1 Prologue

At the moment, I live in a neighborhood of dreams coming true. Except for me, inhabitants seem to take no notice, or so I thought, of individuals settling within the wide housing premises. I mean, the Hollywood stars, Betty Boop and Popeye, just settled in the neighborhood last week and people are like 'Nah'. Like it wouldn't be a surprise if Ruby Rose settles here, too!

I was ten at the same time my mom and my relatives visited this substantial place. From then on, we call in on consistently because my mom is a manicurist. She is the lady with a big tote bags each one on her shoulders. Inside the tote bags is stuff she needs to make your nails look great. I, sometimes, keep her company. Her frequent and loyal customers are mostly the low-end service providers of the area and sometimes, with luck, the few kind wealthy heirs.

And me keeping her company is a bear mode. I have to bear some nonsense uproars 'cause well-off kids in the vicinity of my age in this place are just a freakin' spoiled brat. They are overindulged, grandiose, narcissistic, and egocentric-regressed!

As you can see, such is strikingly strident compliments because I, myself, went hand to hand with those leviathans. Well, not all of 'em, but most.

FOURTEEN YEARS AGO.

SUMMER 2008

It was Saturday morning and we are here standing in front of the Jervemyr's. Mom and I went straight back at the far side of their mansion and I can't seem to keep my eyes off the radiant, eye-catching, and picturesque view of the surroundings.

Jervemyr Mansion is just like other large dwelling houses but is so fetch! A vintage whitewashed Victorian voluptuous is surrounded by a sunny botanical garden.

So fancy.

Griffin, on the other hand, sneaks on her battleground, which is the botanical garden by the way. She's a typical discreet and affluent bully, that kind is definitely a savage, I must say.

Griffy, ran her fingers through her hair as she looked at me in the eye.

She possesses a small wooden slingshot. Too small for her high hopes but she didn't know that.

For a first try, she perched between a bunch of long-stemmed bright purple waxflowers,  pointing the slingshot to a common target, a girl her age with a jet black hair. The ugliest girl she had ever laid her eyes on which is me, of course.

She pulled the elastic strap and smirked for a release.

The small stone beggarly accelerated, it comes along with a shameful landing.  The ugly girl, me, chortled upon her mischief. What a devil!

She vigorously felt absolute exasperation towards me from then on.

That same day we went off to Fiorelli's. Alexandria Fiorelli, age 9 is the blonde girl of the overlaying mansion. The Fiorelli Mansion is famous for its topiary. It is the art of clipping shrubbery and trees into shapes, including animals.

Huge sheared topiary of animals occupies the whole area. Bewildered by this, I decided to clip small shrubs and hopefully build a topiary myself while Mom does her job. I managed to finish it off that same day. It was a small star-shaped topiary.

Unforeseen, someone ruthlessly stomps off the small topiary I made.

I was dismayed while I look at the culprit.

It is Alexandria,  a discreet mademoiselle of constant poker visage often suspected of hiding a fund of reckless naughtiness.

I was about to walk out of the scene when I heard her screaming of fear. Red spots seem to manifest her legs and ankles.

She got herself a hay fever and I'm like " Karma? Isthatchu?".

After that incident, mom never let me set a toe at Fiorelli's. I don't know but they kind of put the blame on me for what happened to that blonde girl.

The lame feud and 'pun' torments between us lasted for years.  It worsened when I came to face with their bully friends. Even if I try not to cross their paths, bad luck keeps me pushing towards those leviathans.

MEGAN'S Point Ov View

Spring 2020

A pickup truck was passing by as I stared at the lovely multicolored primroses beside me. They possess raging pigmentation which makes me want to paint them.

I picked the cerulean hue which reminds me of Emma, the blue-haired character of a famous queer film.

I looked around. The place was really discreet before the quarantine. It just gets too discreet between the strict quarantine time as creepy AF.

After the declaration of a moderate quarantine, few residents flock around the subdivision like how I stroll around the grocery store.

At last, no more creepy damn af!

As luck would have it, I think I saw a familiar figure beside a pickup truck. I followed her inside the grocery store. She is sporting the Chelsea-cotton gabardine trench coat and wearing a half-up topknot of a short chocolate brown hair making her physiognomy more noticeable.

