socialites

prologue

c e c i l i e

If you could go back in time and do something differently in a moment that defined your life forever - would you?

I would. I would in a heartbeat.

Because if things had panned out differently, I wouldn't be at this overly hot and crowded bar right now serving overpriced red wine and greasy reheated garlic bread, where everything changed for me. And I certainly wouldn't be this much of a buzzkill to my "friends."

To be honest, the only real friend to me was Margaux. The only one that didn't belittle me, make me feel small and insignificant. I couldn't say the same for the other three.

"Ceci," they moaned at me as I stubbornly sat on my bed, refusing to get ready.

"We're leaving in an hour, get the hell up and make yourself look hot," Grace snapped at me, tossing a silky brunette lock of hair over her shoulder.

"Yeah, we would hate going out without you!" Margaux exclaimed.

The other two girls who were there - more Graces' friends than mine, Tricia and Sarah - exchanged looks before nodding wryly.

"Listen, I'm not really in the party mood. Besides, Wanderers never has good bands playing there anymore. It won't even be worth our time," I said, trying to convince them into a quiet night in, but they all shook their heads and Grace obnoxiously waggled her fingers at me.

"Honey," Margaux soothed, smoothing her skirt and sitting next to me on my bed. She had just finished blow-waving her sandy blonde hair, and her bronzer made her mossy green eyes pop. She looked deceptively tan considering the freezing English winter.

"This is exactly what you need. A fun night out on the town, out of the house with your friends! We only want the best for you and for you to be happy."

I looked from Margaux's hopeful face to Graces scowling one, knowing firstly that I'll never be able to worm my way out of this one, and secondly that they will never forgive me if I don't.

I sighed.

"So it's settled?" Grace enquired, raising an eyebrow and crossing her arms over her chest.

"I won't be much fun to be around...." I mumbled.

"But I'm in."

"Great," Margaux smiled, and pulled me by my hands toward my wardrobe.

"What are you wearing? Make sure not to clash with anybody," she warned. She mostly meant, don't wear anything remotely similar to what Grace is wearing unless you have a death wish.

Grace wore a sleeveless black tube dress and black heels with a brown teddy coat for when it got cooler. Not hard to beat. I pulled out a pair of chocolate brown flares that hugged my figure and a white corset style crop, with my favourite white Balenciaga boots.

"Allgood?" I said, pointedly turning to Grace.

"Sure. It'll do." she decided.

"Great," I muttered, and Margaux told me to get my makeup out so that she could do it for me. I thanked her, and as I walked across the room to my vanity I noticed Sarah poking through my bottom drawer, looking at my things, Tricia watching over her. When I got a closer look, I notice they were his things.

"Hey," I snapped.

Sarah looked back at me, yet continued snooping.

I walked over to them and harshly grabbed Sarah's arm, pulling her away from the drawers.