0.17

"yeah, girl. we look good as hell right now."

piles of dirty cotton balls on top of the dresser, mountains of shoes on the floor, and colorful makeup brushes scattered across the bed resulted in two girls finally ready for the ball.

they'd started getting ready at four, and it was now seven. gwendolyn quickly realized that madeline was completely right about greatness taking time.

"oh my god, it's amazing," gwen gushed.

madeline fixed her lashes. "yeah, i know. i made sure that it was waterproof, so that way if you and karla—"

"okay, okay, okay— please don't finish that sentence."

"hmm, fine." she reapplied her lip gloss. "you know, this reminds me of getting you ready for your first date, when you were all single and didn't know what to do." madeline wiped an imaginary tear from her eye. "now my baby is all loved up now. time goes by so fast!"

gwen laughed. "that was only a couple months ago, you're exaggerating!"

"they grow so fast," madeline sighed, engulfing gwendolyn into a hug. "invite me to your wedding, 'kay?

"you know i will, maddy. but please let me go, i'm running out of breath."

"right, okay. i worked so hard on your makeup, i can't let it go to waste."

green eyeshadow with a simple eyeliner covered her eyes, along with tiny gems (individually placed) against the eyeliner.

to spice up the look, she had even gotten french tip press-ons for her nails, something gwen's nimble fingers were not accustomed to.

she had also decided to bring out her curling iron, so her brown hair brushed against her shoulders in effortless waves.

gwendolyn walked over to her bed and picked up the small, white handbag, and fiddled with the pearl handle. "i think i'm ready."

right as she uttered those words, heavy knocks pounded against her door. "gwendolyn, ma fleur? the limo is ready."

"oh, karla!" her voice lit up at the familiar voice, rushing towards the door. "wait madeline, you have a ride, right?"

"yeah, i'm going with my mom and the others." she responded. "i don't need to get in between you two. remember: go in there like you own the place!"

madeline guided gwendolyn out the door, leaving her to stand right in front of karla.

karla stood tall (per usual) at the door, dressed in a tight, long-sleeve black dress that highlighted her abs. silver gems embedded on the hem. silver bracelets trailed up on her left arm, her silver boots complimenting the look. her hair had just been done, faux locs hair down her back.

her mouth was propped open, giving gwen time to say something.

"well, uh... hey, sunshine." she stammered out.

karla kissed gwendolyn's cheek. "you look absolitely ravishing, darling. you leave me speechless everytime i see you."

"oh, stop it! you just like to flatter me."

"it's not flattery if it's the truth," quipped karla, trailing her hand down to hold gwen's. "i really mean it, you look great."

"you do too," whispered gwen. "i'm excited for the night to start."

"i'm glad you are," karla responded. "everyone will love you, i promise you that. even if they don't, i could care less about that."

madeline's words rang through gwen's head.

act like you own the place!

▢▢▢

okay, maybe i should rethink that.

they had pulled up to a mansion— gated entrance, freshly mowed lawn, and pale brick covering the house. lights lit up the exterior of the house, exposing the groomed shrubbery.

"gosh, karla— this place is amazing!" gwen gasped.

"it is, isn't it? it's one of my party houses, and i haven't had a chance to shown it off yet. this ball is the best opportunity to do so."

rich people.

as she peered out the window, black limos similar to theirs had pulled up in front of the mansion. women in floor-length dresses cupping their figures, and men decked up in their finest suits.

they look so pretty... and mean. gwen thought.

"don't be too imitated by them, they're just here for a good time." karla assured, getting out of the car and holding the door open for gwendolyn. "they'll love you."

"thank you, sunshine. you're the best, you know that?"

"i try."

with gwen's arms linked around karla's, they stepped foot into the building.

of course from the outside of the mansion, gwendolyn was expecting greatness, and her expectations were met.

white marble floors, crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling, and wide arrays of colorful paintings on the wall, accompanied by the plush white lounge chairs on the side.

as she looked at the view around her, it seemed as if thousands of people swarmed around karla, each one of them with love in their eyes.

"karla valentin in the flesh!"

"god, she's so fucking fine."

