Have you ever wondered what the night sky would be like without the moon and the stars? Or the day without the sun shining? The world would be gloomy, filled with total darkness. This reminds me of people who manage to live without love. How they deny the very thing that'll bring color to their lives, I don't know. The world would never survive without the moon and the sun. So, how could they?
Shivering, I put my notebook and pen away as I adjust my coat around me. The cold October air brushed against my cheeks, making me tuck away stray blonde strands from my face. The idea of drinking hot coffee seemed appealing to me at this particular moment. Putting my navy blue colored notebook and pen inside my bag, I stood up from the bench. Waving goodbye to the friendly old lady feeding pigeons across from me, I started heading to the nearest cafe in the vicinity. Laughter reached my ears as children played in the park's swings. A few people were walking their dogs or playing with them. I cautiously crossed the street and made my way to the cafe. I let out a soft sigh of relief once I arrived, opening the door, the little bell above it jingling. Spotting an empty table, I sat on the plush black leather seat, smiling softly at the waitress heading towards me.
"Hello, can I help you with something? We are currently serving our special latte." She said, handing me their menu. I shook my head after a minute of studying the laminated paper.
"No, thank you, I just want black coffee and a slice of cheesecake please."
"Sure, will that be all?" I nodded; she left after telling me to wait for a few minutes. I took my jacket off, and I placed it next to me. As I waited, I stared at the people passing by outside the cafe. "Here's your order, Miss." I snapped my gaze away from the glass window to the young waitress in front of me holding a tray.
"Oh, thank you." Accepting the tray, the young woman nodded slightly and went off to take care of the rest of the customers. I grabbed the fork and took a bite of the blueberry cheesecake. Delicious! Feeling my phone vibrate, I pulled it out of my pocket to see who had texted me. Inhaling the heavenly scent of my coffee, I hummed in contentment as I read the text message.
Francine: Hey Rach! How are you? Look, it's my brother's birthday tomorrow, and I was wondering if you'd like to come.
Just as I was about to reply, my phone rang. This time it was Dad calling. I answered it right away, knowing he'd be angry if I didn't pick up soon. "Hey Dad! What's up?" I greeted him.
"Rachel, where are you?"
I bit my lip at his tone. So straight forward. "You don't have to be worried, Dad, I'm at a cafe—"
"Do you know what time it is? You're supposed to be here, getting ready for the party later this evening!"
I couldn't help but sigh, "Dad, I know. I was just at the park, walking. I'll be home in a bit, okay?" I heard shifting on the line, followed by an argument in the background before Dad's voice returned.
"Fine. Just be home at six o'clock sharp. I'll see you later." The line went dead, signaling that he had hung up. I slumped in my seat. Staring at the time, it was close to five-thirty. Dad will kill me if I don't arrive earlier than six. Devouring the last bit of cheesecake, I took my cup of coffee and drank it hurriedly but carefully. When I was all done, I placed the exact amount and a bonus tip on the table before standing up. Putting on my coat, I grabbed my bag and left, the bell softly jingling away.
I went back to the park and headed to where I had parked my car. Spotting my black Mini Cooper right on the curb, I walked briskly towards it while fishing for the keys in my bag. When I did, I opened the door with a sigh of relief. "Okay, home it is then." I mumbled to myself. After closing the door and placing my bag on the other seat, I started the car. Making sure no cars were in sight, I backed away slightly and accelerated forward. Soon, I was cruising smoothly down the road. Turning the heat up, I drove past buildings and passersby. I turned the radio on, settling it on a familiar station. The sound of guitars strumming in rhythm filled the car, lifting the atmosphere. As I drove, I couldn't help but ponder. A long time ago, my parents had been too busy to ever have a party, but since Mom had held one in celebration on my seventh birthday, she had been throwing parties every month. Dad uses them to his advantage to gain more investors and partners for his company. It was exhausting for me and my brother, Harvey, who would rather play video games than attend a 'dumb party.' It got so annoying at one point that he locked himself in his own room and Mom had to force him to come out and face her guests.
