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Tinashé Kachingwe

"Your girlfriend wishes she could look this good."

0 · 7,188 views · located in Beverly Hills, California

a character in “Summer Reunited”, as played by chanelindistress

Description




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{“Good girls go to heaven, bad girls go everywhere.”}
~ Mae West, Wit & Wisdom of Mae West

{2 On: Tinashe || Wings: Little Mix || All of These Boys: Jasmine V || Break Free: Ariana Grande || Partition: Beyoncé || Blank Space: Taylor Swift}
{Bang Bang: Jessie J || How To Be A Heartbreaker: Marina & the Diamonds || Aquarius: Tinashe || Love Me Harder: Ariana Grande || Cry: Rihanna }



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Full Name
"Say it with me...Tin-ah-shay. Let's not even get started on my last name."
Tinashé Jørgensen Kachingwe

Preferred Name
"As I tell everyone, just call me Tinashé. It's not that hard. But most of my friends call me Tiny."
Shay (Most common}; Tiny {Common; mostly by close friends & family}; Jorgie {Least common; only by family, mostly her mom}; Princess {Common]; only because her step-father called her that a lot in front of people and it ended up sticking}

Age
"And not one bartender better question me either."
21

Birthday
Feburary 6, 1994

Ethnicity
56% Zimbabwean// 20% Danish// 10% Norwegian// 4% Polish// 10% Irish

Sexuality
"Definitely strictly-dickly...but if you get enough drinks in me, half of these girls start lookin' real good."
Heteroflexible

Occupation
"I've been called the Next Queen of R&B or the New Beyoncé of my time. At the end of the day, I'm a girl with a dream and I'm not waiting for someone to help me along the way. I've been proactive this long, nothing can stop me now."
Singer// Song-writer// Model (Formerly)// Actress// Dancer// Producer (Kinda)// Activist



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Height:Weight:Build
5'2// 105 lbs// Hourglass

Skin Tone
"My mom likes to call it a peanut-butter brown.
Very light brown

Eye Color
Brown

Hair Color:Hair Type
"My hair's super curly, so Carol's Daughter is a blessing on most days. Every now and then I might wear it straight. And everyone knows that the blonde I've been rocking since last year was nowhere near my natural color. But I'm really liking this black color on me now."
Dark brown {0-13}; Walnut brown {13-15}; Honey blonde {15-16}: Raven {As of two weeks ago}

Distinguishing Marks
Tinashe has a few scars on her body, though not many are particularly noticeable. Just your minor scarring, like the one on her left ankle from when she fell on the playground and scraped her leg. Or the one on the corner of her left eye from where a metal door clipped her because she wasn't paying attention. Small things like that. Despite her father's wishes, Tinashe did get her nose piercing back when she was fourteen. She has the standard ear piercings that her mom got done for her when she was about three and she is considering a belly button piercing, but has not decided yet. She does have a tattoo on the nape of her neck; it is the symbol for an Aquarius and is on her debut album cover. She also has a sun tattoo on her lower back, and is considering a third.

Clothing Description
"I like to just be casual. I think a lot of my style is about being comfortable and I think that is something that makes me feel just confident and relaxed. I like to feel like myself. I definitely also have a tomboy edge. As far as labels go, I don't like to stick to a particular label. I like to switch it up and I love vintage. But I'm also curvy and I'm comfortable with my skin enough to show it off."
Being an entertainer who is constantly on stage leaves it near impossible to not be comfortable in your own skin and if there is anything Tinashe is, it is comfortable in her own skin. Does she need to show out every day? No, not necessarily. She definitely sticks to a more casual and comfortable every-day wear with a hint of sexy, especially considering her love for crop tops and pants that sit low on her hips. Such can be seen in this, this, and this. She likes flaunting her curves; she has them so her mentality is that she should be allowed to have that kind of autonomy over her own body. So, expect her in crop tops, jeans, and sneakers. Her style is definitely influenced by the 90s and the hip hop era, in that she loves letterman's jackets and baggy pants, even sweats. She does have her more girly days, but at the end of the day, she's not afraid to wear sneakers and look sexy doing it.



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Goals:Aspirations
Tinashe's greatest goal is to become one of the leaders of the R&B world. As anyone would tell you, the genre has been lacking, particularly in terms of artists of color with actual lyrical genius and if there's one thing critics have been noting about Tinashe is that her manipulation of words is profound. So, she wants to keep the attention there. She also wants to soon incorporate more mainstream issues like racism and sexism in her music; most of her fans and even those who have interviewed know that this is her passion and she has been involved in several campaigns, but she has yet to bring any music to the table and she wants to go down as a legend in that regard - singing mainstream music and being on top while promoting messages that don't necessarily have anything to do with garnering more followers. She definitely wants to do a concert with Janet Jackson (her greatest inspiration) and possibly Emelie Sande. She also eventually wants to settle down.

Fears
Tinashe's greatest fear is not being good enough. Whether it's in the music industry or in a relationship, she's terrified of seeing everything she could want in life but not being good enough. It is why she is willing to play this sex icon role and why she's more comfortable with being the girl you lust after, but not the one you wake up to. She's still getting used to being sincere in hyping herself up and will appear as cool as she can when met with criticism, but she's always holding on to the traumatic bullying she endured back in middle school, which makes it hard for her to be open to deeper romantic relationships despite wanting those connections. She also fears failing. As anyone will tell you, Tinashe doesn't depend on people often and still feels wary when her step-father puts money into her account, so she works hard to not need assistance. She's also terrified of spiders and snakes and will probably punch you if you bring either to her face.

Secrets
Tinashe has been fighting back feelings for Carson Koch for a while now, which was why she was more than happy to go on the tour with Iggy Azalea back in May. While it wasn't on her schedule, it was easier to deal with than acknowledging feelings for one of her closest friends.

Good Personality Traits
Sassy Outspoken Intelligent Down-to-Earth Honest Fearless Compassionate Independent Fierce

Bad Personality Traits
Vain Flirtatious Blunt Headstrong Rebellious Impulsive Stubborn Emotionally-Guarded

Personality
Tinashe had always been a bit of a force to be reckoned with, even as a child. It was one of the reasons why her mother and step-father purchased the home that they did; they needed something that would be luxurious enough to garner attention, but also something that would keep Tinashe active. Not that it kept her grounded or at home because if you asked anyone, Tinashe was a real party girl. Hell, she still is and while she has calmed down in the last year, she's not exactly giving up that scene for anyone. Besides, it fits the image she has constructed since she started getting homeschooled some years ago. After years of physical and emotional abuse by her peers in her prestigious schools, Tinashe hardened the sweet girl she was before and molded herself into a smart-mouthed, tough, flirty badass that takes no shit from anyone. She has the capacity to be a leader, that much a lot of people know. After all, Tinashe would never be considered a follower. She's too unwilling to adhere to anyone else's rules other than her own. Granted, Tinashe knows the rules of life and understands she's not the queen of the world. However, since she was a child her mother grilled into her a sense of self-confidence that enables her the ability to not bow down to anyone, no matter how bitchy or high-maintenance they may seem. In fact, she'd probably tell that person off and not give a damn who heard her. After all, who does she have to fear? A lot of the elite girls she remembers from her youth were more catty and willing to spread rumors; the woman Tinashe is now will gladly fight with her attitude, words and fists if necessary.

Over the years, like her step-sister, she did go through a rebellious stage and again, it was all about the image she constructed. As a child, she had never been allowed to fight the girls and guys who made digs at her and made her middle school years hell, so when she finally was taken away from them, Tinashe refused to allow herself to ever be vulnerable. Around the same time was her parents' divorce and the discovery of her mother's affair, which solidified Tinashe's inability to do romantic relationships. Sex has always easy for her. She can do that. It's never really a walk-of-shame for her. She's not a slut; she doesn't wake up every night with a new guy. That's not in her. But she likes sex and she does it well, and when she finds someone who does as well, why not explore that? They might have great chemistry. She's also the type to simply have fun and chill out, but that can be discussed later. The big thing is that anything deeper than a friends-with-benefits endeavor leaves her wary and even more closed-off. Around Los Angeles and in front of cameras, Tinashe is almost willing to bear a bit of her soul. With that one person who she could possibly spend the rest of her life with (because she's definitely interested in that and is the one-and-done type of girl), it terrifies her. If the happy marriage she thought she saw with her parents couldn't last and the amount of long-lasting relationships in the world ending, what would make her believe that anyone would ever want that with her? Granted, a good chunk of this stems from being told in middle school that no one would ever truly want her and she's become a bit of a sex icon - something to be touched, but never cherished. So, Tinashe contends to this personification of sex and closes herself off when feelings arise, or at least, she tries to.

What ends up surprising most people is the girl Tinashe can be away from cameras or even in interviews - the girl who has actually inspired people despite the image she wants to have. As a girl who has always been book smart and a bit street smart, Tinashe's intelligence is typically a surprise, but not as much as her compassion and her ability to care. She doesn't spend unnecessary money. Sure, she does shop every now and then; she will gladly admit that girlier side of her. She's also one who could do movie nights and play video games with the guys, and have low-key hang-out sessions with friends. She's the one who will shake her ass in the middle of her choreography on stage, but will also promote equality and fight against social injustices on the low. She is the one who looks out for her siblings, even when they don't believe that she is or that she even cares about them, and will gladly cut a bitch off if they come off for someone she cares about. While it is rare for her to be vulnerable around people unless they are closer friends, she is still loyal. Even if someone calls her a slut or even a bit of a bitch, the one thing they can say is that she does have her priorities and as they always have been, close friends and family are her number one priorities. Them and having fun.



