Someone Like You

As I looked back towards my friends, I noticed that Tommy was gone. Sighing, I fumbled with my car keys as I waited for my Vivienne and Charlotte to be done packing.

“We’re coming!” Charlotte shouted as she grabbed her stuff, along with Vivienne, and headed towards me.

“Despacito, quiero respirar tu cuello despacito,” sang Vivienne as she shook her hips, “Those two years of Spanish really paid off.” I laughed as she sang the rest of the summer hit while we walked to the club’s parking lot.

Reaching the spot our cars were parked in, I began to feel to beads of sweat that started to roll off my face.

“Girl, New Orleans this year is too hot. I blame global warming.” Charlotte exclaimed as she walked towards her black Range Rover. She got into the driver's seat and rolled the window down before the radio could be heard blasting out Lorde.

“Dude, maybe it’s hot because your car is black and it absorbs sunlight?” Vivienne replied as she got into her white beamer, also rolling down the window. “Yeah, well, it looks good so whatever!” said Charlotte as she flipped her hair and began fanning herself.

I walked to my own car, a grey Mercedes GLC-class, and winced as I got into my black interiored car. I turned the ignition on and turned on the AC to full blast. As the air began brushing my hot skin, I heard a honk. I looked over to my friends’ cars and realized they honked at me. I rolled my window down and shouted, “What?!”

“You want to get sushi?’’ yelled Charlotte from her car.

“Yeah, dude, I’m so hungry!” Vivienne cried as she stood up on her seat and came out the sunroof.

“I can’t! I’m tired plus I have to go somewhere with my parents later tonight!” I responded as I waved goodbye to my friends. I began to back out of the parking space and headed towards my house.

I turned on the radio and MO’s “Nights With You” came on. I sang to the lyrics and increased the volume on my drive home. The club wasn’t that far from my house, since it was in the Garden District, but it took around 30 minutes to get there.

As I sang along to Lorde’s new album at a stoplight, my phone started to ring. I turned the volume of the radio down and pressed the answer button on my steering wheel.

It was my mom.

“Bonjour, mon cheri! It’s your mother speaking.”

“Hey, mom, what’s up?”

“You know we have a family dinner tonight, correct?”

“Yes, I’m coming home now to get ready. I’ll be there in about 10 minutes.”

“Ok, love. The Westwoods are coming along, also. I haven’t spoken to Charlene physically in weeks! I hope that’s okay.” She began to go on about the Westwoods and Tommy as I stopped at another stoplight.

My face turned blank as I began to render what my mom had just spoke to me. I clenched my jaw as the moments of the last dinner with the Westwoods came to mind. Tommy looking at me from across the table smirking. The humidity of the air. The candles. Excusing myself to go to the bathroom and him following me. Him throwing me against the wall and running his hands up my dress. Me scratching him and crying. I felt a tear rush down my cheek before a car honked behind me. I looked up and saw the light was green and pushed the gas pedal.

“Priscilla? Are you still there? What happened?” my mom shouted through the speakers.

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine, just zoned out for a bit.”

“Okay,” my mom said before continuing on about the party, “Just remember to dress very nice. We’re going to a restaurant in the French Quarter at 7. I’ll see you at home.”

My mom ended the call while I looked at the clock in my car. It was 2 pm. “Guess I’ll have a nap.” I thought.

I pulled into the brick driveway as my house loomed over me. It was built in the 19th century by my ancestors when they first established their factory. All of my family’s money was sugar money.

It was two stories and had Greek influences throughout. The garden outside was lush and green, even in the hot summer, and flowers bloomed throughout the property. The iron railings and big windows made the cream house seem haunted and antique but my parents had renovated the house into something modern and out of Architectural Digest. (Readers: search Buckner Mansion NOLA and that house, along with something from American Horror Story: COVEN mixed together is what I’m trying to describe)

I typed in the gate code after I rolled down my window and the gate opened. I pulled my car into the driveway and into the back where the newly built garage was. I stopped a few feet from the 5 car garage and got out of my car to head into the house. I locked the car and headed towards the front of the house.

My phone rang as I got out my house keys and I answered. “Hello?” I asked as I put the phone up to my ear as I struggled to get the house key in. I turned the lock and opened the door as Vivienne screamed into my ear. “Girl. My brother and his friends met Charlotte and me at the sushi place and they’re hot! There are four guys and they’re all swoon worthy.” I laughed as I put the phone to my chest and yelled out for my mom.

“In the kitchen!” yelled my mother back. I put the phone back up to my ear, “What're their names? What do they look like?” I asked as I headed up one of the grand staircases up to my room. I walked past walls and walls of family portraits and expensive paintings before heading into my room.

“Their names are like Caspian, Harry, George, and Levi. Their accents are to die for. Wish you were here, I gotta go, I’ve been hiding in the bathroom for too long. I’ll text you the details later. Bye boo!” Vivienne exclaimed before ending the call.

I walked to my four poster bed and laid down on the silk sheets before I sighed. I looked around at my room. It was large, probably bigger than half an average house, painted white and had decors of Paris and Tumblr inspired things from Target. Most of my furniture was from places like Z Gallerie, my mom insisted. I had the largest walk-in closet out of my friends and my bathroom was as big as the masters, though all the bedrooms were like that.

