New Life : A Second Chance

The whole Smith Mansion was lighted up and filled with the \'go away\' party that Delilah had arranged for. Everyone was invited, from the cast to the crew members who worked tirelessly behind the scenes.

The house was big enough to accommodate everyone, and Delilah had pulled out all the stops for this one. She was just so happy at all the praises Chad put on Kyle for his acting so she wanted to show her gratitude for the opportunity given to Kyle.

The huge ballroom was used for this occasion, but unlike the previous times it was used, the whole place was decorated informally. Well, less formal than normal.

The ballroom was rectangular in size and was large enough to be able to have 300 people in it. The ballroom was actually connected to two other rooms, whereby the size of the ballroom could be increased or decreased by simply opening the connecting walls of the two rooms.

For the purpose of this end-party celebration, the two rooms were fully utilised as well.

The main ballroom and one connecting room were used primarily for the dinner.

The theme was light and airy, with peach and white decorations strewn around. The tablecloth was peach with a small peach and white bouquet of roses as its centerpiece. The chairs were peach and white in combination.

At the head of the ballroom, and located exactly in the middle, was the main table. It was a long table that faced the entire ballroom. It was actually placed on a slightly elevated stage so everyone could see them even though they were quite far away.

At this main table were the main cast and director, screenwriters and the Smiths who were the hosts. Kyle was not among them, refusing vehemently to join that table as he\'d rather be with his friends.

Unfortunately, Keanu couldn\'t insist either and he was quite jealous of Kyle able to be laughing and playing around with his friends at the other table.

There was live music but it wasn\'t a quartet dressed in formal gowns and suit playing classical music. Instead, it was a band that played more recent hits.

The band was actually located in the second room and the music that they played was heard via the speakers that were located throughout the area they were eating at. After dinner, everyone could go to that second room to mingle and dance.

To compromise, there was no rock or metal music though. Nice, soothing \'dinner\' music was being played at the moment. The volume of the music was just nice. Loud enough to be heard and entertain the guests yet not too loud that the guests would have to shout to be heard.

The layout was quite open.

Directly in front of the main table, were several round tables that had the casts. One of those tables was where Kyle was, with the Elite Five - and Betty.

The rest of the tables in the ballroom were long buffet-type tables. These were \'free seating - the other casts and crew members were free to choose where they wanted to sit. It was only the main table and the round tables that had designated spots.

Every table had the necessary waiters and waitresses to serve them their meals.

Kyle couldn\'t help but think that the layout was quite like a wedding reception, and he said so.

"Maybe Mum is getting into practice for your big day, brother?" Kay teased, laughing at him.

"Ha ha," Kyle replied, "You think? With this peach and white theme? It\'s more likely yours. It\'s so ... you."

Kay rolled her eyes, saying, "It\'s not the colour scheme that is important, dear brother. It\'s the layout. This appears rather grand, fit for the Smith Heir."

"Oh please," Kyle scoffed, "You\'re the Smith Princess. You think your treatment would be any less?"

A flicker of something flashed across her eyes and Kyle caught that.

Kyle knew very well why she was feeling that way.

Despite the fact that their parents never did show any favoritism, it could not be denied that the Smiths were a bit old fashioned in certain things. The male was favoured for the more \'important\' roles.

Though the Smith women could work, it was generally frowned upon and was encouraged (quite firmly) to run the house. Though it was true that running the Smith House wasn\'t easy, it was just the concept that grated at Kay at times.

Kay smiled at Kyle, knowing he knew and both of them chose to be silent about it.

For now.

In the meantime, Betty was looking at the silverware on the table, feeling nervous.

There were so many forks and spoons! And a knife. Which one is she supposed to use?

Right in the middle was a rather big size plate. On the plate was a bowl. On her right, there were two types of knives and a spoon that was of a weird shape. On the left were three types of forks, each of a different size!

A napkin was rolled up with a napkin ring and lay on the table as well.

Slightly above and on the left, was a smaller plate and a flat looking knife on it. Right above the plate in front of her, was yet another spoon that was placed horizontally.

At least there was only one glass, unlike the main table that looked like it had several types of glasses!