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Likes
Sex| Being kissed against walls| Disney Land| Singing and dancing| Vanilla Coke| Dubai| Coachella| Fashion| Cuddling| Caudalie| Rapping| Shopping| Parties| Lingerie| Red Velvet Cupcakes| Video games| The Dodgers| Cooking, especially with her Dad| Watching movies| Spinach artichoke dips| The beach| Red wine| Tae Kwon Do| Moschino| Bath & Body Works| Swimming| Victoria's Secret| Hot tubs| Christmas| Dolce & Gabana| Cold Stones

Dislikes
Seeing someone flirting with someone she has feelings for| Snakes| Anyone who messes with her family and close friends| Cigarettes| Being told what to do| Cocaine| Spiders| Twizzlers| When she catches feelings |Feeling weak and helpless| Veal|Injustice and inequality| People knowing her business| Bullies| Infidelity| Bigotry|Acknowledging her feelings



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History
Most people tend to think that there was never a moment where Tinashe wasn't this outspoken and daring young woman with the sex appeal that would rival some of the greatest, but there was definitely a defining moment in her life. And there was also a point that she was just a regular sweet girl with a dream and a naivety to be rivalled with. That was before her mother married Pierce Collins. Tinashe had simply been the daughter of up and coming designer, Aimee Kachingwe, and food mogul and accomplished chef, Michael Kachingwe. Michael's Zimbabwean cuisine, refined yet eye-catching, was enough to garner him critical acclaim among other chefs, but the real fame and part breadwinner was Aimee. At a young age, Tinashe and her younger brothers did not know of the tensions mounting between their parents because of that small fact. All they had ever seen was really just them existing. The boys were at a private school in New York and Tinashe was in LA in one of the most prestigious schools on the west coast. And she was miserable. Granted, she was doing more than some of the other rich kids. She was already a part of a girl group called the Stunners, who would later go on to perform with the likes of Justin Beiber, New Boyz, Toby Gad and more. However, she was getting the heaviest critiques, not my Hollywood but by the peers she spent a good chunk of her time with. She had developed curves a bit earlier than the other girls and that seemed to be the constant thing to be picked on, as if she were some type of specimen and they were higher beings with their skinny figures. She would get bullied constantly, reminded that fandoms online wanted the other girls more than her. At the time, her mother didn't see that Tinashe was really struggling with the girls and told her to suck it up. They were just jealous and she shouldn't worry. However, the bullying escalated to physical torment and at the same time, her mother's affair was brought to the forefront. Tinashe was about twelve at the time.

Not only did she have to deal with both girls and guys tormenting her about her build and her being a singer on a failing group, but now her mother's scandal was out for the world to see. It tore her family apart. Her brothers couldn't see it; they were about seven. But Tinashe? She was smart enough to know that she no longer had any respect for her mother and that her father was hurting. And, as if to rub salt into the wound, Aimee went on to marry Pierce Collins not too long after she divorced her first husband. Unlike with Alexandra and Owen, there was no long, drawn-out process for Tinashe. It was decided that her staying in LA to pursue her musical career was best and so, Michael took Thulani and Kudzai with him to Arizona in their spacious estate. And Tinashe didn't take moving into her new home, despite Pierce's attempts to win her affection with material goods, well. In fact, once she turned thirteen, the little girl who was getting bullied refused to allow anyone to do anything to her anymore. Actually, not even her mother could do anything to her. Tinashe would simply throw in her face that her newfound love was nothing but trashy scandal like one of the sitcoms she loved to watch. So, she turned to her music and embracing the fast life. As she constantly tells everyone, she never shot anything in her blood stream and the most she has ever smoked was weed, but she definitely mad a rep for herself as a party girl. Hell, she even threw parties whenever Aimee and Pierce weren't home. Granted, at the time, she wasn't exactly being a good role model for her new sister, but Lexi hadn't liked her at the time and Tinashe could care less about some brat who slammed doors down the hall from her. At Pierce's insistence (for which Tinashe did begin to show a bit of gratefulness) Tinashe was allowed private tutors, which only enforced her loud lifestyle, and was even trained in taekwondo, acquiring her black belt in a year and a half. Of course, she would get grounded, Aimee gave lectures, and Michael called to check in on her and make sure she understood what she was doing, but that was the point - she did know what she was doing.

While she was being reckless and having a lot of fun, Tinashe was using the unwanted attention her mother's affair granted her to her own advantage. She was doing mix tapes and performing, even at Dodgers games which became her thing whenever she and her friends would attend baseball games. She was slowly embodying all that the music scene was about: the partying, sex, drinking and she was making it her own with lyrics and poetry combined with sultry tones and the overall sweetness of her breathy voice. It wasn't the best way to go about it, but she was officially signed to RCA Records when she was twenty and released her debut album, Aquarius, which garnered her critical acclaim and an assortment of nominations and awards in the last half a year. But it also cost her her ability to be that sweet girl that her closer friends would know her as. It cost her the ability to allow herself to be vulnerable enough to have meaningful relationships and to see that not everyone wants her to have sex. It cost her the ability to love without feeling like someone was going to take that love for advantage or not want her - all of her. It cost her a bit of her childhood, even if Tinashe won't admit that herself.



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Roleplayer|| Girl2Fine2

Face Claim|| Tinashe Kachingwe

Dialogue Color|| #778C00

So begins...

Tinashé Kachingwe's Story

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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Wednesday, July 1st | 6:00 PM | Beverly Hills, CA

Owen and Ariana had spent the past week in London, where she had a slew of business meetings, and had just returned to LA this morning. Between jet lag and just the exhaustion from running around all week, Owen hadn't been in the mood to wake up at all today, let alone at eight in the morning, but he did so without a complaint. His father and Aimee were attending the private screening of one of Patrick White's new films and out of courtesy, Owen agreed to go as well. After a plate of bacon and some cold orange juice, he was ready to face the day, especially after seeing the elegant yet form-fitting dress that Ariana was wearing. It almost made him forget the amount of stress that had been building up inside of him about what the next few weeks would include. Tomorrow morning, his parents, as well as many of their friends, were scheduled to board a private jet to Europe to reconnect for a few weeks. All of their children would be spending the summer at Pierce and Aimee Collins house which would have been more than exciting, if they were all friends. Besides Alexandra, Owen felt like he was on good terms with everyone else, but he oculdn't say the same for the others. Most specifically, he was worried about Tinashé and Ariana. No matter how hard he tried to remind himself that the girls' problems had ended almost ten years ago, there was a part of him that knew that neither of them would be happy residing together.

When Owen had returned home from the movie screening, the house was not only filled with friends, but with staff members scrambling to make sure that the house looked flawless. Pierce and Aimee had offered to host a dinner party for the cast and crew, wanting to take advantage of the huge entertaining spaces that the estate offered one last time before their trip. There were tens of people in the kitchen preparing appetizers, entrees and desserts, people dusting, vacuuming and mopping floors, lights being hung in the backyard, lawns being mowed and boxes of alcoholic beverages being carried into the home.

By the time cars started to pull down their long driveway, the home looked like something out of a dream, and Owen was sure that Aimee was to thank for that. While Pierce relished in the estate's built-in vineyards, he wasn't too particular on the rest of the home's details and gave his design-savvy wife free reign to decorate and arrange it however she pleased. Clearly, she never failed to impress, especially when company was coming over. However fancy that house was dressed up to be, the mood of the party was going to much more casual than many of the soirees they usually hosted. After showering and changing out of his suit, he slipped on the outfit that Ariana had suggested he wear the day before. Admittedly, he felt like he looked like he was more likely to go bowling than socialize with his father's friends, but he put it on anyway. He'd modelled far worse outfits in the past and more importantly, he didn't want to offend Ariana.

Since he barely seen any of his friends yet this summer, he was anxious to find them, though the large house would prove that to be fairly difficult. Most of them had moved in the previous day, but Ariana had went to her family's home after the movie screening to get her bags and was supposed to be returning shortly. He hoped that everyone besides her was home and dressed, but had a feeling that most of them wouldn't have taken the initiative to go downstairs and socialize with the guests yet. Always wanting to make a good impression, Owen decided to wait on seeking them out and go downstairs himself, but not before sending a couple of text messages.

To: Shay
Tell me you're already down here mingling? I don't wanna rep our family alone.

To: Carson
Where are you? They just put the filet mignon out. Surprised you're not over here already lol.

To: Alexandra
Dad wanted you ready by 6. Where are you? And let's lay off the makeup tonight.

To: Ariana
Tell me when you get here :).

To: Colette
Ik Ari isn't here yet, but are you? I'm heading downstairs now so if you are, come find me.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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Tinashé was not ready for the day.

Her turmoil in regards to the evening and the upcoming portion of her summer began when she, Chris, and Rose had finally made their way back to Beverly Hills. In truth, Tinashé had made plans to use the luxury coach Pierre had bought for her years ago, allow it to pick the trio up on the East Coast, and then cruise back to their home. However, after one phone call with an insistent Aimee (she refused to regard the woman as her mother at the moment) and a stern yet pleading Pierre, she and her friends were aboard the private Collins jet and had set down in Los Angeles by three o'clock in the morning. Tinashé was a lot of things. Sure, she might seem to have endless amount of energy. She might throw down on a stage despite being up for more than twenty four hours. She might even still make time to party despite the aforementioned work load. But if there was one thing she wasn't, it was a morning person. And it showed for while Rose may or may not have went home - she honestly could not remember, she was so beat - and Chris might have very well stayed over, Tinashé had locked herself in her bedroom and dropped dead on her queen sized mattress without a glance in any other direction. By the time she awoke again, it was past noon and Aimee had given up on trying to get her to attend the premiere.

