wishing on stars
CHAPTER 2 ! SHE'S A TEN
BUT SHE HAS MOMMY ISSUES

evangeline la bouff +
rosabella beauty fun fact !!
evangeline and rosabella met on the EAH orientation day and have never separated ever
since; eva likes to pretend that rosie is the needy
one in the relationship when in reality, eva had
to use her mom's influence in order to convince
the school for rosie to dorm with her (rosabella doesn't mind, she secretly smiles whenever eva
tries to act nonchalant)

                    EVANGELINE'S SMIRK WAS WIPED OFF as her face immediately went into model mode. Her eyes stared right in front of her, half-lidded and relaxed. She was in her element. This was her world.

The blonde then began to strut, she was given permission by the brand to be "tempting" with her walk (they said tempting because she was a minor and they couldn't say full-blown Lindsay Lohan party girl sex icon, regardless, Evangeline understood the prompt). Usually modeling brands want your faces and walks to be neutral as possible, to not be a distraction from the clothes and allow audiences to appreciate the art. It isn't like the old days where you could sway your hips and walk with the most devil-foresake smile the heavens have ever seen (no shame to Shalom Harlow though, she's a devil in the best regards).

But Di Petsa (the brand she was signed with) gave her a bit of free reign considering the whole theme of rebirth and all that jazz. Evangeline strutted into a pace that gracefully fell with the electronic beat track playing in the background, Her heels clicking along with the grove of the music. All eyes were on her. She was the closing model, wearing the main piece, the statement piece. Her hips swayed like oceans running towards lands. Her expressionless faces teased destruction.

Her relaxed eyes were sharp like the oceans threatening chaos to way-too-close beach-houses. They slapped against the sand, the same color of her wet-gelled blonde hair as if Evangeline herself had walked out of the ocean as a god. It was strong and exact with aggressive undertones.

Most models say they blank out when walking down a catwalk, as if the whole event was a blur, not Evangeline. She took in everyone's stares and every camera pointed her way. She felt above everyone else, a toxic euphoria she couldn't help but get off on. It was addicting, the feeling that everyone in the room staring, wanting to be her.

There was a strange calm within that. The biggest compliment if anything. Wanting to be the Evangeline Chanel Spencer La Bouff. La Bouff. What a bunch of idiots. Because who in their goddamn mind would want to be a La Bouff!?

La Bouff meant heartbreak. And not the cutesy Laney Boggs finds out she's a bet heartbreak. It was more Satine dying in Christian's arms kind of heartbreak (there's a difference obviously). A cycle that passed from generation to generation, an unrequited love that was eternal. A fire that could never be put out.

The title of 'Maiden of Forever Loneliness' would always cause a tight strained smile on the blonde's face. But that's all it was. A strained smile. And that's all it ever will be. Nothing more, nothing less.

The thought always caused an uncomfortable stir in her stomach; it was like tall walls that carried heavy and dirty water behind it. One crack and her mind's thoughts would tumble and fall into a place where it shouldn't. Sometimes it felt like an itch wanting to be scratched.

It was good thing that Evangeline had restraint.

White trailed behind her, mocking the look of a bride. Evangeline continued to strut, looping back around until she reached the starting but paused as as she turned around, facing the audience once more. She raised her nose high as she stood, resting. on the weight of her hips. People began to click their cameras simultaneously as previous models came out behind her through the curtains. However, Evangeline didn't falter, not even when she saw who was directly in front of her.

A curled effortless styled blonde identical to her own. A woman who was a carbon copy of Evangeline (or rather, the other way around). Charlotte La Bouff's eyes was analyzing her daughter, a sliver of an expression cracked through her model-face as she noticed a scowl hidden behind her mother's aloof appearance. She quickly got rid of the downturn of her lips before anyone (specifically her mother could see it).

