Seth Eintetta anywhere. It had been years since the girl had seen the other boy, whose family shared the same social circle as her own. She'd crushed on him fairly heavily when she was in her young preteen years, but he never really seemed to notice much. She smiled and headed his way, determined on greeting him before the official arrival of Jada.

She sidestepped a few waiters before making it to the boy, and what appeared to be his date. This surprised her a little, considering the girl was not someone she'd ever met before. "Seth Eintetta. Really, it has been far too long. I wasn't sure if you'd show up tonight." Not wanting to be rude, Adira turned her attention to the girl at his side, offering a kind smile and a nod of acknowledgment. "I don't believe that we have met before, I'm Adira Perses. It's a please to meet you."