Today's the day. The day that both Bradley and Julianne hate more than anything.

It's the day of the event.

Bradley huffs while standing and looking at the hotel's closet. He's staring at all of his suits (which he didn't want to bring but did, just in case). He knows the one his mother wants him to wear. He knows it like the back of his hand. He runs his hand across the suits' material.

"Bradley?" Cassandra yells from the bathroom. She's so frantic, like always. Bradley sighs and walks (and trips over clothes) from the closet doorway to the bathroom doorway where his and his parent's room's connect. The white tiling is cold against his bare feet and he steps backwards onto the carpet after touching it.

"Yes, mother?" He asks politely.

"Oh my gosh!" Cassandra screams, she throws her hands up in frustration. "Why aren't you dressed? We leave in ten minutes!"

Bradley nods his head and walks back to the closet. His mother is still yelling at him but he shuts the bathroom door to drown her voice out.

He gets dressed in a rush, throwing on his suit. When he's ready to go, his mother looks at him in disappointment.

"Bradley, you said the suit fit!" she screams. Her usually pin straight, auburn hair is up high in an impressive bun, held there with an abundance of hairspray and bobby pins. Bradley decides that it doesn't look half bad.

Bradley rolls his eyes, "It does." Cassandra is going to have another hissy fit, she may even leave him at the hotel. Bradley decides to continue down the path he's on. "Why is it such a big deal anyways?"

"It doesn't button! The jacket doesn't fit!" Cassandra throws her hands up before clenching them into fists. "Why can't you ever listen to me? Fine, you don't want to see that movie. Fine, you don't want to exercise! Fine, you don't want to eat healthy! But can't you, for one fucking night, listen to me? How many times did I tell you I wanted that suit to fit? How many times have I told you how important this is to me?" Cassandra's eyes are glassy. Bradley feels a tad bit bad for sending his mom into a crazy frenzy, but not bad enough to apologize.

"I can go change," Bradley offers. Cassandra braces herself on the creme wall with one a hand and uses her other hand to rub her temple. Bradley thinks he sees a bit of grey in her long auburn hair.

"You don't understand," Cassandra exasperates. She looks like she might cry, but Bradley knows she would never.

"Why is it such a big deal?" Bradley huffs frustrated. Cassandra opens her mouth to speak but Graham walks into the hallway, finally.

Graham looks at Cassandra with concern, "What's wrong?" He goes to touch her hand but she slaps it away.

"Nothing," she snaps. She stands up tall, breathing in deeply. "Get in the car. We're going to be late."

She leads them all into the hotel and presses the "G" floor button. The only thing that can be heard is the sound of the elevator softly buzzing. Bradley doesn't really understand why his mother acts so infuriating, he decides to ask Julianne about it when he sees her.

When they reach the ground floor and the elevator doors open, Julianne is there. She smiles at them. Her black hair is down in curls. She's wearing a skin tight black dress that has cut outs on the abdomen. It also makes her look like she has curves. She's wearing seven inch red heels, making her look tall.

"Julianne," Cassandra says enthusiastically. Cassandra walks to Julianne and kisses her cheek. "What are you wearing?" Cassandra eyes Julianne and sighs, like she did every time.

Bradley rolls his eyes from behind his mother. His mother always has something to say.

"What's wrong?" Julianne asks. She looks down at her appearance. She really thought her mother would like this. It screams professional. Bradley knows that Julianne wants to snap at their mother, say something rude and immature. But Julianne had a façade built for her parents. Something she hides behind just so her parents will back off of her.

Bradley takes the criticism instead of Julianne because he refuses to act like someone he's not.

Cassandra opens her mouth but Graham cuts in, "Nothing sweetheart. You look stunning." Cassandra glares at Graham, but her husband just ignores her. He takes Julianne's hand and leads them to the parking garage.

Bradley strolls behind them, tuning out his mother talking to Julianne about ballet and his father talking about the event. None of it matters to him.

"You and your brother will take his car, your father and I will meet you there," Cassandra explains. She's looking Bradley in the eyes so Bradley nods. She smiles at him before walking to Graham's car.

Julianne and Bradley get into his car. A silence fills the air. Bradley's' unsure if they should talk about what happened back at the hotel. He pulls out of the hotel garage and drives. Julianne pulls down the sun visor and looks at herself in its mirror. She taps on her matte red lips before putting the sun visor back up.

