Westchester, New York
Rivera Estate
Wednesday, September 4
12:30 PM

It all started the same way. A box, some tape, and usually the lamp from her sixth birthday party. Next goes her books, clothes, etc. as they move yet again, and then unpacking and folding up boxes, ripping tape. It's a familiar routine in an otherwise hectic life of moving from country to country every few years, starting in the States and making her way over to Japan.

This time, though, was different. Yes, the process of moving was still the same. The lamp was still going first, she still labeled her most fragile items with a bright pink sharpie, but this was different because this was the last time. After this, her familiar routine would never be repeated, and frankly Elise Rivera wasn't sure she was ready for that. And wasn't that ironic. Of all the times she had wished and prayed when she was younger for stability, for being able to live in a place for longer than a single year, for finally forming friendships deeper than the fleeting acquaintanceship of her former relationships; she was finally getting what she had wished for. But here she was, dragging her feet.

Elise eyed the towers of cardboard boxes, balancing precariously on top of each other. The walls of her new room were bare, a bed frame pressed against the wall minus the bed, and two suitcases with a few week's worth of clothing. It was a sight she had seen many times before. Being a military brat was like that, always moving in and out of a new house, new school, and new friends. It could be exhausting, but usually well worth her time. How many other people can say that they lived in five countries and speak three languages before the time they turned ten?

"How's it coming?"

Elise turned, her box braids slipping over her shoulder, to watch her twin sister come into the room. Mia's brown hair was twisted into bun, a few curly tendrils drifting into her eyes, and her dark eyes surveyed the room. As she stared, Elise was struck not for the first time how different she looked from her sister. Though they were twins, they were fraternal, and looked absolutely nothing alike. It wouldn't be odd, except for how the two of them were attached at the hip as though they were siamese twins, and more often than not Mia felt like an extension of Elise herself.

Elise let out a sigh, "It's getting there."

"Well, hey, at least we'll never have to go through this again, right?" Mia smiled crookedly. "No more sweaty moving men or broken plates or packaging tape always getting stuck in my hair. Living here with mom will be a nice break."

"Yeah, it'll be fabulous."

Her already bad mood soured even more at the mention of her mother, and Elise looked away from the knowing look of her sister, fiddling with a box of books, pretending to be occupied. She wasn't sad, not really. It wasn't like she had been separated from her sister or they had moved to Florida-in fact, Westchester was surprisingly nice during the late summer days. Perfectly manicured lawns sitting aside sprawling mansions was opposite of the hectic world of Tokyo, where she had been living for the last year. She had expected to feel cold and empty, devoid of life; but as she glanced out the window, the streets were busy. Students walking home from the first week of school, a family barbecuing on the front lawn, and the faint sounds of a puppy barking alongside the laughter of a child.

It was... pleasant.

Elise turned around to face her sister. Mia had moved to trace the walls of her room. The twins had been able to choose their rooms upon arrival, something that was new to the both of them. Military housing usually meant that they had to share a room with each other, trying to cram all of their things into boxy rooms with a single window and no closets. Rarely had they had separate rooms, and never had they been able to choose their own rooms.

"Mom said we could go shopping, if you want," Mia remarked. "Get some clothes for school or stuff to decorate our room?"

Elise sighed lowly, "Shouldn't we unpack first?"

"Yeah, because it's not like all these boxes aren't gonna be here when we get back. We'll have missed out on such a fun time unpacking, because they're just gonna disappear as soon as we leave for the mall."

Elise mock-glared at her grinning twin, despite the smile she felt twitch at the corner of her mouth. "Shut up, you ass."

The Rivera Estate was impressive. It was stylized after historic homes in Spain, including large, cavernous rooms, stucco walls, and colorful tile everywhere. It was a surprisingly pleasant and cozy design, even if the size was somewhat intimidating. The large windows and archways gave the house an airy feel, and a sense that in any other circumstances, Elise may eventually begin to consider this as her home. But as it was, that warm and homey feel that she felt when pressing her bare feet into the thick textiles that decorated the house, or when running her hands across the geometric patterns of Aztec masks and bowls on the walls, that feeling would disappear immediately. As soon as the house keeper walked into the room and would bark at her not to touch the priceless artifacts, or her mother would smile a little too sweetly and ask her to please put on some socks while walking across the rugs to keep off germs.

Perhaps the most startling aspect, though, was the contrast, Elise realized. Here she was, eating at an exquisite hand carved table, under a crystal chandelier, eating something made by a chef, while wearing bright pink pajamas she bought at a drugstore. Everything about her mother's house was graceful, elegant, and, most importantly, expensive. Meanwhile, Elise wasn't shabby, but she certainly wasn't used to wearing Couture to bed.

Her sister, on the other hand, seemed to be milking it up.

