Sabrina di Matteo stood in front of her floor-length mirror in her room. Her back towards the mirror and her brown eyes looking in the mirror as her hand ran over the leather fabric of her black skirt. She kept moving her brown hair to her back to keep it out of her way.

"Hmm, I suppose this skirt doesn't look that bad. It makes my butt look good, which is a plus." She mumbled, turning to look at her two friends. 

Lacy Victor turned her brown eyes towards Sabrina as her fingers pulled three pearl hairpins from her ash brown hair. "I think it looks flattering on your butt. It accentuates your good features and paired with a leather jacket and boots, I think you'd look rad."

Sabrina weighed her friend's words, picturing them in her head. "I do have a new leather jacket, but with lace accents and a new pair of combat boots too." She exclaimed, walking into her closet to find those two items to complete her look.

Lacy held out her hand and wiggled her fingers, looking at her peach and lavender nails she had just painted. "Lace accents? That sounds pretty. I have a denim jacket with gold studs and gold fringe - oh, we should all wear jackets and combat boots sometime this week." She suggested with a smile.

Sabrina thought about that. "I suppose we could. Tuesday maybe? I already have my outfit picked for Monday and it's super cute, it's over there on the chair by the window!" She exclaimed from her closet. "What do you think Kiki?"

Kiki Cho tried to fishtail braid her long black hair as her brown eyes focused on the task. "That's not right." She huffed, undoing the braid and trying it again, looking up at her friends. "Yeah, it's uh, nice."

Lacy looked over at Kiki and furrowed her brows. "Nice?" She inquired, giving her eyes a roll. "Kiki, you haven't been listening, have you?" She wondered where that girl's head was.

Kiki sheepishly looked at her lap for a brief moment before looking up again. "Um, no?" She questioned, not even sure of herself of the answer. "I'm sorry. I've just been trying to fishtail braid my hair but it isn't working no matter how much I try and follow the tutorial." She sighed heavily, resting her cheek in her hand

Sabrina walked back into the room with the leather jacket in hand. "That is fine. You'll eventually figure it out. It took forever for me to figure out how to do a crown braid and not the type where you braid a single long braid and wrap it around your head." She explained, pulling on the jacket.

Lacy looked over at Sabrina and then back at a sad Kiki. "I suppose I can do it for you if you want." She offered, knowing in the end, sometimes you gotta help a friend whether you wanted to or not. 

Kiki nodded her head slowly, undoing what she had done. "Sure," She agreed with a smile. She turned her body around so her back was facing Lacy. "I don't feel like I wanna keep trying." She said, handing Lacy the hairbrush and the hair tie.

Lacy took both and ran the brush through Kiki's hair, smoothing everything and making sure there were no knots. "Don't stress when trying. I would say practice on a mannequin head."

Kiki nodded as she let Lacy braid her hair. "Okay!" She hummed a lively turn, tapping her fingers on her lap. "Oh, my mom said we are having new classmates come Monday!" She exclaimed with a wide grin on her lips. "They are moving in not too far from Lacy."

Lacy tilted her head as she continued to braid Kiki's hair. "Hmm, there isn't a house for sale, unless they are the ones Mr. and Mrs. Martin said are staying in their home - watching it - while they're gone." She recalled her parents talking with the sweet European couple.

Sabrina smirked as she sat down on the bed beside her two friends. "Really? If they're staying there that means they're rich - do you know anything else about them?" She inquired, wondering if Kiki had any more information. 

Kiki thought back to try and recall if there was anything she was failing to mention. "Um, they're from Europe and there are five children in their family . . . oh and they're just until the end of the school year." She replied, almost forgetting that little detail.

Sabrina's smile widened into a grin as she crossed her legs. "I suppose that means we should show them around the school? Be the first to greet them and show them some good old hospitality? We must add them to our group!" She declared, beyond excited about it.

Lacy finished with Kiki's hair and tied it off with a hair tie. "Yes, we must. That will no doubt ensure you become prom queen. Showing hospitality towards the new kids, talk about brownie points!" She exclaimed, clapping her hands together. 

Kiki inspected the fishtail braid her friend had done for her. "It's perfect! Just like the picture!" She squealed, turning towards her two friends. "Anyways, I can't wait to meet them. We've never had exchange students before, this is huge! And so close to the prom!" 

"We should also invite them to hang out. Show them around New York and all our favorite places." Sabrina added, grabbing a pad of paper from her desk and making a list.

