Paper Flowers.
Summary: AU Soap Opera Style. In the wealthy town of Paradise Falls, an elite circle of youth control it all. On the surface they have everything. But once you start to dig a little deeper, there's a whole other world of lies, deceit, sex and more. Enjoy your stay.
Disclaimer: The recognizable characters and character traits of any of Disney's Newsies belong to Disney. Any other character is the property of either me or the author that I am borrowing them from.
Author's Note: Thanks for all the awesome profiles, guys! I'm going through them now and I will update the character list (ch. 1) when I find parts for them all. Anywho, enjoy the first chapter of the story, mkay?
Chapter 001.
"Jules! I need you!"
As if on cue, twenty-two year old Julie DiVenize sauntered into the rather large bedroom, her long raven hair fanning out behind her. With a twinkle in her light blue eyes, Julie smirked at her friend, frantically rummaging in the walk-in closet. "Jess, what the hell are you doing?"
Jessica Maris spun around, a scowl on her normally careless face. "What does it look like? This is my first night out with Jack since he got back to Paradise Falls and I still haven't been able to replace half of my wardrobe since the fire!"
Julie smiled as she sat down on Jessica's bed and gestured to the clothes heaped upon it. "Well, if this is only half of your wardrobe, I don't understand how your apartment didn't shrivel up when that heater blew. I mean, with all of that fabric, it should have caught much quicker, eh?"
Jess rolled her golden eyes and blew a light brown curl from out of her face. "Don't be a bitch, Julie. I was lucky to get out of that building alive and here you are, making fun of my wardrobe."
"Ahh, I'm sorry, Jess. But, hey -- isn't it nice of me and Luke to let you live in our home until yours is rebuilt? By the way, it's been seven months now -- when is the apartment going to be finished?"
"Oh, I don't plan on moving back there. Now that Jack has moved back, I plan on moving into his home."
"And, does our dear Cowboy know about this?" asked Julie with a teasing grin.
"Have I told you how much I hate it when you guys call him 'Cowboy'?" Jess replied, changing the subject as she headed back into the closet to look for an outfit, thinking of her boyfriend. Jack, nicknamed "Cowboy" due to his four-year stint in Santa Fe, New Mexico attending college, was Jessica's high school sweetheart. After graduating high school Jack and Jessica had agreed to continue their four year high school relationship even though they had attended separate colleges on opposite sides of the country: Jack in New Mexico, Jess in New York. Now, though, four years later, Jack had finally returned to Paradise Falls to stay.
Julie looked at Jessica and, almost as if she knew what her best friend was thinking, asked, "So, how happy are you that he's back to stay?"
Jessica peaked her head out of the closet and smiled. "You have no idea, Jules. I mean, I haven't seen Jack for longer than three months at one time in ages. I'm so glad he's back -- and now that we're out of school and our parents aren't watching our every move, I can't wait to see him."
"Have you seen him since he's been back?"
"Of course. Your brother actually drove me up to the airport to pick him up yesterday," Jessica answered as she sat down next to Julie on the bed. "Jack wasn't too happy about that, though. Don't think he expected me to show up there with Luke in tow."
Julie slapped her hand against her forehead. "Jess, you brought Luke with you to get Jack? Are you insane or something? Introducing the ex to the current boyfriend?"
"Jack isn't my ex-boyfriend, Jules."
"I know that. I'm talking about Luke," Julie replied.
"Oh." Jessica turned her head indignantly for a moment as she thought about Julie's brother. Tall, dark, handsome and rich, twenty-four year old Luke DiVenize was every girl's dream. In fact, he was Jessica's dream for awhile. Though Luke had always seen Jessica as his little sister's best friend, he had grown attracted to her once she had moved into the DiVenize mansion after her apartment was burned down. After the three years of faithful, lonely nights waiting for Jack to return to Paradise Falls, the naturally flirtatious Jessica finally gave into Luke's advances and began a secret affair, hiding it from everyone except for the only other occupant in the house - Julie. In the elite social circle of Paradise Falls, anyone's business became everyone's business and Jessica couldn't risk Jack finding out about Luke -- especially now that Jack had returned. Jessica could only hope that Luke would keep his promise.
It was Saturday, the day after Jessica received the news that her long-term boyfriend, Jack Kelly, would finally be moving back to Paradise Falls to set up another office for his family's business. It was also the day that she would have to end the six month affair she had had with Luke DiVenize.
"Luke, I think we need to talk," Jessica began as she allowed herself to be led into Luke's office.
Luke held onto Jessica's hand with his own as he shut the door behind him and pulled her across the room until he had reached his desk. Then, letting go of her hand, he lifted her off of the ground and sat her on his desk. "Yes, my dear," he said, his cool, low voice sending chills up and down her spine.
Jessica swallowed as she looked right into his crystal blue eyes. "Luke, these past few months have been great...," she started, but paused when she felt his hands behind her, beginning to untie the strap of her floral sundress. "Luke, what are you doing?"
"Jess, I spent all morning in dull business meetings and I just couldn't wait to get back here to see you," he answered as he continued to untie the knot and let the top of the dress fall down.
"Yeah, well, I need to talk to you," Jessica said, leaving the top of her dress where it was.
"Go right ahead, baby, I'm listening."
"Luke, your eyes are on my chest, so I know you ain't listening to anything I have to say."
