Charlotte and Ginny- 3

Meet and Greet Gala at the Ritz-Carlton! Nowhere in the world will you find so many intolerably superfluous people in one place. The Hester attendees and their families and hangers-on are mostly people you should never know. Even my friends aren’t necessarily good for my mental health. 1

Now would be a good time to explain the pecking order. There are four levels of social hierarchy at Hester. The Nobles, The SnobSquad, The Fortunates and the Peasants. Of course, no one attending this school is actually a peasant, (with possible exception of a couple of scholarship students) seeing as how tuition for one year is close to $55 grand.2

The function of these categories is strictly used to outline the social ladder. We all pretend not to belong to any of these cliques, but we all secretly know what category we’re in. Everyone knows everyone’s place in this school. There are only a hundred and twenty students and your business is never really your business.3

The Nobles consist of only six people; William, Ginny, Simon, Kitty, Vaughn and I. We’re the sons and daughters of the disgustingly rich, the celebrities and the actual nobility and the students and teachers of this school collect the air we breathe in jars. Behind our backs, every person bitches that we’re stuck up and that they don’t like us. But if one of the Nobles asks them to borrow a pencil, they give us a pencil factory. We are stuck up. They shouldn’t like us. 4

The SnobSquad are the offspring of lesser socialites. They are, as a rule, viciously cruel to each other and vie desperately for the attention of the Nobles. Nothing is more important to them than clothing and belongings. If you’re in the SnobSquad and you can’t manage to scrape enough together to buy a Gucci or Prada, you’re exiled to the Fortunates until you can. We Nobles have the luxury of not having to be chic. Our last names are more than enough compensation, although we still all seem to be dressed to the nines anyway. Yes I know it’s the money. 5

The Fortunates consist mostly of wannabes and rich geeks. People who aren’t cool and/or rich enough to be in the other categories. The Fortunates is the group that has the most constantly fluctuating cycle of members. New Fortunates are downgraded from the SnobSquad everyday, and old Fortunates are often promoted to the SnobSquad when they buy a Porch. 6

Finally, the peasants are the people who genuinely don’t care what category they’re in, the people who are incurably shy, geeky, or socially inept, and the people whose families, unlike the rest of us, actually feel the burn of their children’s tuition fees. 7

Kitty is upon me almost as soon as I enter the room. She’s wearing this crazy green flapper girl dress that I’m sure cost at least two thousand dollars, and she has her hair in… pigtails. Ok, I guess it looks cute. When she sees me, she opens her mouth in an O (although she knew I’d be here) and gives a discreet little excited jump before making her way over. 8

Kitty’s the most disarming person. She’s helpless, charming, ditzy, cunning, flattering and addicting all at once. Everybody likes her, even people who say they don’t. She’s got that kind of naive, virginal appeal that men like so much, although she’s far from virginal. Every physical gesture she makes is adorable. She’ll place her hand on the small of your back when she’s standing next to you, and trace little circles with her finger. She’ll rest her head briefly on your shoulder when she’s laughing or embarrassed. She’ll pick invisible fluff out of your hair, and dust your shoulder absentmindedly. She’s the target of more teenage lust than even Ginny, because boys always seem to want to do dirty things to pure girls. 9

The only thing about her is… she’s truly warmly nice, and she has a strange, hidden agenda behind that niceness that I can’t quite put my finger on.10

“Oh god, Charlie! Oh Charlotte your hair!” she exclaims, running a hand smoothly through my hair. “It’s gorgeous and I’m copying you and I don’t care who knows it!” 11

“Oh Jesus, my hair…” I moan. “I was going through this phase.”12

She giggles and swats my shoulder.13

“Oh, my beautiful girl. You could look gorgeous wearing a paper bag.”14

Kitty’s a half Japanese girl, whose Asian mother is descended from the old nobility of the country and whose Canadian father owns an oil company. She’s pretty enough. She has round eyes that slender around the edges, a wide, glittering smile, white teeth, and the straightest, shiniest black hair I’ve ever seen. Kitty Maeda hasn’t been around since the end of last year. She spent the summer in Shizuoka with her grandparents, and maybe her parents too, I’m not too sure. 15

