claire lyons
As the only daughter of simple, innocent, rather naive parents, Claire Lyons had always prided herself on being the only worldly member of the family, the one who persuaded Judy (her amazingly sweet mother) not to buy the tacky white fur poncho, the one Jay (her equally lovable father) always went to when deciding what to wear to parties. But right here and now, staring out through the tinted side windows of the Lyons' glossy blue Lexus, Claire had to wonder if her position in the family would stay the same once they returned.
They were coming back. Back, essentially, meant that posh, familiar estate on the East Coast. To be specific, Westchester, New York: the Block estate. They were coming back to Westchester, and Claire had never felt so nervous. She had been away for close to three years now, a lifetime. She had traveled to California, and from there, had built herself an invincible fortress of fame and pride. She had shot in Tibet, Honolulu, Las Vegas, the Taj Mahal. She was a starlet, pure and simple. But Claire Lyons could never forget her not-so-humble beginnings, and some deserted, lonely corner of her mind still ached for the evermore alpha-ranked Massie Block's acceptance.
Claire had made a resolution with herself though. Claire had outgrown her insecure, meek little follower girl phase. She had resolved to remove the wimpy image that her little thirteen-year old self had put across. Massie Block was just another girl, just another teen struggling through the journey that was adolescence (although admittedly, Claire had it a tad bit harder, considering her A-list status in Hollywood). Claire Lyons was her own person. She had made it in Hollywood, land of the cutthroat lawyers and bitchy, underhanded soap actresses. She could quite obviously make it in Westchester, New York, right?
Claire Lyons smiled to herself reassuringly. She leaned back on the luxurious black seats, flipped the hood of her red and white terry-cloth Killian hoodie over her signature silver-blonde hair, and powered up her iPod. Soon she was lost in the sweet lyrics of the song her boyfriend Ash had sang for her. She slowly drifted off into sleep. Her last, fleeting thought before sleep claimed her was 'At least we can all be a family again, since Todd's coming back…"
massie block
As the sun drew closer towards the horizon, Massie could feel the last fleeting rays of sunshine fall on the back of head, warming her body. Massie blinked her eyes sleepily, and smiled at the image that met her eyes. The lake in front of her caught the light of the mango sun, turning into a glassy mirror of gold. Massie could see the refection of the different hues of purple and pink in the sky behind her, sharp in contrast to the dark ivy leaves climbing from the sturdy trees. She looked at her own reflection last, and reveled in her warm surprise.
This was the first time she had ever gone riding casually, without the usual riding crop and breeches, and it was much more comfortable. She looked more casual than she'd even realized when she'd dressed. She'd donned her favorite casual, thin white vintage Chanel sundress, and her slim peachy-smooth legs disappeared into shiny dark red knee-length riding boots. A coordinating polished riding helmet was strapped over her thick, glossy-brown French braid. She looked regal and wild as she perched elegantly on her racing horse, Brownie. She decided that she looked much like a runaway princess, though she'd never admit it aloud.
Normally she'd also never let herself be seen so mismatched and not put together in public, but today was Blackie's birthday, and she'd decided that instead of the usual riding party she held with her riding camp friends, she would keep it a small affair, with no one attending but herself and her pet pug Bean, so no one- repeat: no one- would ever see her dressed so carelessly. Bean, her only other guest, was actually curled up in her saddle bag at the moment, and the heat that seemed to have monopolized everyone else's plans had no affect on the sleeping dog, even though the thick black leather must've trapped heat inside like a radiator. Massie took one last long look at the setting sun and the wild princess who watched it from the lake before turning away. It was time to go back.
Besides, the Lyons would be coming home today, and Massie was just dying to meet older Claire. Claire Lyons had been in Massie's tight-knit alpha group a couple years back (even though it felt like ages ago), but she was positive that Claire would think that she, Kristen, Alicia, and Dylan were uber-immature, now that she'd plugged herself into the glamorous world of the rich and famous. Massie still remembered the first time her view of Claire Lyons had changed, all those years back as a freshman. She and Alicia had been on a joint family winter break skiing trip, and they had been sharing a suite. Massie had just stepped out of the suite's Jacuzzi when Alicia had yelled for her to hurry up and get out, because she had just had to see something. Massie had hurried out, still only clad in the hotel's complimentary robes when she'd joined Alicia in front of the TV. The Insider was showing an exclusive preview into the world of the young and famous actors in the brand new sequel to Dial L for Loser, and Massie had shown up right at the moment when Claire was being in introduced. Massie remembered feeling proud and intimidated by her ex-best friend as she strutted down the carpet like the next Angelina Jolie, looking perfectly poised and gorgeous in her outfit, her silvery-blonde hair (the same hair that would later become her trademark signature) glamorously curled in such a way that Massie doubted that even Jakkob could imitate. She'd watched in complete surprise as Claire had tossed a subtle wink and a flirty two-finger salute at the camera before sauntering away. She remembered wondering where her shy, adorable little Florida newbie had gone, and when this self-assured, glitzy girl had taken her place.