Lacy leaned over and crossed her legs, placing her hands on her knees. "Invite them over to our houses on the weekend to spend time together." She added. "Our pool is finally repaired after those skateboarders trashed it - delinquents. That's what Mom and Dad get for leaving the house unattended over winter break."

Sabrina noted that down on her paper, tapping the pen on her cheek. "It's about time. I still can't believe they just drained the pool and didn't winterize it as my family does - well, we pay people to do that. Maybe your parents should too."

Lacy knew her parents should, but since she was - new money - they still kept some of their old do-it-yourself mentality. "I think this will make them do it this year. Dad didn't like spending money to repair it, he was griping about it every chance he got." She explained, giving her eyes a roll.

Sabrina set the pad of paper and pen down on the bed. "It's sad that they're only staying until the end of the semester. We'll at least finish senior year with them, but, sadly, we won't spend the summer with them."

Kiki recalled something as soon as those words left Sabrina's mouth. "Don't you have plans in Aruba this summer?" She asked, knowing that was all she had talked about when the school year started.

Sabrina had forgotten about going to Aruba. "Yes, I do have plans to go to Aruba, which I do hope you girls get to come with me. Fun in the sun!" She still couldn't wait to soak up the warm rays of the sun in a tropical place.

Lacy was excited to go along with Sabrina. "My mom is still fine with it unless she changes plans at the last minute." She rolled her eyes, knowing all too well her mom loved to change plans at the last minute.

Kiki sighed, frowning a little and pulling her legs up to her chest. "I still haven't told my mom yet and I'm waiting for the perfect time to tell her. So far, there hasn't been a good opportunity and she might say no." She was worried that she'd be shot down before she even tried.

"She's a tiger mom, what do you expect? You're nearly eighteen Kiki, stand up for yourself for once." Sabrina placed her hand on the other girl's leg.

Kiki looked down at her skirt and grabbed the fabric, twisting it around her finger. "That's easier said than done. My parents aren't like yours, I can't just tell my mom I'd rather spend time in Aruba than go straight to college and get a medical degree like Dad. She'll just tell me I'm being silly and I'll thank her later for not allowing me to go to Aruba."

Lacy felt bad for Kiki, reaching her hand out she rested it on her shoulder. "I will never understand parents like that. I get your parents to want you to get into Harvard or Columbia, but they gotta let you have a little fun before you go off to college."

Kiki pushed her braid to her back and played with her fingers. "I'll try but I make no promises." She mumbled, looking up and mustering up a forced smile.

Sabrina nodded, standing back up and grabbing her phone off her nightstand. "Anyways, Mom is leaving again. This time to Dubai for a photoshoot and Dad has been working overtime at work." She set her phone down and sighed, placing her hands on her hips.

"It seems both your parents are married to work instead of each other." Lacy picked up the bottles of nail polish from the table and twisted back on the caps.

Sabrina sighed heavily, tucking some hair behind her ear. "At least Mom will bring souvenirs. I did drop hints at what I would like and hopefully, she will remember and bring them back to me. Otherwise, if it isn't what I want you two can have the first choice." She nonchalantly explained.

Kiki's eyes brightened up with a smile on her lips. "Oh, that'd be nice! Thanks, Sabrina, you are a great friend! Not because of that, but because you're always there for us!" She leaned over and hugged Sabrina tightly.

Sabrina smiled with a laugh, hugging Kiki back. "I can say the same for you. I don't know what I would do without you two." She grabbed Lacy and pulled her into a hug. "Can't forget about you either Lacy,"

Lacy laughed and hugged her two friends tightly. "Okay, okay, I get it." She pulled away from them, glancing at the clock on Sabrina's wall. "Goodness, I have to get going. Mom wants me back in a half an hour to video chat with Nana." She explained, getting off the bed.

Kiki looked at the clock and then pulled out her phone which had been buzzing in her purse. "Oh no! My mom has called me like fifteen times. I better call her back." She recalled the number and put it up to her ear as she walked out of the room. "Hi Mom, I'm sorry I couldn't answer - because I was busy - it wasn't studying -" She tried to explain, her mother speaking Korean could be heard chewing her out.

Sabrina sighed, shaking her head and standing up. "Sometimes I wonder what Mrs. Cho is telling Kiki, but then I realize I'm still learning Italian. I don't need to learn Korean." She pursed her lips and shook her head.

Lacy slung her purse over her shoulder and grabbed her phone. "I kinda feel bad for her," She said and waved at Sabrina as she walked to the door. "I'll see you Monday, take care." She blew her friend a kiss and walked out of the room.