Evangeline inwardly groaned, she must've noticed the Pepsi-only-diet weight gain that's she had for the past week. She could hear her persistent voice now, "Evangeline...Are you listening to Doctor Brie? No sugar after 7pm! "

The blonde teen was thinking as many excuses she could come up with in her head as the designer came out and thanked the audience. Maybe Evangeline could just gaslight her mother into thinking she was delusional (now that, would be the dream). Evangeline smiled widely as everyone applauded them, a smile that was so painfully fake to anybody who knew that the La Bouff didn't smile (pre-mature wrinkles are a real cause for concern!).

She could blame pervert Aaron! And since she basically fired him, he wouldn't be able to defend himself—it would work perfectly!

The arena lights that were once dimmed were set to its original shade of blinding white. The show was over. The designer walked backstage and models before her went back in. As Evangeline stepped past the curtain, she could hear the bottle of champagne popping and cheers of celebration.

"Miss La Bouff, your phone." The makeup girl from earlier walked cautiously towards her, a stark contrast between the smiling people chatting lively in front of her. Evangeline nodded to the woman in acknowledgment, quickly checking for any scratches or damage. Once she discovered there was none, she muttered a thank you (albeit sarcastically but a thank you nonetheless) as she walked away.

   Evangeline felt a sudden pull.

Have you ever had a feeling in which you were physically present but not fully there?

As if you were watching everyone around you be the most happiest you've ever seen them been, but you're watching them through an invisible screen?

Evangeline stayed quiet as the makeup girl was whisked away by the celebrations as the designer began to make a toast. The blonde's pace slowed, eventually pausing as she felt her heels glued to the floor. The world felt silent and fell into a peaceful silence.

"I would just like to thank everyone for all your hard work." The designer's words sounded muffled in Evangeline's ears. Her heart loudly pumped in her ears.

"Stage crew, artists, models, photographers, choreographers, show callers, dresser." She continued to list. She sounded faraway, like an echo. "Thank you."

Her heart began to beat faster. Evangeline's slender legs began to move, like a puppet pulled on strings, being pulled further and further away from the scene. Evangeline's eyes turned to a deep blue, a blue that replicated drowning oceans as the blonde fell in and couldn't seem to get out.

"I didn't dream of making it this far but now I'm here!" She felt a longing, a pull. She could see everyone around the woman speaking on a makeshift stage of several makeup boxes stacked together. They were all smiling. Real smiles.

Evangeline faltered. Why couldn't she have that? Her original thought came back to mind. Her forbidden thought. Her strained smile. The tall wall began to crack. One crack turned to two. Two turned to three. Everything hit Evangeline like a relentless wave trying to drown her.

"It seems I got my happily ever after all ." All of it came back, crashing all at once.

Literally.

The world seemed to clear, like a spell had finally lifted the fog. She took a step forward. Her thoughts remained just as thoughts. Her tall wall began to mend itself, fixing it as though no damage had been done. Yet as life quickened back to speed, Evangeline realized her predicament. And quite fast too as the blonde yelped, her body falling down a case of stairs.

"YOU ARE EXTREMELY FORTUNATE THAT THE DESIGN DIDN'T TEAR!"

Evangeline held the urge to roll her eyes as her hands pressed a bag of ice that was given to her by some employee onto her ankle. She sat uncomfortable at the back of her private jet (an odd statement to put together, she's aware—uncomfortable and private jet? What a lovely first-world problem!) as the blonde-haired woman who stood taller than her scorned her.

"Imagine what Anna would say to me? Or Donatella! Dear god, Evangeline have some class! You're extremely lucky that I made every employee there sign NDAs."

"I'm good Mom, thanks for asking." Evangeline smiled bitterly.

Dramatic ripples met rapids as Evangeline's eyes met Charlotte's. A silent battle between blue.

Meet Charlotte La Bouff; CEO, fashion-designer, creative director, model, specialized fashion consultant, million dollar net worth. Amazing role model, she was everything Evangeline wanted to be. Amazing mom however...?

Eh... she has her moments.