Massie couldn't wait to meet her. Apprehension ruled her nerves though. Would Claire remember those few months when she had all but shunned her? Would she hold it against her? Massie desperately hoped not.
Though she never admitted it, Massie Block had changed, however subtly. Her previously coveted position as alpha (junior class, of course) had turned from more of position she had to fight to keep, into a privilege, something she sometimes took for granted. And with this change in her philosophy came a change in her. And even she had to admit, the change was definitely positive.
But more change was coming…Massie could feel it.
claire lyons
Claire gaped at the lush green lawns as Jay drove up to the gates. The tall, silvery, barb-wire gates seemed almost like a contradiction to the manicured fields, a cruel reminder of what it really was. Military school. Claire remembered the decision that had sent her family gracing the covers of tabloids for months.
Todd was no doubt one of the more annoying brothers that had ever come into existence, but Claire loved him nonetheless. But when Todd pulled his most extreme prank yet, the Lyons had to put their foot down. Sabotaging his ex-best friend's (who happened to be a pretty famous soap star) latest gig was going a bit too far. So Jay and Judy shipped him off to Pennsylvania, where he had lived at military school for three years. He only came back every two years, and the last time Claire saw him was at some Hollywood gala last year, when she had been stressed out of her mind for having to sing at the White House. Needless to say, she hadn't been able to appreciate Todd like she could have.
The guard nodded his head at them and slid the gates open, revealing rows and rows of polished black houses, each one with tinted windows. Claire pressed her face against the windows, taking in the muscle-corded, uniform wearing rows of guys. Only a few hard-faced girls stood between. A shouting man with a polished badge on his chest paced the ranks, pausing to yell in the faces of some of his men (and women).
They drove past it all, past the mess hall, where she could make out the faces of some boys whistling at their passing car before the guards yelled at them to shut up. They finally reached the largest black building, this one with clear windows. Claire slid her hoodie up (just in case) and hopped out of the car. The grass felt wet with morning dew and slid beneath her jet-black knee-length Rocadeer riding boots. She smiled reassuringly at Judy's nervous face and took her mother's hand before squeezing it. It's just Todd. How much do you think he's changed?
"I haven't seen Todd on so long Mom, way too long."
"You're right honey. Jay, why did you ever convince me that military school was the right choice for our boy?" Judy demanded. Claire giggled as they made their way to the building. It was completely normal for her mother to pin the blame on her husband. They began bickering as they stepped into the lobby.
Claire took in the crispness of it all. The walls were glossy auburn wood, and the carpeting was thick and white. The desk attendant was tall and blonde, with immaculate make-up and a neatly pressed khaki uniform. She grinned at them, revealing rows and rows of perfectly perfect white teeth.
"The Lyons? Right over there, please." She gestured towards an overstuffed glossy black leather armchair that sat facing the window. There seemed to be a leg peeking out from it, but it was the wrong size. Too big, too long. Judy seemed to have the same thought, because her voice was taut, but strong.
"Todd? Todd honey?" The figure in the armchair leaped up, and Claire's eyes turned huge.
The boy in the armchair was like a dream. He had some of Todd's features, but enhanced, somehow sharpened. He had grown into his face, which seemed too old for her tiny, mischievous little brother. His previously carrot-topped head, which had given him the look of a person who stuck his finger in an electric socket, now just resembled a gingery-blonde untamable bush. And his tiny frame had grown. A lot. As Claire threw herself into the biggest bear hug possible, she realized that he now towered over her. That was going to have to take some getting used to…
Claire felt his suddenly thick arms wrap around her tightly, and then she felt their parents join in. They just stood there like that, for a good minute or so, till Claire gasped. "Can't…breathe!" She heard a deep, unfamiliar chucking before the arms disbanded and Claire could inhale again.
