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Post by Lucille Grace Astor on Sept 23, 2016 20:09:21 GMT -5
Lucy shifted in her heels while they waited for the elevator to reach her floor. They'd gone after school for lattes and to browse the handbags at Bendel's. They'd been in school for a few weeks and Lucy already had a million things piled up so she had a spa day scheduled tomorrow in the late morning. Until then they were going to stay in and watch a movie, make fun of the girls from school, discuss who their next boyfriends should be. "You have to see the Elie Saab that was delivered yesterday, it's gorgeous. I don't even know where I would wear such a plunging neckline though." Lucy stepped off the elevator with Belle and entered the foyer, noting the fresh flowers she'd asked Anya to get. Their mother was still in Paris and Lucy wanted things to be just so while she was away. "Hello Miss Lucy, Miss Belle. A note was delivered for you, I left it on your desk." "Thank you, Anya. The flowers are beautiful as well. Is Dad home?" "He was called in to work." "Oh. Okay." Lucy headed upstairs, wondering if Sebastian was home. He was probably out selling drugs or something. Lucy went into her room, Belle right behind her, "Mom says hi by the way, she wants us both to fly out for a weekend. You know Paris in the fall is just as beautiful as Paris in the Spring." And maybe they could escape all the drama in Manhattan. Lucy went to her closet and pulled out the new gown. She'd have to find some excuse to wear it. Mom rubbed elbows with so many designers they were constantly sending Lucy things from their collections; more than once she'd been asked to model for them but with her school schedule she just didn't have time. Lucy hung it back up, picking up the envelope on her desk and turned it over. There was nothing written on it, except her name obviously. No return address, it must've been hand delivered. She opened it carefully and read it, "This... is an invite. To a party. Here, look."
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Post by Belle Fitzgerald on Sept 23, 2016 20:21:17 GMT -5
Belle followed behind Lucy, running her hand lazily through her hair before she leaned against the side of the elevator. Wait, what teacher said they had a test next week? She made a face trying to remember but then remembered.. that she didn't care. She took in a breath, looking up at Lucy and smiling instantly. Lucy had the perfect frame for designers. It was like she was built to be a walking advertisement. "Is it the new burgundy?" she asked with a slight pinch of her eyebrows, stepping out of the elevator as it came to Lucys luxurious penthouse. " Anya... Just Belle." she said with a smirk as she referred to her as Miss Belle. She took a few quick steps toward the kitchen, grabbing a strawberry from the counter before following Lucy into her bedroom. "Paris? Hell yeah" she said with her mouth full before she plopped into a chair in Lucy's room, sitting back lazily as she waited for her friend to get the dress out. "Really?" she questioned before sitting up and lazily reaching for the card from her person. "Well look at that," she said, reading over the small amount of details on the card. "Looks like you have an occasion for your dress," she said dramatically before smiling up brightly at her. "Maybe your designer admirers sent something too big for you that I can squeeze into," she said, making her way into Lucy's closet. "And we'll need masks,"
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Post by Lucille Grace Astor on Sept 23, 2016 20:58:11 GMT -5
"A masquerade?" Lucy loved nothing more than a mystery. Nancy drew stories, CSI, mysterious men in coffee shops, investigative reporting podcasts, riddles and crossword puzzles. "But I was gonna... stay in..." Ugh but movies and jammies... "Wait. I have the perfect thing." Lucy found a box on the top shelf of her closet and placed it on the bed. "I found these in this weird vintage costume shop in Paris, aren't they perfect?" They were vintage beaded masks, all detail and intricacy, and more money than Lucy cared to admit but she saw them over the summer and thought they were beautiful. "I bought them and thought I might hang them on the wall or something. Where is that address even?" "You guys get invited too?" Lucy looked at the doorway and saw her brother, "I didn't know you were home." "Hey Belle, you look nice." Lucy rolled her eyes, "Are you going? There will be so many customers for you there." "Harsh, Lucille. I would however, be more than happy to take Belle to the masquerade," he winked. "Please don't. Who do you guys think sent this anyways?" Lucy didn't think she would be able to go to the party without trying to figure out the mystery host.