Luke grinned wolfishly as he lifted his head to look into her eyes. "I'm sorry, Jess. But, listen, I have a twelve o'clock lunch with Connor Meyers, the owner of Mush Oatmeal, Inc., so unless your telling me something crazy, like your breaking up with me or something, I think it can wait a little longer."
With a sigh, Jessica pushed Luke away and stepped off of the desk. Then, as she was retying the top of her dress, she smiled sadly at Luke. "I'm sorry, Luke, but I can't do this anymore. Jack's coming home."
Luke's ever-ready grin wavered for a moment before staying place. "Oh, I got you, Jess. Nice joke -- Cowboy coming back? You almost got me there for a second."
Jessica shook her head of curls. "I'm sorry, Luke. But it's the truth. Jack graduated early and just finished helping his dad's Santa Fe office. Now, though, the head of the corporation has decided to open up another office in Paradise Falls, so Jack is coming back a semester early to help out here. And this time he's back to stay and he wants me to move in with him. I'm moving out at the end of this month."
"So that means you won't be living here with me and Julie? But, how will I see you?"
"You won't, Luke. We're finished. I mean, I love you and all, but I belong to Jack. I have to be with him," Jessica answered as she lowered her gaze and began to play with the bottom of her short dress.
"Jess, I have a question for you. Does Jack know about us?" Luke asked slowly as he took a step toward her.
Jessica looked up suddenly and blanched at the cold expression on his handsome face. "No, Luke. And he won't. The only people who ever knew that we were involved were me, you and Jules. And I want to keep it that way."
Luke took another step toward her and rested his hands on her shoulders. "Jess, I'm a business man. And that means two things: I love to make deals and I don't take no for an answer."
Jessica slumped her shoulders and wrapped her arms around his torso. "What do you want from me, Luke?"
Luke laughed, short and hollow. "Well, my dear, I want you. Simply put, you."
"No, Luke. I'm going to be with Jack."
"Now, I don't think Jack is going to be too happy when he finds out that after his four years of being faithful to you, that you gave up after three and turned to me for companionship."
"You wouldn't dare," she hissed as she let go of his waist and turned away from him.
Luke reached out and grabbed her arm. "Oh, Miss Jess, I dare. But, like I said, let's make a deal. I promise not to tell Mr. Cowboy about our passionate romance if you..."
"If I what?" she asked as she turned around to face him once more.
"Promise to come back to me," he whispered as he leaned down and kissed her neck.
Jessica's knees buckled as she felt chills actually coursing throughout her body. "I don't know, Luke, that sounds kinda twisted," she answered as she leaned her head against his chest.
"It's not, Jess, I promise. It just means that if anything happens behind you too and you find yourself in need of a real man, come back to me," he whispered back as he let his hands travel down her back.
Jessica nodded into his chest as she felt herself give way to Luke's intense heat and passion one last time.
Jessica shook the memory of Luke's strong embrace from her head. "Luke isn't really my ex, Jules. I just slept with him randomly, that's all. He was never my boyfriend."
Julie shook her head as she scrunched up her nose. "Even after knowing about you two for all those months, I still find it creepy that you were sleeping with Luke. Let me just tell you that I am so glad that Jack is back. At least I don't have to worry about waking up and hearing you and my brother in the middle of the night anymore."
Jessica pretended to gasp as she grabbed a blouse off of the clothing heap and tossed it at Julie. "You heard us, Jules? That is so wrong."
"You're telling me," giggled Julie as she tossed the blouse back. "But, seriously Jess, what are you doing about Jack and Luke?"
"Nothing. As far as anyone knows, nothing happened between me and Luke. I know you ain't gonna say anything to Jack and I have Luke's word, so I'm planning on getting things back to normal now that Jack is back."
"You don't think Luke ever said anything to Patrick or Oscar or Anthony or anyone do you?" Julie asked, referring to a few of the fellows in the elite circle that the girls socialized with.
"Nah, Luke was too professional. It was like a game with him, though, seeing how long we could hide the affair. I think that I surprised him by ending it though. I get the feeling that he thought that either I would break up with Jack when he returned this summer or that we would just continue the affair. Either way, though, it ain't happening. I know he's your brother and all, Jules, but me and Jack have history."
"Don't worry about explaining anything to me, Jess," Julie said as she stood up. "I don't plan on spilling the beans to no one. I know what it's like to keep a secret," she continued as she started to walk out the door.
"Where are you going, Julie?" Jessica asked as she watched Julie leave.
Julie winked. "And here's one of mine now, Jess. I'm going out the meet a friend but don't worry, I'll be back before you tonight so I'll be able to hear all about your's and Jack's night out."
Jessica glared at Julie for a second, debating whether or not to ask about Julie's "friend"; after all, wasn't any friend of Julie's, a friend of her's? But something told Jessica not to question it. Shrugging her shoulders she sighed, "Have fun, alright? But, before you go, do you think I could borrow one of your dresses?"
Julie chuckled to herself as she nodded. "No problem. Just make sure that you don't wear the red dress, ok? I'm saving that for Rae's party next week."
Jessica grinned. "Thanks, Jules," she cried before rushing forward, hugging her friend and bounding off to Julie's room across the hall.
Julie rolled her eyes before heading straight out and down the stairs, hurrying off to meet her friend. After all, it's not good form to be late for a lunch date.