inspired by the last song
Midnight At The Beach
"Mom if you really loved me you would let me do what I want this summer without blackmailing me!" Massie whined as she grabbed one of her five Louis Vuitton duffel bags and suitcases and put it in the trolley.
"Honey, it's not blackmail if you get something good out of it. It's called deal or bargain." Kendra said, as she got her Gucci trolley.
"When summer is over I am going to be a senior, it's only natural you buy me a nice car!" Massie kept on whining.
Kendra sighed. When she saw all of the five bags her daughter had brought on the airport trolley she walked outside as Massie followed.
"Listen, Mass. William really insisted on spending this summer with you and Claire. And North Carolina is really amazing in the summer! Remember we used to come here whenever we had the chance? You used to beg us to go to Wilmington Beach" Kendra replied.
Massie rolled her eyes. "That was when I was eight years old, mom. Things change" Massie stubbornly answered. "Do you realize that I am giving up a summer in the Italian islands to stay in the states? I mean who does that!"
"You went to Europe last year, the year before, last Christmas, and last spring you went to Cabo. So I think it's only fair. Plus, you spent the first two weeks of your summer in the Hamptons with your friends"
"Two weeks! It was barely anything!"
"Two weeks less in North Carolina for you, it was"
Kendra and Massie searched for a man in a suit carrying a piece of paper with Block written in it. When they found the man, he walked them to the car they had booked.
It was a Lincoln Black Town Car. The driver put the luggage on the trunk and the two ladies got inside the limousine.
"Mom, why are you making me do this? William is not even my real father!" Massie said.
Kendra opened her mouth shocked. "Listen, William and I may have been divorced for seven years now, however he brought you up like you were his real daughter for ten years. He is the only real father you had"
"Then why did I not hear from him for over five years?"
"Since you were twelve years old you insisted on going on trips with your friends! You never bothered calling either William or Claire! When William called to talk to you, you would ask Inez to tell him that you were out! It's only natural he gave up!"
"Whatever. Mom, please! We can just go back, take the next first class ticket back to JFK. We can spend the summer together in the Hamptons!"
"Enough. We made a deal. Now we are going to Wilmington Beach, and you are going to stay there for two months and a half. You must behave, Massie. Or you can forget your Mercedes Benz and you can keep on driving the Ford"
"You're obviously not the one who's staying here for two months. You're going back tomorrow" Massie spat as she stared outside of the tinted windows.
"I have a job. Somebody has to work to afford your spoilt taste in cars" Kendra replied. That managed to shut Massie up.
Kendra was a workaholic. There was a reason why William Lyons divorced Kendra Block. She was addicted to her job as an editor in chief of Harper's Bazaar. Instead, William was a modest man who loved building boats and sold them to rich people. He was also the heir of the Lyons family.
His father owned a real-estate agency in North Carolina which he sold to someone else and kept the forty million worth fortune.
An hour later, they arrived to their destination; Wilmington Beach, North Carolina. The town car stopped right in the front of a huge mansion.
It was all pure white, huge windows, and a few steps away from the beautiful beach. Massie got out of the car and looked around. The first thing she noticed was the car. That ugly ass truck really did not belong to the garage of this beautiful home.
"Kendra!" a semi-familiar voice exclaimed. Massie bolted her head around and was surprised to see a man in a short sleeved white shirt with vertical blue stripes and a pair of khaki shorts and flip flops. William Lyons turned into a really different man since the last time Massie saw him.
He used to be the man in the Giorgio Armani tux that used to accompany the infamous Kendra Block to all these galas and fashionable parties. Now he was wearing khaki shorts and dare she say, flip flops? Where was she? In the Jersey Shore?
"Oh my God, William" Kendra said as she greeted him in a hug. The last time she saw her ex-husband was when she signed those divorce papers. Seeing him again face to face made her heart melt.
"You haven't changed a bit, Kendra Block" William said as he admired her flawless face.
"It's the Botox. Don't worry, I'm not a monster that never grows old" Kendra joked as she softly slapped his shoulder.
"So you're staying here one night only, eh?"
"I'm just here to make sure Massie doesn't run away" Kendra winked. Massie rolled her eyes.
"Massie, you beautiful thing! When did you grow so much?" William hugged her without getting a hug back from her.
"When puberty happened" Massie wittily snapped.
"Massie" Kendra warned her daughter. "William, where's Claire?"
"She's by the deck. Should we go say hi? I'll get the cleaning lady to bring the bags up" William said as he took a look at the five bags on the floor.
"What? William Lyons hired a house keeper?" Kendra asked shocked.
"Ha-ha, no Kendra, I haven't changed that much since seven years ago. I hired a cleaning lady to come three times a week." William explained laughing. "The business really picked up this year; Claire and I don't have time to take care of this big house by ourselves. We're both really busy and all. Her and the SATs, me and the boats"
"I'm really happy for you Will" Kendra said, and meant it.
