The ladies strutted back to their tables after their mini prep rally.
Feeling very confident and ready to really take on the night, Sheri embodies a new aura.
Jill was right. Sheri thought to herself. She walked into this Galla all wrong and then got derailed by Mark and his wife. But the night is not over and Sheri was ready to break out her shell.
As they took their seats, Sheri glimpsed Mark starting at her. Instead of becoming entranced by his gaze, she simply acknowledges him with a seductive smirk and turned away from him.
***
When it's time to give out the awards and prizes, Governor Mark Garrett takes the stage.
As he gives his speech, he becomes slightly annoyed to see everyone paying attention except for Sheri.
She was whispering and giggling to her friend Jill and even had the nerve to take selfies and pose for pictures.
It bothered him, even more, realizing if it were anyone else, he would not have cared.
There was something about HER...
Sheri threw him off and rocked his inner core. He couldn't understand his feelings and lack of self-control when she was in his presence.
Mark did his best to regain focus as he performed his task for the night.
Before Mark gave out each award he spoke a few words describing the efforts it takes to achieve what the individual being honored has achieved. The spotlight shines on the individual in question as they are being lavished with kind words of admiration and applause. After the speech, Governor Mark calls them up to the stage for their award. The individual will then walk from their seats to the stage and shake the Governor's hand along with a side hug for pictures. The Governor will then hand them a crystal and gold statue in the shape of an Apple, which both the award winner and the governor will hold together while posing for pictures, shoulder to shoulder. After that, they shake hands again and the honored individual walks off the stage, where there will be more pictures from photographers and interviews from journalist from local newspapers and news stations.
As the ceremony commenced, Mark found that he could stare at Sheri without it being noticeable to the crowed whenever an award winner was walking from their seats to the stage. To everyone else and maybe even to the award winner, it would appear that he was looking at the individual approaching.
Since Sheri was being coy with him. The only thing Mark could see of her was her profile or the back of her head because most of her attention was on Jill.
What in the world could Jill be saying that could be so interesting? Mark bitterly thought.
His heart would feel the slightest bit of disappointment when it seemed she wouldn't look his way, but then at the last minute, Sheri would face him and see him watching. She would lock eyes with him. Sometimes she'd lick or softly bite her lips, before turning her gaze away from Mark again.
Every now and then he'd catch a glimpse of Jill who would greet him with a malicious smirk.
Mark didn't like that, it almost felt like they were playing a game.
After the third award winner came up and the third time this charade between him and the girls went on, Mark was fed up.
Before he called the next winner he announced, "Before I call our next honored guest up, I want to remind everyone that everyone up here had worked extremely hard to be here and we should give them our undivided attention." He shot a stern look at Sheri and Jill. In turn the ladies looked at each other and scoffed. They turned their attention back to him revealing errant and defiant smirks.
Mark has never been a violent man but he could have gifted them a firm backhand at that moment.
Monica saw the exchange and approved of her husband's words to the despicable women. The nerve of them for looking the slightest bit offended of her husband's corrections.
Monica thought about her husband's words when he suggested being vice principal at another school, instead of having a child be the boss of her. But by Sheri's display of immaturity, she was sure she wouldn't get bossed by this ignoramus.
Mark resumed handing out awards. This time when the honored guest made their way to the stage, the ladies watched them and noted things to each other as they watched. Sometimes they'd catch a glimpse of a local celebrity and excitedly whisper about that to each other. It was only at the last minute again, that Sheri would lock eyes with Mark in an alluring manner, only for the connection between them to be broken by a constituent coming to claim their award.
Mark was still unsatisfied with this, but it was better than starting at the back of her head.
Again Mark would notice Jill looking at him as if she knew of some inside joke. He was starting to believe Sheri's avoidance of him was of Jill's influence.
He started to get hot at the thought when he realized the next constituent to take the stage was Sheri.