Charlotte was a successful self-made businesswoman whose confidence and style was always featured in a page of DIVINE magazine. She held the same bouncy and well-conditioned midsummer blonde hair as Evangeline and stood with a posture that made her look like a Queen. Her life was devoted to her company which kind of left Evangeline in an awkward position. She understood she wasn't the biggest priority in her Mom's life but she could at least pretend she was...!

Evangeline's beady eyes narrowed at her mother's testing eyes, shades of blue fighting in a storm for control. Evangeline were bright and obnoxious shades while Charlotte's were a single color of royal blue, so vivid that it's message was loud and clear; "get rid of your attitude right this instant".

Like mother. Like daughter!

Speaking of daughters,
where's ours?

What do you mean "where's
ours?" Didn't you pick her up
from school?

School? What? No?!
Today's your day to pick her up!

What? No? I thought
you picked up Brooke!

Evangeline retaliated. Her eyes drifted sideways, chewing her the side of her cheek. A notification dinged, filling the silence.

"You're fine. Don't be dramatic. The officer said there isn't even any bruising." Charlotte brushed off, grabbing her phone from the wooden table. "I just don't understand how you fell down those stairs in the first place. Were you just not looking?" Charlotte's question was left unanswered as she began to type, the sounds of typing keys drifted through the still-landed jet.

Evangeline looked back up at Charlotte, her face held a natural intimidating expression. Her eyes were narrow, similar to Evangeline's except it had a waft of professionalism. The young blonde then began to scan the rest of her mother.

She was wearing a tight-fitted white dress with a large white rimmed beach hat with a black belt with a golden buckle around it. It was giving Meredith Blake from The Parent Trap, especially the deep and bright shade of rouge on her lips that made her blue eyes pop and shine against her gold statement earrings.

Evangeline had changed back into her previous clothes after the whole fiasco (which was embarrassing as fuck—crew members had heard her scream and rushed towards the girl, she thanked god that her mother swooped in before anyone could take any photographic evidence). Luckily nothing was damaged besides Evangeline's pride.

The blonde was wearing a matching tweed tube top and classy high-waisted trousers, its material rubbing her skin as she fidgeted in her seat. Despite being completely decked out in Chanel, Evangeline couldn't help but sink into her chair, feeling underdressed in comparison to her mother.

Evangeline hunched her shoulders, making herself feel small. Charlotte noticed. Her mother let out a small sigh. "Just... leave the ice pack on your ankle for a while okay?"

Evangeline nodded.

Charlotte grabbed her bag from the table and flickered her eyes between her phone and her daughter. "I have some business to do here, I won't be long but I'll tell the pilot to go ahead without me."

Evangeline nodded again, chewing the corner of her mouth.

"I'll call you once I'm back home." Charlotte promised.

Evangeline smiled. Her mother quickly walked to the cockpit as Evangeline reached into her mini purse for her phone which managed to just fit in her bag. Charlotte returned, and her eyes went soft as she saw Evangeline struggle to pull out her phone out of her mini purse. She kissed her daughter's forehead and gently smiled.

Evangeline leaned into her mother for a second, forgetting about her phone. The young blonde's eyes shut closed, embracing the small moment of warmth. As she opened her eyes, she realized her mother was already at the exit of the jet.

"Oh! And honey, call Doctor Brie. You're getting a little chubby." She then left.

Evangeline's smile fell.

CALLING "rosie bestie boo 🫦"

RING RING RIN-

"Hello hello! I saw you on the livestream! You looked amazing!" The cheerful voice rang throughout the crevices of the jet as Evangeline raised her phone's volume. Evangeline had closed her eyes several hours ago and managed to get some sleep, and was now ultimately bored.

"Yeah, yeah, whatever." Evangeline shrugged as she waved her hand. "What are you doing?"

The girl on the other side of the call raised her eyebrows at her dismissive and snappy tone. She was no stranger to the blonde's blunt manner, but she could tell from a drop of a hat that something was wrong with the blonde. "Hey, did something happe-?"

   "I don't want to talk about it."