Feeling boneless and lazy after her descent into the land of the dead, Tinashé had trudged out of bed and settled herself for a nice, long and hot soak in her bathtub complete with her Cynthia Erivo station blasting through the surround system of her bedroom on Pandora, a champagne flute filled with strawberry mimosa and a plate of hummus with softly-baked pita bread and apple slices. Even the bubbles were meant for comfort for they smelled of warm vanilla and sandalwood. She had text both Owen and Alexandra to let them know she was home, even though they probably already knew that, and then allowed herself to relax for at least thirty minutes in the tub while munching and sipping on the mimosa. Satisfied with her soak, she had thrown on a crop top and sweatpants and stayed holed up in her bedroom. Not like she needed to help with setting up or anything. It was around five in the evening when Aimee came barging into her bedroom, sighing and staring at her daughter expectantly.

"Tinashé, I thought I told you to get ready an hour ago," Aimee nagged and Tinashé rolled her eyes, glancing back at her phone where she was in an ongoing conversation with her manager, Nick. He wanted her to hurry up and release her new mixtape, Amethyst, and she wanted to give herself at least a month. Besides, it wasn't like this was the label's decision at the end of the day. This was her work without them over her shoulder and she could release it next year if she wanted. "I'm up, aren't I?" She griped back and tossed the phone back on the plush mattress, settling herself among the various pillows that lined her bed. Aimee's somewhat thin yet kissable lips, a shade paler than that of raspberries, were pressed tightly before she let out an exasperated sound. "I'm not going to ask you again. Owen has already started getting ready and is probably already talking to the guests that came. You know how important this is to Pierre and - " Tinashé interjected. "I'm here, aren't I? If I weren't gonna be there, I would have stayed in Europe with or without the others, now wouldn't I have?" Mother and daughter exchanged looks, one with annoyance and the other with hurt resignation. Aimee, seeing that she wasn't going to get anything more out of the conversation, turned away but not without snapping over her shoulder, "Tinashé, apfeka yava ne mukati tevedza awa. Guma kuchachavadza." She closed the door, not getting to see the twenty-one year old singer cringe.She hated when her mother used her father's native language. It just did something to her.

Once about ten minutes passed, Tinashé - and this was out of her volition and not because she felt like her mother would call her father who would call her and guilt her into complying - climbed out of her bed and traipsed around her spacious bedroom in search of an outfit for the evening. Before that, she had sent out several texts.

To: CJ
Please tell me you're here already.

To: Chris
Stop trying to get into my sister's pants and get downstairs. Your parents are on their way.

To: Rose
Did you go home or stay here?

After finding an appropriate outfit for the very much casual (and thankfully so) soiree, Tinashé changed into the outfit, which consisted of black skinny pants from Bebe, a simple black cami that hugged her girls snugly beneath a lightweight tribal chiffon cardigan she bought from Free People, and a pair of nude leather gladiator sandals. To compliment her attire, she pulled on a triple chain feather and skull bone necklace with turquoise accents, a rustic genuine stone ring on her middle finger with a turquoise gem in the center, and a pair of gold studs from Melody Ehsani. The look still retained some of that urban yet cool and easy look she could be seen in, and was tasteful and casual which was always a plus. Tinashé had managed to keep her newly raven hair, which was long, somewhat sleek during the last night away from America and with the very loose waves that formed in her naturally curly locks over the night, a quick brush and spritz of oil sheen left her locks sheened and flowing. After a very light application of makeup to obtain a more natural look and a spritz of her warm vanilla body spray, Tinashé scooped up her phone and stepped out of her bedroom closing the door behind her and texting two more people, including Owen after receiving his message. She had taken a bit longer than she actually intended.

To: Colette
I'm not trying to go in there w/ just Owen. Text me when you get here.

To: Owen
Of course I am, bro. Can't you see me? I'm wearing my invisibility cloak.

To: Alexandra
Owen's being annoying. You still mad at me? D:

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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Wednesday, July 1st | 5:00 PM | Beverly Hills, CA



The chauffeur was woken by the sudden sound of knocking that came from inches behind his head. Eyes groggily turning toward the darkened window behind him, a groan was heard as he lowered the automatic window that separated him from the young woman that had crawled over the seat to reach the pane of glass. "Yes, Miss Rockefeller?" He had not even considered wiping that sleepy look from his eyes. After all, the girl and her "guest" had kept him up the entire night since she had gotten back to the Golden State.

"May I ask what time it is?" The smile on her expressions concerned him. From all the years he had driven the Rockefeller family, there were specific smiles they gave that sent chills down his back. "It is -" The man turned his head toward the clock in the car, but he never even got the chance to repeat what he saw. "It's 5:03. Tell me, Roger," His name was Richard, but what does it matter? "Can you do math?" "Yes Mi-" Once again, interrupted. Colette was not expecting an answer. "Good because you're going to figure out how we're going to make 90 miles in 60 miles per hour streets."

She did not wait for his answer. Typical. Roger was going to get her there on time, as always, but she was simply not a morning person - if 5:00 P.M. could even be considered morning. Already, she was setting to work. Her top coming off first as the young woman sifted through the small excuse of a closet situated in the back of the limo. Yes, closet, she was not in caveman in that she would wear one outfit for more than a few hours.

"Nice car." The voice came from the side, mixed with the roar of the engine. "Didn't seem that big last night." "Nothing seemed that big last night under the influence of alcohol." The witty retort was responded with a snort from the man that sat shirtless in the corner of the limo. "Savor it. Good? Now get out." Colette had an after party to attend. "Woah, wait there little lady. I mean-" She was already opening the door for him, one hand pulling him out of the limo that was already beginning its drive. "At least give me my shirt!" From the tinted window flew out the shirt that he had called for, and with it, the vehicle was off.


Wednesday, July 1st | 6:00 PM | Beverly Hills, CA
Outfit



Her phone was having a party of its own.

By the time the limo came to a stop, the young woman was unrecognizable from earlier. Her hair hung in soft waves against her shoulders, lightly brushing over the bright Valentino top matched with the floral patterned Max Mara skirt. With Jimmy Choo heels and Chanel bag to match, her make-up reflected the same casual sunny look her outfit was going for. Colette's color scheme matched the California weather perfectly - and with her new summer clothing line coming out, such bold colors were definitive of her style. The sunlight streamed in as the door was pulled open by the chauffeur, who had already begun the process of transferring the insane amount of luggages into the large household.

Ik Ari isn't here yet, but are you? I'm heading downstairs now so if you are, come find me.

That was the first message she saw as she clicked on her phone that would not cease its constant vibrations. The number held no name - Colette knew perfectly well who it was. The number was all too familiar.

That message had wiped away the smile in exchange for the exasperated roll of her eyes as she swiped to delete the message and onto the next one. If Owen was looking for a response, then he had underestimated her determination to avoid his presence at all costs even in his family's household. At least the next message did not further dim her day.

From: Shay
I'm not trying to go in there w/ just Owen. Text me when you get here.

Shay was practically the reason Colette had reluctantly accepted the invitation. While the Upper East Side was growing to be dull, Beverly Hills was like mismatching a pair of bikinis. It was awful. "I will have your luggages delivered to your room. Will that be all, Miss Rockefeller?" The man's courteous voice had startled her from her daze. Glancing up from the phone, this time the smile was genuine. "Take the day off, Remy. Keep your phone near by, in case I need an escape route." Richard. His name was Richard, but he had to give the girl credit for her creativity in names that started with "R".

To: Shay
I'm too sober for this.

There was her indirect form of informing her friend that she had arrived. The large estate was hauntingly familiar and the last time she had stepped foot in this house seemed strangely far away.

To: Shay
On the watch for your brother. Who's up for two months of hide-and-seek? XOXO

The second text was sent as she stepped through the front doors of the large estate. Not once did she glance up from the phone that has yet to leave her hand. From Owen's earlier text, it was apparent that her evil twin has yet to arrive. Maybe a game of hide-and-seek with her mirror image did not sound too painful. Somehow, this sounded like a cheap knock-off of a teen horror movie.

To: Chris
If you wear that T-shirt you think you look so cool in. I will not forgive you.

The playful text was sent to the only sibling she wished to see this summer. Not one move or even a thought was given to texting her twin. Though with that last text, she raised her gaze from the comforting world of social network. "Time to enter the real world," She faintly mumbled to herself. With all its drama and chaos.

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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Tinashé had yet to actually enter the large foyer to greet people or even the large dining rooms and park ours to mingle with the guests. Avoiding those quickly filling rooms, Tinashé chose to enter one of the kitchens and propped herself on one of the stools, crossing her legs and feet Indian style like she did as a child. The kitchen staff were too familiar with her trying to skip out on various events to actually be concerned with her looming presence. In fact, three were assisting by obtaining for her a pair of black strappy, peep-toe heels because Shay had complained about being reminded of her height, setting a small plate with spinach and feta crostini and Swiss with mushroom bites, and a strawberry mango Mai tai beside it. Tinashé only smiled appreciatively as one of the maids elected to put her sandals away. "You guys are god-sent," she said and took a sip of her fruity alcoholic beverage. She really wanted a glass of Rothschild, but opted to wait until a bit later.

It was when she took a bite of the delicious crostini that her phone pinged in her pocket and Shay pulled it out to get it out. She let out a small squeal upon seeing Colette's text. Shoving the rest of her crostini in her mouth, Tinashé scooped up her glass and stole a bruschetta from a tray going out for the guests. It took her a minute to get to the foyer as Shay was avoiding the guests and it required her going upstairs through one of the narrow passageways and then descending one of the spiral staircases towards the front. It was at the top that she saw her best friend and Shay grinned at the brunette who had just looked up from her phone. "Leave it to you to make me feel like a bum even when the dress code is casual," Shay exclaimed as she reached the bottom of the stairs. Smirking, she finished her bruschetta bite and upon switching hands with her drink, she looped arms with Colette. "And I'm here for hide and seek. There is a spa by the pool and a bunch of help to keep us from seeing everyone." Tinashé was all for seeing everyone else. She could do without dealing with Lexi's attitude with her, but there was only one person she didn't want to see and Shay didn't even want to mention her name.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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Hair/makeup | Outfit

Alexandra had all intentions of attending Mr. White's movie premiere this morning, but after her father and Owen had ganged together to veto the "skimpy" playsuit she wanted to wear, she refused to go. There were times when Alexa purposely wore inappropriate outfits to bother her father and on those occasions, she would still throw a fit but would eventually change. Today, she genuinely saw no problem with her outfit. It was summer for God's sake, did they expect her wear a snow suit in over seventy-degree weather? It was nothing that she shouldn't have expected, but it definitely made her regret almost missing Owen and Ariana when they had been in London all week. She had only begun to wish they were home because Tinashé had abandoned her for months, and if their home sometimes felt empty with the family of five, it definitely did with three. All it took was for Owen to open his mouth once for her to wish he was thousands of miles away again, though.

