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Present. Still Monday, 19:27

Chanel

Waking up to the comfort of Adela's bed oddly felt like submerging myself into the finest liquid gold. The silk sheets which shared the same hue were soft against my skin, coaxing me to awareness. I reached over to trace the intricate pattern that ran along a bedpost, my eyes gazing lazily at the fabric that draped overhead.

I allowed my head to hang just past the bed's foot as I watched the world unfurl before me.

A gasp escaped my mouth as darkness filled the room, only battled by the chandelier. I rolled over and rubbed the sleepiness from my eyes. Terror struck as a figure hurriedly shifted from the balcony, walking towards me.

"You're awake," he intoned, and I relaxed soon after.

"Glu! H-ey." I squinted. The drive from school to the manor took two hours, an added twenty minutes if from Glu's. How did he get here? Was he even supposed to be here?

My eyes adjusted, allowing me to see his baby blue sweater with banana prints. I lightly tugged at it, standing up. "You look cute. I wish I had one like that."

"Thanks."

I continued to survey the massive room, growing uneasy, looking for its owner. "So, where's Adela?"

Glu's face lit up, his dimples showing. "She's downstairs with her Miss E. Late snacks and stuff." A giggle. "We should prepare ourselves for a lively chat with her mom."

I laughed softly.

We knew Miss Eleanor Hemingway didn't do such a thing. As awful as it sounds, she was a grim woman. Rightfully so, I suppose. Her husband was a huge scumbag who ran their family with an iron grip, and he died twenty or so years into their marriage. Poison in his usual before-bed shot of pure grain alcohol, they say.

Years later, their eldest daughter's life was forcefully taken away, and she had every right to be in anguish. By then she grew more distant and colder, her words becoming almost as sharp as her husband's had been, actions more rigid and fabricated. Circumstances tore the sunshine from Miss Hemingway's once bright face.

Don't get me wrong. She's nice to us – as much as she can anyway. I just hope she'd loosen up sometimes; it'd be really good for poor Adela.

Glu's phone dinged, having a small pause after the first message before a thousand more arrived. "It's Adela," he said after catching me trying to read. "She says to meet them by the pond. Let's go?"

As he always does with everyone, Glu linked his arms around mine, letting me guide him. I snapped my arm back. His jaw hung loose.

"Miss E's joining?"

"And Ethan too." He nodded. "Shocker, right? Now, let's go."

"No." I stepped back. Tapping the back of my head, I checked whether my ponytail was intact. "I-I'm a mess," I grimaced. "Meet you there instead?"

"Your extensions look like they'll fall, but you could just not use them. You'll look just fine, Chanel."

He probably meant I looked horrific now. Glu's sweet and all, but I knew how everyone played. Hell, even Madison said that it's easy to wrap insults in tiny packages called surface niceness.

And Ethan? My stomach almost churned at the thought of him. He's relentlessly unbothered. I always fear that he'll cause havoc and just shrug it off again, leaving us all to fend for ourselves.

"Thank you, I guess. But I really, really have to fix up." I added, "I wouldn't wanna walk around like a disaster. You – you know how I get."

That seemed to do it for Glu. He didn't push me further. He gave me a small smile and little shrug before heading out.

I drew a deep breath as the door clicked.

Finally. I could bathe myself in solitude again. A momentary one anyway. You never let the lady of a manor wait in her own territory.

And so, I rushed towards the antique vanity table, cursing myself for stubbing a toe on one of its curved legs.

I hastily combed my hair, tying it once wild strands were out of sight. I stacked another rubber band above the first so my ponytail would appear higher. Taking the extension, I slid its comb-like part into the first rubber band. A little wrap here and there and my ponytail was done.

I leaned forward to scrutinize my reflection. My skin's been good and considerate lately. And my eyes miraculously didn't look puffy from sleep.

Content, I smoothed my skirt and retrieved my blazer. Perfect. Just a natural look then, I thought.

I slipped on my shoes after, their heels rapping on the floor as I strode.