A large black stretch hummer can be seen coming around the corner. The driver got out and an incredibly tan and blond girl stepped out. Her name was Aphrodite McBain, Her father ran the computer company McBain Industries. She also could be found modeling from time to time for the company Ford Models. As she got out of the hummer her Louis Vuitton heels clacked at the ground. Aphrodite looked around to see who all was going to be a debutante. "Hello is anyone here?" Her high-pitched soprano voice called for anyone around. She looked around again hoping to find a friend maybe. She flicked her hair making the curls bounce.

Ana sat in her limo quietly, watching all of the Texas sights go by. When they finally stopped, Ana knew they were where they needed to be. She slowly stepped out of her pearl white stretch limo, seeing if anybody else was here. Ana heard a high pitched voice come out of nowhere.
"Hello? is anyone here?" The voice shouted. Ana's small teal flats made no sound as she passed a pillar and saw another girl with blonde curls looking around. "Ummm...hello." Anas sweet, calm voice said, loud enough so the girl could hear. Ana smoothed her teal sundress and pushed up her sunglasses, one raised eyebrow at the girl.

She saw the girl dressed in all teal. She walked over to her to introduce herself, Her heels clacking loudly. "Hello I am Aphrodite McBain." She extended her hand out in a friendly gesture. "So are you going to try and be the best deb as well?" She said smiling but in her mind she was sizing up her competition. "I think the others are still coming. I dont think anyone else is here." She twisted a blond curl around her finger.

Today was the day. The day her new life started. Emily Ann De Clare sat in a chair next to her bedroom window and watched the glittering morning sun rise making her pale face glow and colouring her long brown hair in a warm reddish tone. She hadn't been able to sleep all night. Tossing and turning in her bed she had thought about the following day again and again and again. What if she didn't fit in? What if she didn't have it in her to be the top debutante of Dallas? Then all her dreams would vanish within a flick of a finger. Turning her thoughts to a fight she had had with her mother at dinner two months ago she furrowed her eyebrows. "Why can't you just accept me for who I am?" Emily had screamed at her mother. "I don't want to sit around in the house for the rest of my life! I want to be a doctor like Dad!" She had pointed towards the always empty chair of her father.

"What do you mean "sitting around"?" her mother had retorted red bloutches appearing on her face. "Are you implying that I sit around all day? That I who works day after day to make her daughter socially known, am found for even one minute sitting lazily in this house doing nothing?" Elizabeth De Clare's voice had been getting higher with every word. "I invested my life to raise you and your brother and do I get to see my only daughter taking an interest in establishing herself in a place in society which is appropriate for a young lady? No. My only daughter sets her mind on becoming a doctor. A doctor for christ's sake! It is your brother's duty to follow in his father's footsteps, not yours!" Elizabeth's eyes had been flashing with anger and her hands had been shaking while she tried to hold back her rage.

"Oh, like you do that for me!" Emily had shouted back. "You do it to satisfy your own pride! And what's the big deal anyway. Organizing charities, going to balls, holding dinner parties. Anybody could do that!" There had been a silence. Her mother had slowly stood up. "You think its easy?" she had said in calm, cold voice. "If you really think that your mother's life is a joke then prove to me how easily you can do it. If you become the top debutante of Dallas, "The Debutante of the Year", then I'll let you become a doctor."

Emily sighed almost regretting the careless words she had said to her mother. She stood up suddenly noticing that the sun had fully risen and the alarm clock on her nightstand showed ten to eight. She quickly dressed herself in a simple white dress and put on some make-up. Normally not wearing any except mascara and a bit eyeshadow she felt strange doing it now, but she didn't want to stay behind the other girls. Then she quickly ran her fingers through her hair letting it fall naturally around her face. Grabbing her jacket she sprinted down the stairs towards the kitchen. Her mother was already sitting at the table reading newspaper while chewing on her toast. "Good morning, dear." she said. "Big day, huh?" Emily nodded sitting down. "Have a toast and some orange juice." her mother said pouring orange juice in Emily's glass. "I'm not hungry." Emily muttered reaching for her juice. "You need to eat, dear." her mother insisted." You don't know when you'll get something to eat again." She put a piece of toast on Emily's plate. Great. I won't know when I'll get to eat again? The prospects really are rosy. Unwillingly Emily took a few bites then gulped them down with orange juice.

