Katrina
Katrina had been fuming all day; all the school had been talking about how Hikari lived in the skyscraper, how it was a private residence and was enforced as such, and that even her father did not warrant an invite to the house warming.
Her mother was upset, and the Cartwright household was at a loss, for the first time since the election. Of course, Conrad still drove his sports car and Alexandra partied late at night; even Alistair was beginning work as a junior executive, harried and hard working.
Yet her mother had lost her pride, and her father seemed burdened. Katrina could not think what could resolve it.
Students flocked around Hikari; she a wallflower circled by the best and brightest. Katrina had sat alone at her table, for she may be the mayor's daughter, beautiful and stylish; yet Hikari nervously shied away the clamor, and sought Katrina's affection.
"I wish we hadn't come here," Hikari had cried, and Katrina had led her to the grassy knoll overlooking Pleasantview. "I don't want to be the center of attention."
Katrina was angry; but Hikari interpreted this as a sign of good faith.
"You've been so good to me, a real friend," Hikari wiped away her tears. "All these people paid no mind until they found out about where I live."
Katrina was still figuring why Hikari's father drove a truck and dressed like a weirdo, when Hikari glanced up, "You should come over, sometime. I'm sure my mom won't mind."
And with that, Katrina became the model of good behavior. She would do anything - even hide her envy and spite - just to see where Hikari lived.
"I suppose," Katrina toiled. "But just for a bit."
"Cool," Hikari's eyes lit up. "My dad'll pick us up after the final bell."
Katrina was inwardly shocked; she couldn't be seen in a truck! Yet she would not rock the boat, and so as classes flew by, Katrina grew in her a sense of hope - at last, she would unlock the secret of Hikari.
The truck pulled up outside the school, and with misgivings Katrina eyed it; no doubt so did the students. Hikari hugged her father; theirs was an affectionate relationship, of which Katrina had no doubt.
"Oh, there's not enough room, jump in the back," Irvine grinned.
And so as Hikari jumped into the back of the ute, so too did Katrina, staring at the students who replied with some envy, and this was her domain, Katrina smiled and glanced at Hikari, who only looked happy to share her company.
The ute rumbled through town, into the inner city where the lights and flash of traffic and passersby persisted. The skyscraper was glittering and enormous, and Irvine pulled his truck into a concealed garage that would be the inwards shipping if the building was owned by a company.
"Climb on out," Irvine held out his hand for Hikari, and Katrina took his hand next as one would to a footman, climbing out of a coach to the ball.
In the lobby, a security guard hovered over the desk while a butler pressed the button before they could reach it.
"Mr Kinneas, Miss Hikari, Miss Katrina," the butler nodded, as the elevator slid open.
Inside, another butler was on hand to press the penthouse button, and Katrina's stomach whooped with excitement, to the top, as the doors opened, and out first stepped Irvine and Hikari, and Katrina exited out into the foyer, where through a window she could see Pleasantview but a mudhill of scurrying ants.
The front door was already opened by a butler, and he took Irvine's coat and Hikari and Katrina's school bags. Katrina's first impression was that the apartment was very chic and white; everything had a place, she had a vague sense it had been precisely decorated.
"Honey, I'm home," Irvine swaggered off into a study of sorts, while Hikari led her into the living room; white suede couches, soft music from a recessed wall, a spray of flowers in a vase.
"This is so cool," Katrina could not help but let her mask slip. She felt on top of the world; and she wanted Hikari's life. Why was she only the daughter of a mayor? "Um, can I ask something?"
Hikari nodded seriously; feeling for once in charge, with Katrina so obviously in awe.
"What does your dad do?" Katrina asked, humbled by the gulf in wealth.
"He fixes cars and goes hunting," Hikari shrugged. "But on the weekends we spend a lot of time together."
Katrina could not piece the puzzle together. If not the dad, then…
"What does your mum do?" Katrina got comfier on the couch. "Is she a singer, an actress, a model?"
"No," Hikari admitted. "She's an artist. Well, sometimes she paints. And she likes interior design; she designed this place. But mainly she just reads magazines. She tries to design clothes and she thinks she's good but she's not."
Katrina was stumped. Hikari's parents seemed like transients of their own indulgences.
"Well," Katrina eyed all around her, and Hikari nodded in understanding. "I mean, this is such a big place."
"Well, we only live in the penthouse," Hikari replied. "The other rooms are for guests."
"So this place is a hotel?" Katrina leaned in.
"No," Hikari frowned. "We had a housewarming, and some of the guests stayed downstairs."
"Downstairs?" Katrina frowned.
"Sure," Hikari nodded. "I'll show you."
Intrigued, Katrina followed Hikari across the living room where the aroma of food wafted from the kitchen. Hikari led her back through the foyer and into the elevator.
"Choose one," Hikari pointed to the lit up dials.
Katrina's hands shook. A couple dozen buttons; all of them were hers?
She pressed the one below the penthouse, and it took but a short warp for the doors to slid open, a foyer not dissimilar to the one above was laid out, and a butler opened the door.
"Afternoon, young misses," spoke the butler, and Katrina was floored.
"This one my cousin stayed in," Hikari spun around, as if in a candy shop. "His parents stayed in the one beneath it."
