Society. The most crucial thing when growing up, they decide what's right and what's wrong. What deserves applause and what deserves an insult. There are no specific people on this board, no VIPs, A-listers, or celebrities. Society was everyone and not even the most powerful people could escape Society's opinion.
Society's opinionates how one looks, what one eats, where one lives, what that means, where therefrom if they're good enough, and so on. These words of opinion from random people affect humans' lives so often, that it feeds them a power that no one should possess.
The power to judge, to control, to decide.
I look over at my best friend and her daughter sleeping peacefully next to me. It's been a long time since I felt this safe, this contained. I know I should wake them up but I decided against it. I examine their features, the similarity is uncanny. From Simarae's dark brown hair to her round grouched nose, her plum straight lips, her fair peach skin color, her brown eyes, and big forehead. Lita had it all.
I turn to look up to the ceiling remembering a memory I've tried to lock away for so many years.
PAST
"Hey, Middlebottom," A rude guy says from behind. I stop in my tracks and turn to face Ash Hermandez, the most annoying guy I've ever met in my entire life. He knows I hate that nickname, I've always been scared that people would catch on and start calling me by that.
"Yes, Heruglyness" I smirk. He glares at me like I got three eyes, I snicker because annoying him makes my day. He is an asshole and I can play that game too.
"How about a date, you and me?"
"It'll depend, whose coming the douche or Ash?" I smile, walking towards him. Spectators watch our interactions as if it's the first time we've spoken to each other. Although Hermandez makes a point of not talking to anyone except a certain circle of people.
"Both. In bed, you'd like the douche" he smirks and pushes a strand of my hair behind my ear, I slap it away and he grunts in a painful tone.
"Get over yourself, Hermandez!" I squeal. A few people whisper some incoherent rumors while passing us, we ignore them as usual and I turn my attention to Ash.
"I will, right after you get under me." He smirks and I begin to walk away, continuing my thoughts. I debate the thought of being under him for a second before shrugging and ignoring the tingliness I feel.
"So it's a date? I'll see you Saturday!" I smile, still walking away from him a little less quickly.
"I know you're smiling" he screams. He chuckles a bit but it's gone quickly most likely because we're in a public place. I'll go on a million dates just to hear that minor laugh.
PRESENT
Get out! Get out! Get out!
I scream into my pillow, mentally cursing myself with a million insulting words. I stare up at the ceiling again. I stare blankly at the chandelier dangling with beautiful jewels from the ceiling. I hum to myself a song 'Chandelier' by Sia. It's a beautiful song, a cry for help when no one can hear you. I only reach the chorus when I hear Simarae next to me shuffling in her space. I continue humming the chorus while she rubs her eyes stroking Li's hair.
"You know that's a suicidal song right?" She said, her voice still hoarse.
"That explains a lot" I laugh.
"You must have a death wish, Amiga" she chuckles, waking up Lita.
I head to the shower, Simarae and Lita do the same. After a quick thirty minutes, we meet up again in the bathroom. I pick up a now energetic Li and place her on the counter, I hand Marae her toothbrush which was unpacked yesterday and Li grabs hers as well.
It's half an hour of chaos, like brushes, combs, hair gels, pins, make-up brushes, and lipstick fly around the room. Lita performs the mirror while sitting legs crossed on the counter. She's singing 'Burning Love' very off-key but cute anywhere.
I do Lita's hair, putting it in a neat ponytail. It's taken us at least fifteen minutes to get dressed. I wear black sweatpants and a white crop top. Simarae is dressed in jeans and an oversized T-shirt while Li is in grey sweat pants and a thrasher t-shirt.
We walk downstairs and over to the kitchen. In my house breakfast isn't served at an unnecessarily huge table, only dinner is. Breakfast was my favorite part at home, we serve ourselves with food layered out on the kitchen counter. We have various options, like waffles, pancakes, bacon, eggs, fruit salad, muesli, etc.
Simarae takes a kids tray and places a plate with waffles and strawberries on the side, she slides it over to me and I place chopped bananas and milk on the side. I hand it over to agitated Li and she looks at me with confusion. I chuckled shaking my head and grab the syrup bottle out on her waffles.
Happy she runs off to her plush couch in the living room. Simarae and I prepare our plates and head to the living room as well. We watch Tom and Jerry, Lita's favorite show.
My mom is already in the living room when we enter and her face gleams when she sees all her girls together.
"Aria, can I have a minute?" My father asks. I grab my bowl of muesli and follow him to his study.
I walk behind him still eating my muesli. I already knew that it has to do with the Palace. Although I thought all details were discussed yesterday.
I enter sitting in the seat from yesterday and my father does the same. We keep silent for a few seconds while I chew my food. I signal to my father to speak while I continue swallowing.
"I've called in a favor from one of my connections, I didn't expect him to agree but it's for old time's sake. Also, the fact that his Mafia is under threat and he needs out help." He explains, I listen in making sure I understand the situation.
"How is partnering up going to help him?"
"The police has caught a whiff of their dealings, other Mafia's are taking advantage of this and stealing shipments from them, giving them less money for A grade stock. They need our connections to run their Mafia above, a partnership with a legitimate business hives them away in. I didn't think we'd have to partner with a Mafia again, but they have connections underground which we need."