Emily was sitting in the back of one of her mother's cars, the tinted windows shielding her from the glaring sun. Fumbling with her sunglasses she looked at the passing houses and people trying not to think of what lay ahead of her. Her mother sitting beside her was looking all calm and elegant. Emily had not wanted her to come, but her mother insisted on being involved as always.
The car was slowing down then stopped. The family's chauffeur hopped out of the vehicle and went around the car. "We arrived, Miss Emily." he said as he opened her door.
Emily nodded taking deep, calming breaths then stepped out of the car to face her greatest challenge.

"Hello. I'm Anastasia Lynn Harrison. Call me Ana." She said, shaking the girls hand smoothly. Today Ana had decided to straighten her hair, no reason why. She just did. Ana let go of the girls hand sweetly. "Yes. I do indeed intend to be top deb. I do think another limo passed mine as well. They took a different path though I believe." Ana said charmingly. This was compotition. She had to be sweet and nice to her. The girl was indeed rich and pretty. Just like her. Ana smiled her mega wat white smile.

Victoria sat in front of the dressing table, getting ready to meet the other debutantes together with her grandmother,Victoire, who was in charge of everything about the debutante ball. She put on some light makeup and tied her long blonde hair into a neat french plait. She was wearing a tight fitting off shoulder mini-dress and a pair of white Manolo strappy heels. Once she was sure she was ready, she grabbed her Gucci handbag and headed in the direction of her grandmother's room, only to see her twin brother,Jason, walking out of her room.

Jason had been in his Grandmother's room debating with her. She wanted him to go with them to the very first debutante meeting although he was just an escort. In the end, of course, he could not talk his grandmother out of it. He strode out of her room and saw Victoria, who was making her way towards Victoire's room. "hey sis, you're ready to go already?"he grinned.

Victoria smiled and said,"Yeah, duh." She then pretended to be shocked and added,"aren't you?" Victoria then entered Victoire's room. "Granmere, I'm ready to go."

Victoire, who was decked in a stunning Chanel dress, smiled and said,"That's great, Vicky. We'll wait for your brother in the limo then. They then strolled to the limo and waited for Jason there. After a few minutes, Jason appeared in a casual t-shirt and jeans.

The black limo stopped outside the place where they were supposed to meet. When the trio entered the hall, they could see that some of the other debutantes were already there. Victoire cleared her throat and then said,"I see that some of you debutantes are already here. Well, I am Victoire, and I suppose you all know who I am. But if you don't, I am the one who is doing all the planning for the ball and will train you all over the course of the next two to three months. Perhaps you all can start by introducing yourselves formally."

She smiled at Anna. "Well it is very nice to meet you Miss. Anna." Aphrodite smiled.
"I wonder who the other person was who you saw in the limo?" She looked around to see if she could see the limo. "I just hope he or she is nice."
She saw the limo finally pull up. She looked over at Victoria. "Hello Victorie." Aphrodite smiled and extended her hand forward. "I am Aphrodite McBain." She tucked a blond curl behind her ear. "Do we choose our escort or will one be provided?" She asked wondering who would escort her through this whole process.

Nathaniel woke up by the sound of his alarm. 'I want to go back to sleep' he looked at the clock and it read 9.00AM. There was a knock at the door, "Yes?" he said annoyed. "Mr Nathaniel, as you know today is the first day of the Debutante ball. The car will be ready for you in an hour." He sighed, and nodded still half asleep. Mr. Smith had always been with Nathaniel since he was a baby, the only person who he respected was him.
Nathaniel took a shower, did his hair, and wore jeans and a grey coat. He looked in the mirror styling his hair 'I really do have a face of a god' he thought whilst he was admirinig himself. He put some after shave on and went down stairs in to the kitchen, there was coffee made for him already, he grabbed an apple and sat on the sofa. "Peter, I mean Mr. Smith? Have you ever wanted a change? Like have you ever felt that anything you do is just not what you want right now?" Mr Smith smiled, "Mr Nathaniel I still think you should go to the Debutante Ball. It has been a family tradition, you will be able to meet other girls'. Nathaniel shook his head, 'For once, I don't care about girls. I want a change in my life' he thought to himself.