“Where’s Ginny?” she asks me “Doing her rounds?”16

“Yes.”17

“Ok, come with me then. I’ve got a welcome back surprise for you!”18

The welcome back surprise turns out to be some amazing weed. She says it’s some kind of weird Japanese crossbreed that she snuck across the border. I don’t really believe she had to sneak it across the border. Her father owns a private jet. Even before I finish the third hit of my joint, I feel as though I’m watching a weird distorted movie from behind my head. We’ve stepped out back into the quiet gardens or the Ritz.19

“So what did you do with your grandparents?”20

“Oh god… you don’t even understand!” she laughs sheepishly “I studied tea ceremony and shamisen all summer, and had to wear kimono whenever we went out. It was fucking embarrassing. Jiisan and Baasan are the only traditionalists left in Japan—it’s not funny!”21

I’d been laughing as soon as I’d heard the words ‘tea ceremony’.22

“It’s like they’re training me to be a geisha—stop laughing”23

But she was smiling when she said it. 24

“What the fuck is a Baasan?” I found this incurably funny. I think I may have a giddy high this time. 25

“Baasan? Oh, it means Grandmother, sorry. It’s short for Obasan. Baasan and Jiisan. Obasan and Ojisan. Grandmother and Grandfather.”26

“Oh, I thought maybe it meant Mom and Dad or something.”27

I dropped down onto the grass and wondered at the way the world blurred and caught up with me. 28

“Okasan, Otosan.”  Kitty said softly.29

I looked up at her, and for a moment I thought she’d grown fox ears. No, Kitty ears! That set me off laughing again.30

She snapped out of her reverie, smiled, grabbed my wrists and hauled me up. 31

“We have to get inside. I think Mrs. Vanesskie was looking for you.” She smoothed my hair and dusted my shoulder. “Stop! Stop laughing!”32

“Fucking Mrs. Vanesskie?”  I laughed so hard, my knees buckled and I was on the verge of tears. The mother of my new protégé! My mother’s friend! Kitty started laughing too. 33

We thought, fuck it, and went inside, laughing all the while.34

“You’re so high!” she swept my hair aside and whispered so closely into my ear that it sounded like a scream. “I’m not giving you weed again unless you sleep with me.”35

Our giggling nearly subsided as we made our way to our table. Ginny was there talking calmly with a funny looking older man in a beautiful suit. He had a bald head that was so shiny it reflected the lights on the ceiling. This may have just been because of the weed, but it fascinated me. He was drawing something onto a napkin (a cloth napkin…) and gesturing arrogantly. I would later find out that he was some sort of architect. 36

“Hi, Charlotte! This is Mr. David Davis, his son is a freshman this year.” Ginny gestured to the man.37

I had to fight not to laugh at his name.38

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Davis! I—“39

“Charlotte Sinclair! Look at you, nearly a woman! How time flies!” a woman behind me exclaimed.40

I turned around to meet a tall, rubenesque woman who towered over my five-four frame, and I was frightened until I realized that it was Mrs. Vanesskie. She looked like an Opera singer and was overdressed for even an occasion as formal as this. She wore a full red velvet dress, complete with bustier and a massive fur boa. Her dark red hair was curled, pulled tightly back and piled enormously on top of her head. 41

“Good evening, Mrs. Vanesskie! What an amazing dress!” I exclaimed, trying to gain control over my illogical drug-induced fear of her. 42

“Oh my dear, you mustn’t flatter me, it goes straight to my thighs!”43

What a weak joke! I thought, and I laughed at the lameness of it. Thankfully, she thought I had enjoyed her wit and beamed at me.44

“Have you met my daughter Vivienne?” She asked me, and pulled from behind her a girl I hadn’t yet noticed. 45

Not to say that this girl didn’t have the imposing presence of her mother. She did, she was merely overshadowed by the sheer volume of her parent. Vanesskie Jr. was a full three inches taller than me, her hair was honey colored, streaked with lighter blonde and darker brown, and it was pulled up in the same tight, curly style as her mothers. She was pretty, but I have a feeling she’d be a very plain girl without the expertly applied makeup. She had ice-cold green eyes that didn’t crinkle when she smiled, and a thin but perfectly shaped mouth. She had amazing posture and an easily visible superiority complex. She was wearing a black spaghetti-strapped cocktail dress, and a collar choker with a small pink heart in the middle of it. 46

Bitch! She’s a bitch! Everything about her screamed it. My defenses immediately went up against her, although I had nothing to fear. There was no way her family was rich enough for her to be of higher status than me. And there was no way she was more popular than me. 47