Her day was spent shopping. Even though she was there multiple times a week, it could take her hours to get through all of the stores on Rodeo Drive. It was nearly five in the afternoon when she left her final store, six bags in hand and her bank account around five grand lighter. Her car was waiting outside for her, thanks to the valet service, and it took her no more than ten minutes to pull past the first of three sets of gates guarding her home. She left the car, in a purposely obnoxious manner, right in front of the house rather than in the multi-car garage or down the driveway where the other cars were parked. Someone would surely move it, as would they take the shopping bags out of the back. There were shoes in one of the bags that she wanted to look through, but being that she was already running pretty late, she didn't want to make a big entrance by plowing through the halls with tons of bags.

She had never changed out of the outfit that Pierce and Owen had shot down earlier and had no intentions of changing now. After tossing her bag into her bedroom, she headed down to the game room, where Chris had told her he was waiting via text. The game room had been one of her favorite features in the house when she was younger. How many people could say that they had a two-lane bowling alley in their house? The magic of it had worn off once she hit thirteen and thought she was too cool for it, but it was still something that new friends were amazed with when they stopped by the Collins' home for the first time. Her lips curled into a smirk as she reached the bottom floor and spotted Chris transforming the billiards table into a beer pong table. She had lost count of the amount of times that the table had to be replaced because someone had stained it with alcohol when doing what they were doing now, but she didn't object. Her reservations were less with him ruining the table and more so that not only were her father and Owen both home, but tens of other adults, including his parents, were probably here by now too. It was unusual for her to even have a second thought before doing something reckless, and as soon as she realized that, she shrugged and stepped towards him.

"Wow, I'm surprised to see you here," she said bitterly, although she was still smiling. "Did you get bored of Europe, or just with sleeping with my sister?" She still wasn't exactly sure if she believed Ariana's claim that Tinashe didn't want her to come to Europe because she wanted to sleep with Chris, but she definitely wouldn't put it past him. "Fill mine with water," she decided as she took a seat on one of the couches. It wasn't even a question that she was going to need alcohol at some point to get through the night, but she wasn't going to start yet. As she waited for Chris to finish setting up their game, she pulled out her phone and found a text from Tinashé and Owen. Even if Owen's message wasn't as rude as it was, she would have ignored it anyway. She really didn't feel like answering Tinashé either, but knew that she had to stop being petty at some point. It could wait until after a game of pong, though.

The game took less than five minutes to be nearly over. Chris was a pro at it and although Alexa wasn't inexperienced with drinking games in the least, she wasn't good when she was sober and uninterested. He was down to his last cup when he grinned at her. "If I get this one in, you kiss me," he proposed. His cheeky smile made it impossible for her not to smile, although she had no intentions of actually kissing him. "And if I get mine in, I don't," she responded. He nodded and easily sunk his ball in the last cup of water in front of her. He said nothing, which was good, because it might have thrown her off from sinking her bounce shot. "Alright, you got me this time. I've got all summer to win that bet though," he laughed.

She rolled her eyes. It wasn't that Chris wasn't attractive enough for her to want to kiss, but he was her best friend and according to his sister, more than a best friend to Tinashé. "Keep dreaming, buddy." She helped clear the table, which luckily didn't have a drop of alcohol on it, and pulled her phone out. "We should go up there, I guess," she muttered while responding to Tinashé in a purposely bratty fashion, acting as if she'd deleted her sister's contact.

To: Tinashé
Sry, new phone!! Who is this?

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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He wasn't surprised that it was nearly three in the afternoon when he woke up on Wednesday. He hadn't gotten back to LA until three in the morning and since the ecstasy he had taken a few days before was still wearing off, he probably could have slept for another few hours had his mother not texted him. It was actually the last of many texts that she had sent throughout the morning and afternoon, but the only one that had woken him up. She was concerned about him not texting her to tell her they had gotten home safely and in the later texts, that he needed to be polite and respectful tonight in front of their friends. After reassuring her of both things, Chris took a long, hot shower and got dressed in an outfit that he was sure his sisters and parents would equally disprove of, but that he felt fit the dress code decently.

He was sure that Tinashé was either asleep or getting settled back into life at home, and he honestly had no idea if Rose had slept over or went back to her parents' house. After finding out that Alexa was out shopping, he headed to the Collins' game room. If his shirt didn't speak loudly of it enough, Chris was a big gamer. He loved nearly every type of video game and the Collins' game room had some games that rivaled big arcades. Instead of the machines though, he took a seat on one of the leather chairs in front of the huge television and turned on Battlefield 4. It was a game that he could, and usually did, spend hours playing. Today he lasted less than an hour before it was apparent that the party was starting. Not only had he received another series of texts from his mother, but also one from Colette. After responding to the two woman, he also texted Lexi, who he hadn't seen in months.

To: Colette
HEY the green mushroom shirt is a classic. Don't hate coco

To: Alexandra
When you finish splurging come to the game room

Alexandra must have already been home because only five minutes after he texted her, he heard her traipsing down the stairs.

"Well, well, well... look who it is."

"Wow, I'm surprised to see you here. Did you get bored of Europe, or just with sleeping with my sister?" Her response certainly caught Chris off guard. Sleeping with Tinashé? Was she crazy? He had tried that a few years ago but after that failed, he had never considered it again. Their friendship wasn't like that and he didn't think there was anything that would even indicate that he would try to sleep with Shay.

His expression probably suggested his confusion, but he wanted to keep the mood light and didn't get into whatever he problem was. "Ehh, neither. It was hard enough going two months without my partner in crime. Didn't think I'd leave you hanging all summer too."

He was lining the pool table with red cups and began to fill them with beer before Alexandra objected to having alcohol in the ones on her side. "Fill mine with water."

"Damn, don't tell me Owen managed to brainwash you while we were gone," he commented, clearly surprised that she would turn down alcohol. He did as directed though, and filled her ten cups with water before allowing her to take the first shot. It was apparent that she wasn't only not in the mood for alcohol, but not in the mood to play since it only took a few rounds for him to be at his last cup and her to have at least five or six left.

He straightened up to take his final shot before relaxing and grinning at her. "If I get this one in, you kiss me." He doubted that she would agree to it, as she had never accepted any of his more subtle hints at interest in her, so when she replied that she would accept the bet only if she didn't sink her next shot, he was happily surprised. His ball hit the water as he expected and he waited with butterflies in his stomach as she got ready to take her's. His eyes followed the ball that sailed through the air, hit the table and bounced straight into one of the cups.

Disappointed but not fully defeated, he smiled. "Alright, you got me this time. I've got all summer to win that bet though." Her "keep dreaming, buddy" response only made him smile wider because he planned on doing just so but he nodded when she suggested they head back to the party. As they headed upstairs and to the main area of the house, he pulled out his phone for the first time since being with Alexandra and found a text from Tinashé.

To: Tinashé
Maybe I'd be in her pants if you didn't sleep with me while I was passed out in Europe leaving me w/ no recollection of it?????

The Collins estate was huge but the front rooms of the house were filled with people whose names Chris could never remember, no matter how many times his parents had introduced them to him. As they passed the large dining room, he spotted his parents chatting with Aimee and Pierce and quickly pulled Alexandra in the opposite direction. Talking with them was going to be inevitable but Chris planned on putting it off for as long as possible. When they reached the main staircase, he found Tinashé and his preferred sister, Colette, arm in arm. "Savor the good vibes now. Mom texted me that Ari should be here any minute," he smirked. He knew that both girls had their own issues with his eldest sister and even though he wasn't her biggest fan either, he was sure that her presence wouldn't bother him nearly as much as it would them.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller Character Portrait: Oliver McKagan Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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Car | Outfit


Since Owen hadn't been home all week and Tinashé for the past two months, Carson had waited to bring his things over until this morning. Not only did he have his own apartment an hour away in Malibu, but he also had no intentions of spending a night at the Collins' house alone with Alexandra. The regretted night had happened almost a month ago and he had seen Lexi a few times since then, but he had always made sure that they were never alone. He didn't want to give her the idea that he still - or had ever - wanted her in any way besides as a friend. Alcohol was solely responsible for what had occurred that night, whether she believed it or not.

"You brought your bags over earlier, right?" Carson turned his head towards his step-brother Oliver, who sat in the passenger seat of his car. His mother and Oliver's father weren't attending tonight's party since they were already in France and were going to meet the other parents there tomorrow. Although Carson's father was good friends with Pierce, he was in Texas on business and wasn't going to be able to attend tonight's affairs either. He preferred his parents' absence, however. It wasn't like he planned on doing anything out of character anyway, but there was always less pressure to be anything but himself when he was away from them.

After leaving his luggage in his temporary room at the Collins' house, he returned to his mother's house and spent most of the day relaxing before driving with Oliver to the party. Neither of them had attended the movie premiere, which surprised Carson, since he knew that Oliver was good friends with Mr. White's youngest daughter, Jamie. Besides that, he (like everyone else) also knew that Oliver had been in love with Lexi for years, which probably meant that he had spent the day trying to talk himself into finally making a move on her. He and Oliver didn't really see each other as brothers as much as they did friends, but they were close enough that his night with Lexi definitely made him feel guiltier than he already did when it came to Oliver.