Betty felt like crying. What was this?!

Her lips quivered and she pulled on her hair nervously, looking at Sam with fear in her eyes.

Kyle noted it too and said with a smile, "Just ignore all of that setting. It\'s just us here so we don\'t have to follow the rules so much."

"But I still want to know how to use them," Betty said in a small voice. The last thing she wanted was to embarrass Sam, or Kyle.

Sam was Kyle\'s PA and was most likely would be exposed to this sort of setting in the future. If Betty couldn\'t understand them or know how to act, then wouldn\'t she not be able to follow Sam if the situation requires it?

When Betty expressed her desire to learn, Sam felt like his heart was going to burst. For her to want this, meant that she was envisioning that she would be by his side in the future. Though that was something he had already felt to be certain, he wasn\'t sure how Betty felt about it.

To have her accept it like it was a given made him happy beyond belief.

So Sam began explaining what they were.

"The primary rule to remember is to use the cutlery from outside to inside," he said as he pointed at the various cutlery there.

"This plate is the dinner plate, where we will have our main course. The bowl is the soup bowl so that means we will have that as our starter," Sam continued.

"The small plate on the left there is known as the butter plate. They\'ll put bread and butter there, so the butter knife is for spreading butter on the bread, if you want to. Most eat the buttered bread with the soup," he said softly, leaning closer to Betty as he pointed at the butter plate.

Betty\'s face was slowly getting red as she could feel Sam\'s closeness, his breath casually brushing against her cheek as he looked at her then at the cutlery as he explained.

Kyle saw all of this and snickered inside.

Sam was truly a wolf in sheep\'s clothing.

Looking all innocent on the outside but doing all these tricks. To think that he is a year younger than them. As Kyle took a sip from his glass, he thought he should keep a close eye on Sam.

Since he had, more or less, brought them together, Kyle felt it was his responsibility to ensure that Sam didn\'t cross the line.

Well, perhaps that was still the Kylie in him taking over.

Still, Kyle was well aware of how the raging hormones can sometimes take over all rationality, especially when one is drunk in love. No matter what, Kyle didn\'t want any of them to become adults too soon.

Even though Sam was more matured than most guys his age.

He continued observing them, not interrupting at all as Sam finished his explanation. Betty then recited again what Sam had said and when she got it all correct, Sam smiled broadly and gave her a kiss.

She pushed him away, scolding him and he just laughed.

"Sam, you really should learn how to reward your Little Bunny in another way in public," Kyle said, pointing at him, "Otherwise, you\'re going to be labeled a pervert."

"He is a pervert," Xing Han said, "But that\'s not the point here."

"Yeah," Kay said, glaring at Sam, "It\'s fine with us, but you\'ll just embarrass Betty Think about her feelings, you know?"

"Whoa," Ali said, tut-tutting at Sam, "If Princess Kay starts scolding, you know you had been bad."

Sam looked suitably contrite and looked at Betty with concern, "I\'m sorry. I wasn\'t thinking."

Betty smiled, caressing his cheek, "It\'s okay, Sam."

"And you!" Kay cut in, smacking Betty on the shoulder, "You\'re part of the reason why Sam goes overboard sometimes. Stop letting him get away with it."

Betty pouted but she couldn\'t deny it.

Even though she was sometimes embarrassed by his actions, she couldn\'t quite scold him for it. She partly liked it and wanted Sam to always be so caring, but she was also partly uncomfortable with it if people were looking.

Seeing how both of them looked quite upset, Kay softened her tone and patted Betty\'s shoulder, saying, "Just be more firm with Sam, okay? If you don\'t like him doing it, then tell him."

"But ... but I do like his kisses," Betty said with a very low voice.

Kay rolled her eyes. This Betty was just too honest with her feelings.

"Of course you do, but you don\'t like him doing it all the time in front of everyone, right?" Kay pressed on.

Betty nodded then snuck a glance at Sam, worried if he was upset.

Sam, on the other hand, was feeling quite embarrassed now. He was thinking ... was he really that bad?

When he thought back about the times he kissed her since they got together, he gulped.

Ye gads. He really WAS that bad!!