“I love your hair!” she said in what I imagine was supposed to be a warm way. I had no idea whether or not she actually liked it. I hate it when I can’t read people. She spoke with an English accent, like her mother.48

“Thanks, I’m going to dye it again soon, I think.” I say tightly “Are you excited to start your year at Hester?”49

“Oh yes! I’m sure I’ll have so much fun and meet, like, some amazing people!” She laughs, I’m not sure at what. “I’m sure you can introduce me to, like, all the people worth knowing!”50

All the people worth knowing? I think. What a bitch. Even though I pretty much think that way too.51

“Vivienne will be joining your orchestra this year, did you know that Charlotte? She’s among the best Violin players in North America. I’m sure she’d love to practice with you when you play!” Vivienne smirked a little at her mothers words, then remembered who she was smirking at and adjusted her expression to one of timid modesty.52

“If you have any time, that is.” She laughs again53

Why are you laughing? Of course I’m practicing with her now. It wasn’t a suggestion, it was a fact. This Vivienne, this bitch is taking away my solitary violin practice time. Fuck.54

“I’ll call you next time I play, ok?”55

The best Cello players in North America. Who fucking cares? I’m first violin desk and the top soloist in my orchestra, and I’ll bet she gets placed in third desk, tops. Mothers always embellish facts about their daughters.56

Mrs. Vanesskie had seated herself and is in conversation with David Davis. I catch “…sack. Laying waste to it!” Mrs. Vanesskie laughs, and then smiles in a perplexed way, because Mr. Davis is nodding seriously at what was clearly a joke. 57

“Yes. Yes dogs have been known to do that. Yes.” 58

I snort. What a bunch of morons. I can’t believe that these are the people I surround myself with. There’s a cough from the person standing in front of me. Right. I forgot about Vivienne. She’s smiling at me in a way that could mean either “Why isn’t she looking at me?” or “What the hell is wrong with her?” She looks a little uncomfortable, and I wonder how long I’ve been standing staring at her mother. I need Ginny, now. 59

“Oh, um… Vivienne, I’ll introduce you to my class representative.”60

“Omigod, Ginny Goddard?” she says, clearly relieved that I’m not gazing past her into the distance anymore.61

“Yes, she’s…” not at the table anymore. I look around, and spot her at the other end of the room surrounded by a crowd… her father’s here? Keonne Goddard always attracts a certain amount of attention because of his celebrity status, and tonight in particular he was greeting his daughter in an unusually loud and affectionate way. I couldn’t make out exactly what he was saying from across the restaurant but I could hear him yelling joyfully over the din of two hundred people. He’d gotten hold of Ginny and was embracing her tightly and like a child, rocking her back and forth in his arms. People around her were laughing affectionately, and ‘aww’-ing. I couldn’t see Ginny’s face, but I was pretty sure she wasn’t too happy about it. How demeaning.62

Keonne Goddard’s career is akin to Jack Nicholson’s or Al Pacino. He’s taken and owned every villainous, malicious and malevolent role he can get his hands on. He can play a maniacal evil, or a sympathetic devil, but he always gets the jerk role.  He’s won an academy award, and has been nominated for seven. He’s got the ageless good looks of Johnny Depp, and the sophisticated charm of George Clooney. He’s black, and he’s absolutely gorgeous. It’s all I can do not to jump him every time I see him. God, I want Ginny’s dad. But then again, everyone does. 63

“Oh my god, that’s her dad isn’t it? That’s Keonne Goddard! Omigod!” Vivienne claps her hands together. “So, like what’s he like? Have you ever been on a movie set with him and Ginny?”64

I have indeed.65

“No, I haven’t.” I tore my eyes away from Ginny’s beautiful father and looked upon the less aesthetically pleasing Vivienne.66

Vivienne leaned forward conspiratorially and said:67

“Is it true that Ginny Goddard’s a slut? I heard she’s slept with four teachers in this school, and, like, too many of the students to count.” She laughs “I can believe it, too, looking at her. Padding that bra, sweetheart?”68

She snickers viciously. And I laugh, but only because Vivienne has just mortally offended me. This girl has no idea what she’s just done. My head fills with rage, and I must have been pulsating an angry aura, because her smile immediately vanished. She’d realized that I was probably very friendly with Ginny. Truth be told, Ginny does like to mess around with lots of guys, but she’s never had a fling with a teacher. It was Kitty who’d done that.69