Sabrina followed after her friend and stopped at the staircase. "Bye Lacy, see you Monday." She waved to her with a smile. She turned her head and watched Kiki hurry by her, sending her a brief wave while speaking to her mother in Korean. "Bye," She mouthed to her friend and turned around, walking back into her room

〰️🔘〰️

Dinner rolled in, and Sabrina sat at the long table, waiting for her parents to come.

She tapped her nails on the table as she glanced at her phone. 7:48. Forty-eight minutes, that was how long she had been waiting for them to arrive. The food was kept warm by the housekeepers until they arrived.

"Why am I not surprised," She mumbled, resting her cheek in her hand. "Typical of them. I'm their last priority." She gave a heavy sigh, shaking her head. "Per usual."

She picked up her phone and pulled up the group chat with her parents and texted them to see where they were.

She sighed and set it down after she sent the text, wondering if they'd answer or not.

She popped up her social profile and mindlessly scrolled through the feed to keep herself busy until her parents came.

She recalled the longest time they made her wait and that was two hours. When they had come home she had eaten by herself and was watching TV.

Just then, the front door opened and the sound of her father's voice echoed through the house. "Yeah, yeah, I know, I know . . . we will have it done by the end of the week . . . bye." Riccardo di Matteo said, turning off the phone and setting it beside the dish he had put his keys in.

He walked into the dining room, running a hand through his brown hair as his brown eyes focused on his daughter. "Sabrina, sorry I'm late. I was tied up at work and I was the only one to leave." He explained, loosening up his tie and going into the kitchen.

Sabrina rolled her eyes. 'He can leave whenever he wants to. He's the boss. He isn't bound by the same hours as his employees.' She thought, watching him go into the kitchen to wash his hands. "That's fine. You're the boss." She called back to him and sighed.

"I am the boss," Riccardo whistled a little tune as he dried his hands on the towel hanging off the oven handle. "We are trying to tie down a deal for more ethical parts for our electronics. I can't believe our former company was dealing in such unethical, shady stuff." He huffed, walking back into the kitchen.

Sabrina turned around and faced the kitchen, watching her dad come back into the room. "Hmm, that's just like you." She forced a smile and then let it fall, rolling her eyes. 

She crossed her legs and hummed softly, tapping her nails on the table. "Daddy, do you know when Mom is going to be home? She hasn't answered my next," She called, picking up her phone and looking to see if there were any messages. 'Neither did you.' She thought.

Riccardo walked into the dining room and sat down at the head of the table. "She was pulling in right behind me, nearly hitting my bumper." He grumbled, unfolding his napkin. "So she should come through the door at any moment." He nonchalantly replied, watching as the housekeepers brought in the food. 

Sabrina nodded, picked up her glass of water, and took a sip from it. "And you didn't help her, why?" She asked, knowing her mom had been out shopping.

Riccardo paused for a moment before continuing to reach for his glass. "You know how your mother is. I ask to help, she grills me for not doing it right. What's the point of helping when she complains about how I do it?" He replied, taking a sip from his drink.

Sabrina sucked in a deep breath, gritting her teeth, locking her jaw and letting the air out in a huff. 'Chivalry is dead,' She thought, trying to relax, loosening her grip on the napkin she placed on her lap.

Liliana di Matteo walked in through the door and declared her entrance. "I'm home!" Shopping bags hung off her arms as she dropped them down on the floor. "Sorry, I'm late! I was stuck in traffic. It's a madhouse out there." She called out, pushing her dyed blonde hair out of her face, her green eyes sparkling as she walked into the dining room.

Sabrina's eyes followed her mom as she sat down in her seat at the other end of the table. "At least you're here, and the food's still hot." She said, thanking the housekeepers as soon as the last bit of food was placed on the table. 

Liliana smiled as she placed her napkin on her lap. "Well, this looks delicious! The housekeepers did wonderful on this, as usual. I hope we didn't keep you waiting too long. Shopping for my trip to Dubai takes it out of you. I did find a lot of cute clothes that show off this body." She mused, putting some of the food onto her plate.

It took everything for Sabrina to not snap at her parents and give a sarcastic answer. 'Typically.' She thought, digging her nails into her skirt. "Not at all. It hasn't been that long, so don't worry." She forced a smile, knowing that was a complete lie.

Liliana smiled brightly as she started to cut into her chicken. "Well, that's nice," She passively said, eating her food. "Oh," A thought popped into her head. "Prom should be coming up soon!" 

Sabrina inwardly rolled her eyes but nodded with a smile. "Yes, it is coming. We should hear about it on Monday. Secretary Xena will announce it either before the first class or after the first class like she did last year with the seniors." She absent-mindedly replied, taking a bite out of her food.