"How do you live with her?" Julianne breaks the silence. Bradley looks at her for a moment before turning his attention back to the road.

"You got lucky, being shipped off," Bradley informs her. She snorts. "Very cute," he says sarcastically.

"But seriously, how do you do it?"

Bradley doesn't know how to answer her question. There's no real answer. He's not sure how he does it. He doesn't hate his mother, maybe that's how.

"I don't know, honestly. You get used to it," Bradley shrugs his shoulders. Bradley doesn't think it's that bad, at times. His mother just wants what's best for them, perhaps at times she doesn't do it right but she tries.

"You're doing it again," Julianne accuses. "Stop doing it."

"What? What am I doing?"

"You're feeling bad for her. You're thinking about how all she wants is the best for us. Stop it."

Bradley sighs. "But it's true, all she wants is for us to do well."

"That's so pointless," Julianne argues. "She acts like the only way to do well in life is to be like her. There's so much to life then ballet—"

Bradley cuts her off, "how would you know? You're thinking about giving up a chance with Xander for ballet. God, Jules, fucking ballet!"

"Why are you being like this?" Julianne questions. Bradley can tell she's angry. She doesn't this thing with her eyebrows, they scrunch together.

"Like what? Telling stuff how I see it? Because that's what's happening. Mom wants what's best for us, but she doesn't see that her endgame and ours are so different," Bradley tries to explain, "and trying to choose between two things, two things that make your world. Ballet or Xander. Well guess what, you've worked your whole life for ballet. Twenty fucking years for where you are. A contract with the best ballet company in the US, and he wants you to give it up."

Julianne doesn't say a word for the rest of the drive. She just stares out the car window, watching the trees pass in a blur.

"We're here," Bradley announces. He parks the car and gets out. Julianne does the same. Bradley observes the building. It's bland and tan. There's nothing special about it. Bradley doesn't see anything special about events in general.

"You ready?" Julianne asks, looking at him. Bradley just nods. He's been to enough of these. He knows the protocol: shake hands, smile, saying something along the lines of 'it's a pleasure to meet you', and then listen to someone go on and on about ballet.

They walk in, meeting their parents in the lobby. Cassandra signs them in. The lady at the podium smiles and points them to the left. Bradley smiles at her before following behind his parents, Julianne at his right.

Before they walk in, Cassandra turns around and stops them. "There's going to be snack, do not eat more than two things. People are going to want to talk to you, you're going to act happy and excited, like you actually want to be here."

Bradley rolls his eyes for what feels like the umpteenth time tonight and nods his head. Julianne just nods her head. Cassandra smiles before turning around, straightening her dress out and then strutting into the room.

Bradley sees multiple people turn their heads, just wanting to get a glimpse of his family. He refrains from scowling. He just puts on his happy time face and smiles at everyone. He doesn't feel like interacting with human beings but he will.

A guy Bradley's never met before walks up to him and says, "Hello! You must be Bradley! I've heard so much about you!"

Bradley knows this is going to be the longest night of his life, by far.

__________

☒ - unedited

What did you think of this chapter? Do you think Cassandra's mini freak out was unnecessary?

Please tell me if you see any mistakes, I'm the queen of typos.

Read, vote, comment, and please, please share! Tell me what you liked/disliked. Constructive criticism is very, very welcome!

Rant of the chapter: Writers block is a real bitch. Now you rant below!

Dedicated to: Driftingoceans ... she's actually helped me through this writers block and I love her lots!! No you choose someone and dedicate it to them!

Next update: soon, i promise.

Teaser: the real shit starts happening.

Quick notes:
[ 1 ] I'm so so so so sorry for being gone so long! I can't believe I did that. I lost so much inspiration and family stuff went down. I'm so sorry.
[ 2 ] Please tell me what you would like to see in this story or what you think will happen.
[ 3 ] The plot has been finalized, which had not been in the last five chapters so the writing will foreshadow (look for it) and lead up really well go the plot twist.
[ 4 ] Thank you so much if you stuck by me. I got two comments on the last chapter telling me to update, which I actually found super flattering because two people want to see more of this. I thank everyone who reads this. I love you.

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