Like most Beverly Hills estates, the Collins house was heavily protected with numerous gates and a security booth. If the property wasn't big enough on its own, the driveway leading up to it added another five-minute-drive worth of distance to it. After parking the car, he waited a minute inside to text back Shay, who had messaged him during the drive. He had seen Owen numerous times over the summer so his week-long absence was barely noteworthy compared to Tinashé disappearing for a few months.

To: Shay
Just got here. Are you gonna come to the door or am I going to have to search for you?

As he and Oliver stepped inside, it was apparent that they wouldn't have to look too hard for Tinashé. She was standing in the foyer with Colette, Christopher and Alexandra. He instantly pulled Tinashé into a bear hug. "Wow, after two months of only seeing you on Skype, I forgot how short you actually are," he joked as he released her. He offered Chris a friendly handshake, "And I'm glad to see you got back in one piece too, man. Your snapchats of all of those parties looked crazy." He made an effort to make his smile and wave to Lexi seem as natural and un-awkward as possible. He didn't want to seem too friendly but at the same time, completely ignoring her would have been more alerting. He hugged Colette too, although not as long and tightly as Shay. He was in New York only a few weeks back for a public event for his homeless shelter, and had stayed at Colette's place that night. "And aren't you looking... bright today," he smirked, eyeing her bright outfit. She was probably the most fashion-savvy of the group though, so his jab held little value, especially when he had put together his outfit in less than five minutes.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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Before Tinashé and Colette could get very far, she halted their steps at the double ping of her phone and released Colette in favor of answering her phone. She had to give herself pause at the obvious brattiness of her step-sister, rolling her eyes at the girl's audacity. Alexandra could play whatever game she wanted to at the moment, Shay could care less. Not like she had presents for the demon or something. Whatever. She found a smile tugging at the corners of her mouth at seeing Carson texting her back and would have promptly said something to Colette if Chris hadn't text her as well. She couldn't fathom would put it in Chris' mind to think they had ever slept together on the tour and was about to send a response when the guy in question and her step-sister appeared.

Tinashé rolled her eyes, opting not to say anything to Chris in regards to his demon of a sister. Instead, she focused her attention on her own smart-mouthed one, a kinked eyebrow and a light smirk on her face the only indication that she was somewhat peeved with Alexandra. She still didn't get why Alexandra was upset with her over not being able to come on tour. Shay had planned for her to come, honest and true. However, Pierce had let her know that he forbid his daughter from going and well, Alexandra was still a dependent under his roof. Tinashé was not going to get coverage over kidnapping someone's child, least of all from the man whose house she lived in. "Oh, you've got a new phone, huh?" She inquired flatly, placing a hand on her hip and taking a sip of her Mai Tai. "Guess I'll just have to lose the number in my phone, not to mention these new skirts, bags and Nick Jonas' number. Don't wanna give him the wrong number or anything." She said the last part with a flippant toss of her head, turning just in time to see Carson walk into the door.

If anyone asked her why she had changed her mind about touring with an artist she had once admitted to despising due to the crassness and overall lack of talent she saw in them, Tinashé would have simply said that she did it for the publicity. Plus, she loved performing at any chance that she got and Nick had been there. They had performed their duet and he hung out with her and Chris and Rose a good number of times after shows. However, even she knew that her disappearing the way she had with barely a world to anyone other than her family and close friends said something to her nightlife crew and to those who knew her best. She still won't admit to running. No, Shay was too brave to run from anything or anyone and that included whatever feelings she may or may not have about the guy who immediately pulled her into his arms. Even in her heels (they were more kitten than anything else), she was still shorter than him and settled for wrapping her arms around his waist tightly in their embrace, savoring the warmth more than she let alone.

Upon hearing Carson's remark about her height, Shay pouted and slapped his arm and griping, "Shut up, jerk!" The smile was still playful and definitely a bit softer, and once Carson turned to greet everyone else, Shay settled back beside Colette, not trying to seem in any way obvious about anything. She probably didn't, but still. After a few minutes of everyone greeting one another, she glanced back down the still bustling hallway before looking back at their group. "Well, considering the fact that I'm not here to give you-know-who a welcoming, we should probably start heading in. I'd rather get this over with sooner than later."

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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Tinashé's response and Alexandra's lack of one made it apparent that neither of his sisters had plans to follow their parents' request for them to actually be present at the party. He tried not to let it bother him. The guests would probably be here for another three or four hour and he reminded himself that it wasn't his job to police his sisters, now matter how necessary it seemed. Not only did he genuinely have their best interests at heart when he pestered them about things, but he also felt like he needed to help Pierce and Aimee. Both were good parents, but both had equally been through hell and back raising two teenage daughters. Sometimes he thought that it was nice to give them a break by taking care of some of the petty issues on his own.

Instead of texting the girls again like he wanted to, he put his phone into his pocket and opted to make up for their absences in extra mingling. He allowed his father to introduce him to men that he was sure he had met before, and agreed to show some actor's wife to the nearest restroom. He laughed at jokes that he didn't find remotely funny, accepted a glass of Pauillac from a passing server and explained several times when asked about his sisters' whereabouts that they were still upstairs getting ready.

"That's women for ya," Mr. Craig Sanders chuckled after hearing the explanation. He was an older gentleman at maybe seventy or seventy-five years of age and had been a writer on Mr. White's film. Owen had met him a couple of times before but only considered the man to be an acquaintance. He wasn't sure if the man was just getting old or if he genuinely didn't care, but he was always calling Owen by the wrong name. Regardless, Owen laughed along out of courtesy and as he spotted Alexandra and Chris quickly passing by the doorway, he attempted to excuse himself from the conversation. Before he could, however, Craig pulled two cigars out of his pant pocket.

"You ever smoke a 'King of Denmark', Warren? Here, show me out back and you can try one."

"I appreciate it, Sir, but I don't smo-" Owen tried to politely reject the offer. Smoking was a bit of a guilty pleasure, secret habit for him. He knew his parents would murder him for picking up some an unhealthy habit, and only did it when he was very stressed, or away from home. It was hard for him to decline tonight, though, since he was quickly interrupted.

"Nonsense! I won't take no for an answer, son. You won't know what you're missing 'til you try one."

It seemed useless to argue, so with a forced smile and nod, Owen led Warren out of the room, down one of the long hallways and out to the side of the house. Thankfully, only a few minutes after they stepped out into the cool summer eve air, Craig's phone went off. He motioned to Owen that he would only be a minute but after five minutes, the man's pacing and ranting to whoever was on the other end of the line didn't seem to be ending any time soon. Soon after, his own phone began to ring and as he answered it, he heard Ariana on the other line telling him that she was here.

"Of course. I'll be out there in a second," he replied with clear relief as he hung up. He caught Craig's glance for a moment but the older gentleman shooed him away- a rejection that Owen happily accepted. Rather than walk through the house and possibly be caught in conversation with someone else, he opted to walk to the front of the house outside. Their property was large enough that it took him at least seven or eight minutes to reach Ariana but when he did, he couldn't have been happier. They had been apart for less than twelve hours but it felt like forever. Even if she wasn't the most beloved girl in their friend group, he couldn't get enough of her. "I missed you too," he smiled, reluctantly allowing her to pull away from their kiss.

When they reached the door of the house, he waited to open it until after answering her question. "I'm honestly not sure. Most of the adults are here, but I haven't spoken to any of our friends yet today. Shay is around somewhere, and I know I saw Alexandra and your brother in the hallway earlier, but besides them, I'm not sure." The answer to her question was better answered when they opened the door and he led her inside. Feet away from the door stood both of his sisters, both of her siblings, Carson and Oliver. Rose, Jamie and Aiden were missing, but besides that, it seemed like the whole gang was there.

Some of his favorite people were all in one room together, but Owen wasn't sure if that was a good thing. He almost immediately doubted that it was going to be possible for everyone to live in one house together, no matter how big it was. "Hey guys," was all that he could come up with as he gave a slightly awkward wave to the group that he was beginning to feel like they had intruded on. He wanted to chastise Tinashé for leaving him hanging with a bunch of old and boring people, and Alexandra for blatantly disregarding their father's request that she not dress that way, but decided that it wasn't a good time. Even the presence of Carson, his best friend and a guy who always seemed to lighten the mood, didn't alleviate the stress that he expected would soon be coming on.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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How her expression lighted up at the sight of her friend. A sudden change, with not a trace of her earlier look of distaste at having seen Owen’s message. ”Casual dress code? What are we, cavemen?” There was no doubt that Colette had received the memo for the dress code. The pompous comment was hardly an exaggeration for her.

Instantly, the two friends were acting as if they have not seen each other for ages, when in fact it was mere weeks before Colette had visited Shay in Paris. Shay’s arm looped around hers, and the sound of Colette’s laughter rang through the estate. ”I would not mind hide-and-seek at the spa.” The brunette raised her hand as to pluck a pink macaron off of a silver platter. ”So long you have something fruity. The New Yorkers do not know how to make a Sangria to save their life. As she complained, for about the fifth time since her arrival the day before, about the Upper East Side’s incompetence in making beach cocktails, the faint vibration in her purse reminded her of the phone’s presence.

From: Chris
HEY the green mushroom shirt is a classic. Don't hate coco

”Oh my God, he’s going to do it.” The fearful prediction was soon proven to be reality as she raised her gaze from her phone, toward the familiar figure that was making his way toward them. In that instant, she even forgave him for using the name “Coco”. Her brother calls her by a stripper name, her sister a dog breed, tells a lot about each of their characters. ”One of these days, I will sue you for your criminal sense of fashion.” The accusing tone was hardly serious, but at the comment about her twin, the sudden drop in her smile was blatantly obvious. Two months. ”I’ll get the candles, you get the holy water.” If only she could play everything off as a joke in front of her sister. And if only a banishing spell or something of the like can repel evil spirits like her.