My heart went crazy when Adele walked towards me. She is really here! She is a familiar figure.

Damn, I'm glued on the floor.

Fortunately, I can see my silhouette at a mirrored vertical fridge. In a mid-waist, skinny ripped jeans denim pants and short sleeve casual white tee get up I look fine, I guess.

I'm a poker face person master and I need that right now, definitely casting a zero percent visibility of a panic fangirling attack.

It is the dairy section. I took fresh milk to pretend I was shopping but in fact, I was following her.

" Est-ce mieux que ça?" she asked me with her deep voice. She is holding another brand of fresh milk. ( is it better than this? )

" imagine? " I managed to respond impassively. ( i guess? )

" as-tu essayé Les Deux? " she asked furthermore. ( have you tried both?)

I smirked for an answer.

" Oui? " she said and proceed on sporting that famous sphinx-like smile I'm obsessed with. Oh heavens!

Adele Exarchopoulos is in my hometown. How lucky is that?

Out of nowhere, someone loosely hangs her hands on Adele. It was Jane.

She greets her with a French kiss and smiles at me like an idiot.

I firmly looked at them.

Jane is wiggling and whispering something to Adele. The latter is lip biting and her cheeks are pinkier. She is blushing, for god sake, to whatsoever this woman is mumbling.

Damn sexy Exarchopoulos .. crazily whipping me on that frickin lip bite and cuteness!

They are flirting in front of me and that is such a bad picture I must say.

Unlike Adele, Jane's cheeks are reddish. It seems like she's drunker than her; Adele is absolutely fine and is manageable. Jane is a problem.

LOUISIANA RESIDENCE AREA

ON MY HOME, I am rigid on to confusion of daydreaming and reality.

I hate the entrance part of Jane but the moments before that are nirvana.

I just can't imagine I ever talked to Adele.

It sounds like a dream but it's true. I stirred myself, I pinched my cheeks hard. It hurts but it's not a dream. It was not a dream that I spoke with Adele.

Oh my god! It's true.

Lea should know about this. I pulled out my cellphone to text her.

I'm typing a message when I saw Jane somewhere looks stressed and pale. There was a pick-up truck parked nearby. That's familiar.

I was shocked to see Adele rush out from the pickup truck. Concern was drawn all over her face.

I was about to approach them but the sight of a man standing next to the pickup truck caught my eye. His hair was white and both hands were in his denim pockets.

He was smoking.

" Oh mon !" Adele exclaimed. (Oh my !)

Jane vomits as if she will release all her insides out. Adele started rubbing her upper back for release support.

I approached them amidst the unlikeliness of the situation. Adele acknowledged my presence in the scene. She glanced at me.

It is really not a dream.

Suddenly a Ferrari arrived. Alexandria Fiorelli, Jane's cousin, came out of there.

" Elle n'apprend jamais, " she said as she approached us.

(She never learns)

A winter white deep V-neck high waist jumpsuit garb harmoniously congruent Jane's hourglass bod.

She looked around and raised eyebrows when she saw me there.

Suddenly, Jane collapsed.

Fortunately, I easily scoop her up.

" Elle est un tel fardeau! " said Alexandria problematically and helped me carry Jane. ( She is such a burden !)

" Pardon! pouvez-vous nous aider .. au moins? " ( Excuse me! can you help us .. at least??) she added as she noticed the man beside the pickup.

" Not interested," he responded plainly without looking at us.

" Adele, quite est ce type grossier?" Alexandria complaint and sent dagger look to the guy who doesn't give a shit. ( Who is this rude guy?)

Adele rolled her eyes to the latter and opened up the suicide door. We let Jane lay in the rear seat of the Ferrari.

All is done but unluckily, I was about to close the suicide door when a splash of whiskey, lemon, and guts spread all over my face.

" Cette femme est horrible! " I hear someone said in the background. And a cursing, too. ( This woman is horrible !)

Damn. She is. Vomiting in my face !

I moved away from the car.