"ClaireBear's gotten a bit taller, I see," came a deep tenor voice. Where has the familiar squeaky soprano gone? Claire gaped at her little brother.
"Claire? You think Claire's gotten a bit taller? Jesus Christ Todd! You're a full head taller than me!" her dad exclaimed proudly, clapping his son on the back. Claire frowned.
"It's pretty weird," she said matter-of-factly.
"Well, you'll be happy to know that I haven't changed. One bit." Claire inched away.
"I'm not so sure that's a good thing…" Todd smiled evilly. We suddenly heard a wet sob from our right.
"Mom," we all sighed at the same time, rolling our eyes.
"Mass honey! The Lyons' are finally here!" Massie heard her mother clasp her hands together and squeal as she ran to the foyer downstairs to open the door as William trotted behind her, chuckling softly. Massie grinned bemusedly at her mother and rolled her eyes. Her mother was even more excited than Massie at the Lyons' return, though Massie suspected that it was largely due to the fact that Judi had been her closest friend before she moved away.
Massie felt a wave of apprehension as she heard the first squeals and the exclamations of delight. "JUDI! Oh my god OH MY GOD!" Massie heard her mother screech. Massie winced, but smiled nonetheless. IT was time.
Before she left, she checked her reflection in the mirror. Her simple white off-the-shoulder tee and pinstripe dark denim shorts gave her an understated classy look, but the glossy, apple-red ankle boots upped the glamour element. Her dark hair was out and still wavy from the braid, and fell around her bare shoulders. Her make-up was subtle, but glossy. She'd rate herself at least a 9.3.
Massie pursed her Stila-slicked lips, squared her shoulders, and strode out the door, channeling carefree. She took the corkscrew staircase slowly so her boots wouldn't click obnoxiously against the wood-paneled stairs, acting as though she wasn't excited out of her mind.
Massie could hear her parents and the Lyons greeting each other excitedly from behind the wall. Massie took a deep breath, and stepped out.
As soon as her mother rang the bell, Claire was reminded uncannily of the first time they'd come to meet the Blocks. Dad and Todd had been fussing behind in the car, doing something or another, and she and her mother had come bravely to stand on the classy, million-dollar threshold of the biggest house they'd ever seen. Judi had rung the doorbell and stepped back, and Claire had been fussing with her friendship bracelets.
The similarities to then and now were uncanny. Todd and Dad were behind, playing with the radio or something, and her mother had just rung the bell. Claire was fiddling with the red-gold Thai bangle that Aria, her Hollywood best friend, had given her. But this time was going to be different, Claire was sure of it. And the first step was to stop being such a baby. Claire stood up straight, straightened her soft black traveling shorts, and unzipped her hoodie a little more to reveal the adorable ivory tank she wore beneath it. She quickly straightened her super-high blonde pony and rubbed her lips to remove the tell-tale just-applied shine she'd acquired in the car, when she'd put on her third layer of her favorite strawberry dollar-store lip gloss.
But when Kendra opened the door, Claire didn't receive the aloof, cold greeting that she'd expected from the infamous mother. Kendra threw open the door, caught sight of Judi, and screeched before throwing her mother into a huge hug. William appeared behind her, chucking, his eyes lined with age and humor. William had aged wonderfully, his once perfect brown hair now lined with silver, and his button-down shirt didn't exude the young-husband look that it had back when Claire had known him as a seventh-grader, but more of an extinguished-father look. When Kendra stepped back from her hug, Claire caught sight of her. She'd aged gracefully. The cowl-neck sweaters she'd favored back in the day had matured into turtle-neck sweaters, and her chic previous bob had grown and acquired some softness, giving her face a subtle beauty. "Claire, darling, you look gorgeous!" Kendra gushed stepping back to get a proper look. "You're so tall now, honey! How have you been? I hear your acting career has really taken off." Kendra enveloped Claire into a hug as William greeted Judi.
"It has. Acting has really become my passion now, Mrs. Block," Claire said enthusiastically, channeling the excited young girl façade that adults loved so much.
"Oh, enough of this Mrs. Block nonsense. Kendra, dear, call me Kendra. When did you ever call me Mrs. Block?" Kendra laughed. "Now where are Jay and Todd?"