"Thanks for taking us shopping today, mom," Mia was smiling. Her coily hair was braided away from her face, catching the light in such a way that it practically looked as though she was wearing a halo. Elise rolled her eyes.

"You're welcome, dear," her mom's voice practically echoed in the room. "I trust you bought everything you need for school tomorrow?"

"Yeah, it was great. I practically bought a whole new wardrobe, and I can't wait to break into my new Valentino shoes."

"The studded ones?"

"Yep. Black."

"I like those. I've got a pair myself, except mine are nude." A pause. "What about you, Elise?"

Elise ground the arepa she was currently eating. The awkwardness at the table was palpable, and though she understood why her sister felt the need to break that silence, she didn't particularly feel like joining in on the family fun times herself. But this was Westchester. This was the capital of suburban bourgeoise culture, and the number one rule was don't make a scene. Keep it all locked up, especially when her darling mother went to the trouble of inviting their grandparents over to see them for the first time in ten years.

Speaking of which, "You haven't aged a bit, mom."

Elise finally forced herself to look into her mother's eye. She was right, of course, Alicia Rivera was still a bombshell even on the worst of days. A model who charmed the fashion world with her exotic looks. Her honey brown skin was flawless and practically glowing, as always, and her sleek brown hair had been pulled into a single braid. Though crows feet pulled at the edge of her thin eyes and smile lines at the edges of her cheeks, Elise was sure that most of her wrinkles had been erased by botox. Like everything in her house, Alicia was beautiful.

"Oh," her mom's eyes widened a bit, surprised by the change of subject, but then smoothly smiled, "thank you, sweetheart."

She nearly flinched at the nickname.

"What a nice thing to say," her grandmother's thick Venezuelan accent drifted softly across the table. Her creased hands were folded politely across her lap as she pivoted towards her granddaughter to speak. "You quite take after your mother, you know."

Elise actually winced at that.

Digging into her food, Elise continued, "Yeah, you know, since it's been so long, for some reason I thought that you would look different. I mean, it's been, what?" she looked up, meeting her mother's eyes. "Three years since we last saw you? For Easter at dad's in Florida, I think. And here I was thinking you would've changed at least a little bit, but nope." She paused. "You're exactly the same."

Silence fell over the room again as Elise bit into her food. She could feel her sister's eyes on the side of her head, but refused to meet her eye. Adrenaline had spiked in her veins from her anger, and she found her hands shaking slightly as she set her fork down on the napkin next to her plate.

"Well," Alicia said finally, quietly, "thank you."

Elise didn't respond.

"She's right, you know," Len Rivera's voice boomed around the table, "you look like the same little girl who used to bump heads with the teachers in elementary school. Back then, I had hopes of you one day taking after your father and becoming a lawyer, but alas you were insistent on becoming a journalist. You even used to put on performances in the living room, it was quite amusing..."

Elise let her grandfather's oblivious chatter fade into the background and picked at her food solemnly. She snuck a peek at her mom; Alicia was smiling, the lines in her face drawn and more pronounced. She looked tired and old despite her youthful beauty. He smile was empty and wavered slightly the longer Len talked. Elise looked away, refusing to regret her words but feeling begrudging guilt form in the pit of her stomach. Pushing around the rice on her plate, she let the weight of the last few days weigh on her and she heaved a sigh.

She leant on her hand and was prepared to stew in melancholy for the remainder of the dinner, when something hit the side of her head.

Startled out of her stupor, Elise looked across the table to see her twin sister's agitated face frowning at her. With a quick glance to her grandparents, Mia discreetly pointed to below the table and took out her phone.

Getting the message, Elise slipped her own phone out of her jeans. Swiping quickly, she faltered slightly at the system change from her previous Android seeing as their mother had bought them new iPhones as a present earlier that day. She tapped on the Messenger app and hurriedly typed out a message.

(6:42) ELISE -Did u change ur contact name? we havent even had our phones for a full day yet

(6:42) ELISE - also, what did you throw at me?

(6:42) MIA IS THE BEST 🔥✊ 🌺✨ - chill

(6:43) MIA - it was just a pea 🍵

(6:44) MIA - and what the hell?

(6:44) MIA - can we not fight in the middle of dinner?

(6:45) ELISE - i'm not trying to start a fight, but I'm not abt to start pretending we're a happy martha stuart family

(6:46) MIA - u dont have to be happy just idk

(6:46) ELISE - oh gee thanks sis

(6:47) MIA - its just the first time we're all together as a family in forever and at least she's making an effort. + i just don't want u two to fight

(6:48) MIA - u didnt let me finish typing asshole 😒😒

(6:49) ELISE - she doesnt get a cookie for finally acting like a mom

(6:50) MIA - ik but can we not actively be rude

(6:50) ELISE - thts gonna be harder for u than for me

(6:51) MIA - i fcking hate u 🔪

Elise glanced up at her sister with a wry grin, only to see Mia doing the same. The two girls promptly burst into giggles on eye contact, and Elise tried to cover her mouth with her hand to keep food from spilling out.