   "Okay." The girl said shortly, willingly accepting the blonde's refusal as her eyes drifted away from the Facetime call.

   A beat passed. Evangeline huffed. "I said I don't want to talk about it."

   The other girl shrugged her shoulders, not pushing Evangeline any further.

   "Okay."

   "I said!" Evangeline began to shout. "I don't want to talk about it!"

   "Okay."

   The blonde huffed loudly, "Fine!"

   Rosabella Beauty smiled. The Afro-Latina had had a system with Evangeline La Bouff ever since they first dormed together. Whenever Eva refused to talk about something, Rosie quickly learned it wasn't because Evangeline hated her (something her first impression was also incorrect on). On the first night of them sleeping together in their shared dorm, the blonde was being suspiciously silent despite sending Rosie several glares throughout the night. This of course sent Rosabella down an entire rabbit hole of "Oh my god, did I do something wrong? Does she hate me? Why does she keep staring at me!".

   After an hour of awkward small-talk and a sudden burst of question (from the brunette) leading to a string of sudden insults (from the blonde), it was revealed that that Evangeline was only just trying to come up with the words to ask to Rosabella if they could sleep with a night light because Evangeline was afraid of the dark. Least to say, both were very red at the end of their conversation—but Rosabella had learned something that night.

   The brunette had learned that Evangeline just really hated being embarrassed. And she hated talking about it even more. So luckily, Rosie had come up with a way to getting Eva to be more open with her feelings without pushing her too much—ignoring her until she bursted. And while yes, it sounds cruel, it's better than confronting the blue-eyed girl. The La Bouff was extremely defensive, like a porcupine! If she senses even the slightest of threat (whether she's right or wrong), she'll instantly put up her guard and shoot out her spines of unwarranted insults.

   And Rosabella would rather not deal with that. So when you're stuck in that Evangeline ditch of miscommunication, you need to take the petty way out. Silent treatment. Evangeline hates silent treatment.

   Evangeline sighed, drifted her eyes away from the screen, embarrassed to be telling Rosie. "On my way out, I tripped on the stairs." Evangeline began.

   Rosie blinked, not necessarily expecting that to be what Evangeline was refusing to talk about. "Uh- Well-" She composed herself, pushing her glasses further up on her nose. "Are you alright? You aren't hurt are you?"

   The blonde ran her tongue over her teeth and scoffed aggressively. "Just a sprained ankle." Evangeline looked back to her phone, making eye contact with Rosabella, her flushed embarrassed cheeks now gone. It was now replaced with a flame burning in her eyes as she recounted what her mother did, "But everyone was looking so my Mom made everybody sign NDAs to not let the press know about me being an idiot."

   Rosabella was well aware of the... lack of parental figure in Evangeline's supposed parental figure. When Rosabella was invited to stay at Evangeline's, there was never any parental vision—something that had shocked young-Rosabella, her home was always bustling with maids and butlers, garden staff and cooks, family members and village people visiting. There was never a dull day in the Beauty Castle. When Rosabella had asked Evangeline as to where her mother was, Evangeline was dismissive—"Somewhere in Europe I think, maybe in Prague or Venice, how am I supposed to know." From then on, Rosabella made sure to make hangouts at her place or in local malls (anywhere that wasn't eerily empty).

   Before anyone assumes, Rosabella did not pity the blonde girl. She just thinks as someone from a very busy family, there is always time to make time for your kids. If they could, they would.

   "Hey, you're not an idio-"

   Evangeline rolled her eyes, "I'm not finished. So my Mom basically scolds me the entire time, calling me dramatic and basically saying I'm a mess. Not to mention she basically fat-shames me."

   Rosie's eyes scoffs unbelievably at Evangeline, "You're literally the skinniest person I know."

   Evangeline was very conscious of her diet and eating, always asking Hagatha (Rosabella was absolutely sure that the blonde had no clue what the woman's name was) the amount of calories, sugar and carbs in the cafeteria food at school. Evangeline was the type of person if bored, would go for a light jog. And Evangeline got bored a lot. The blonde didn't like sitting still, she needed to be moving at all times, plus jogging helped her clear her mind (Rosabella can't relate—she hated anything moving-related, it's a miracle she manages to pass P.E.).