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Post by Belle Fitzgerald on Sept 23, 2016 21:53:09 GMT -5
Belle looked over her shoulder, away from all of Lucy's gorgeous dresses, for long enough to look at the masks. "Ugh, these are fabulous," she said, taking one to look at the fine detailing on it. When she heard the little chatter going on between Lucy and her brother, she gave a quick smile. " Hey," she said, waving her fingers whimsically at him. " Oh, I bet that would be a jackpot actually," she said agreeing with Lucy more excitedly than she probably should have at the idea of her brother getting a lot of work at the masquerade ball. "I'm into older guys," she said with a slight wink in his direction. That kid... some day he would get over his crush on her. The guys always did, honestly. She was like this fancy new toy that got their attention for a few moments, but they always got over it. At least, that's how she perceived it. "I'm gonna borrow this," Belle said, gesturing to one of Lucy's dresses before starting to take her own clothes off while standing in-between the closet and the room. " Give her like ten minutes and she'll crack the case on the entire party," she said, giving a slight bounce of her shoulders for dramatic emphasis. Belle leaned against the doorframe, wearing just her slip as she held up one of the masquerade masks to her face gently, "Do you think Mr.Greyson appreciates a little mystery?" she questioned playfully while wiggling her eyebrows.
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Post by Lucille Grace Astor on Sept 23, 2016 22:24:41 GMT -5
Lucy looked over the invite again, trying to decide where it was printed and considered asking Anya who dropped it off. Lucy couldn't possibly roll her eyes anymore without her eyes falling out when she heard Sebastian say, "I get older everyday, you know." Sometimes she had to just ignore it, you know? Belle mentioned she was borrowing a dress, and Lucy said, "Okay," while she looked up printing businesses in the neighborhood. Belle asked if Mr. Greyson appreciated a little mystery and Lucy walked to the door and, shoved Sebastian into the hallway when he replied, "I know I do," and winked at her. "No." Lucy let out a breath and recomposed herself before taking off her school clothes and held the dress up on the hanger. "I bet the party host is charming and sophisticated." She tried to imagine the type of person he might be, "Probably wearing custom Armani and a Cartier watch. Old money." With friends in high places and a home on every civilized continent. Lucy slipped her dress on, turning so Belle could zip the back and adjusted the plunging neckline so her boobs didn't decide to go anywhere. She picked up one of the masks and slipped it over her face, "I think Mr. Greyson probably likes more than just a little mystery. If only you could just get him outside of the classroom somewhere," she teased.
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Post by Belle Fitzgerald on Sept 23, 2016 22:33:37 GMT -5
"He's hopeless" Belle said with a soft laugh under her breath. Of course the dress fit perfectly on Lucy, the way Belle knew that it would. She reached over, zipping it up for her before taking a step back so that Lucy could get the rest of it adjusted the way that she needed to . " I would take him just about anywhere I could get him at this point. Out of the classroom. In the classroom. On his desk." Belle said, talking mainly to herself as she started to mess with Lucy's hair. With the plunging neckline, she wanted to pull Lucy's hair back so that she could also show off her collar bones. Such a weird thing to think about showing off, but Lucy had such a nice frame. " And what about you? " she questioned, keeping her fingers going through Lucy's hair. " Any hot suitors for the evening that you would have your eye on?" Belle leaned forward, trying to get a glimpse of Lucy's eyes before she broke into a bright smile. Lucy was the better of the two of them; Belle knew it. She was just as smart and she was stunning. She was the entire package, and Belle could understand how that could be intimidating to guys.