”And aren't you looking... bright today,” Amazing how quickly a smile can be plastered onto the bitter expression that was there merely a second earlier. Though of all, she had seen him most recently. ”And you look as scrubby as always.” The returned hug was complete with an expressive raise of her brow toward Shay. The look of ‘I know something that you don’t’ was always there in the presence of those two, but the second she released him, the playful look was gone.

”Hey guys,” The voice sent chills down her back. What was that Shay was saying earlier about heading in? The smile on her lips was strained, refusing to even turn to acknowledge the one that had was closing in on the distance between him and the group. The pair of high-heeled steps that followed was also far too familiar. Speak of the devil. ”What was that about hide-and-seek?” She had lowered her voice to a level that only the girl beside her should hear. The other faint ”Hi guys” was hardly acknowledged as Colette turned her head to greet the incoming trio. Of course the first time she had to see them was for them to be together. ”That’s adorable.” The brunette nearly hissed through her smile. ”I’m going to go vomit now.”

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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Alexa followed Chris through her house and smiled at his dramatic detour from the room his parents were in. She didn't want to see her's either, so she didn't complain when they circled the room and ended up at the grand stairwell in the front foyer. They weren't the only people present in the entrance room, however. Her sister Tinashé and his sister Colette were present as well. Alexandra wasn't in the mood to socialize with her sister. She knew she was being a drama queen about the whole thing, but especially since Chris hadn't denied the claim that they were sleeping together, she was still annoyed. Tinashé had some nerve to agree with her dad that she not go to Europe just because she wanted to sleep with Chris uninterrupted. Presents were probably the best way to win Alexa over though, so even as she rolled her eyes at her sister's remark, she couldn't stop herself from smiling faintly. "Nick Jonas doesn't compare to the boys I got to hang out with while you were gone anyway." Or more accurately, boy, and as if on cue, he walked in. Carson Koch. The most perfect creature to ever walk the Earth and best first-time she could have imagined. She didn't even notice Oliver walking beside him as the twenty-three year old came in, hugged Colette and Shay, and greeted her and Chris. Her 'hello' wasn't as enthusiastic as she would have wanted but she knew it was just Carson trying to keep their relationship on the down-low.

"Let me have some?" she had stepped towards Tinashé, gently pulling the glass from her sister's hand before waiting for any approval. Suddenly, she didn't feel the need to wait to indulge in alcohol anymore. If she wanted to get enough courage to talk to Carson seriously tonight, she was going to need some liquid courage. She was ready to turn around and follow the group to wherever they were going with drink in hand when the front door open again, this time by Owen and Ariana. She quickly thrust the drink back into her sister's hands out of instinct more than actual fear. She didn't really care if Owen saw her drinking since she disregarded his wishes all of the time without a second thought.

"Too late," she smirked at Shay, who she knew was trying to avoid confronting Ariana for as long as possible. Unlike maybe everyone else in the room, Alexa wasn't on bad terms with Ariana. In fact, with her own sister's disappearance, she had gotten fairly close with Owen's girlfriend. She knew that she and Tinashé had a rough past but if it was okay for Owen to sleep with the girl, she didn't see how it could be that bad for her to just hang out with her. Besides, Tinashé had ditched her. It wasn't like she was getting the "sister of the year" award either. Still, her relationship with Ariana wasn't as strong as her's could be with Shay and regardless of how buddy-buddy she could act with Ari, she had no real alliance with her. "Hi Ari," she smiled as she pranced over to hug the girl. "Oooh, I love your shoes. Where did you get them?"Okay, so maybe she didn't care that much about Ariana as she did about bothering Tinashé still. But at least Owen couldn't complain about her having a bad attitude when, according to the cold air that had come in with the pair, few of the others were pleased to see them.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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Owen was little help in preparing her for who she would be dealing with upon arrival. Although she appeared to be cool and collected, she was caught off guard when she stepped inside to find Colette, Chris, Alexandra, Tinashé, Carson and Oliver standing right in the foyer. She had expected to at least have a few minutes to prepare herself before speaking with them and she definitely hadn't thought that she would be dealing with all of them at once. 'There's no time like the present,' she reminded herself as she pasted on a smile and studied each of them. She didn't spend much time looking over Carson, Oliver or Chris. They were all easy to deal with. "It's so nice to see you, Carson!" she exclaimed, her smile turning a bit more flirtatious as she wrapped her arms around him. When she pulled away, she offered a wave to Oliver and then embraced her younger brother, who was taller than her even with heels on, in a hug. "Christopher, I thought Mom threw that shirt out," she said disapprovingly once she had released him and studied his attire. If there was one thing that she and Colette could agree on, it was that Christopher needed a wardrobe makeover.

Her eyes lingered longer on her twin sister who she had to admit, looked nice. Like Ariana, Colette knew that one could never be overdressed for an event and her fashion-obsessed sister never failed to impress clothing-wise. It wasn't much of an enviable talent, as they could all afford to hire stylists to do that for them, but since it was the only talent she thought her sister had, she would let her think it was important. The girl needed something to live for. "You look cute, Collie," she said sweetly, although she was sure her sister would be able to hear the condescending undertone that she possessed. Despite them only being minutes apart in age, Ariana always treated Colette like she was younger and less able than she was. Even if she wasn't that much younger, she definitely did feel wiser that Colette in every other aspect.

Her gaze turned to Tinashé and she genuinely did have the intentions of saying hi to the girl when Alexandra spoke up. Her attention was redirected to the younger girl and her smile became more genuine when she complimented her shoes. "These old things? I actually found them in Collie's closet." She glanced over at her sister again, "Hope you don't mind that I'm borrowing them." The fact that they generally wore the same clothing sizes was one of the perks of being a twin. Even if her sister did object to her wearing them, it wasn't like she was actually going to take them off. She made a mental note to tell Alexa that she needed to lose the heavy makeup later on, but for now, she kept quiet.

Now that Ariana had sufficiently interrupted her introductions, she didn't think it was necessary to go back to Tinashé. She was sure that the girl was still offended over the things she had done to her when they were children and Ariana certainly wasn't going to apologize. It was probably better that there first interactions weren't in front of the rest of the group, especially with Owen standing next to her. She had done a good job of keeping up her good girl reputation around him and if anyone could send that crashing down, it was Tinashé.

After Aiden slipped inside behind them, she waved at him too but didn't want to stick around to chat right now. She needed a martini ASAP and since she felt like her entrance was sufficient, there was no better time to leave than now. "Come, let's get something to drink," she said, tugging Owen's hand.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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Tinashé couldn't even allow herself to giggle at Colette and Chris' greetings to one another, nor could she really give Alexandra's ever present attitude much attention like the girl typically wanted. As soon as Owen called to the group and the sound of heels accompanying him filled her ears, she knew they had not moved fast enough and mentally cursed the entire group. She even pressed herself a bit closer to Colette, remaining as discreet as possible because Lexi had given her a look that had Shay two seconds from slapping her like one of her parents should have done five years ago. Taking a sip of her Mai Tai, she finally allowed her eyes to drift towards the one person she didn't want to see: Ariana Rockefeller.

In the past, that name sent chills to her spine and cold, hard fear to her chest and made it hard for her to breathe. She had always felt frozen in the hallways of Buckley when Ariana and her followers would call to her in the halls, the tiny hairs at the back of her neck standing upright as if they could somehow catch the jabs and harsh criticism from girls who probably still wet their bed if some of the rumors had said anything. Tinashé started with Ariana's shoes. Or, Colette's shoes now that she remembered them. "You wore them better, btw," she whispered very quietly to her best friend. Her eyes drifted further upwards, to the tasteful attire Ariana was sporting. While Shay had never been frumpy in her appearance growing up, the constant and sickening admiration Buckley kids showered Ariana with always made her feel bland and unattractive in the former Queen Bee's presence. Ariana's hair and jewelry? On point, as always. Other than Chris, it seemed the Rockefellers were always going to be attuned to the latest trends and fashions. Finally, Tinashé's gaze finally met Ariana after the girl acknowledged Alexandra.

And all she could do was smile, even when Ariana could say nothing.

Now, when looking upon her worst tormentor and the one person who doubted her the most, Tinashé couldn't - for the life of her - remember why she cared so much about Ariana Rockefeller. She couldn't remember why it was that Ariana had been so sought after and looked at like some sort of goddess - some symbol of perfection that could never be attained or even allowed to be close to. She couldn't remember how she could have possibly stood for so long against the biting words and hits, even if Ariana herself had never raised a hand but allowed her posse to do so. Instead of the fear and the anxiety, all she could feel was a chill that had not been present before. It tightened and coiled deep within her, squeezing at something inside of her in such a painful grip that she ended up having to drink some more of the alcohol in her hand in an attempt to alleviate the uncomfortable feeling. It wasn't the hurt from the many nights she came home crying only for her mother to turn the other cheek. It wasn't the many lyrics she had written out on papers that would never see the light of day because if they did, it could tarnish the Rockefeller name and she could never do that to two people who made her Buckley years bearable. And it wasn't the fear that clawed its way up her throat every time she had once wanted to say something at Ariana that could hurt - that could make her feel something other than the unwanted and truly unfounded resentment she seemed to have had for Tinashé.

It was rage.

Unadulterated and unchecked rage that was slowly eating away at the carefully constructed layer of her sanity, forcing her to link back up with Colette in fear that if she did not have someone who could ground her, she'd finally do the one thing she had been wanting to do since she was thirteen and acquired her black belt in taekwondo: whoop Ariana's ass. The smile she gave Ariana was not welcoming. It was not warm and kind like the one she would give Jamie, Aiden, Oliver, and anyone who wasn't Ariana. It wasn't the truly endearing smile reserved for her family and best friends. No, it was cold and seemed to spread over her heart-shaped face with an ease reminiscent to the bitches of Buckley and every mean girl that ever existed. It spoke volumes and try as she might, the only change she could make was when it slipped into a small smirk just as a familiar face popped behind Ariana.