Riccardo took a bite of the green beans off his fork and listened to his daughter. "I wonder what Miss Greene has decided to come up with. I was impressed with the winter gala she put together and figured she'd make senior prom a night to remember." He recalled giving her the reins.

Sabrina death-gripped her fork."Did you have to allow Ariana, of all people, to have free reign prom? You even trusted her with one of your credit cards!" She exclaimed through gritted teeth.

Liliana frowned, finishing up what was in her mouth. "Sabrina, there is no need to be upset at your father. Miss Greene has a promising career in fashion and interior design. Your father is simply helping get some major events for her portfolio." There was potential in that girl.

Sabrina wasn't jealous per se, but she was livid she wasn't offered the chance to plan prom. "I'm not upset!" She suddenly exclaimed then recoiled, collecting herself. "I'm not upset, I just wish you would have offered me a chance." She sweetly added, eating some of her food.

"I do apologize for not offering, but you didn't seem that interested in it at the time. I also saw some of Miss Greene's ideas for prom and they are mind-blowing, as you kids say." Riccardo explained, his expression softening as he hoped she'd understand. 

Liliana wanted to add to her husband's words, preventing their daughter from saying another word. "Sabrina, as long as you're crowned prom queen, does it matter?" She asked, not understanding why Sabrina was upset over the fact she wasn't getting to plan prom. "I never planned it yet I won."

Sabrina inwardly huffed as she chewed up the food in her mouth slowly, trying to calm herself down . "No, I suppose it doesn't matter." She finally said, not wanting to dwell on the issue anymore.

Liliana wanted to dwell on the issue since it was important to their family. "Just think, your prom queen photo will be displayed on the wall next to mine, your aunt, your grandmother's, her sisters, your great grandmother's and her sister's, and so forth, same with your father's side. It's in our blood to win prom queen!" She exclaimed, a bright smile on her red lips.

Sabrina knew prom was huge in her house. Every girl on both sides of her family has been prom queen and the boys had been prom king. It was just how things were. You were prom royalty no matter what. There was no possible way you wouldn't be.

They didn't care what dirty tricks you played as long as you wore that crown, you held power in the family and bragging rights. Once you were crowned prom royalty, everyone in her family held you up on a pedestal. 

Then when she went to college she could go to the same sorority her mother went to, solely for prom queens. She could finally be part of the Gamma Tau Sigma, just like all the women in her family before her. It was almost attainable. It was within reach.

She picked up her glass and took a small sip of her water. "Don't worry, Mom, I will become prom queen! I'm popular and everyone loves me. Who wouldn't vote for your sweet daughter when I know what the student body wants." She flashed a sweet smile, placing her hands under her chin.

Liliana couldn't help but coo at how amazed she was at her daughter. "That's true. No one in their right mind wouldn't vote for you, Sabrina. You're perfect in every way! If they don't vote for you, shame on them, they're fools." She smiled, going back to eating.

Riccardo wanted to add a small reminder on how grave the issue was."Remember that there is no prom princess, only a prom queen. Always pull out all the stops and do everything in your power to reach the crown. Nothing is off-limits, nothing." He added, hoping she would take heed to his words and go wild.

Sabrina nodded with a proud smile, feeling a little sure of herself. "Don't worry. No one but me will be wearing that crown on prom night. No one will stand in my way." She placed her hand over her heart and had a dreamy look in her eyes. 'And for once in your life, I'll make you proud.'

〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰♛〰

A/N:
I am on a roll. I figured I'd place The Royal Charm Academy on the back burner since I am having writer's block on it. I have more ideas for this and THOBM. Plus I already had a lot of chapters plotted out and woo, this one is gonna be a good book. Major plans for this.

Also, I'm working on two new stories that have about five chapters written up already, and got a lot of ideas for them. I'd be Full Moon and The Musketeers. I can't wait to share them with you. They are kinda my pride and joy. 

Chapter Talk:
I figured I ought to give Sabrina her own chapter with her friends like I did with Stephoné and Cooper, although Stephoné has two and Cooper has like four, I wanted to show more of her family dynamic sooner than later. You'll definitely get more of her into later chapters. 

I also took inspiration for how serious prom is to her family from The Ballad of Sara Berry. Although Sabrina wouldn't go to the extent Sara did, she does have some things up her sleeve to do towards the competition. I am kinda proud of how I laid out prom, which you haven't read yet or maybe you have.

Thanks for reading!