   "Whatever, I'm over it." Evangeline places her phone in front of the plane-branded water bottle and waves her hand in dismissal.

   Swishing her box braids onto her shoulder behind her back, Rosabella nodded sarcastically, "Mhmm totally."

   The blonde rolled her eyes as she grabbed the plane care package beside her and pulled out a nail filer. "You didn't answer my question. What are you doing right now."

   "Reading classes." The brunette sighs. "They sent them out like 3 hours ago. Please tell me you're in Chemistry 2?"

   Shit.

   Evangeline had forgotten. How the fuck did she forget? Tomorrow was the first day of school. The first day of the Sophomore year. The first day of Legacy Year.

   Once mended cracks began to shake. Already? But- Evangeline wasn't ready yet. No. No. No. She needs more time. The tall wall was shaking violently. She needs more time. She needs more time. She needs more time!

   "Eva?"

   Evangeline blinked, filing her already filed nails. "I haven't checked yet."

   Rosie rose an eyebrow, squinting at the screen's pixels. "Hey, are you still in the air?"

   Evangeline nodded, admiring her fingertips. Her nails were recently painted. Simple french but with a cute red heart between the lovely white and pale pink. "Yeah?"

   Rosabella folded her arms as she leaned on her bedrest, the fairy lights on her wall glowing as the cogs in her brain turned. "Aren't you supposed to put your phone in airplane mode?"

   Evangeline shrugged. "It's fine, it's just me and the pilot."

   "Are you sure? I don't want you to get in trouble." Evangeline rolled her eyes at Rosabella's insistence. "I can just end the call-"

   "No one cares, it's a private jet for a reason." Evangeline dismissed Rosie's worries, the brunette always had a habit of thinking of the worst case possible. Rosabella smiled—in her own Evangeline way, the blonde was asking the brunette to keep her company. Rosie was going to tease her when Evangeline spoke up.

   "Did you see Briar's story?"

   "Oh, you mean the one where she has booze in the background despite being underage and all her insta posts has totally more than enough potential to put her in jail?"

   Evangeline snorted. That's what the blonde liked about Rosie. She had bite, and while she was seemingly kind, she didn't settle for the bare minimum. Rosabella had a tongue of fire that spit flames when needed, Evangeline however, had a tongue of ice that spat painful shards whenever she wanted. They complimented each other that way.

   Rosabella smiled. "Then yeah, totally."

   "You gonna go?"

   "God no," Rosie shook her head, "Mami would kill me if she found out." The girl instantly rejected.

   She tilted her head as she murmured, her eyes focused on her laptop screen, taking the liberty of making her own class schedule (the schedules the school provided were bright ugly colours, and Rosabella was bored of scrolling on Youtube). "And Mami would also kill Briar if she found out."

   Evangeline smirked at the girl's comment. Rosabella and Briar while related, were nothing alike. They were first cousins on their mother's side but both girls had taken their maternal last name. They were both close enough in height and had similar features but were recognisable enough by themselves. Rosabella liked to have her hair with control, whether it be in the manner of braids, cornrows or straightened completely. She was uptight that way. Briar liked it loose and dramatic; beads, coloured dreads and weaves, or styled afros.

   Rosie then looked towards her phone, her brown eyes on Evangeline's pondering blues. "Why? You wanna go?"

   "Maybe. I haven't gone to a party all summer." The blonde shrugged. It was true and while she wasn't a party freak, a good party always let off some good steam. Getting blasted drunk till Evangeline felt numb for a few hours sounded real nice to the teenager.

   As if reading the blonde's mind, the Afro-Latina chuckled and sang softly. "Drink responsibly~"

   Evangeline rolled her ocean orbs. "So tell me about your summer."

   "I-uh- met a guy." Rosabella lifted her back off her bedrest, almost shyly.