I nod, fiddling with my hands anxiously. It has to be serious if we're partnering up with a Mafia. My father partnered up with a Mafia once, it was a bloodbath. Family, friends, associates are all killed just to reign and gain control over the business. I was young back then which is why my father prepared me for any situation.
"Alright, I understand."
"Aria," my father stops me "This is more dangerous than anything we've ever faced, I need your headspace clear. I want you to take a day off, take Simarae and Summer out. Have fun, clear your head. You need it, tomorrow the war begins."
We walk out, my father sits next to my mother on the couch. I sit back in my place, the rest of the morning is filled with laughter and joy.
I look around to see my family together, laughing and I wish this moment would last forever. I'm afraid, lives will be at stake during this war. Simarae and I were trained but not fully. We were focused more on the business than anything on the illegal side of this industry.
I can't help but wonder who this person is and why he's willing to help us? Why would he risk his Mafia to help us? It didn't matter, for now, I just knew that these next few months. We won't recognize peace.
War was knocking on our door with a vengeance.
After Breakfast, Lita jumps around with glee at the suggestion of going to the mall. We grab our stuff and head to the car, the drive is at least ten minutes but Lita was squealing the entire way.
We get to the mall and I tell Lita to calm down while I park. I drive around looking for a spot and find one not far from the entrance. We wear our glasses preparing ourselves for a day full of paparazzi. I contemplate telling my father that we would need security maybe it wouldn't have been such a bad idea. We exit the car and are swarmed by paparazzi at the entrance of the mall.
"Miss Middleton, Miss Middleton!" a journalist runs towards us, "We heard from sources that you are on a new project, can you please give insight"
"Miss Luxe, we understand you will be the owner of this new project. Tell us more" another journalist shouts.
Simarae rubs her temples, just wanting a day off. I chuckle and stare at Li who looks at the journalist like their crazy.
"What about the mini Miss Luxe, any Whereabouts about her father?" I look to the crowd trying to find who said that.
Marae clenches her fist slightly and we decide to brush past them into the entrance. The security guards stop them and we thank him. The mall is packed and stop by a few shops, browsing cute dresses.
Marae drags me into Givenchy, and instantly we fall in love with the newest items on the racks. We come out with three bags, and Lita asks for ice cream. We get medium-sized cups and continue our shopping.
By the time we've gone to Ralph Lauren, Prada, and Calvin Klein, we decide it's time to eat. We stop at the food court and find a Chick Fil A. It doesn't take us long, in fact, it takes us a good twenty minutes to finish our food. We buy some iced coffee and milkshake and get ready to go to the high levels.
We step into the elevator and press the button. When it stops, we step out but Lita continues jumping around the elevator.
"Lita, let's go come on" Marae reprimand her.
"Come on, Li," I say, holding her hand.
She begins to step out of the elevator, and the cord snaps. The elevator begins to screech and before it descends, I grab Lita's hand and pull her out. The elevator descends rapidly, and I trip while trying to hold on to Lita, dropping the bags onto the floor.
"Lita!" Marae screams. By now she dropped her bags as well running over, in shock and tears in her eyes.
"Mom!" Lita screams.
Lita falls into the open space while I am still on to her hand. She dangles there, holding on for dear life. I try to pull her up but instead, my body slides forward pulling Lita and me into the open space as I hold on to the elevator's doors.
I look into this little girl's eyes, the little girl that pulled me out of the darkness. Whose laugh was as sweet as maple. Whose smile brightens up any room, this little one was a huge part of my world and I wasn't about to let her go.
"Marae, I'm slipping! " I shout desperately. Marae runs over holding on to my feet, while the crowd around us becomes bigger.
"Somebody help me!" Marae screams at them that the top of her lungs, Lita weeping in tears. A woman grabs Marae and starts pulling back, a man joins as well doing the same thing. I feel one of Lita's fingers slip through and my eyes gloss with fear.
"No, no no no, Lita hold on!" I grab her hand tightly and she tries to grab my hand again with her other arm," Lita come on!"
I let her out of the door, holding her with my other arm and the rest of the people pull us back. Lita climbs through. I turn my back to the floor and Lita lands on my chest, straddling me tightly. Everyone lets outs go and I sigh of relief, Marae kneels holding Lita in her arms, and grabs him to hug her as well.
Li cries in her chest and I lay down again catching my breath, "It's okay baby, I'm so sorry"
She's a thumbs up to me and I do the same back to her, still breathing for air. The crowd cheers next to us, some running over to help us up.
By the time we reach that entrance, a bigger swarm of paparazzi waits at the door. I take Li in my arms, letting Marae catch a breath as she takes the bags from my hands. They gather around us, cameras flashing and microphones everywhere.
"Miss Luxe, how do you feel about what just happened?"
"Is this a coincidence or a scheme to get rid of you?"
"Do you suspect anyone?"
"Why did Lita not comply-"
"No comment!" I demanded sternly, "Move!"
They scatter quickly and I move past them, Marae following. We get in the car and Marae sits in the back with a sleeping Li in her hands. The only thing on my mind right now.
This is not a coincidence.
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