Turning the car to the right, I drove down the familiar road and slowed down once I reached the tall black gates of my home, the huge 'M' on it catching my eye. The guard smiled and opened the gates to let me in. "Thanks, Percy," I said to him and drove the car in. Circling the fountain, I went straight to the garage and parked my car beside my father's. I turned off the engine and took my bag, heading out. Locking the door, I went out of the garage. Facing the modern architecture of my home, I stared at the white two-story mansion. Shivering, I hurriedly climbed up a few steps and entered the house. The front door swung open before I could open it, and in front of me stood Henry, our butler and a friend of the family.
"Hello, Miss Maxwell," He greeted, gesturing for me to come inside.
"Hello, Henry. Do you know where my parents are?" I questioned, removing my coat once the warmth of the room had comforted me enough from the cold weather outside.
"They are in their rooms, Miss Maxwell." He answered. "Would you like some hot tea?"
"I'd love some, but I'm kind of in a hurry, so maybe later this evening. Thank you, Henry," I walked up the flight of stairs and went directly to my room. I was greeted by the scent of lavender and vanilla, lifting my spirits up. The white curtains concealing the world outside, I turned the lights on. Tossing my bag on the neatly arranged bed, I hung my coat on the coat rack and slipped off my shoes. Putting them away, I took my notebook and pen from my bag, placing both on my desk.
"Miss Maxwell." Hearing Henry's voice behind the door, I stood straight. I headed to open the door to address him.
"Uh, yes Henry?"
"Your mother is requesting that you get ready. The party will start at exactly eight, Miss Maxwell."
"Thank you, Henry," I turn to look at the clock on the wall, seeing that I still had two hours to get ready. "Oh, and please tell Harvey too, he might forget again."
"Will do, Miss Maxwell."
When he left, I locked the door and went straight to the bathroom. Taking my clothes off, I grabbed a towel and headed to take a shower. I let the soothing warm water run down my skin, relaxing my tense muscles. Water splashed around, leaving droplets on the walls. It just took a few minutes for me to finish. The smell of lemon filled the shower room. I grabbed the towel, drying my body, before I tightly wrapped my blue-colored robe around myself. I walked out of the shower room, careful not to slip. As I brushed my teeth, I stared at the white and black walls of the bathroom through the wide mirror in front of me.
After brushing my teeth, I dried my hair with another towel as I headed inside my walk-in wardrobe. Biting my bottom lip, I opened the wardrobe where I kept all my evening gowns and formal dresses. "No, not this." I frowned at the yellow dress and searched for another one. I studied the black evening gown that I bought a few months ago and smiled, "This'll do."
As I was about to put it on, a knock came at the door, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Who is it?" I called out, wrapping my robe tighter.
"It's me!"
I hurriedly opened the door to let my mother in, a bit surprised to see her carrying a white box. She walked to my bed, the end of her royal blue evening gown trailing behind her.
"What is it, Mom?"
I stared at the smile on her face before she gestured to me to come closer. "I saw this at a shop when I was shopping a while ago, and I just thought it'd look good on you. Open it."
I opened the box without hesitation, and my eyes widened at what it contained. Mother let out a soft giggle and took the gown in her hands, giving me a full view of it. It was a bronze-colored evening gown. The straps and the material all the way down to the skirt were covered with small shiny sequins, forming a unique design that shone under the light. The material was soft against the skin, especially on the top. "It's beautiful." I mumbled, smiling at my beaming mother.
"See! I knew you'd like it." Laughing lightly, she laid the gown on the bed. "Can't wait to see you in it, darling."
"Thanks, Mom," I waved at her as she walked out of the door. Once I locked the door behind her, I stared at the gown in contemplation before going towards it. It doesn't look bad. Gulping, I couldn't help but shake my head at the back of the gown. Assuring myself, I put on the gown, glad that it was just easy to put on. When the zipper was finally done up, I stared at my reflection in the huge full-length mirror. At least it was conservative at the front and wasn't tight.
Walking back to my wardrobe, I grabbed a few pairs of heels that would go well with the gown. Sitting on the edge of the bed, I tried on the heels I picked out. "This is lame," I looked up to see Harvey leaning against the doorway, frowning at his necktie, in irritation, I guess.
"It's about time you got used to it. And who forgets to knock?" I said, strapping on the black heels.