"Hey, Aiden," she said smoothly, the lilt in her naturally soft voice edgier than normal. She wasn't composed like Colette and the others. Years of shoving down her hurt left her not as skilled in that department and she needed to be as far from Ariana as possible. She pulled at Colette, muttering to her, "Project hide-and-seek starting now," she said and unlike Ariana, she didn't' feel like announcing that she was leaving. She pulled her best friend with her further into the house and away from their group of friends and blended in with the various guests until they were near some models and a few actors from the film. "Sorry...I-I-I just..." It was rare for Tinashé to show that she was affected by one person, a sort of shield she had managed to put up between herself and the outside world so that they could never see that vulnerability again. However, Colette was one of the few people she allowed such a privilege and she downed the rest of her alcohol. That action shouldn't have given her as much relief as it did. "It's been so long since I saw her face to face. I wasn't exactly...ready." She shot her bestie an apologetic look before pulling out her phone.

To: Jamie, Rosie
Pleaze tell me ur on ur way?

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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"Hey Aiden, nice to see you." Aiden's arrival was a good opportunity for Owen to pretend he wasn't paying attention to the way that Ariana was interacting with everyone else. He shook his friend's hand and gave him a friendly smile but was soon forced to return his attention to the others.

Owen knew that there was no way that Shay and Ariana being back in the same room together after so long was going to go seamlessly, but for the circumstances, he didn't think it went that poorly. Neither had verbally acknowledged her which was probably better than them trying to sort their problems out right now, or pretending like they had no issues and acting like friends. He had picked up on his sister's peculiar facial expression, mostly because he was watching her closely in case she came up with some nasty comment or tried to shred Ari to pieces right in front of them. Ariana had probably purposely left Tinashé out of her greetings though, so he guessed that the look was justified. No, he knew the look was justified. Even if he hadn't known Tinashé during most of the bullying, the stories had been relayed back to him by her mother and his father. Ariana had made her life a living hell and it was not only wrong, but ignorant, for her to think that she could just suddenly let go of those feelings. Owen knew that, and he was a good enough brother to not expect Tinashé to do so. At the same time, he needed her to be open to at least talking with Ariana about it. If she gave his girlfriend a chance to apologize, maybe they could start over, or just be on civil terms while they all lived together. There may not have been much benefit in a friendship for either of the girls but it took less than five minutes for him to realize that there was no way that he could spend a summer with the two of them hating each other. Their house was big, but not big enough for the two to ignore each other forever.

As Ariana tugged him inside, Tinashé and Colette had turned to walk down the opposite side of the hallway. He wanted to call out to them and tell them that Ariana would join and he'd meet them with drinks in a few minutes, but he refrained. It was too much of a dream, of wishful thinking. Besides, he wasn't sure if Colette and her sister were on decent terms either. The girls fought often, but he had never seen it in more than a sisterly-bickering manner. The way she had ignored his text earlier hinted that maybe she even had a problem with him. Owen had no idea what he could have done to a girl that he considered to be a close friend, but imagined that maybe she was siding with Tinashé in him being wrong for dating her mortal enemy.

He followed Ariana into the most populated room in the house. The servers were beginning to fill banquet-sized tables with different steaming dishes and since today's party was on the casual-side, it was a buffet-styled meal rather than a sit-down one. A passing cocktail waitress offered the pair martinis and although Owen declined the offer for himself, he did take a Manhattan off of the tray for Ariana, and swiftly handed it to her. He hoped having a drink in-hand would put her in a better mood for his next question. "Hey, do you think you can try talking to Shay tonight? I know whatever happened between you two was years ago, but I think she might still be upset about it." He tried to tread carefully, not because he was scared of Ari, but because he didn't want to give her the wrong idea. He didn't want her to go to Tinashé and act like he had given some sob story about how she was still a broken little girl because of the years of bullying. At the same time, he wanted her to realize that Tinashé was his sister and even if he had never brought it up, he hadn't forgotten how poorly she treated her either.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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Outfit




Rose was very late.

She was almost never late for anything, but after going on the tour with her best friend Shay, she was dead-tired. When she had returned to her house in the early morning hours, Rose could only remember crashing in her room. As she drove to the Collins' house, no, mansion, Rose was only now fully awake. She was about 10 minutes from the actual house, but its looming presence could already be felt, and the top was poking through the trees and buildings surrounding it.

Her car was the only flashy thing she owned. Rose hated driving, since her parents had died in a crash, but Shay had insisted on her learning- right after she'd gotten her own license. She only drove herself because she couldn't trust a chauffeur. At least she had a cool car. The only reason Rose was even bringing it was because she might need to get away from the madness. And madness there would be. She knew that some of the girls hated each other with a passion, especially Shay and Ari. While Rose didn't know what it was to have enemies, she could always sense the high tensions between the two. Pulling out her phone when she felt it vibrate, Rose read quick texts from both Aiden and Shay.

From: Shay
Did you go home or stay here?

From: Aiden
Hey Rosie, Aiden's here. Have you been there yet? See you there, kay? <3

The little text heart at the end of Aiden's message made her heart do a little dance. She had had a crush on Aiden for... well, for as long as she could remember. She knew that he only thought of her as a sister, and tried to keep her feelings down. After all, she did have all of her friends to look out for. Even though Rose constantly had problems with putting everyone before herself, she was always supportive of anything her friends did or needed, sacrificing her own time in a heartbeat. She was too nice to say no.

Pulling into the driveway of the Collins' mansion, Rose checked her phone again. Another text from Shay had popped up.

From: Shay
Rosie: Pleaze tell me ur on ur way?

Rose sighed. If she could guess, Shay was probably trying not to claw out Ari's throat. Being on the tour with Owen had been fun, but she could feel the complicated emotions for Ari's boyfriend stewing in her best friend. Noticing that the text was also to Jamie, Rose's eyebrow rose. Her sister was usually on time, but her wallflower tendencies might have held her back from the huge party. Shrugging, she texted back Aiden and Shay.

To: Shay
Sorry Shay. I went home after the tour because I was tired, but I'm back now.

To: Aiden
Hey Aiden! I'm here too. I was there last night, but I went home after.

Rose smiled as she sent the texts. Her meticulous grammar was apparent even in her texts. Walking up the steep driveway, she was glad she'd worn flats. High heels would be torture to walk with up this driveway. A valet took the car after Rose got her bags out. Carrying the two suitcases into the house, she spotted tons of people she didn't know. Her father's movie, of course. Handing her suitcases to one of the staff, Rose maneuvered the long hallways down into the game room. She assumed that was where everyone was gathered, and she found herself correct as she entered the packed room.

"Hello everyone." Rose's soft voice didn't usually make a dent in the conversation, but with the charged emotions she could feel, at least a few of her friends would be grateful for her appearance.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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"Uh, no, I forgot. They're in the trunk now." Oliver was caught off guard by Carson breaking the silence in the car. He had been lost in his own thoughts, mostly worrying himself over how the summer would go. Even though Carson lived in his own apartment now, Oliver had spent a few years living in the same house as his stepbrother and wasn't worried about doing so again this summer. He saw Jamie, his best friend, almost every day too, so there were no reservations with her. He and Rose were friendly, mostly due to his connection with Jamie, and he was friends with Shay, Aiden and Owen as well. His relationship with Colette was definitely weaker since no matter how many times they had seen each other, she was always calling him by the wrong name and clearly didn't find him to be of much use to her. They were different, and Oliver was okay with where they stood. At least he preferred it to how he interacted with Ariana, who found out about his blog almost a year ago, and since then, he's tried to avoid her like the plague.

Lastly was Alexandra, Owen and Tinashé's sister. When he moved to LA and started attending Buckley, Alexa was the first girl he ever developed a real crush on. She was popular, came from a world-renowned family, and had the rebellious attitude that he could never muster in himself. She was cool, and he began to idolize her. It probably didn't come across as a big deal to most people since Oliver has made it clear that he's more than willing to get with any girl in the friend group, thanks to his futile yet relentless attempts of seducing the girls. However, his crush on Alexa is more than just corny pickup lines. Her presence makes his heart race and his sentences become jumbled messes. She's totally out of his league and nearly everyone's told him that, but he hasn't given up. What better opportunity to woo her than this summer when he's literally going to be living a few doors down from her?

As exciting as it was, it also put Oliver into a panic. He had spent all morning attempting to work out in the gym in his family's home. He wasn't very physically fit, something that he readily admitted, and after only a few minutes of weight training, he realized that he was probably a permanent lost cause in that department. Instead, he opted to use an exercise bike and swam a few laps in their pool. Following a long shower, he spent the rest of the day packing and over thinking every possible scenario that could go down over the summer. In the midst of it all, he forgot to bring his bags over to the Collins and by the time he remembered, Carson was already calling him down to the car.

Oliver made no attempt to keep up with Carson after he got out of the car as he had to haul his two suitcases inside with him. When he made it through the doors, he found the foyer to be more occupied than he would have guessed. After a few minutes, everyone besides Jamie had showed up, but just as quickly as it filled, it began to empty out. He didn't have time to greet Tinashé or Colette before they separated and disappeared down the hall, or Owen and Ariana who entered the dining area. That left him with Carson, Alexandra, Chris, Aiden and Rose, all of whom he was sure would be going off to do their own thing soon anyway. If Alexa hadn't been so focused on Carson, Oliver would have said hello, but he used that as an excuse for himself to not have to approach her yet. "I'm going to go put my stuff upstairs," he said to no one in particular as he picked up the bags again. He was sure that some of the house staff would have taken care of it, but it was another excuse for him to avoid interaction with Alexa yet, and one that he would gladly take. Besides, his best friend wasn't here yet and if anyone was worse with socializing than him, it was her.

