***Thank you for all the comments! We absolutely love and appreciate them, and are so glad you all are loving the story! So much more to come for our group! Quick TW for what would technically be classified as coercion and violence!***
The next day, they spent the beginning of the day eating breakfast and explaining to Jimmy and Wayne exactly what the event was and how they would all be expected to act, which they had explained a little bit the night before but not in as much detail as they did now. It was an event their parents put on most years, usually as a way to raise money from all of the rich people for charity. Really it was a way to get good press for doing something charitable and an excuse to have a party, which was how Ethan explained the event to them before.
People went dressed to the nines, and there was a silent auction and ticket prices as well, and most people ended up writing big checks to some of the charities that were being adopted that year. It was always a big event and they almost always were forced to go to it, ever since they were around sixteen. The trio seemed mostly over it at this point, because unlike most "nepotism babies" as Ethan put it, they actually had done enough research as teens to see how the world viewed rich people, and were more than aware the event was just a way to party and feel good about it. Plus, Jeremy had a particular vantage point as a gay son of rich people that broke the shine that their world usually had for the kids.
The men could more than get themselves ready, but Chloe had to at least have someone show up to do her hair and makeup. She had grumbled that she could have done her own makeup but her parents wouldn't allow her to. The men all put on their tuxedos, the only real difference from any of them being the small camera on the lapel of Jeremy's, as well as the different cufflinks. Jeremy and Ethan let Wayne and Jimmy borrow some from them.
Chloe came down the stairs in a red dress with black lace over the top. It had a sweetheart neckline and long, lace sleeves that showed her pale skin underneath. Her golden hair was pulled up into a decorative bun with little wisps of curls falling down around her face and she had fairly classic makeup on in tones of browns and golds, black eyeliner, and red lipstick. All of the guys were staring slack-jawed, other than Jeremy who was just smiling at her. Wiping drool from his own chin, Wayne reached out to either side and pushed Ethan's and Jimmy's mouths closed.
Jimmy leaned over to Jeremy and said, "I don't think I'm all the way gay yet, you may have to fuck me harder next time. Y'know, for good measure."
Jeremy laughed. "I'll keep that in mind for next time."
Wayne straightened his tie and walked over to give Chloe his arm. "I feel like James Bond in this getup," he said to her quietly.
Chloe smiled at that. "You look far better though."
He stood taller at the compliment. Both of the poorer boys had needed some help figuring out the cumberbunds and the strange jackets and, most of all, the bow ties. Luckily both Jeremy and Ethan were happy to help. Chloe, though, in her usual attention to detail when it came to fashion, spent a little time straightening everything for all the men, including her two friends who had grown up in this society. It wasn't an event if Chloe wasn't straightening a tie or two.
Right around five-thirty in the evening, a limo showed up to take them to the event, something that Ryder had no doubt taken care of. It was kind of a social faux pas to show up driving an SUV like Ethan owned, mostly because it wasn't fancy and was by far not the latest model.
As soon as they were situated, Ethan grabbed some glasses of the champagne in the limo and handed them out to everyone. "To taking down evil."
"Hopefully without having to go down on evil," Jimmy intoned.
Jeremy blinked at that while the others clinked glasses before he downed the entire glass of champagne. Ethan took the glass from him when he was done and put it away.
"You can get drunk later if you so need to, but not before," Ethan said in warning.
It only took around thirty minutes to get to the venue, which was a particularly rich country club that was decked out in very expensive looking decorations in golds and silvers. There were people going into the venue in gowns and tuxedos, and the limo pulled up in front of the venue to let them all out. He had given them the number to text him when they were ready to leave.
The venue was already crowded, and they could see a long line of tables filled with items for the silent auction. There were all sorts of things, from a basket full of amazing hand-crafted chocolates, to spa days, a designer bag, and more. They perused the line for a moment before heading further into the venue. There was an entire area set up with food, from lines of side dishes to carving stations for various types of meats, and a table that was filled with desserts. There was also an open bar and servers walking around with champagne glasses.
There were photographers for the event as well, which meant that at least the trio had to have their photograph taken, though none of them seemed particularly thrilled about it. Jimmy and Wayne hung back away from the mark on the floor that the photographers were using as their focal point and rejoined the trio on the other side. Jimmy hadn't wanted to be photographed with Jeremy just yet in case Jasper was watching.
There were quite a few press people near the beginning that were asking Jeremy about who his boyfriend was, based on the video that had hit the blogs, but Jeremy just told them he had no comment before walking forward to get away from it.
It was a little after they had been mingling for a bit and had had some food before they started to see any of their families. Ethan's parents didn't say much to the group, just essentially saying hello before going off to do their own thing, to which Ethan seemed unconcerned about. Jeremy's family were a little more welcoming and warm, greeting Wayne happily, with Anthony asking about his football career so far and where he wanted to take it, and chatting with them a bit before going off to look at other areas or to speak to other people.
Ryder, Kat, and Scarlett spent far more time with them, asking Jimmy and Wayne how they were liking New York and the event, and making jokes with them. Sometimes they would move away to talk to someone else, or a few times Ryder and Kat ended up taking some photographs with others, or just the two of them for photogs. They were essentially announcing their engagement by letting people see her wearing the ring, but Ryder had always dealt with the attention better than Jeremy.
Chloe's parents seemed distracted until Chloe actually said something to them, and then they seemed happy to throw her a little bit of attention. When she introduced Wayne to them, they were a little taken aback, but her mom recovered quicker and told Wayne what a pleasure it was to meet him.
Wayne smiled and made polite noises, expecting that their welcome was motivated by the public nature of the meeting more than anything else based on Chloe's opinions of her family. Some of her opinions were proven true when they lost interest after a little bit, explaining how busy they were and that there were other people to see tonight.
"Don't worry, we won't see them again tonight," Chloe said to Wayne once they had taken their leave of them.
They saw Jasper and his family part way through the night. Jasper's family mostly ignored them, though one of his brothers gave a particularly hostile look toward Jeremy while making a comment about "fags" ruining perfectly good events.