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Post by Lucille Grace Astor on Sept 27, 2016 19:33:16 GMT -5
"Not on his desk, Belle, my homework sits on that desk. Besides, you can't really be telling me the fact that he's your teacher is half the appeal. What happens when he's not your teacher anymore, or you get him on a real date away from prying eyes, then what? Is it suddenly boring?" Lucy had a quirk about over thinking every possibility from every angle. Belle began playing with Lucy's hair and Lucy watched her in the mirror, eyeing herself as Belle asked if Lucy herself had any suitors in mind. Sure she could dream, but the one person she had been interested in for a while had no interest in her whatsoever. That had been embarrassing to say the least. "Me? No. I think we both know the only guys that could handle me are years off from being in a state of mind to even handle me at all." Lucy hated to admit she was maybe a little intimidating, but the fact of the matter was she needed a man, not a boy. Belle was definitely onto something with the older men thing. Guys their age were either unbearable immature or were scared to go near Lucy. She was a little intense sometimes. "But that's okay; I have a lot of goals to accomplish anyway." Lucy shrugged, smiling back at her best friend in the mirror. It was easy to brush it off and blame it on being undateable at the moment. It didn't change the fact that she wished someone would pursue her. And it didn't make it hurt less that she'd been rejected by the one person she was actually interested in.
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Post by Belle Fitzgerald on Sept 27, 2016 19:44:06 GMT -5
Belle looked in her compact, adjusting her lipstick one last time before shutting it quickly. Hitting a party with Lucy was something that felt like second nature. Although, to be fair she hadn't really done it since she had gotten out of rehab. When the car came to a stop, she looked over at her friend adorned in the beautiful lace mask. She reached over, squeezing her hand on top of Lucy's tightly. It was amazing how when you found someone who felt like the other half of your soul, that you could communicate so much without words. She waited for the door to open before stepping out of the car, looking up at the tall building that you could feel the music blasting out of. She walked up to the bouncer, who was looking through a list of people as the girl in the front of the line begged to be let in. But she looked at Lucy with a quick glance, lifting their masks just long enough for the bouncer to see who they were before they moved past the line and stepped inside. Instantly Belle tensed, looking around the party. Someone was definitely doing coke on a table about twenty feet away. Belle let out a slight breath, bringing her hand up to the back of her neck. "Ladies...." the disgustingly smooth voice echoed behind them, before she felt a hand placed on her back. Belle looked over at Lucy, rolling her eyes as she knew what was going to come of this.
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Post by Ian Fletcher on Sept 27, 2016 19:55:28 GMT -5
Something hadn't gone to plan in Ian's life. That didn't happen. In fact he made sure in life that everything was supposed to go as planned. And then that idiot made the choice to fall off a roof... albeit at Belle's shoving, and here he was trying to figure out what sad fuck was messing with the life of him and his.... acquaintances? Maybe some people would say that they were friends. Sure, if he had a gun to his head and had to claim a few people that he cared about they would come up. Or she would. Smoke sifted through the room, no doubt the result of some lackey that had gotten in and was now ruining the designer drug aura with their doobie smoking, beanie hat wearing pathetic way of life. He looked up at one of the security guards his father had hired, making a gesture to find whatever slum had snuck their way in and to get rid of them. Just as he picked up a drink, he looked over his shoulder.. the girls who seemed stuck at the hip entering the room. He had to admit that part of him had softened toward Lucy when Belle had gone off to rehab. She'd taken to the Queen Bee role quite well, it suited her. He liked a woman who could take charge and make people bend to their way. Belle approached Queen Bee status in a different way. It was interesting to see them share it again, and he wondered how that would impact their friendship. He picked up his drink, moving his way over to them. "Ladies," he said lazily, placing his hand against Belle's back before he held the glass out to her. After a roll of her eyes she reached up to take it, causing him to turn his attention to Lucy. "And what will you be having?" he said, tilting his head slightly in her direction. "Make sure it's on the menu," he said, giving her a wink.