To: Jamie
What's your excuse for missing another party this time???

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Alexandra Collins Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Owen Collins Character Portrait: Christopher Rockefeller
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Between Shay's physical jab and Colette's verbal one, Carson was grinning by the time that Owen and Ariana walked in the door. Unlike both girls, he was happy to see the pair. Owen was his best friend, and while being in the same room as him and Lexi made the guilt churn in his stomach, he tried to ignore it. What happened, happened and as long since Lexi had managed to keep quiet about it up until now, he hoped she could do the same for the rest of eternity. What Owen didn't know wouldn't hurt him and just as likely, wouldn't hurt Carson. He was friends with Ari too, and probably one of the few people who was happy to see the pair unite a year ago. Although he was homeschooled and didn't attend Buckley with the rest of the crew, everyone knew that Ariana was the girl that every guy wanted to not only sleep with, but date. She was that untouchable prize that you dreamed about throughout your awkward teen years so he couldn't blame Owen for seizing the fantasy now that he had the chance.

He stepped forward and returned Ari's hug but was somewhat relieved when she and Owen left the room. Besides Alexandra, it was clear that he really was one of the few people happy to see them together. Since he knew Shay so well, the way that she kept her mouth shut and pulled Colette away from the group spoke volumes to him. He knew that Ariana had caught her off guard, even if she hadn't spoken directly to her. Colette was clearly put off by her presence too, but he guessed that after literally growing up with the former queen bee, Colette was more used to Ari than anyone else. If anyone could combat the girl's poor vibes, it would be the one who shared her DNA.

In the moment after Owen, Ariana, Colette and Tinashé disappeared, Carson lingered in the foyer. Should he chase after the two girls, or follow his best friend and girlfriend into the dining room to socialize? Aiden and Rose had walked in amid the chaos, so as he considered the options, he gave them both a distracted half-wave. Oliver struggled to pull his bags upstairs and in hesitant decision, Carson turned to follow the path that Colette and Shay had taken. "I'm going to go see what the girls are doing," he explained mostly to Aiden and Rose, although Alexa and Chris were still present. He could hang out with Chris any day without things being awkward, but even though no one knew about his night with Alexa, he was going to make an effort to limit his time with her.

The two girls had done a good job at distancing themselves from the group, since it took a few minutes and a few minor conversations with acquaintances before he caught up to them. "Really? You two are going to try to ditch me this early on in the summer? Not cool, not cool." Shay's expression alone showed that she wasn't in a great mood anymore but he hoped he could lighten the mood.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Ariana Rockefeller Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Oliver McKagan Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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How she could feel that condescending tone even before her twin parted her lips to speak. You would think that after years spent with your mirror image, it would become easier to deal with yourself talking back to you. In Colette’s case, the twenty-two years were spent with that chilling tone that always made herself feel worse than ever. Though she adapted. There was no choice but to adapt. And at the greeting that only she knew was implicitly condescending, Colette’s smile was blatantly strained. Of all the nicknames, it was almost destined that her sister uses the one that was a dog breed. Not even a bitter thank you was heard. If anyone could take these jabs, it was her.

Another bite was taken into the macaron in her hand as Colette forced herself to remain silent. A tantrum at the moment would not do much to make the sisters’ reunion anymore pleasant. The smile she had plastered on her expressions did not reach her eyes and looked more mocking than anything. At Ari’s mention toward her shoes, Colette’s eyes drifted down in recognition of the heels. Sharing became a requirement for someone that had a twin, but when they reached eighteen, it no longer became necessary - and for Colette, no longer desired. One would imagine her surprise at seeing her shoes as well as the faint narrowing of her eyes at Ari’s comment of it. ”No, you go right ahead.” Any bystander could almost taste the tension in her words that were laced with bitter sarcasm. ”It goes well with your outfit.” And yet that was all that they shared: Looks and fashion sense. She refused to associate anything else of hers with Ari.

Shay’s quiet whisper was acknowledge with a faint bitter smile. It was a moment of sincerity that she only gave her friend in the presence of her twin. The tragic fact was that she did not agree. Those shoes fit perfectly with Ari’s style - as perfect as the way she composed herself. Though she was proud. The aura of rage that Shay was radiating was almost material. Any longer they stay in her twin’s presence and the less likely the silence was going to last.

Thus she did not resist when Shay initiated “Project Hide-and-seek”. A small wave was given to those that remained, including those that just joined the group. What was that guy’s name again? She was rather sure it started with a “C”. She could be wrong.

”Breathe.” She watched her friend down the rest of her drink. That was not a good sign. ”Spit out the poison that girl emits just by being present.” She was always better at handling it. DNA goes a long way in adapting to someone’s presence. Then again, it was simply Colette’s way of dealing - pushing it down until it explodes in a ball of raging fire. That has been happening more and more frequently in the presence of the pair of lovers. ”I know.” And truly, she knew how Shay felt. It was what drew the two together in a bond of friendship. ”If there’s anyone that needs to apologize, it’s her.” In heels, Colette was taller than her friend, but even so, she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around the girl. There are times when words no longer became comforting. Not around Ari, who was the master of turning and morphing words and comments in her favor.

Though the moment of peace did not last long. The sound of the steps followed by the casual comment, she released her friend as she turned in the direction of Carson. A faint smile was seen at the fact that he had followed them. Perhaps this was what Shay needed. The look that she gave her friend, away from the sight of the blonde, was playful. ”Get used to it, Carson. Your presence is simply too much for us to handle.” Even though it took much effort to return to the same casual and friendly mood as she was earlier, Colette played it off perfectly. It was no doubt that her composure was earlier broken in the presence of her twin. Now was the time to gain it back.

Characters Present

Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller Character Portrait: Rose Kensington
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Like Colette instructed her, Tinashé inhaled slowly and then exhaled. By the time she had done this several times, her body felt perhaps a bit lighter. That uncomfortable feeling in the pit of her stomach was still there, a distant reminder that all was not alright and wouldn't be for probably the remainder of the summer. For now, however, she felt just a bit lighter and smiled appreciatively. "Still, you looked way better in those shoes than she did," Shay said quietly into the hug Colette offered, pulling back a bit to grin a bit more. While Colette was in fact better at being the composed one, Shay recognized the designer's ability to shove down her feelings. Their friendship strengthened because of the recognition of that habit in one another. "Like you said, spit out that evil 'cause if I had a choice between you and her, I'd let you dress me any day of the week." She added a small wink for good measure and gave Colette a small squeeze just as her phone alerted her to another text. Looking down, Shay felt a mix of her earlier discontent and a bit of relief knowing that Rose was there.

Colette and Rose had become two of the best friends she could ever ask for. With Colette, Shay recognized the same pain and maybe even a slab of bitchiness that just worked. She had found someone to banter with and have fun with. With Rose, Shay found an older sister she had never realized that she needed. While Shay had had Owen all these years, they had not been close before and Shay would have never admitted that she needed anyone for anything. Rose's sweetness and support, coming without question, were both like a breath of fresh air. And she had clung - almost instantly - to both girls and did not see herself giving them up any time soon.

To: Rose
Thank GAWD!!! Come into the first dining hall. Standing with Colette

Message sent, Shay looked up to see a few trays of interesting appetizers pass by them. She was about to call to one of the staff members when a voice that could always bring a smile to her face sounded. Smirking, Shay pretended to roll her eyes as Carson walked over to them and chose to ignore the look Colette tossed her way. Pushing at the silky hair on her head so that the locks brushed over her shoulder, she gave Carson a playful look and exclaimed, "Please, CJ! By the time I kick your ass at the bowling alley - AGAIN - YOU will be the ditching me." This was good. She had the people she cared about. She could be playful and maybe, if she was trying to press things without looking obvious, flirt with Carson. She could have her best friends by her side and enjoy the dinner party she could give a rat's ass about. This could be good.

Hopefully.

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Character Portrait: Tinashé Kachingwe Character Portrait: Carson Koch Character Portrait: Colette Rockefeller
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Carson found both Colette and Shay to be some of the easiest people to hang out with. He liked Shay in more ways than he would admit, but her playful and flirtatious side made it hard not to like her. Plus, she was amazingly talented, intelligent and outspoken. Even now, after Ariana's presence had clearly bothered her, she was able to at least act like she was moving on and returning to her own self. He wasn't aware of the full extent of the bullying she ensued at Ariana's hands, but even from what he did know, her reaction was respectable. And then there was Colette. She was definitely the more underestimated one of the twins but her personality was probably more vibrant than her sister's. While Ari's bitchiness was usually hidden in backhanded compliments or remarks like her earlier reference to Colette's borrowed shoes being old, Colette was more brazen. She had guts and didn't seem to mind coming off like a bitch. Even if it didn't seem like it when compared to her sister, she was powerful, bold and witty - all traits that Carson found to be admirable.

When Shay tried to act like she had beaten him in bowling before, he shook his head in an adamant manner but returned her playful smile. "You know I let you win that night! I wasn't going to embarrass you in your own home, but I guess I'll have to put chivalry to rest tonight when we have a rematch." It was hard for him to get rid of the wide grin on his face as he looked away from her and scanned the crowd. After going a few months without seeing her face to face, it was almost surreal to be back in her presence. What was more strange was that the lingering crush that he thought he had for her months ago had stuck around and was probably even stronger now. "Hmm... should I say hello to your parents, eat, or kick your ass in bowling first?" He glanced between the girls, willing to take the first recommendation before a tray of food passed them. He had no idea what the dish was called, but it smelled good enough to make his mouth water. "You two hungry?" He had already chosen the option to eat and if they were hungry too, it would but be an added bonus. Either way, he planned on having a plate full of food in front of him in thirty seconds.