   "Bitch-?" Evangeline sat up in shock, lifting her back from her seat in a similar manner as Rosabella, "Why didn't you start with that!"

   "Don't get your hopes up, nothing happened." She said softly, taking off her glasses as she closed her laptop screen.

   Evangeline crossed her legs on her seat, "Who cares! You met someone! Tell me about him!"

   "Well for starters, he's a vegan-"

   The blonde interrupted, "Perfect!"

   Rosabella continued. "He has this pet cat named Muffin."

   "Adorable."

   "And he has a younger sister."

   Evangeline smirked at the brunette's flushing cheeks, feeding more into her teenage crush delusions. "So he's good with kids, a literal love match!"

   Rosabella squinted her eyes in thinking, the word love bringing memories from Freshman year. "Is Cupid coming back this year? I heard she might come back."

   C.A. Cupid was an exchange student the two girls sort-of-not-really met last year, some type of experimental program that the school was trying with some other school, the blonde wasn't paying attention during last year's assembly. Evangeline didn't really care to be honest. Cupid was too ditzy for her taste, too energetic—like a hamster running on a never-ending wheel. Cupid stood for everything Evangeline practically hated but Rosie liked her so Eva held back her insults about Cupid's obvious DIY choppy bangs for Rosabella's sake.

   Rosabella continued, "I hear she might become a permanent transfer student."

   Once again, Evangeline didn't care.

   The blonde squinted her beady eyes. "Stop changing the subject, you're not subtle."

   "I-" Rosie began to defend herself.

   "I-I-I-" Evangeline mocked. "Yeah, no one gives a rat's ass about Cupid and her freaky love shit. Tell me about the guy."

   "Ugh! You're so annoying." Rosabella flusteredly spoke as the words vomited from her mouth. Rosie had a habit of suddenly rushing words out of her mouth at the speed of light whenever she was agitated, confronted, flustered, nervous, upset (you get the idea).

   "And you're avoiding!" Evangeline crossed her arms.

   Rosabella rolled her eyes as Evangeline did the same. The two continued to talk on the flight as Evangeline forced Rosabella to talk about the mysterious boy, kicking her back on track every time the girl tried to swerve paths—Evangeline laughed freely as Rosie told the story of how she almost landed face-first into burnt fire wood. The two continued to talk until Rosie's mom called on her to eat lunch, and the blonde slowly drifted back to sleep with two hours left on her flight.

It's not that hard to
pick up a child!

Mom! Dad! I'm home!

A child? Do you mean 'our'
child?! You didn't check
the schedule!

I took the bus home.
I- Never mind.

You know I have a lot
on my plate! This
narrating is no easy feat!

I'm going to my room!

'No easy feat'?! We
narrate the same story!

No, no, no! We narrate
the same event, not story.
We narrate two very
different stories.

stopppppp because evangeline falling down the stairs is literally hilarious to me

so we met charlotte... hehehe... so she's REALLY different in comparison to her princess and the frog adaption. charlotte and evangeline has a complicated relationship. charlotte literally the definition of "i have no idea what im doing" type of parent. and look, she may act like an asshole at times (most times) but just know, she does care about evangeline—she just has a different way of showing her love (something both evangeline and charlotte have in common).

AND ROSABELLA AHHHH. please these two are so besties. they're such grumpy x sunshine THEY'RE ADORABLE. they're literally black cat and orange cat vibes. also the contact name "rosie bestie boo 🫦" was totally rosa—she most definitely took eva's phone and changed her contact name and evangeline never bothered to change it <3 PLEASE AND THEY COPY THE SAME MANNERS AS EACH OTHER—eva sitting up when rosie sits up AHH

also i have exams for the next two weeks so you guys won't see me for a bit!! wish me luck 😭🤞🏽

Next chapter has our childhood friend and future heart-breaker!! also check on my tik tok for OR EDITS~ (vote, comment and follow!)

Published: 30/7/23
Word count: 4.2k