I can’t believe Vivienne  hadn’t been told that Ginny and I were close. The Vanesskies have just come from Kensington and Chelsea in London, and mummy obviously hasn’t put her daughter as up to date socially as I thought she had. Poor baby just made her first mistake. Haha!70

Then I remembered that mummy Sinclair is a very close friend of mummy Vanesskie and that if I burn this bitch, it’ll come back to burn me. Damn it! Well, I can still humiliate her.  71

“Well, I’m sure you’d recognize a slut when you see one.” I smirk coolly at her, and make sure not to blink “But if Ginny’s a slut, it’s news to me. We’ve been best friends for four years.”72

Perfectly played, Charlie. Look at her face! Hahaha! You won’t get any whiplash from mum, and the bitch fears for her life!73

I need someone to latch onto before I lose it big time and snap this little bitch’s neck. Roxanne Carney walks by attached to the arm of our own Vaughn Brophy. 74

“Roxy!” I rove over to her, and she immediately detaches herself from Vaughn and throws her arms around me. Okay, that’s an exaggeration. She places her arms delicately around my neck and leans on me. That’s the fashionable, feminine way of embracing, I guess. I make a face at Vaughn from behind her back. He sticks his tongue out at me and leaves.  75

“Vivienne, this is Roxy Carney. She’s in grade ten.” 76

Vivienne was still suffering the shock of having directly dissed me. Her eyes were wide open, as was her mouth and she was making little “ah…a…. ah…” noises. I smile cruelly at her, and I know she understands. No fucking with Sinclair.77

She did recover nicely, I have to admit. She swallowed, and placed her hand on her throat and looked down to steady herself. Then she swept her hair back and smiled brilliantly.78

“Hi, Roxy! Roxanne Carney? Nice to meet you! That is a gorgeous dress.”79

Roxy, who would usually never pay attention to a new girl if it weren’t for me, gave Vivienne’s arm a quick squeeze.80

“Thanks, hi! Chaaarloootte!” she moaned at me “I haven’t seen you since the party at Will’s! I missed you!”81

“I missed you too,” whore, I thought “I could hardly eat without you. It was terrible!”82

She laughs too much as my joke, and swells with pride that I’d flatter her like that. I don’t usually, you understand, but I need Vivienne to truly realize how important I am in this school, and how important I am to her.83

“Oh God, well you know I was so busy with Vaughn” she giggled. She’s probably the most important sophomore in the SnobSquad, now that she’s dating a Noble. “But you have to come to Show with me this weekend!” 84

Hm. She’s getting a little up on herself I think.85

“Oh, well maybe I’ll call you next time I go.” 86

Her face falls a little when I brush her off, but I don’t care. She was getting cocky, asking me to go with her to Show. You have to show these debutantes who’s boss. Roxy bitches me out behind my back, and I’m not in the mood to be considerate of her feelings. 87

Show, by the way, is a popular Moulin Rouge inspired nightclub. It’s my favorite place for underage partying, and every now and then I’ll get mum to rent me the VIP room. Yum.88

Roxanne is all right. She’s not very smart, and she’s not the cruelest of the girls, but she rose to popularity by riding on the coattails of her best friend Julia Melendez and stayed there by riding popular guys. Roxy always shows a little too much bust and a little too much leg to be decent. She’s like a hula-hoop; she’s a fad. Everyone’s had her, showed her off, gotten bored of her and dumped her at some point. I guess it’s Vaughn’s turn again.89

“Oh, your dress is wonderful by the way. Last winters Mark Jacobs, right? I really liked that dress too, when I bought it. I haven’t worn it for ages” Hahaha, eat death, you materialistic tart! “Ok well I have to see Keonne before he leaves. I think I’m Europing with him soon, or something.” I wave my hand dismissively, as though a vacation with a star is common fare for Charlie “Bye Roxy. Bye Vivienne.”90

Roxy’s bright red because of my diss but blows me a kiss all the same, and Vivienne calls,91

“Call me Vivi, by the way!” And waves before I disappear into the crowd.92

I just flaunted the fact that I’m vacationing with an actor, I thought, I’m the worst person here… The room spins. I’m stressed out! It’s ruining my high, I think. I turn around once I get about thirty meters away. ‘Vivi’ and Roxy are giggling cruelly. They’re probably talking about me, but I don’t care. They know whose thumb they’re under. Mine.93