DISCLAIMER: I don't own any of the brand names, magazine names, characters, or stores in this story.
THE LYONS ESTATE
CLAIRE'S ROOM
Sunday, September 1
10:17 A.M.
"Claire? The Blocks are here." Judi Lyons, Claire's mother, said through the intercom.
"Coming." Claire Lyons said back. She heard the sound of gravel crunching under tires. She knew that meant the Blocks, the friends of her father that were staying in their guesthouse until they could make enough money to move out, were pulling up now. Claire looked out her window and saw an old Mercury car park right behind her family's Range Rover. Four people piled out as the trunk popped open. None of them spoke, they just all walked to the trunk like robots and got their things.
"Claire?" Judi said through the intercom again.
"Com-ing!" Claire said, checking her reflection in the mirror. She made sure her white tank was wrinkle-free and her Joie cargos were free of dog-hair. She made sure her gold ballet flats were free of scuffs and her father's gold tie was knotted tightly through her belt loops. She gave her sleeping teacup Yorkie dog a pat on the head and then made sure her blonde side-pony was perfect. She put in a pair of gold stud earrings and pitter-pattered downstairs.
Jay Lyons fixed the collar on his Lacoste polo and swung open the door. Judi Lyons put a manicured hand on Claire's shoulder as their guests came inside.
"William!" Jay gave his best friend a handshake and William patted him on the back as he dropped his bags in the foyer, next to the dining room archway. William's wife, Kendra, was next to come in. She smiled, shook hands with Judi, Jay, and Claire, and then dropped her duct-taped duffel next to her husband's.
"Heyy." An annoying little boy with flaming red hair burst inside and went straight over to Claire. "I'm Todd. That's T-O-double D. What's your name?"
"G-O away." Claire said with an eye-roll. Judi pinched her shoulder but shook hands with the little boy.
Todd put his ratty blue and red duffel bag on top of his mother's next to the dining room doorway.
"Hi. I'm Massie." A brunette girl with hair in teased pigtails came in wearing Keds and light blue high-waisted jeans with a rainbow tye-dye t-shirt that said "I 3 FL" on it. Her nails were covered in cheap chipped neon green nail polish while her arms were with pink, orange, and black rubber bangles. Claire counted at least ten on each arm before she realized the girl was holding her hand out to shake.
The brunette girl, Massie, giggled.
"Um, you okay?" Claire asked.
Massie just kept giggling s she shook hands with Judi and Jay instead.
"Well, shall we sit?" Jay suggested, leading everyone into the dining room.
"Where are your bags?" Claire said to the girl.
"Oh, um, my mom said that your mom said that I could just wear your clothes. I mean, since I have like all tees and jeans. I brought my best pair of jeans. And my fave tee. Oh, and maybe I could borrow some of your rubber bands? This one is about to snap." She held up one finger to one of her pigtails and pulled on the rubber band that held her hair up. It snapped as if the girl had done it on purpose.
"Whoopsie." The brunette giggled. But Claire hardly noticed. She was still dizzy from hearing what that girl had just said.