Nathaniel arrived in his Aston Martin db9 2010 Black. He opened the door and walked into the hall like he owned the place. He saw girls already there, he smirked to himself. 'This....again'he thought to himself. Every step he took he took with confidence. He put his hands in his pockets and walked over to a blonde girl, he recognised her from somewhere. "Hi, I think we have met somewhere?" Nathaniel recognised that she had bright blue eyes, they were beautiful.

Aphrodite got bored waiting for the others to come. She looked at the people who were already there. "I wonder who else is coming here." She looked to ward the entrance and saw no one for a long time. Aphrodite turned around at the sound of the car she was surprised by the Aston Martin. She saw the boy get out. She wondered if he was already the escort of one of the other girls. Her head turned around fully when he spoke. "By chance were you talking to me?" She smiled and extended her hand. "I am Aphrodite McBain." She smiled.

Nathaniel watched as she extended her hand, he looked at her hand then looked at her. He left it hanging for a bit and then decided to shake her hand. "McBain? As in the computer company McBain?" He was sure that he had met her somewhere. Her smile, her eyes and her name was all recogniseable. "Nathaniel James de Reyes, call me Nate." He looked around the place and saw Victoire, a girl and a boy stood next to her. 'This is going to be a long day...' He thought to himself.

She thought for a second the he wasn't going to shake her hand. She pulled her hand back gently and let it hang about her side. "That's my dads company. McBain Industries." She smiled. "Do you work for Ford models? I think I have seen you there once before when I was taking my test shots." She glanced over him. "Well its nice to meet you Nate." She turned her attention towards Victorie. "It looks like we are in for a workout." She laughed. She pushed some of the loose strands of hair behind her ear.

He smiled to himself as she put her hand back. "Yeah I do, I have been for quite some time actually" he replied. He was surprised that he had met her there, he tried to remember it. He was at a photoshoot for Calvin Klein and he had just finished, on his way back to his dressing room he walked past a blonde girl. Nathaniel was confused because he had never seen her around Ford Models before, "Who's that?" he asked his hair stylist. "Oh she's just a girl coming in for her test shots". He nodded and got dressed to leave, on his way out he saw her take some photos. She was pretty good, she could have said she was a model. He watched from the corner and smirked to himself "she still needs a bit of practise" as he had a flashback he remembered. He ran his hands through his hair and scratched the back of his head. "Yeah...you too" he said.

Nathaniel looked over his shoulder and tried to look for Victorie, it was only polite if he went and introduced himself. He couldn't be bothered though, he just waited until she was free. He walked over to a wall and leaned on it looked at all the debutantes in the room. 'Get me out.. now'

Aphrodite smiled. "I knew I recognized you from someplace. I just did a Vera Wang shoot a few days ago." Her smile faltered a bit when she saw how unfriendly he was. She walked toward the back of the debs and walked into a family room looking place and sat down quietly. "I really don't belong here at all." She put her hair up in a loose pony tail and closed her eyes. "I'm so different from all of them... I doubt I even have a chance with out an escort." She frowned still trying to relax. She started to remember all the fun times when she was younger and wanted to be a deb. "Only reason I'm putting on this big barbie front is because of a stupid family tradition." She said under her breath hoping no one heard her.

When Emily walked into the hall it was already crowded with debutantes and escorts who were introducing themselves to each other. Most of them were tall, beautiful and immaculately dressed. Emily sighed. No point in believing I will ever be one of those people. she thought. She stroked back her long brown hair while she looked around hoping to find a familiar face. She thought she recognized one or two girls from one of her mother's events, but then again she had never paid attention to the people her mother had introduced to her. This is what I get for thinking them shallow and not worth knowing she thought to herself. No I have to be one of them. She walked towards an empty chair and sat down smoothing out her white dress. She looked down at her shoes. The pair was one of her favourites. They were made of white suede and comparatively simple, but fit her perfectly and made her feet glow in a pearly white. She thought of her shoe closet back at home and smiled to herself. Maybe, I should go by myself a new pair of shoes after this. she thought. This was the only thing she allowed herself to be extremely shallow about. She loved shoes. She had build a huge closet just for her shoes. Everytime she bought a new pair she planned carefully which space it was going to get in her shoe "shrine". Her favourites where placed in the middle surrounded by dim lights...

