{ T H I R T Y } : B L A C K  I S  B A E.

Standing before the full length mirror in her navy blue interior and gray walls bedroom, Jazz wiggled in her silk navy blue dress toying with a note.

The curtains in her room were navy blue with a silver trim and her beddings which was occupied seventy percent by soft fur pillows and plushies were a professional mix of navy blue and gray.

Better luck next time, Jackie.

"No shit, Purple." Jazz muttered, irritated as she tucked the note away under her white desk lamp immediately she heard Eunice's voice.

It was back to polite society and it's absurd demands for her and Jian Shepherd, although the latter seemed more excited than she.

Eunice eased herself into her daughter's room looking elegant in a shimmering black evening dress that stopped short of touching the ground by an inch revealing gold jeweled pumps. Her sandy blonde locks had been sleeked into a ponytail with curled bangs dangling over her eyes and as expected the vibrant seductive red lipstick.

Eunice stared at her teenage rebel for a daughter in question, "What happened to your black dress?"

"Wasn't feeling it." Jazz retorted, locking eyes with her mom in the mirror, "I hate country club and this party reminds me of it. I feel stupid even in this dress and I'm not sure how I'm supposed to survive an entire night of fake smiles and forced conver–"

"–Jackie!" Her mom scolded holding up her hand, "You're going to put on your pretty face if you want to live."

Jazz relented, heaving a sigh.

"And I think the navy blue dress is more gorgeous." Eunice added, rubbing Jazz's bare shoulders affectionately.

Messy bun, nude make up, her glasses, glossy lips, silver jewelries, silver pencil high heels and her perfect dress, Jazz was ready to brave the night.

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Waiters in the conventional black and white circled the grand hall carrying gold trays with champagne glasses, Jazz helped herself to one.

Perched on the golden railing for support from her aching toes, she stared down at the occasion and the shiny golden tiles.

The black and gold decorations in the hall only screamed how extravagant her parents were and it was clear the event planner had a flair for flamboyance. The hall buzzed with happy chatter and elegant looking men in three piece suits and women in dinner dresses seated at their designated tables in all kinds and shades of the theme colors: black and gold.

She longed to go to the buffet area though.

"Only Jacqueline Brown would be bold enough to go against dress protocols."

Jazz smiled and turned to a breathtaking familiar face, "Mister Shepherd, always a pleasure."

Standing bronzed under the gold chandelier lights in all black, gold Italian shoes and all gold accessories, Jian Shepherd looked made in Hollywood. He sure would fit into the premiere parties and red carpet scenes with so much ease.

Jian scoffed, "Oh please, I've had enough and the night's barely even started."

Jazz laughed heartily, finally someone who actually understood her pain and it made her look at him a new light as he mimicked her action.

She noticed the blister that ran across his left eye brow, a scar the length of a toddler's pinky.

Weird that she hadn't noticed it before.

Jazz slid a drink off the next passing try and handed it to Jian.

"Cheers!"

They clinked glasses about the same time a voice screeched behind them.

"Samuel Jian Shepherd the third!"

The screech was hardly polite society appropriate but the creature it belonged too looked hundred percent polite society.

One of the two girls gasped nudging the other, "Sharon I think we are in the presence of royalty!"

"Jacqueline Brown, a pleasure to finally meet you." Sharon extended her hand while Shamei offered a flawless smile.

There was no doubting the resemblance, they were Jian's twin elder sisters looking all glit, glamour and ninety nine point nine percent identical in their gold dresses and black heels.

Shamei appeared to be the rather loud one, "Sharon says she's quite parched and needs someone to fetch her a drink. Be a gentleman."

Jian visibly face palmed but Jazz giggled, finding them amusing.

Meet the sisters wasn't going as he had envisioned.

Sharon giggled and looped her arms with Jian's much against his wish.

"Are you parched or looking to get wasted? I can't spike your drink here, Shar." Jian protested, seemingly exasperated.

"But you're Houdini himself, don't be a bore baby brother. The bartender is just behind that door." Sharon points to the western door with her purse.