Without further ado, Alexandria immediately closed the suicide door while making a fuss out of it.

I even heard her say "Ne pensez jamais à vomir dans ma voiture, sinon vous l'aurez!" (Don't you ever think about vomiting inside my car or else you'll gonna get it !)

" Good luck on that," the rude guy said.

Within a closer look, I am starting to bend my thoughts of him being a guy.

" You are starting to sound like Stewart," Adele responded to the rude guy and then looked at me " Tu devrais venir avec nous à l'intérieur --" ( You should come inside --)

" No she's not," the rude guy interrupted.

There was an awkward silence after that.

" Je vais. Je vis aussi dans cette subdivision. Pas grave, " I said with assurance. ( I'm going. I live in this subdivision. No big deal)

" Hey! What happened to this pretty lady right here-- wait-- what is that? It stinks, men !" a girl with a pink pixie cut hair came out of nowhere. She sounds goofy.

Adele faced me " C'est ma maison. Il est plus proche donc il vaut mieux ne pas discuter," she pointed the mansion in front me. I got speechless. (That is my house. It is nearer so better not argue)

" Woah- wait, can you please, the two of you, not talk like aliens? " said the short hair with chopped layers goofy girl, she then faced me with her rosed thin perfect brows " Can you talk English?"

I nodded.

I glanced at the rude guy. He gets in his car and drove it off.

" I'm Kristen," said the goofy girl stretched her hand for a handshake. I was about to take it when she lowered it down " .. but please proceed to the washroom first," she smirked and walked inside an open gate.

Adele is inside waiting for me. I pinched my cheeks to see if she's real. When it stung, I never felt any better. This is so true.

" Ce n'est pas si pratique," I heard Adele say as I stepped into this huge grand staircase. ( That is not so practical )

She is talking to someone on the phone.

I came from one of the many executive rooms upstairs. She let me used it so I can get a shower and get dressed with some of the stuff she lent.

" I gotta go. I love you, babe," She said while looking at me and hanged up from the call.

" Hey, miss who-I-do-not-know-your-name-is but here's a cup of tea," said Kristen and then looked at me from head to toe " It suits you," she added and then gave me a flirty wink.

She came out of nowhere. Again.

" Thanks," I replied. I'm thankful the Maisie skirt fits me just fine.

It suits the short sleeve white tee tops.

I watched her comfortably slouch on an office leather chair as she laid her two feet on the shiny center table, her right-hand holds a cup of coffee while the cup holder is in her left.

" It's Megan," I said. She nodded.

" So, what brings you outside the subdivision? Are you really going to buy that fresh milk that you've been holding in the grocer or are you just following Adele?" she asked nonchalantly.

" Jaymes? Are you accusing her? " said Adele with her raised eyebrows. Jaymes must be Kristen's other name. Or is it? She's facing her.

" No. I'm not accusing her. And do you have to bring that name up?" Kristen said with her eyes saying like-you- know-that-is-not-what-i-meant look with the 'accusing' and raised an eyebrow with the 'bring up' thing.

" Sorry," said Adele apologetically. Kristen nodded.

She then faced me " Are you feeling 'accused'?"

" Kristen! Stop it !" said Adele. Now a bit upset.

" Oh, you guys. It's not a big deal," Kristen/Jaymes said with a 'duh' look.

I chuckled.

" I'm following her. But I'm not the paparazzi," I said factly.

" Then why are you following her?" Kristen asked after sipping on her coffee. Adele then sent her a warning look.

" She just happens to pass by. I don't know. Who does not turn a head when she comes by?" I replied and then looked away.

Gosh. Did I just spill the beans?

Kirsten wears his goofiest smile. Adele's face, on the other hand, turns red.

Kristen stands up.

" You bet, huh?" she said and then finished her coffee. I finished mine, too " She is driving you home," she added. Her vision is focused on me or so I thought.

I followed her gaze. It led me to that white-haired man who was standing two meters away from me.

He looks mad and ... that's familiar.

My surroundings suddenly went pitch black. Before I could even move, I lost consciousness.

WARNING: This is gonna be a cliffhanger. The next chapter will be a long flashback. Thank you.