I laid back down and put an alarm on my phone to wake me up at 4 pm. I asked Alexa to turn off all my lights before I snuggled into my sheets and went to sleep.

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Waking up to an alarm is probably the worst thing ever. It reminds me of school mornings, waking up at 5 am, and I get anxiety just thinking about it. I can’t stand the noises.

As my phone rang, I woke up with a jolt and looked at my phone on my nightstand. It was 4:03 pm and I began to feel my stomach gurgle. Obviously, I was hungry. A whole day of doing nothing really wore me out. I yawned and went into my closet to change into something that wasn’t my bathing suit/beach clothes. I changed into silk pajamas and went to wash my face before heading downstairs.

I walked down the marble stairs and looked up at the crown molding and wondered how old it was. I held my phone in my hand and touched the metal railing before I walked past the foyer.
(Staircase look: http://stairspictures.com/p/66/marble-stairs/picture-66 )

I walked past the formal and regular living rooms, the dining room, the library, the computer room, and the master before finally getting to the kitchen. I said hello to the family cook before heading towards the fridge. I opened it up and examine the contents before our cook, Hannah, asked if I wanted anything to eat.
(Kitchen: https://www.pinterest.com/pin/350999364688863580/ first pin)

I pursed my lips before turning around to face her, “I don’t know. I’m not that hungry but I’m supposed to have dinner with the parents tonight. Do we have almond butter?”

Hannah smiled and walked towards the walk in pantry to grab it for me while I got an apple from the kitchen island. I got out a knife from a drawer and a napkin and cut the apple into slices on the island. Hannah grabbed a plate and a spoon for me. “Thanks,” I said to her before she turned to clean the dishes. I scooped out a dollop of the paste and put it on the plate and did the same with the apples. I scooped the trash into the trashcan and gave the dirty spoon to Hannah. “Bye!” I said as I munched on the apples and left the kitchen.

I looked at my phone. 4:15pm. I still had 45 minutes before I had to start getting ready so I went up to my room and turned on the T.V to catch up on Grey's Anatomy. I had always liked the show since the main character had the same last name as I.

After I finished an episode, I put my dirty plate on my nightstand and went into the bathroom to shower. I washed my hair with Tresemme before going on to wash my body with Lush products. After I showered, I went up to the sink area to put on a face mask while I changed into underwear and a robe. I opened up the double doors in the bathroom and headed towards my Mac to put on Spotify.
(Bathroom:https://www.houzz.com/photos/1366634/kilkea-westhollywood-contemporary-bathroom-los-angeles)

I went to wash off the face mask after a couple of minutes scrolling through YouTube and watching some videos. After, I looked at the clock in my bathroom. 5:45. I went to my vanity to put on my makeup. I did a dark eyeshadow and red lip look before going to my closet to put on a dress. I heard the doorbell ring as I changed into my white Dior gown but figured someone else would answer it. I went to my bathroom to do my hair, putting it into a messy but classy bun, and then putting on a gold necklace to match the Louboutins I would wear later. I winced from my foot injury earlier in the day as I put on my shoes, hoping no one would notice the bandage at dinner.

I asked Alexa what time it was, 6:37. “Priscilla!” I heard my dad yell out. I guess the doorbell was him. My dad changes and gets ready at a faster pace than my mom and I do.

I walked out of my bedroom after grabbing my Chanel purse and spraying perfume on. I crossed the catwalk to my brother’s side of the house, with his movie theater and game room. I knocked on his door. My brother, Charles, was only a year older than me. He headed our school’s famous orchestra, Heart Philharmonic, at the Academy. (School: Academy of the Sacred Hearts) A senior now, he has a perfect GPA and perfect test scores. If he didn’t get into Tulane, I'd be surprised.

“Give me 5 minutes!” I heard from the other side of the door.

“Mom and Dad are waiting!” I replied before descending down the stairs.

As I went to sit on the bench in the foyer, I began to check all my social media before I heard someone clear their throat. Looking up, I saw Tommy in a tuxedo. He smirked before I could say anything.

“Alright,” my dad said coming up from the formal living room. My mom and Tommy’s parents trailed behind them. “Priscilla, are you read- wait, where’s Charles?” He ran up the staircase. “Charles!” he yelled, stopping midway. He came down and opened the front door. “Let’s go have some fun.” my dad said smiling. He gestured towards the door with his hand and the parents, hand in hand, went down the driveway towards the town car.

I stood up from the bench and followed my parents outside, Charles running down the staircase. “Wait up, Cilla!” he said, gasping for air and clutching his chest. He was in a tux, also, wearing a maroon tie. He ran out the door before I did.

“Priscilla.” I heard Tommy say. I turned around. He grabbed my shoulder and led me out the door before closing it shut. “Let’s go have some fun,” he said smiling towards me.

Notes

Let me know what ya'll think! I feel like I made this chapter way too boring and long but the ending was something else. The next chapter will be better, I promise. Anyways, who else hates Tommy? Priscilla's boyfriend and Harry won't appear just yet.