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Post by Lucille Grace Astor on Sept 27, 2016 20:22:04 GMT -5
Lucy was glad to be wearing a mask, and yet it was unmistakable who they were it seemed. Ian picked them out of the crowd instantly. Well there were always positives and negatives to being noticed. Ian came over and greeted them and Lucy tensed up a bit. The sting of rejection lingered; and yet she still couldn't shake how she felt about him. She couldn't explain it; couldn't even justify it. 9 times out of 10 he was a royal douchebag; not just to her, but to basically everyone. Belle just handled him better than others, or tolerated him, rather. And in a vulnerable time for Lucy when Belle had been shipped off to rehab, Lucy thought finally he would maybe he that person she wanted him to be. It, of course, was just a ploy. He hadn't really been interested, just saw an opportunity to get in her pants. It was embarrassing to say the least. She could only hope that Belle remained clueless about the entire thing. Still, she tensed at the sound of his voice, seeing him hand Belle a drink. Lucy grabbed her hand gently where it lay at her side, giving it a squeeze; you don't have to drink if you don't want to. Lucy blushed at his comment, replying, "I can get it myself, thanks." Lucy turned to Belle, "You okay?" she asked, wanting to get away from Ian, but secretly sort of reveling in the tiny amount of attention she was even getting from him. But she wanted to know Belle was okay and not uncomfortable around all the drinking and drugs. Lucy just barely spotted Sebastian nearby. All the boys here looked virtually the same; dark suits with nonrevealing ties. With masks it was even harder to decipher who was who. She mainly spotted Sebastian based solely on the fact that he was her twin; she'd probably feel his presence anywhere. Girls were easier to decipher who was behind the mask, they all wore body revealing gowns; Hannah Delongchamp's boobs were unmistakable. Sebastian was handing out drugs, making deals. Lucy made her way swiftly to the bar and ordered a drink. She was genuinely curious who threw this parties, it was so Gatsby and intriguing. She lingered at the bar for a moment in thought, watching Belle from across the room. Here she was, back at her side, and yet Lucy felt like she was keeping so much from her. It felt so wrong, and Lucy couldn't distinguish if she was doing to protect herself, or Belle, or both of them. Lucy relaxed her shoulders and went back to Belle's side, wanting to forget Ian and his stupid beautiful face for a few hours.
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Post by Belle Fitzgerald on Sept 27, 2016 20:55:34 GMT -5
Belle gave a quick, uncomfortable smile as Lucy walked over to the counter to get a drink, leaving her with Ian. And just like that....he was off. Great. Good to see you, too. Belle took in a breath and puffed her cheeks out, looking around at everyone just mingling around. Every one seemed to be moving so slowly, with purpose, touching one another's arms, pushing through the scantily clad crowd to make it to their new destinations. And yet here she stood, all by herself. " Okay," she said, almost trying to convince herself that she could handle this. But quickly someone bumped into her, spilling their drink clumsily as she laugh drunkenly, allowing her date to effectively hold her up without any help on her part. "Sorry," Belle said, before questioning herself as to why she was sorry at all. "Okay," Belle muttered to herself, finally forcing herself out of the nucleus of the party and over to the counter that Lucy was so elegantly perched against. "Can I please have a water?" she asked the bartender before looking over at Lucy. " This is a lot more difficult than I though it would be," she said quietly, almost under her breath before she picked up the water eagerly and took a long drink.
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Post by Lucille Grace Astor on Sept 27, 2016 21:10:50 GMT -5
Lucy smiled at Belle when she came over, relieved she didn't bring Ian with her. "Make that two waters, please," Lucy added to the bartender, pushing her drink aside. She didn't need to drink. "Can you believe we all grew up together? I feel so detached from all of these people," she mentioned, feeling it full force just how separated she'd become from her peers when Belle was gone. She may have been Queen Bee, but somehow falling into that position had just made her more of an outcast. Though, she may have done that to herself. Didn't these people have better things to do than gossip, drink, and involve themselves in everyone else's lives? Didn't they wonder what mystery human just randomly threw extravagant parties?! "There has to be someone here that stands out from the others. One of these things is not like the other..." she said, sipping her water. "Come on, let's dance." Lucy took Belle's hand and led her away from the bodies at the bar so they could dance and forget everything else. It worked for a minute until she happened to look up. The venue had curtained off VIP balconies that weren't in use for the party. Except one, with a masked figure standing in the shadows, watching over them all. Lucy could have sworn he was looking right at them. "Gatsby!" She was sure Belle couldn't hear her over the music, but she was so curious to get up there.