Massie, Kendra and William walked towards the deck and Massie saw a blonde girl reading a book as she sat on a beach bed and sipped some lemonade.
The blonde girl was quite pretty; she had olive skin like Hayden Panettiere, however she looked nothing like the actress. She had a really mature and oval face, something like Gwyneth Paltrow that did not like to take care of her looks and take advantage of it.
"Claire, look who's here" William called the girl. Claire turned around and her blue eyes widened at the sight of both Kendra and Massie.
"Oh my God!" She exclaimed as she jumped up. She was much more enthusiastic than Massie was. She jumped to give Kendra a hug who hugged her back caringly.
"Oh dear, you are such a beautiful lady!" Kendra admired Claire's fully matured body which was covered by a white cropped tee and a pair of black flip flops.
"Thanks Kendra! Is it possible that you look younger than you did the last time I saw you seven years ago?" Claire flattered her ex step mother or whatever she was to her.
"The magic that plastic surgery does to you these days" Kendra winked.
"How long are you staying here?" Claire asked. "We need to catch up! Last time I heard you on the phone was two months ago!"
"Only one night, I have to get back to my job honey" Kendra sounded actually sad about it.
"That's such a shame!"
"I guess some things never change" William said in a friendly tone as Kendra raised her eyebrow with a smirk.
"Claire, remember Massie?"
"Of course! Hi Massie!" Claire hugged Massie, however the brunette didn't budge.
"Hi." Massie replied.
"I'll bring some lemonade for the girls and a beer for you, Kendra?" William asked. Kendra nodded.
The three ladies sat on the deck's chairs around a table.
"So, how's school going for you Claire?" Kendra asked.
Claire sighed. "I'm glad it's almost over. Another year until I graduate and get this nightmare over with" Claire said.
"Come on, it can't be that bad. How's the friends situation?"
"Well, no friends for now. And I'm happy that way. It lets me concentrate on my studies and my future college applications" Claire replied. Massie rolled her eyes. This girl was such a loser. She had no friends; there must be a fair reason for it.
"Where are you applying? Massie here is applying to NYU, Columbia, F.I.T and Parson's"
"Really? Are you interested in fashion?" Claire asked directly to Massie.
"Either fashion journalism or journalism alone"
"That's cool. I remember you always had a passion for writing. I'm applying to Columbia, USC, UCLA, Berkley and Brown"
"Wow, that's amazing, Claire. If you come to New York City and go to Columbia you are more than welcome to stay in the apartment I'm getting Massie in SoHo"
"Says who?" Massie asked raising her eyebrow.
"Says me." Kendra warned Massie with her tone.
"I'm not sure about Columbia anyway, New York City is so big, I don't know if I'll ever get used to such a big city. After all I did grow up in North Carolina"
"But you did live in New York for ten years"
"Well, that was seven years ago. I think if I go back I'll get a culture shock all over again"
"Don't worry; I'm sure you'll get used to it"
"Lemonades and beers" William came with a tray. He sat next to Claire and handed to Heineken pony-neck beer to his ex-wife and a cup of lemonade to Massie.
"So, I think we need to discuss your stay" William said as he looked at Massie.
"First of all, I think I'll have to hire a housekeeper. I can't live without one. Breakfast in bed is a ritual of mine during the summer" Massie said.
"Massie, you don't need a housekeeper." Kendra said.
"Then why do we have one, certainly not just for me"
"We can make that happen"
"Don't go through all that trouble for her Will,"
"It's okay, we need to make compromises or this summer will be a nightmare"
"I'll pay for the housekeeper for two months" Kendra said. Before Will could say no, Kendra stopped him. "I insist."
"Do we need a curfew?" William asked Kendra.
"She doesn't have a curfew back in Westchester, so it should be alright as long as she calls before twelve to let you know that she'll be late"
"That sounds good, same way with Claire" William agreed. "You have a driving license, don't you Massie?"
"Of course"
"We have an extra car we never use in the garage; it used to be my sister's however none of us drive it so you could use it if you need it"
"What car is it?"
"It's a Porsche Boxster"
"What?? Why don't you use it?" Massie asked shocked.
"Claire likes to drive her Mini Cooper and I need a big car for my job" William explained.
"You are ditching a Porsche for a Mini Cooper? What kind of an alien are you?" Massie asked.
"I paid the car with my own money. I don't like getting things without merit" Claire answered with a sweet smile.
"How did you earn 24 grand?"
"Savings of a lifetime. I never spent all the birthday and Christmas money Kendra sent me as well as my dad's birthday and Christmas money. Then I also worked as a waitress at the Sunset Diner."
"Wow"
"Well why don't you two girls go for a stroll by the beach? Claire you could show her around" William proposed. It was obvious that he wanted to catch up with Kendra.
