P a r i s ~.•*•.~ALEX WALTER~.•*•.~

000•

Monique and her older sister Jackie had spent weeks planning their school's annual spring break mixer, hours after that helping decorate the venue with delicate white flowers and twinkling fairy lights. They had a dance floor, some pop song or other pulsing through the air, they had even acquired a Photo Booth.

It was a lavish event. Everyone decked out in glitter, silk, satin, and velvet. A designer bag here, expensive heels there, gleaming watches and sparkling jewellery. The sickeningly sweet scent of pricey perfumes and colognes hung in the air in thick clouds, everywhere you walk.

Jackie and Monique stood beside each other, a clipboard between them. Jackie had a stunning red dress on, her gently curled hair in a low ponytail. Monique wore a flowing dress in a pale shade of yellow, her dark locks hanging loosely around her shoulders.

Their sister Lucy was coming home for the break, their parents had gone to pick her up from the airport. They should be arriving at the mixer any moment now.

Feeling anxious about there absence the elder sister texted her, something along the lines of 'where are you?'. Seconds later an Asian girl in a beautiful green dress approached them.

"Jackie! Monique!"

"Did you check in with the caterers" Jackie asked.

"Canapés are going out in ten minutes"

"Great thank you so much Laura" the younger Howard replied.

"Wow, you guys this is so awesome. I can't believe you pulled it off." The girl now know as Laura said, clearly excited about the party. "The events committee is going to be stoked."

"I hope so."

"The Photo Booth alone has raised over a thousand dollars for charity so far." Monique added. She was glad that people got to make memories whilst also helping others. Although her greatest feat of the night was convincing her older sister to stop working for a few minutes to take some pictures inside of it with her. When begging didn't work, and telling her that she worked too much failed, she said 'it's for a good cause'. It's not like she could say no to charity. Monique had always loved helping people and animals, she especially loved animals. Her and Jackie used to take horse riding lessons, but they stopped in the seventh grade. She wasn't really sure why. Something to do with needing more time to study.

She was brought out of her thoughts by Jackie speaking.

"Right, mini?" Mini was her childhood nickname. Something their dad called her, though she hadn't a clue where it came from.

"What?"

"Jackie said you were both thinking about running for events chair next semester...but we are freshmen, and only juniors and seniors get to be committee chairs."

"We'll see" she replied happily. Content that there work here was already enough to at least establish them as potential candidates.

All three girls giggled before Laura spoke once again.

"Anyways, it looks like the entire senior class of Saint Aldrich is here." Right, Saint Aldrich. A prestigious academy on the upper west side of New York. Famed not only for its history of high achieving alumni, but for a whole host of eligible bachelors and bachelorettes. All pretty much guaranteed millionaires either from birth or through some degree in accounting or law later in life. Trust fund kids through and through. Though neither Jackie nor Monique had anything to say really. There mother being a world renowned fashion and costume designer. Runways, jets, fancy hotels and anything they could have ever wanted. They had known this from birth. They were set up from before they were born.

"Monique, Jackie. Hello, are you with me?" They had both unknowingly slipped away again. The eldest waiting nervously for the arrival of their family.

"Okay, I see. Expecting someone in particular?" Laura teased slightly. Perhaps she was expecting Jackie to be waiting for a boy she liked, or a friend of some kind.

So a cheeky smile turned to shock as Jackie replied with, "yes. Our sister." As if she knew what the other girl was thinking.

"Lucy's home for spring break." Monique interjected, gleefully. she hadn't seen Lucy since last semester when she came home to visit for a couple days. They had a great relationship with their older sister, with most of their immediate family as a matter of fact.

"Our parents picked her up from Bennington earlier." Jackie said. "Actually they should be here by now." She spoke again, looking around inquisitively.

"Oh my god. This is going to be the best night ever!" Laura semi exclaimed.

They all laughed,but it was at that moment that the tall figure of the pair's uncle Richard appeared from behind them. Had they been expecting him they would be very happy to see him, but the thing is...they weren't. This very much worried the Howard girls.

"Jackie, Monique." The man said

"Uncle Rick. What are you doing here?" Monique asked politely. Not that she didn't want the man there, she was just rather confused as to why he was there.

"Uh..."

The usually very cleverly spoken man was utterly speechless. The most he could do in that moment was place the clipboard down on a nearby table and lead both Monique and Jackie Howard out of the bustling room.

It was at this moment that the two girls got the news that would shatter their hearts and turn their whole worlds upside down.

~.•*•.~Faith Speaks~.•*•.~
•• ok so this is kinda just the prologue to the rest of the story, but I hope you liked it. I did change some parts. Like instead of it being an iPad I decided to use a clipboard. I honestly prefer the cliché. I also did give a name to the other girl in the scene other than 'girl in green dress'. And I changed the dialogue but that was to be expected. Anyway again hope you like it. Let me know what you think. Please comment, share thoughts, opinions, and what not. This is a safe space, there will be no bullying, we will respect each other. I honestly also do want to connect with you guys cuz like you take time out of your day to read my work and I really appreciate that. Also don't forget to vote, or not I don't really care and have no idea what it does but it serves some form of purpose so do it I guess. Stay hydrated get some sleep. Love ya.

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