"Sorry." He said before going back to the topic at hand. "How can I get used to this? I should be playing Battlefield 3 or God of War! But instead, I'm stuck in this awful tuxedo for another few hours smiling and entertaining the snobby kids of Dad's partners or Mother's friends."
I don't blame him. Approaching the grumbling ten-year-old, I patted his gelled hair that looked like he just walked out of a hurricane before styling it neatly. "Well, at the moment, there is nothing we can do—"
"Of course we can!" He argued, pulling his tie like it was choking him. "We can lock ourselves in our rooms or pretend that we are sick! Anything is possible, Sis!" I shook my head at his words, shooing his hand away to fix his tie.
"Mom won't appreciate that, and besides, we already did it last time. She can tell if we are faking it or not."
Sighing in defeat, he nodded then stared at my gown. "Let me guess, Mom bought it for you." Chuckling softly, I pinched his freckled cheeks lightly before pushing him gently out of my room.
"Okay, enough questions. You better go and play your video games while you can. Party starts soon, and I still have to get ready."
"I understand, Sis," Giving me two thumbs up, Harvey walked away and went back inside his room, which was a few feet away from mine. Closing the door, I went straight to the corner of my room and sat in front of the mirror. Taking out my lipstick from the drawer, I applied it to my lips and then got my eyeshadow kit out. After a few minutes, I was finished with my makeup. Taking the curling wand, I waited for it to heat up before curling my hair, careful not to burn my scalp in the process. Spraying my hair afterward, I smiled at my reflection in the mirror.
"Miss Maxwell, your father wants me to tell you that the party is about to start."
"Okay! Tell him I'll be down in a second!" I raised my voice so Henry could hear on the other side of the door. Applying perfume, I took my clutch, careful not to trip on my way out. I went directly to Harvey's room, knocking twice before he opened the door. The sound of bombs exploding and men giving out orders blared inside the room. "It's time to go down, Harv. The party is starting."
"Wait, I need to pause the game first." He went back inside, the sound of guns firing stopped, and he came out after turning the lights off. Seeing Henry was waiting by the stairs, we hurriedly approached him.
"Master Harvey, this arrived only a minute ago." He handed Harvey a small parcel, who took it and read the words written in it.
"Please place it in my room Henry. Thanks."
Nodding, Henry walked towards Harvey's room, a small smile on Harvey's face. Curiosity getting the best of me, I cocked an eyebrow at my brother.
"What was it, Harv?"
"Oh, just another video game I ordered online. I found it intriguing." He answered. We both became silent once we started to descend the stairs, feeling everyone's eyes on us. I smiled at the guests as Mother introduced me to all her friends when we reached the bottom of the stairs, being the friendly and well-known socialite she is.
"Look at that, Harvey." I whispered in his ears, gesturing at the five children standing next to one of Dad's business partners. All of them were looking bored, and one of them was about to fall asleep. "They're here today, it seems like luck is not in your favor."
Following my gaze, Harvey's eyes widened in horror. "Why? Why today? Do I have to?" He asked, staring at the children wearily.
"Well, if you want Dad to be happy and satisfied that his partner's children are entertained enough, I'm sure you do." Grumbling under his breath, Harvey went towards the kids. When Harvey seemingly asked them a question, all five of them politely nodded and followed him to the game room. Shaking my head, I followed my parents to the ballroom, which was decorated elegantly from top to bottom. The tables were currently occupied by the great and the good of Cleveland.
"Rachel," Dad mumbled under his breath, just loud enough for me to hear. His eyes roamed around the crowd. "Please tell me Harvey is with Mr. Ben's children."
"If you are talking about those five children, then yes. Nothing to worry about, Dad, he's got it all covered." I grinned, proud of my brother, doing his best to make our parents happy, even if it meant sacrificing his own happiness.
A breath of relief escaped his lips, "That's good. Why don't you join your mother and her friends? Or even better, play the piano for us?"
Knowing that he liked me to play the instrument (and I liked the idea better too), I chose the second option. Heading towards the grand piano in the middle of the room, I felt all eyes on me as I sat down on the stool. I start to play a familiar tune, hitting the first notes of Fur Elise. Hearing the gush of excitement, I switched to a vibrant tune. The piano keys against my fingers had felt familiar to me since the age of eight. Having had piano lessons until I grew up, it is the only instrument I could really play. Usually, I only played it to make my parents feel better or to stop Harvey from crying. Now, Mother would urge me to play at her parties, earning a few compliments (and some occasional negative feedback), but I honestly didn't care. As long as my parents wanted me to, I'd play it.