She was brought back to present when someone tripped over her stretched legs. " Oh, sorry!" Emily said immediately tucking back her feet under the chair.
"Are you alright?" she asked.

Nathaniel saw that Victorie was free, he walked up to her and forced a smile, “Hello Victorie, do you remember me? My name is Nathaniel James de Reyes, we met last year and you know my father.” He spoke to her for a while and excused himself. ’This is taking so long’ He saw Aphrodite walk into a family room, he decided to follow her. If he was going to be here he might as well talk to someone. On his way he tripped over someone’s legs, he quickly looked round to see who it was ”What the fu-“ he said sharply giving her a dirty look. " Oh, sorry!" the girl said, he watched as she tucked her feet back in. ”Yeah, you should be…” he said and walked off. He sighed and walked back to her. ”I.. didn’t mean to be so… snappy.” He sat down next to her, he looked up at the ceiling and looked back at her. ”What’s your name?”

Victoire watched as Aphrodite introduced herself to her and asked if escorts would be provided. "Escorts would definitely be provided but you all will be able to choose your own escorts from the group of escorts."She smiled. She was certain that her granddaughter would not want to be escorted by her twin brother. She then watched as one other escort arrived.

When Nathaniel came over to introduce himself, Victoire remained smiling. "Yes,Nathaniel, of course I remember you! And your father is a close friend of our family." She said. After awhile, she cleared her throat purposefully, getting the attention of the debutantes and escorts. "I would like to introduce my grandchildren to you. This is Victoria. She will be one of the debutantes and as for her twin brother Jason, he is an escort." She smiled, introducing the two youngsters standing beside her. Victoria smiled warmly at the rest of them whilst Jason simply nodded.

"I will let you people mingle around for a few more minutes. But I expect you to be in the conference room in five minutes." Victoire said before entering one of the rooms. Victoria looked at her brother. "So? Should we go in now or what?"

Jason shrugged. "No idea. But I'd prefer to be out here, Grandma would nag at me if I go in..."

Victoria giggled then said,"And to think you are older..."

Emily was startled by the boy's hostile expression. Dude, chill. she thought furrowing her brows. What's with these people?
Then the guy turned around and sat down next to her. "I...didn't mean to be so...snappy." he said looking at the ceiling. Then he turned his head towards her. "What's your name?" he asked. Emily didn't quite know what to think of the guy. She slightly tilted her head to the side and looked at him thoughtfully. He was very handsome, maybe a model. His posture seemed confident as if he knew he was good-looking. Everything pointed at him being the perfect guy to be an escort. The only thing not quite fitting in the picture was that he didn't seem like he wanted to be here. Maybe we are not that different after all. Emily thought slightly amused. "I'm Emily." she said not bothering with her last name. She didn't want to be connected to her mother even if the boy probably didn't care who she was. She looked back at him pondering on if she had seen him on one of her mother's events or not. God, she really was bad at remembering her mother's guests. Maybe she should pay more attention to them in the future...

Nathaniel was expecting a last name, so he paused for a minute thinking that she would continue but she didn't. When she said the name Emily he recognised her, maybe it was her mother, "...Are you going to tell me your lastname?" he asked. If he knew he would be able to remember. She was very pretty, in fact most of the girls here were. He went to many events and he was the type of person that never forgets a face. She didn't really seem to be bothered that she was at a Debutante's meeting, he would have thought that all the girls would be over the moon and trying to be battling it out to be this year's debutante.

She walked back to where all of the debs and the escorts were in a totally different outfit. She wore a black cardigan, a blue tank top, denim skinny jeans, and gladiator sandals. She wasn't paying attention as she walked when she ran into a boy with blond hair. "Oh.. I am so sorry. I wasn't paying attention." She smiled and walked toward Nate and some new girl. "Did I miss anything important?" She said readjusting her ponytail. She looked at the girl. "Hello I am Aphrodite." She smiled. "Who are you?" She looked the girl up and down.

