Prologue. Part one
"Hey. Psst, Rose, are you coming for the party today?" Mason Ashford, my best friend and partner in crime asks. I know the right answer. A simple no. why? Because my mother, the infamous Janine Hathaway, will murder me if she finds out. I have the strong urge to not go and obey her but that would be killing my reputation as bad ass Rose.
"Only if there's booze." I reply and grin and he smiles devilishly. "You know it girl." We both laugh at this and leave class. I head to the parking lot where Hakeem, my driver waits for me. I enter our porche and we speed off to home. After a few minutes, the car gains speed and soon, the car is swallowing miles.
"Hey, Keem? I need to sneak out today and I want you to cover up for me. Please?" I ask him, giving him a pout and puppy eyes. Hakeem and I have been friends despite the five year gap between us. He is one of my closest friends and I trust him with my life. We met when I was four and he was nine. His mother was working for us and we would hang out all the time. When my mother found out that I was socializing with the son of the help, infuriated was an understatement.
"Don't call me Keem. Of course I will cover for you, ROSIE." He says. Damn! I hate it when he calls me that. We laugh and in two shakes of a lamb's tail, we arrive at my mansion. I jump out of the car and run upstairs past my older brother Eddie. "Hey Eddie!" I yell as I enter my room. I jump into the shower and scrub the dirt off my skin and give myself a mini facial. After the long beauty bath, I jump into my closet and start rummaging for something to wear. Before I can say Jack Robinson, someone opens the door to my room.
"What the fuck! What are you thi-oh. Hi mother'' I say. She looks at me and I'm grateful that she can't read me like an open book.
"Going somewhere?" she asks, ignoring my greeting and making no attempt whatsoever to beat around the bush. I look at her, rhetorical statements zipping through my head. Go away. I want to yell but I can't. Even I have some manners. "As a matter of fact, I am. I want to meet up with Mason and study. We'll just be in the cafe across the street. Now please go. As you can see, I have to get dressed." I retort. A smug smile makes its way to my lips as I relish the victory but God has other plans.
"Why don't I help you get dressed?" she says. I gulp as she walks to the closet and throws me random clothes. A beige high waist skirt that she makes me wears on my actual waist so it reaches my shins, a white blouse and a white blazer with pink stockings and black timberlands. "Since its only mason, this look is amazing for you." She says smiling triumphantly. I inwardly groan and grab my cell phone once she leaves the room. I text Hakeem. "Makeup bag and scissors and my denim shorts from the laundry room. Thanks"
When I pass the family room, Eddie bursts out laughing. I scowl and head to the door knowing Hakeem will be outside in the Lamborghini waiting to take me to the coffee shop. I enter the car and Hakeem burst out laughing so hard that tears make their way down his cheeks. I sit there, waiting for his laughing fit to die. "Rose. Please. Do something. You do know you still have a shower cap on." He says and hands me my supplies. I remove my Dora the explorer shower cap and I can feel my cheeks burning in shame. I wear the shorts and discard the skirt. For the blouse, I cut off the sleeves and crop the blouse, in a way that flaunts my flat stomach and flatters my rock hard abs. I wear the blazer and do fast makeup, a dark dramatic cat eye and nude lipstick. I let my hair down and wear the blazer.
"Okay, we can-oh" I was about to tell Hakeem to drive to the club but we were already there. As I step out of the car, Hakeem hands me a vintage themed leather bag and says, "Ditch the blazer." I smile and hand it to him and he leaves after telling me to be careful.
"Rose! The life of the party." Mason yells. I enter with my hands in the air and music starts playing.