I looked up to smile at my parents, who were watching not too far away, smiles on their faces. I suddenly switched to playing Moonlight Sonata, one of the most difficult musical pieces I had to learn when I was young. Picking up, I moved my head along with the melody. Hitting the last note, applause erupted from the crowd, echoing through the walls. I stood up and bowed slightly, thanking them. The applause died down, and I joined my parents. "As usual, you did excellently." Dad beamed, patting my back lightly. Mother nodded in agreement.
My gaze went from my parents to Harvey, who entered the room with the five children in tow, all sporting smiles. "Now, I know how it feels to be a parent." Harvey panted, wiping the sweat off his forehead. "I have decided not to get married. I'd rather be a lonely hermit than have five rowdy kids!" He exclaimed in annoyance. I hushed him.
"Keep it down Harvey. By the way, what did they do to make you sweat like you ran a hundred miles?"
"Oh, you don't know what I've been through, Sis! Those children are fast, ninja fast! We decided to have a game of tag. I was hiding, but the next thing I knew, I was on the ground, nursing a headache. Boy, they play a mean game of tag!" His rambling was cut off when Dad approached us, a couple following behind him.
"Rachel, have you met Mr. and Mrs. Montgomery?"
Dad beamed as he introduced the couple to us. Mr. Montgomery was tall, with shaggy brown hair and blue eyes. You could tell he was an easy-going person from the way he smiled like there was no tomorrow. Mrs. Montgomery, on the other hand, had a strict face on. Her blonde hair was styled into a bun, and her pink dress was neatly pressed, not a wrinkle in sight. "How are you?" Smiling widely, I shook hands with the two of them.
"Charming…"
"Rebecca and Max, this is Rachel. My daughter."
Suddenly, as if realizing what Dad just said, Mrs. Montgomery smiled sweetly. "Oh, I didn't know you had children, Damon. Yes, she looks like your wife, Helen."
"And this is Harvey, my son."
At the mention of his name, Harvey stepped forward and greeted the couple. "Such lovely children, Mr. Maxwell," Mr. Montgomery chuckled, placing a hand on Dad's shoulder. "I'm sorry, Damon, I'd love to introduce you to our only son, but it seems like he has disappeared, again."
Dad waved off Mrs. Montgomery's apologies. "Nothing to worry about, Rebecca, I'm sure he's just here somewhere."
"Honey, who's this?" Mother asked when she joined us. Mrs. Montgomery's blue eyes lit up at the sight of Mom.
"Mrs. Maxwell! Hi! Perhaps you have heard of me? I'm Rebecca Montgomery, and this is my husband, Max."
Mom smiled, "Yes, I do know you. Hello! I'm hoping that you're having fun, and if you're hungry, the buffet section is right over there."
"Rachel, why don't you and Harvey go grab something to eat? I'm sure the boy is hungry." Dad mumbled, and I nod, taking Harvey by the arm. "Sure Dad."
"Are you hungry, Harv? We got steak, pasta, salad. What do you want to eat?" I questioned him as we walked to the buffet section.
"I'm not that hungry—wait! Is that what I think it is?" Following his line of sight, it was a chocolate fountain, with bowls of fruits and marshmallows below it. Without a second thought, he rushed towards it.
Laughing, I went the other way to have a helping of pasta. Just as I was about to get a plate, I winced in pain when something hard collided with my shoulder. "Ouch!" Seeing the fleeting person who bumped into me, I grumbled. "Watch where you're going!"
The person turned around briefly, his eyes a nice shade of blue, like the sky without clouds, before continuing his way. He didn't even bother to apologize. I was stunned for a bit, until I frowned slightly. How rude of him! I glared at the tall blond man, shooting daggers at his head as he disappeared from my view. "What's the matter, Sis?" I turned to look down at Harvey, chocolate staining the sides of his mouth as he ate a chocolate-covered strawberry.
"Nothing's wrong Harv." I mumbled, "Why do we have to deal with rude people every day?" I asked in annoyance. He merely shrugged.