Nathaniel smiled slightly as Aphrodite came back, she had changed and she looked much better in casual clothes. "No not much, just Victorie's speech. Why don't you sit down?" he asked her looking at the chair next to him. He looked at Jason and Victoria standing next to Victorie, What were they doing there just..stood there? he was getting really bored. He yawned and stretched his arms.

The guy already seemed to have recognized her. "Are you going to tell me your lastname?" he asked. Anywhere else she would've been happy to obey. Her father was a very well known neurosurgeon and she was proud to be his daughter even if he was never at home because of work. Emily was relieved when a blond girl came over to them. She seemed to know the guy next to her since they started talking effortlessly. The girl turned towards her looking her up and down. Probably checking out the enemy, huh? Emily chuckled to herself. She had never been the greatest fan of girls like her. The girls who actually wanted to be debutante, the kind of girl her mother wanted her to be like. "Hello, I'm Aphrodite." the girl said. Godess of Beauty and Love, huh? My mother would be over the moon. "Who are you?" Emily allowed herself a slight smile. "I'm Emily." she said. Maybe she should try befriending her, this was her future after all. And Aphrodite didn't seem all that bad.
The guy next to her was now yawning and stretching himself. Seems like someone's bored. she thought. She leaned back her head against the wall and thought about her brother who was accompanying her father to a congress in Chicago. Lucky Jared. I'd die to switch places with him right now. Emily thought enviously. He'd actually fit in better than me. Her brother had always been more interested in her mother's social events much to her mother's pleasure.
She was shaken out of her thoughts when the people around her started walking towards the conference room. She slowly stood up. "I think it's starting." she said to the other two then started following the crowd towards the huge double doors.

Jason was slightly shocked when the girl ran into him. "It's alright. I hope you are okay, though." He smiled. He watched he girl leave to join some others before turning to Victoria. "So what if I'm older? We are of the same age you know." He said. He then began to make his way towards the door before Victoria could make another comment.

Victoria watched as her brother made a quick escape towards the meeting room. She then quickly followed behind him and entered a huge room where a huge oval shaped table sat with chairs surrounding it. Right in front was a huge screen and her grandmother sat behind the table beside the screen. Leaning against the walls were cushioned armchairs and sofas, cabinets and bookshelves. She made herself comfortable on one of the chairs at the conference table opposite her brother.

Aphrodite smiled. "So nothing really important then?" She stretched also. "I feel so much better not dressed like a barbie." She laughed and turned her attention towards Emily. "I'm sorry if I seemed rude earlier... These things stress me out." She laughed again. "I feel like I don't belong here." She covered her mouth for saying too much and blushed a bit. She then looked at Nate again. "You bored or just tired?" She asked him smiling. "What's about to start?" She asked confused and followed Emily. "This is going to be a long day." She said shooting off at the mouth again.

Nathaniel waited for Emily to respond to his question but she didn't. 'She obviously doesn't have one then maybe she isn't the girl who I thought she was' he thought to himself. Both of the girls seemed nice and original compared to the girls he met last year. They were just not worth any of his time, but this year he thought that they might actually be worth getting to know. He looked at Aphrodite and said 'You still look like a barbie.. but a nice barie' he smiled. He was confused when she said that she didn't belong here. Surely girls like her should feel more in place here than any other social event. "I don't think it's the matter of belonging here or not, we all belong here. It's just that... This is all so pointless" he said getting quieter. Emily got up saying that something's about to start, he got up with Aphrodite and made his way over to the meeting room. He laughed softly, and glanced at Aphrodite, "It sure is, are you two doing anything after?" he asked her. He wanted to get to know them better so that next time it isn't as awkard and boring, he would genuinely know some people here to have a normal conversation with instead of having to impress them and protect his family name.

She laughed. "How do I look like a barbie? I am very far from plastic." She stuck her tongue out at him. "I would rather be at home curled up in my bed.. I don't belong here. I am a legacy so I owe it to my mother to be here." She grabbed the necklace around her neck. "My mom died when I was young... I promised I would do this for her." Her voice saddened greatly. She sat on one of the couches and motioned for Nate and Emily to sit down with her." I planned on grabbing a bite to eat and maybe something else. Wanna come?" She asked improperly. She was strangely curious about Nate and the Emily girl.