side chapter- fashion designer

Alyssa stood there in a daze with her hands shaking as she looked at the ring in the box in her hand.

'What could this mean? Was he...? No, impossible, but for real was Calix p-proposing to Me??'

She was rooted in place as she replayed over and over again what Calix said before he ended the call, "wife to be" Alyssa thought to herself. She even caught herself saying the words to herself out loud.

" Alyssa?" a familiar voice called out.

Alyssa quickly hid the ring and turned to face the owner of the voice, "Yes?" 

" Oh my gosh, Alyssa! Where have you been? Do you have any idea how worried we were about you? Why did you disappear for so long?" Hannah said engulfing Alyssa with a crashing bear hug.

" I am sorry, Han. I forgot my phone, got lost in the garden, got chased then met Calix, and then the ring ...sigh, it is a long story." Alyssa said as she started rambling about all the occurrences as they were overwhelming for her. She wanted to share everything all at once because as soon as Hannah hugged her, relief washed all over her.

" Wait, wait. Slow down. What do you mean you got chased by whom? Do you know the person and why? Are you hurt? And where did you meet Calix, I thought you guys were not on speaking terms and a ring? Alyssa try explaining everything in a way that will make sense please." Hannah asked obviously confused and worried about her friend.

" But let's go inside first, Dove was also looking for you so let us go meet her first and get you warmed up, it is cold out here," Hannah added 

"Okay," Alyssa said as Hannah dragged her towards the venue of the party. Alyssa was tightly holding on to the jacket wrapped around her and with the way Hannah had an arm around her, people started to gossip as to what could have happened to her and one of them was brave enough to taunt her. 

" Oh, look who finally decided to join us?" Tavia and her groupie came into view

" Did you have fun on your little excursion to the garden?" she said with a smirk

Alyssa and Hannah stopped walking. Alyssa had been lost i her thoughts and she was succumbing to her exhaustion so much that she ignored her surroundings ever since they entered the party, she did not notice the prying eyes or Tavia who was now standing in front of her. 

" Excuse me?" Alyssa politely asked because she thought that maybe it was a coincidence that the girl knew about the occurrence at the garden.

" I heard they gave you a run for your money." She added which made her little groupie laugh.

'No, It is not a coincidence. She knows something.'

" I am sorry, but I do not get what you mean," Alyssa said with a frown

"Oh? well, that's too bad then. I thought I could have a bit of fun with you but I guess not." Tavia said as she refused to share any more information and simply shrugged her shoulders to show her resignation.

" Well, excuse me. Is there something you know that perhaps we don't?" Hannah asked, she was particularly irritated and now this girl was adding fuel to the fire. 

" Who knows? Maybe I do, maybe I don't." Tavia said in a bored tone 

" Well, if you have something to say then just say it." Hannah said 

" Now, where is the fun in that?" Tavia said again in a monotone signalling her boredom

"You-"Hannah started but was promptly stopped by Alyssa.

A crowd was starting to form around them. Alyssa looked around because she wanted to end whatever Tavia was planning before it escalated but there were no professors or doctors around which was eerily too much of a coincidence for a confrontation to occur and they happened to be missing.

Alyssa took a deep breath, " Alright then, excuse us as we will not be able to keep you entertained." She said as she firmly grabbed Hannah's hand and forcibly walked in between the groupie forcing them to make space for the both of them. 

However, Alyssa and Hannah did not make it far. One of the groupie members shouted with a screech causing everyone to reflexively cover their ears, "Is that, Is that Dr Evans' limited edition T&On ( popular men's brand) coat?" 

The room fell dead silent, all eyes were on Alyssa but she did not say anything. The girl continued, "I know that jacket and I would identify it even in my sleep. What is it doing with you?"

" Stalker much? That seriously sounded creepy, I would not say those things out loud if I were you." Someone from the crowd said and it turned out to be Bianca who was standing with Dove in the crowd that had surrounded Alyssa and the others.

" Who are you?" The girl asked with a look of disdain

"None of your concern, just someone who will save you from the disgrace you are currently setting yourself up for." Bianca replied.

" Stay out of this Bianca," Tavia said to Bianca without looking at her. She was currently glaring holes into Alyssa and the jacket she was wearing.

Alyssa was not even intimidated by her glares, she rolled her eyes walked past everyone in the crowd, and made a beeline to the stage. She grabbed the mic and said, "I have a question, When did the famous surgeon suddenly become a fashion designer? Last I checked, T&On did not belong to anyone with the Evans surname."