"I know! I know!" Len was looking as his granddaughters with amused interest, assuming that they were laughing at the story he had just finished. "That's what I said!"

Elise giggled again, but quickly shut her mouth, though a smile tugged at the corners. A bright bubble of joy was lighting in the middle of her chest, and some of the heaviness of the earlier family drama had subsided. At least she had her sister. At least she had Mia.

"Girls," the matriarch of the Rivera clan spoke, "no phones at the table, you know better. Honestly, you're worse than your mother was at your age..."

"Sorry, abuela," Elise remanded quietly, the scolding not quite taking her happiness away.

Maybe this godforsaken place would actually be tolerable just as long as she had her sister by her side.

"It's okay so far."

Elise sat on her new computer chair, twirling slightly and examining her nails as she talked on the phone. She needed a manicure.

"Just okay?" the landline crackled. Apparently she couldn't make international calls on her new phone yet.

"I've only been here for a day. That's not enough time to form an opinion about this place."

"'This place?' That sounds awfully hostile for someone who supposedly hasn't formed an opinion."

Elise smiled against the phone pressed against her head. Her stepmother was right, of course, but she wasn't about to admit that.

"I don't know! Mom's house is big, so that's nice. We went shopping today, and the mall was big. And expensive," she mused, picturing the formidable sleek glass building in mind.

"Honestly, I'm not all that surprised. Westchester is one of those richy-rich places, like the Hamptons but not as close to the beach."

Elise hummed in agreement, and swiveled her chair to look at her room. It had changed drastically, just since that morning. Most of her boxes had been unpacked and folded up, and her bed had fortunately arrived on time. It looked less like a storage room that hadn't seen daylight since the 80s, and more like a room for a teenage girl. But, it somehow still felt bare and void of life. Maybe she just needed to put some new pictures on the wall.

"How's the jet lag?"

"Horrid," Elise laughed. "Mia tried to wake me up today, and I'm pretty sure there could have been a tsunami and I wouldn't have cared as long as I got to stay in bed. She ended up having to tickle me awake."

Beth cackled over the phone, and Elise smiled genuinely at hearing her stepmom's laugh. It was a solid comfort in this new house and new city. And if she closed her eyes she could almost pretend she was at home in their living room, sitting on the couch and watching whatever was on television that night.

"But seriously," Beth murmured, breathless from her laughter, "how are you? How are you adjusting?"

"I'm fine," Elise hesitated. "It's nothing I haven't done before."

"You've never done it like this before."

Elise sighed, feeling annoyance bubble under her skin, "What am I supposed to say, Beth? That I would rather be at home with you and dad? Because, yeah, of course I would. But this is how it is," Elise was horrified to hear her voice crack, and she swallowed tightly. "So I just have to deal with."

There was a pause of silence over the line.

"I know, baby. I know."

Elise winced at the sympathy in her stepmother's voice, and opened her eyes to stare at her drab bedroom. Because no matter how much she wished and pretended she was home, her words were correct: this was her reality. This was her new life. But somehow hearing the confirmation that she wasn't coming back, that this was all permanent, that there was no big 'gotcha!' around the corner made it more painful. How could she go through this again?

Blinking against tears, she whispered, "I'm fine."

Author's Note: Soo here it is. This is the most I've written in years. But I've had this vague idea for a clique story ever since I joined the fandom like ten years ago, and then I created some OCs that turned into something more. So yeah.

This is gonna be a multiple chapter fic, (I'm hoping for around somewhere between 20 and 30) of the Pretty Committee's kids. Same school and same environment because I'm not creative enough to come up with all new versions, but different kids. I want to keep any former PC drama out of it, though family drama will be a huge driving factor the characters. I'm gonna keep it focused on the kids, and just stick to references for Massie and her gang.

It's actually pretty unoriginal as far as story lines go, BUT it's a lot gayer. So y'all have that to look forward to. Also, neither Elise nor Mia are white. I tried to write that in, but I'm not sure I succeeded and I'm too tired to revise right now. So if it's not in there, I'll add it in later, and for now just keep in mind that both girls are black.

Also, I promised myself I wasn't gonna publish until I had at least 7 chapters behind me. But screw it, I guess. So! I know this first chapter was probably a little confusing, as was its intention, but it will make sense in the future. Just give it time. And please leave me any criticisms as to how to improve my writing. I'm very 'eh' about this chapter as is, so any corrections or improvements that you can offer, they will be very much appreciated.

Alright, that's all. Hopefully the author's notes will be shorter from here on out. Ciao