Chapter 2

“Harley why not, give them something to talk about. Now you have to wear that Chloe bag and the jeans you bought when we went to the city on that last long weekend. I mean, you can wear your nice clothes now, no need to push away attention because you’re going to get it today.”

“You don’t get it, that’ll just encourage her. Besides she’s a total label whore, she’ll know and look up the price and then she’ll think he buys all my clothes. And then she’ll start digging up the family history. She’s like the school’s personal paparazzo.”

“Well, you never know you might get some actual paparazzi when it really gets out so you have to look your best. And it’ll distract all the little cretins at your school from the actual news; not that you’re dating JT but you’re loaded, pretty, and have amazing style. Honed by your drop dead gorgeous sister.”

“If you think about it that way I guess I see your logic but I have to go now. I have to leave for school in an hour so see ya,” I said eating the last of my fruity pebbles and ascending the stairs to my wing of the house.

“Ok, God it must suck for you being the only one left in high school. Hang in there honey,” my older sister Maia said from the comfort of her lush New Haven apartment, not knowing how her words hit their mark.

I dropped my phone back on my bed and walked into my spacious closet and turned to the side with my jean collection. I pulled on the my new Acne lustrous black drainpipes and did the “jean dance” to get them on, the one where you move from leg to leg pulling just a bit each switch. I only had to do this for some of my jeans, the ones that would surely lower my chances of having children on account of my size. A perfect size two, Maia would say, who despite her best efforts could only fit into a 4 after weeks of dieting.

I had already taken a shower and put my robe back on to do my hair. I blow-dried it straight but it still had some wisps that broke away from the pack. I tapped my lime green painted nails on my bright pink vanity waiting for an epiphany, for some way that my long white blonde hair would look my edgy. I’d dyed the ends of my bangs and bits of the back pale pink but it only went along with the whole ethereal thing. With a heart shaped face, big deep blue eyes, and long soft blonde hair I was just too innocent looking and like an anime character. The fact that I was only 5’4” compared to Joseph’s towering 6’3” made it even worse. All the guys in Manic called me littlie no matter what I did, including getting wasted and all types of high with them.

I left the mirror still dissatisfied with only a bit my make up on: brown eyeliner, pale gold shadow, and Dior lip gloss. I sprayed a cloud of Dior perfume to step into and made sure I closed my eyes and mouth before entering the practically poisonous cloud.

I dressed to match my mood, ending up in a black and red silk Marc Jacobs camisole and black Marc Jacobs trench with gold detailing. I did have one punch of color on my feet with red leather Prada gladiator sandals.

“Who died,” my mother asked.

“I wasn’t aware we were in mourning,” she said eating fresh fruit and a protein shake in her shiny burgundy Dolce & Gabbana power suit.

“Where were you last night, did you just get here this morning,” I snapped.

“I told you we’d be late, your aunt had a dinner party, and we stayed at the Plaza. We came back after getting your frantic messages this morning. What pray tell is the problem?”

“Do you remember the McCarran’s down the street?”

“The ones at the end of the street with that ostentatious grey house,” she answered me.

“Our house is way larger,” I said barking a laugh at my mother’s hypocrisy.

“Yes, but quaint, definitely more quaint and humble. If a house can be humble. You’d think they designed it to look like a castle with that tower and driveway around the perimeter. But let’s not deviate from the subject, what about them?”

“Their daughter—,” I started.

“Yes, nice girl, a bit pushy but—still,” she said. Being a lawyer my mother’s the most opinionated person I know.

“Well, she knows about Joe,” I said in a rush.

“Joseph? Are you sure?”

“Yes, and she plans to tell the whole school.”

“Well, tell her you’re not and if she doesn’t relent we’ll threaten to sue for slander. That should mollify her,” my mother said gracefully getting out of her chair. My mother and I look just alike except she keeps her hair in a perfectly coifed bob.

“But I—I accidently confirmed it.”

“What were you thinking, Harley?”

“It just slipped out, she just asked what it’s like dating a celebrity,” I said thoroughly embarrassed.

“Why—well, no point in wallowing in it. What do you want to do about it?”

“Mom, can’t I just move out to LA... I can get a tutor and everything. And tour with Joe. I don’t understand the problem.”

“You know you cannot live off of Joseph all your life.”

“Well, I’ll just live off of you then. And anyway its only one year and then I’ll go to UCLA or Berkeley.”

“Why don’t you want to go to Yale?”

“Well, Dad went to Berkeley. Why can’t I go?”

“Nevermind that now, shouldn’t you be leaving for school?”

“In fifteen minutes, so next weekend I’m gonna stay in the city with Joe. He’s coming Thursday; they have a show.”

“Oh, good,” she said, “And Darling just remember you’ll be seeing him soon. Today won’t be so bad if you have a silver lining.”

“Can’t I just skip…just this one day and then I’ll figure something out,” I whined latching onto her arm.

She glanced down at my hands clenching her wrist and shook me off and laughed, “You’ve got to face these things head on darling.”

She bent to give me a kiss on the cheek, “Now, go! Good Luck!”