"Don't mind those two." Shamei attempted at a conversation with a vibrant smile that easily beat Jian's, "My brother has the biggest crush on you, yunno?"

Jazz cleared her throat, turning a notch as the discomfort seeped into her stomach alongside a sip of the sparkling liquid.

"I had no idea." Her voice sounded tiny.

A promising love triangle?

She was never good at geometry.

Shamei laughed not buying her words for a second as she leaned her back against the railing, elbows shooting in the opposite direction.

"Jian is special and he knows it but he's a total rascal. Always getting into fights that's how he secured himself that scar on his forehead and my dad threatened to send him to military school." Shamei gushed, with wide eyes.

Jazz found the discussion hardly proper but she managed a small smile. Wasn't that supposed to be Jian's story to tell?

"Uhm you and Sharon look so identical, has that ever been a problem?"

Shamei chuckled, "The time we liked the same boy in ninth grade."

She was about to dive into the tale of some boy named Turner when Jian appeared with  a beaming Sharon.

Jian cleared his throat in disapproval of our girl time, "Ehem, Shamei talks way too much for her own good. I'm sorry, Jazz."

"Aww, do you hear that Shar? Nicknames!"

"Shamei c'mon, let's give the love birds some space..." Sharon pulled her sister along.

Shamei protested with a childish whine, "But Sharon– I love third wheeling, it's my favorite thing."

"Bye Jacqueline, talk soon."

"Or never." Jian muttered in annoyance.

"The mayor is here!"

"Finally, let's get this over with."

Jazz offered him a smile and took hold of his arm as they sashayed down the flight of stairs.

The party was officially beginning and the announcer took it as her cue to occupy the elevated platform.

"Ladies and Gents, it is an honor to welcome you all once again to the tenth annual Black is Beautiful gala." The white lady spoke into the microphone, cradling a pamphlet in one hand.

"Is it just me or she didn't sound so convinced saying black is beautiful."

"Because she's white? Jian you sound racist now." Jazz grinned.

"Please put your hands together as we give a warm welcome to the mayor of Seattle, Mr. Norm Rice." She continued and waited for the applauds to subside, "Today we are also celebrating a visionary and human rights activist. A man who is not the tycoon world cliché, a man who has created opportunities through the foundation: Black is Beautiful. In the last decade, the foundation has raised and given out over thirty-five million dollars in social amenities, shelter, food, education, jobs and clothing to Africans in diaspora. The outreach foundation has changed the lives of over seventy-five thousand men, women and children."

A decent round of applauds accompanied the flattery.

"Ladies and Gents please put your hands together as I welcome to the stage, the biggest black business mogul in Seattle, the man of the hour– Maxwell Brown."

Everyone clapped and Jazz felt her heart swell with pride where she sat beside her Mom.

"That was a lot of numbers." Maxwell joked and laughter rumbled through the hall.

He was such a charismatic man of the people. His confidence was something he had in common with his wife, Eunice.

"I say thank you to everyone who have cancelled business for the day to be able to attend this gala with their families to celebrate the first decade of our foundation. Mr Rice, your presence is a blessing." Maxwell said courtly, "There are two special people here today. My beautiful daughter, Miss Brown, congratulations on getting into Yale baby, I just want to say your mom and I love you so much, thank you for making us the proudest parents. And of course to the woman who changed everything... My amiable wife, Eunice, I love you and thank you."

Eunice hugged Jazz as expected, kissing both her cheeks while the crowd clapped.

"I have origins that trace back to West Africa, Nigeria to be precise and my family has lived in diaspora for the last eight generations and I was the first to marry interracial. My wife inspired Black is Beautiful and it is more than just the melanin on our skin but about the heart. Thank you once again!"

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A/N: a pretty cozy chapter, tbh in real sense this chapter barely affects the rest of this book but I am black and I am proud of my heritage and I figured it was high time I began brandishing it in my writing hence the Black is Beautiful gala. Of course it's a prove of my sentiment and bias but it's a lovely diversion especially with everything that is about to go down in Bubble Academy. Hope y'all have your seatbelts on cos were about to ride down a cliff. Thank you for sticking till 30!
TheShadyButterfly🦋.