Katrina was agog: the place was not nearly as sumptuous as the penthouse, but her imagination went wild.
"So you have spare bedrooms - apartments - for your guests?" Katrina asked and Hikari nodded. "Were they all full?"
"Oh, no," Hikari shook her head. "It was only my cousin Leo and his parents; and my baby cousin Diablo and his parents; and my cousin Kylie and her parents."
"I haven't heard of any of them," Katrina drew herself up; these people who apparently were more important than the mayor or his family.
"Diablo lives out in Bridgeport in some gated community. We don't really talk about what his dad does, but his mom's trying to be a singer. She's not very good, but we don't say that to her face."
"And Kylie?"
"She's one of my favourite cousins. She lives in Bridgeport, too; but only cos her dad's a movie star. Her mom could easily afford loads of nannies, but she prefers raising them herself, though she's always tired."
"And Leo?" Katrina inquired.
"He just graduated from Sim State," Hikari told her. "His dad's in Business, and his mom's in the gardening club."
"So you're all related?" Katrina asked, and Hikari nodded.
"Come on," Hikari led. "Let's go see what's happening for dinner."
Katrina's thoughts were awhirl, even in the short time stuck in the spacious elevator. One family, ruling Pleasantview? No wonder her mother was upset. By all accounts, Hikari's aunts and uncles were all rich: surely Hikari's mom had the most money, owning an entire skyscraper. But did it matter?
The point was, Katrina thudded as her heels clacked across the foyer and back into Hikari's living room, that she lived in some dump of a mayor's mansion and Hikari got this!
"Is dinner soon?" Hikari asked the butler.
"Not long to go, miss," the butler smiled affectionately.
"Come on," Hikari took Katrina's hand. "We can go for a dip."
"A dip?" Katrina was puzzled, as Hikari led her into an adjoining room.
Marble tiled with an adjacent bathroom, a jacuzzi built into the wall steamed and hissed with candles lit.
"No way," Katrina felt humbled in the evaporation of steam. "In an apartment?"
Hikari handed Katrina a spare pair of swimwear, and the girls changed and sunk into the spa with delight.
"The architects sent Mom's designs back saying it was impossible to have a hot tub on the top floor," Hikari giggled. "She had Dad go into their offices and he came back saying that each apartment underneath it had to be a bit smaller to accommodate the pipes all the way to the lobby."
Katrina drew a genuine smile across her face and laughed; it was so ridiculous.
"So does your mom do this a lot? She designs buildings?" Katrina relaxed.
"Not really," Hikari screwed up her face. "Like I told you, we lived in Champs Les Sims almost since I was born. Mom liked the lifestyle, but then when the skyscraper was completed we moved back here."
"Didn't she want to move to Bridgeport?" Katrina wondered. "I would, if I could build a skyscraper. I'd love to be a famous actress and hang around handsome models… "
"Mom likes her privacy," Hikari added. "Even our house in Champs Les Sims was on a hill."
Katrina was still reeling when she heard the lumping footsteps of Irvine.
"Hey, sweetheart," Irvine nodded. "Is your friend staying for dinner?"
"Would you like to?" Hikari turned to Katrina.
"Yes, please," Katrina belted out. "I'll call my mom."
Hikari showered and then so did Katrina, who changed into her clothes which suddenly seemed old. Katrina now knew how it felt to know someone richer, and it stung.
"Dinner is served," called the butler.
Hikari led Katrina into a dining room; a quiet, classical space with a bureau for wine and glass dining table and high backed chairs; through swinging doors was the smaller kitchen, where three chef's hats bobbed just out of view.
"I'll go get your mother," Irvine rose from the table.
"I've called for her, sir," the butler spoke.
"Yeah, but you know her; she never listens to anyone," Irvine shrugged with a smile, and headed out towards the study.
Katrina sat in silence as Hikari pulled the napkin out of its origami shape.
"What happens to those butlers?" Katrina blurted.
"Huh?" Hikari peered over.
"On the other apartments," Katrina stammered. "Do they live there?"
"Oh, no," Hikari shook her head. "Otherwise if a guest came, they'd have nowhere to stay."
"So where do they live?" Katrina repeated, feeling as if in a dream.
"Mmm," Hikari pondered. "I haven't given it much thought."
She glanced round to the butler.
"Where do the other butlers live on the other floors?" Hikari asked.
The butler directed his answer at Katrina. "They have servant quarters in every apartment."
This stunned Katrina. One blow after another; even the butlers only had part of the apartment, the rest for guests, and how often did the cousins from Bridgeport visit?
"I hope it's lamb," came a voice, and Katrina turned round to see Irvine swaggering with a smile towards his seat, and an elegant blonde woman followed thereafter.
"Katrina, this is my mom, Clara," Hikari's face became tense. "Mom, this is my friend from school, Katrina Cartwright. You might know her mother; she's the wife of the mayor."
"Why would I?" Clara scowled, and glanced down to Katrina. "You're welcome to stay in one of the apartments, if you like."
"Oh, mom," Hikari reddened. "She can share with me."
"Nonsense," Clara sat at the head of the table with a little flourish; the butler brought in the food from the kitchen. "We haven't any room."