"I have to take a shower first" Massie said.
"Of course, your room is in the last floor, there is a bathroom by the corridor" William said. Massie nodded and walked towards the last floor of the four story house.
The last floor had a really small corridor with two doors. One door for the bedroom with her bags on the floor and huge windows with golden curtains.
The walls were ivory and there was a queen sized canopy bed with Egyptian cotton sheets that were probably in the house since the Block-Lyons era.
The floors were covered in expensive parquet, and there was a beauty desk with a nice antique mirror that matched the desk. A wardrobe and a small desk for books, her laptop and other things.
The room had a door that led to the bathroom which was also connected to the corridor. It was a beautiful house, and it was obvious that William didn't decorate or bought it.
She took out her Kiehl shampoo and conditioner and took a fresh shower to get her tiredness away. She blow-dried her brown Mischa Barton inspired hair and when she was done she took out a pair of Elizabeth and James draped white silk high waist shorts and a red and white horizontal striped silk Alexander Wang button down shirt and tucked it in.
She slid on a pair of Alexander McQueen skull thong sandals and grabbed her favorite pair of Rayban club masters and put them on.
She braided her long hair in a loose side braid and finally grabbed her cream colored Chanel 2.55 shoulder bag before she headed outside.
Claire had changed into a decent white summery dress and put on a pair of sandals matched with brown shoulder bag.
The two girls headed outside and walked down towards the beach and then headed to a main pier. It was a typical scene you would see in a movie like The Notebook.
"This is where everybody hangs out during the summer, the pier is closed during the winter for obvious reasons."
"Why is that you have no friends?" Massie asked, not worrying about sounding rude.
"I used to have a few friends, not the popular crowd or anything. However I fucked everything up when I went out with the main 'leader' of my crowd's ex-boyfriend. It was totally lame" Claire explained as she kept on walking.
"That sucks." Massie said. "I'm thirsty"
"This stand makes the best juices and smoothies ever" Claire pointed at a small stand. The two girls walked there, but Claire stopped when she heard her phone ringing. Massie went to the stand alone and got a strawberry and lemon juice.
"That would be a dollar fifty" the guy said as he handed the drink to Massie.
Massie grabbed her Gucci wallet and opened it. She only had a 100 dollar bills and her credit cards. No coins, no dollar bills or anything smaller.
"I only have a hundred dollar bill, do you have change for that?" Massie asked as she showed the guy the money.
"You only carry around a hundred dollar bills?" the guy asked.
"Yes; and that's a problem why?" Massie snapped; she hated when people made comments about her money and her family income situation. It was not her fault if she was rich. And since when was that a bad thing?
"Not a problem, however it might be if I don't have any change" the guy replied. He checked. He grabbed four twenty dollar bills, and realized he didn't have any change.
"No change?"
"Nope, however it won't be a problem because it's on me" the guy smiled. Massie looked at him. Was this freak trying to hit on her?
She looked closer. This freak wasn't that much of a freak after all. He was pretty good looking; he had blond hair, hazel eyes and tan skin. He was tall and toned and was wearing no top with a pair of blue board shorts.
"Are you seriously trying to hit on me?" Massie asked. "Because if you are, I'd much rather pay!"
"No, I'm not trying to hit on you, stop flattering yourself. You might be hot, but I'm hotter" the blond laughed at his own conceitedness.
"Claire!" Massie shouted. Claire nodded and skipped towards the stand as she put the phone in her bag.
"Is there a problem?" Claire asked.
"Yeah, I only have a hundred dollar bills and credit cards. And this freak doesn't have any spare change. Do you have a dollar fifty?"
"I said there is no need to pay. It's on the house!"
"Well I'm not going to accept this lame offer so you can hit on me!"
Claire got out two one dollar bills and paid the guy. "I'm sorry, she's from New York"
Massie rolled her eyes and walked away as Claire waited for the blond guy to give her the change.
"Hey listen, Claire, right?" the blond guy said.
Claire nodded as she looked at Massie who was impatiently waiting by another stand. "Yeah"
"I'm Derrick Harrington."
"I know who you are, you come to my school" Claire replied.
"Well, there's this gathering by the beach tonight under the pier. How do you feel about showing up with your friend over there?" Derrick proposed.
"I think she made it clear she's not interested."
Derrick laughed. "She's probably just nervous, bring her tonight and she'll probably change her mind"
Claire sighed. She didn't know how to feel about this. Massie was already difficult as she was. If she forced her to do something she didn't want to do or bring her to a guy she didn't want to see she was going to be harder to get along with.
"I'll try my best" Claire gave the best reply she could. She smiled and started walking towards Massie who looked annoyed.
"Hey, what's her name?" Derrick stopped her.
Claire turned around to face him again. "Massie, her name's Massie Block"
I have a pretty good feeling about this story :D
please review and let me know if i should continue
x thankss