"Yes, where are the devils?" William chimed in, giving Claire a warm greeting smile (which Claire assumed was the most she was going to get). Claire gestured outside. "They're coming. They're doing something with the car…"
"Jay! Todd! Come inside! The radio doesn't need fixing!" Judi yelled. "Especially your fixing," she muttered under her breath as Claire giggled. Claire's dad appeared by Judi's side, grinning widely as he gave William one of those awkward shoulder-hugs. "Will! Long time no see, buddy." Jay grinned. "And Kendra, looking lovely as ever." Jay ushered Kendra into a hug.
"Jay! Oh, thank god you're finally here. I need your help. See, I'm getting a car, and…" Jay and William strode off into the house, looking very much like brothers. Kendra and Judi snickered.
"Men. Oh, Judi dear, where's Todd? I'll bet he's all grown up now, like Claire."
"Todd? Oh, he's-"
"Hey guys." Claire, Kendra, and Judi turned around to see the one and only Massie Block, standing there on the floor looking like a queen. Claire had to admit, adolescence had served her well. As a seventh-grader, Massie had been pretty enough, but now, looking at the seventeen-year old version of Massie, Claire had to admit that she'd gotten kind of beautiful. And Claire could see that her fashion sense was still intact…
"Oh, Massie! Goodness girl, you've gotten so beautiful! I told you Kendra. This girl of yours is going to put the rest of the world to shame." Judi smothered Massie in a hug, and Claire just grinned imagining 7th grade Massie roll her eyes at the display. But surprisingly, Massie seemed just a tiny bit happy to see Judi.
"Hey, Aunt Judi," Massie grinned, wrapping her arms around Judi's slimmer frame. "How are you?"
"Just fine, sweetie. So, how've you been? Breaking hearts? Ah, well, I'll get caught up in your life during dinner, I suppose. I'll just leave you two to reacquaint yourselves." Judi winked, hooked arms with Kendra, and sauntered away, giggling about Martha Stewart or something.
Claire stood still, watching Massie with her best poker face. Massie looked coolly back, a little smirk-smile on her perfect berry-stained lips.
"…So. Claire Lyons. Back from the world of Hollywood, into our modest little town of Westchester." Claire slid her sunglasses back on her forehead, revealing her perfectly-made up face. She lifted her chin, warrior pose, and spoke, her internationally-acclaimed voice sounding through the foyer.
"Good to be back." Claire checked her mask of glacier-coolness for cracks, but found none. She hid her jittery nerves far better than she had as a middle-schooler. The moment of decision was upon them. Would Massie accept her, or deny her? Claire wasn't deluded into thinking that this would make or break her life, but it would change the way she lived in Westchester.
Massie lifted her head back, her perfect hair shining in the last rays of sunlight, and then her perfect face broke into a smile. "Good to have you back." She crossed the threshold in three crisp clicks of her Manolo Blahnik boots, and threw her arms around Claire.
Claire hid her shock well, but it still felt odd. She was immediately engulfed in the vaguely familiar trademark Massie scent: Chanel No. Five, lavender and freesia body lotion, and the clean, soapy smell of Jakkob's shampoo and deep conditioner. Claire got over her shock fairly quickly and returned the embrace, hoping she smelt as good as Massie. Life in Westchester was going to be just fine.
Massie stepped back, letting Claire go at arm's length. "Well, let me look at you! You look so different. At-least an 8.5 and you've been in the car for hours. What happened to little green Florida Claire?" Massie laughed. Massie took in the slightly off-kilter blonde ponytail, the zip-up hoodie (ew. But still, hoodie-wise, it was pretty cute), the a-dorbz white tank she'd borrow later, comfy-cute shorts, slightly sexy riding boots, red-gold bangle, and tiny Cartier studs. New Claire was far better than she'd imagined.
"You look seriously hot. I am so borrowing that cami. And those shoes, I now proclaim mine." Massie shot her a mischievous smirk. Claire laughed. "You can borrow whenever, Mass. I gotta start paying off the debt I owe you from middle school. I borrowed everything."
Claire and Massie turned to go upstairs when suddenly a figure appeared at the door.
"took you long enough," laughed Claire.
But Massie couldn't speak. Not when the boy standing before her was the most beautiful boy she'd ever seen. He towered over them and grinned goofily, and Massie swooned a little, her dry mouth almost dropping open. Claire's boyfriend? Massie felt torn.
"Todd, everyone's inside already. Let's go in."
Instantly, Massie started visibly. Todd Lyons?