"who does her hair? she always looks good."

just before they were able to bombard karla with questions, she raised her hand. "give me a second, i'll be right there." she pulled gwen over to the side and frowned. "i'm so sorry darling, let me answer their questions and i'll catch up with you, alright?"

oh, right. this is business for her after all. thought gwen.

she hid her disappointment with a smile. "it's fine, i know you're a busy person."

"don't lie to me." said karla, pushing a strand of hair behind gwen's ear. "they always act like wild animals when i walk in the room, its annoying. especially when your the one that makes me happy."

"you do too," smiled gwendolyn.

"i swear i'll talk to them as fast as i can."

and right in front of the small entourage of people they gathered, karla planted a kiss right on her lips.

"gotta let them know what's mine, right?" she smirked.

this left the freckled to scurry into the main ballroom, where everything would happen.

god. it's been ages since i've gone to a party.

she knew the exact reason why she hated going to them: the feeling of being watched, and not knowing what to do with herself but going to the food bar and stuffing her face. it didn't help that she didn't have any friends.

but it was different this time, she was in a different situation.

yet old habits die hard. and so, gwen wandered over to the food bar.

squeezing through the crowds of people, making sure not to step on their dresses or get marks on their precious suits, she attempted to look for anyone she knew.

and this is exactly why i don't go. i can't find anyone. i probably look like a stumbling idiot.

but to her relief, she spotted the corner of a silk table cloth and the edge of a blue dress.

maddy!

a perfect two in one— her friend and food on the side.

"madeline?"

the said girl whipped her head around, a plate of mozzarella sticks in her hands. "oh, gwen!"

gwen bounced on her toes and squeezed her hands together. "i'm so, so, so happy to see you! gosh, i thought i'd have to walk around all alone."

"of course you wouldn't have to, girl. i was gonna text you but i got... distracted."

"were the mozzarella sticks that good?" joked gwen.

"well, that's part of the reason, but no." madeline nudged her head behind gwendolyn. "there was this cute guy, and i think she was just flirting with me."

"wait, really? well let me just turn around—"

"no, don't turn around! that's so obvious, and he'll know that we're talking about him! just trust my words, that's a fine piece of man right there."

"you think you'll get his number?" asked gwendolyn.

"i think? no girl. i know i'm getting it. in fact, he's coming this way now! act natural."

gwen whipped her head around and eyed the guy up and down.

fair brown skin, loose brown curls, warm hazel eyes, and full lips.

yeah, he was pretty. she could see the appeal.

"excuse me, for that. i got caught up in some... work." his words directed towards madeline, but his eyes trailed down to gwen. "i assume that you're her friend?"

"oh, yeah," she answered. "gwendolyn."

"i'm cj. nice to meet you."

she busied herself with the array of snacks while madeline and cj exchanged sultry looks and words.

if that's how i am with karla, i'll go ahead and dig my grave now.

yet while she kept on watching, she couldn't rub off that feeling. like how there was something... wrong about the way cj gazed at madeline's body, barely looking at her eyes. he got closer to her every second, whispering sticky sweet word into her ear.

eh, whatever. i should be happy for her in the first place, she's been wanting this for a while.

and so she minded her business, taking a sip of her fruit punch while having the occasional swipe through her phone.

i miss karla a lot. i'd be much happier if it was just the two of us.

what she failed to see was the swarm of people gathering around each other, seemingly making a pathway for someone to walk through.

that someone being karla pierce, of course. but behind her were a group of people just (or even more) imitating than she was.

"ma fleur." karla swooned opening her arms towards gwen.

gwendolyn raised her head from hearing her name. "karla! i was just thinking about you."

"i hope that you're thinking about me all the time, no?" she teased.

"this is who you were talking about?"

with one glance behind karla, gwen was greeted by four (stunning) people. each of them with dark, sepia skin, jet black hair, and astonishing height. each of them having features similar to karla.

it was clear: karla's parents.

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part 1 out of 3 for the ball done! how do you like it so far?

as i'm uploading this now, this story is at 9.5k reads, which is so so crazy to me😭 i love seeing this story grow, and i love reading the comments you guys leave!

with that being said, watch out for the next part 😉😏