A/N: This is updated. AGAIN this is updated. No, last time, it's updated. NOTHING PICKS UP. So I'm doing X's. STAB ME WITH A FORK.
XX
Prologue: An Introduction
Samantha Cordial, or Sam, as she preferred to go by, buried her head in her hands as her sister grabbed her coat and ran out of the house. When they were younger, their rivalry wasn't this… intense, she supposed. It was constant, but it was light. Now it was bipolar – a fantastic friendship at points, but a terrible blow up when they got mad.
Sam looked up and rubbed her temples, glancing at the clock. It was almost seven in the evening. She had a strange hankering to invite over her new friend, Phoebe. Whenever she was around her, Sam had the strangest feelings – a feeling of peace, happiness, and prosperity. She was a better person around Phoebe. She worried that Kim's new friend, Frances, did the opposite.
She heard the car they shared start out of the driveway, tires screeching as it left the house. Sam made her way to the kitchen cabinet and took two painkillers for her headache. She hated fighting. When she was younger, a little rivalry had made her life interesting. But Phoebe told her how this was bad and made her a worse person.
Sam picked up the phone and dialed a number. "Hey, Phoebe? Look, my sister just left… do you want to come over?"
XX
Kimberly Cordial, or Kim, as she had insisted people call her, slammed her fists on the steering wheel, her green eyes filling with tears. It just wasn't fair. Even as a fully-grown adult, she had to feel worse than Sam. Of course her mascara was going to streak. Ugh.
"Get a grip, Kimmy. We need to calm down," she told herself, a habit she had picked up when she was a teen. She turned on the radio as it started to rain. Living in Belladonna Cove was supposed to be urban and glamorous but in reality it sucked.
Her thin wrists bore a significant amount of bracelets but she threw them off. All gifts from perfect Sam. She loved her to death, but sometimes, she could be infuriating.
She thought about calling up Frances, but she stopped. Every time she was around her a feeling burned in her heart telling her to get away. But she couldn't. Frances was just too fascinating.
"God, I should get home," she said out loud, the radio playing a popular song. Its bass shook her stationary car that she had veered onto the side of the road. Then she realized where she was: she was in the heart of Belladonna. "But a little drink wouldn't hurt, right?" She could almost predict the slurs that would occur.
XX
Tara DeBateau was lying on her bed, her iPod on full blast. It played the popular techno song that was all the rage… She tapped her chin, trying to put a finger on the name of the song.
The speakers her father had got her shook her room. She reached out to turn it down and succeeded, her bangs clouding her vision just a little. Once it was at an acceptable level, she got up and went to her bedroom to examine her new haircut. She'd only gotten a trim, of course, but it was significant enough for her friend to notice, Justin. What a nice kid, she thought.
She examined her makeup and decided her appearance was acceptable. Tara didn't think she was unattractive, by any means, but definitely didn't think boys sought after her.
"College," a familiar voice said, knocking on the frame of the bathroom door. It was open, so it wasn't creepy or anything, but her father was always polite. Always careful. "That's when boys will like you."
"Daddy! You're back from work early," she said, a smile on her face as she ran up to hug her blonde, aging father. He clutched her head and held her close. "Oh my Creator, there is so much gossip that happened at school today, you wouldn't believe!"
He smiled and let go of her. "Would you like to have a real dinner tonight aside from those stupid frozen dinners you've been eating? I'm so sorry, but there's a business deal – "
" – you have to close, daddy. I know. It's fine. But… it's too late to make something. We should order pizza," she said, nodding assertively and stalking to her bedroom to grab her phone. "What do you want on it?"
They both smiled at each other while saying in unison, "Double cheese and hamburger."
XX
"Ew, Marcus, that's disgusting," Sofia Baldwin quipped as her little brother threw baby food at his mother. The redheaded woman froze and turned to stare at him. Most parents would blow up if their child threw food, but Isabel loved it. Her husband chuckled and continued consuming their meal of mac and cheese. Sofia was on a cheese-only diet lately, and that's how they were getting her to eat.
"Oh, honey, he doesn't know any better," Isabel said, getting up to clean off her dress. Benjamin picked up the dirty toddler and brought him to the sink along with her to wash him off. "You used to be just like that."
"But prettier, right?" Sofia said, drinking her glass of milk. Marcus kicked as Benjamin took off his jacket and threw on the counter to wash later.
"Of course, darling," Isabel said, relenting and taking off her dinner jacket she'd put over her expensive black dress, just for events like this. "Oh, no, honey, I forgot, Carlos is coming over tonight."
Benjamin raised an eyebrow, amusing as always, and said, "Why?"
"Because we invited him last Sunday," she reminded him softly. "Oh, goodness, what if he sees this mess – "
Benjamin put the toddler back in his chair and sat back down just as the doorbell rang. Isabel sped to the door and opened it to see her uncle, Carlos Contender.
So maybe Uncle Carlos wasn't so bad, but Benjamin definitely had respect for him. Benjamin had an issue talking to him straightly, even though she knew if he did, Carlos wouldn't rebuff him. Isabel greeted him and invited him inside.
"I didn't realize this was a classy occasion," he said sadly. "I would have cracked out the old suit and tie, now, wouldn't I have, Izzy?"
Isabel nodded and smiled. "Have a seat."
Sofia perked up and sat at the edge of her chair. "Hey, Uncle Carlos!" she said. "Did you hear that I have a B in math right now? It's a new high for me!"
"That's great, sweetheart," he said, taking a seat. "Oh, is macaroni and cheese the new fancy meal, Izzy?"
"Sofia's refusing to eat anything without cheese," she said tiredly. He nodded, smiling widely. She understood why he was the most respected person in Belladonna. He was simply so nice.
"You know what happens to little girls who eat too much cheese, right?" he asked. Sofia widened her eyes and looked at him.
"What?"
"They have trouble – " he looked both ways, as if to hide a big secret, " – in the bathroom." She giggled and took another bite of macaroni as Isabel set a bowl of mac and cheese in front of him. Benjamin tried to feed Marcus something, but he wasn't having it. "So, Benjamin, how's the old job? Making new scientific inventions, like a new ticker for me?"
"Are you having issues with your heart, Uncle Carlos?" Isabel asked. He chuckled and shook his head, taking a bite of macaroni.
"Just curious. But seriously, Benjamin, are you taking enough time off? An esteemed inventor like you should relax every once in a while, you know? Spend time with the people who matter most?"
Sofia crossed her arms. "Did you hear how I'm the second best in my ballet class? Only second to that stupid Riley. She's not even as good as me!"
Carlos chuckled and started engaging the girl in conversation. Marcus started to babble and reach for Isabel. She picked him up and held him, bouncing him every so often.
She even spied Benjamin cracking a smile.
XX
Kimberly stumbled in to a party of sorts, Samantha with Phoebe and two friends over. Sam cursed under her breath and ran up to her soaking wet and visibly drunk sister.
"Who's over? Is it a party?" she slurred, giggling ridiculously. "I love this song! It was on in the car. On and On or whatever it is." She laughed again.
"Come on, we're going upstairs," Sam whispered to Kim and she dragged her sister upstairs. Tucking her into bed, she heard Kim muttering something.
"Who were those guys?"
"Connor and Geoff," she replied simply, taking off her sister's boots and jacket. "Just go to sleep, Kim."
"Okay, Sammy-Wammy," she replied, giggling some more before her eyes closed.