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Post by Belle Fitzgerald on Sept 27, 2016 21:19:33 GMT -5
And just like that Lucy was pulling Belle back into her world effortlessly, making the darkest of corners full of laughter and light. After getting a quick drink of water, she quickly followed Lucy onto the dance floor. At least the music was pretty entertaining. But even Lucy couldn't help herself. She couldn't just enjoy the party, she had to be a sleuth. She was saying something to her, but Belle just shook her head, making a confused face since she had no idea what Lucy was saying. But it was hot. And Belle was becoming more and more aware of the drugs, the alcohol, the party goers that were sneaking around. " I'm going to get some air," she said, placing her hand on her stomach before she made her way out of the crowd and found the stairs, clinging to the staircase until her knuckles turned white as she made her way up the floors. The farther away she got the better she felt. As soon as she pushed the door open to the roof she felt the cold air rush against her warm skin. It was a fleeting sense of relief, because the exact moment that the door slammed shut, she remembered the last time she was on a roof. A pain stung in her chest as flashbacks came scurrying to the front of her mind, the blood curling scream, the horrified musings of her friends, the shuffling. All of the shuffling. Being shoved in a closet by Lucy who had managed to handle it. Pulling the hair out of her fingers. Belle tried to take in a breath of air, which was now escaping her before she turned around, seeing a hooded figure stand between her and the door.
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Post by Lucille Grace Astor on Sept 27, 2016 21:36:55 GMT -5
Lucy wasn't sure where Belle was going but thought she said something about getting air, and Lucy huffed, letting her go and figured she would catch up with her in a bit if she didn't return in a decent amount of time. Lucy turned her attention back to the balcony but the figure was gone. If she was quick she could get up there and catch whoever it was, but just as she was pushing her way out of the dance to floor to investigate, she felt a hand grab her arm and pull her aside, "Hey, can you do me a favor?" "What?" Lucy asked, seeing Sebastian had pulled her aside, "No, I'm in the middle of something, Bash." "No you aren't, come on I just need to you to take this coke to the bathroom and deliver it to this girl in a purple dress, and then bring me back the money." "Are you stupid? I'm your sister, not your drug mule." "Lucy pushed past him, her clear view now of the balcony only showing it was now deserted. "She just wants to do it away from her boyfriend-" "I'm not helping you. Besides, I have to catch up with Belle, I think she went on the roof to get air." "Is she okay?" "Yes." "I'll go with you." "Not necessary," Lucy sighed, knowing full well he was already right behind her on the stairs. It had only been a few minutes anyways. "I can't believe you would even ask me to do that." "Okay, that was kind of dumb, yeah. It's good money though." "Bash we have money!" "Not our own money, mom and dad know everything we spend and where we spend it." "What on earth are you secretly buying?! Aside from drugs?!" They argued most of the way up the stairs, their banter interrupted by someone yelling above them. "Belle." Lucy suddenly felt like she was 10 again, racing her brother to the elevator to block the other out and make them take the stairs. Except this time, they were both shoving their way to the top of the stairs trying to get to Belle. Lucy tried the handle in a panic before Sebastian shoved the door open. Lucy spotted Belle and saw nothing else, hurrying to her best friend, "Are you okay?"
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Post by Belle Fitzgerald on Sept 27, 2016 21:53:34 GMT -5
A scream finally escaped her lips after she felt like she had been frozen in fear for entirely too long. And just as quickly as it seemed like the hooded figure was coming toward her, Lucy was on the roof, moving towards her. Belle wrapped her arms tightly around Lucy, clinging to her as tightly as she possibly can, grasping onto her best friend as though her life depended on it. For all she knew, it might. " There's someone here," she said, her voice shaking in fear, making her realize that she was shaking entirely as well. " I'm not crazy," she said, not realizing how tightly she was holding onto Lucy, "I"m not crazy," she repeated, as though she was trying to convince herself. Quickly, the shadow moved past them, shoving past Sebastian as it made its way back into the party, causing the panic to rise in her chest again. She wasn't crazy. This was real. It was happening. " What is going on?" she asked frantically, looking over at Sebastian, as if he somehow had answers that the rest of them didn't.
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