CARLA; XXattire: xXXhex: #aebce3XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXLUCIA; XXattire: xXX hex: #f19b4c
Despite being siblings, Carla and Lucia had spent a significant amount of the break apart from one another. Back home, Carla's bedroom had spent the months unfilled, much to her father's chagrin, and her step-mother's silent contentment. Instead, she had spent the time hopping from apartment to airbnb. A week couch-surfing here, a few nights in a motel there; she had moved across the city as necessary. It had been expensive, and the numerous jobs she had worked had not taken kindly to her erratically changing addresses, but even at her bank account's most strained, she had never considered returning home. Not even Lucia, with all their words of reassurance, could convince Carla to remain anything but firmly distanced from her father, who she had no intentions of making amends with. Especially now, with all the nights she had spent rattled by the possibility that he was intentionally hiding her mother away, or, at the very least, that he knew more than he let on. He had insisted many times that he had not seen her since their battle in court, that she had gone on her way, perhaps even left the States. The last suggestion hurt and worried Carla especially so, though it was remedied by her firm refusal to take everything her father said with a dash of cynicism. The man was a notorious liar, after all, especially when he had such a heavy incentive.
Suffice to say, she felt happy to be back.
Furthermore, she was happy to see Lucia again, especially now that there was no quiet concern present beneath the surface of each interaction. Their environment had stabilised, and the worry ceased in favour of their typical enthusiasm. Now, Lucia sat in front of Carla's mirror, brows furrowed as they altered their hairstyle a fourth and final time. The teardrop jewels beneath their eyes winked in the lamplight as they deftly knotted the second of their two hair puffs. Carla, meanwhile, was on her second drink, preferring to get a buzz going before entering the fray. Lucia's own can of citrus-something sat still waiting on the dressing table, untouched for an hour since being opened.
"Just about ready to go."
"You said that an hour ago."
"My bad."
Carla shrugged, leaning over her sibling to inspect her face in the mirror. It too was touched by gems and glitter, and sent sparks flying across the glass. Satisfied, she pointedly shifted Lucia's can towards them. "You good? Drink up and let's go." One last lookover, and Lucia snatched the can, attempting to down it, then thinking better of it midway.
"I'll drink it on the way- let's go!"
By the time the two arrived, the buzz was kicking in for both of them, and they were all smiles as they walked into the house, greeting people left and right. The two of them were well known, well-liked despite their (or rather, despite Carla's) scandalous reputation. Lucia exchanged glance-overs with a passing handsome stranger as they hooked their finger around the ring of another can, catching the fizz on their lips.
"Damn, there's a lot of people h-" They and Carla spotted her at the same time, and Lucia's spirits immediately dampened. Isabella stood across the room, dressed as glamorous as ever. She looked stunning. Lucia felt sick.
"Come on." Catching their arm, Carla tugged them in the opposite direction. Lucia's head was bowed, but Carla threw back a frown at Isabella. The frown lingered as she noted the person Isabella was talking to. Are they friends, or what? It was going to be a problem, but as her gaze returned to her sibling, she noted it as one for another day. She spoke, tone hushed, as they walked towards where Monet and Isaac stood chatting. "Ignore her; she's not your problem tonight, okay?" Resisting glancing back, Lucia's response was as resolute as they could muster, "Okay." Carla gave their arm a reassuring squeeze, and by the time they reached Monet and Isaac, Lucia was bright once more, giving each of them a hug.
"Hey!"
Suffice to say, she felt happy to be back.
Furthermore, she was happy to see Lucia again, especially now that there was no quiet concern present beneath the surface of each interaction. Their environment had stabilised, and the worry ceased in favour of their typical enthusiasm. Now, Lucia sat in front of Carla's mirror, brows furrowed as they altered their hairstyle a fourth and final time. The teardrop jewels beneath their eyes winked in the lamplight as they deftly knotted the second of their two hair puffs. Carla, meanwhile, was on her second drink, preferring to get a buzz going before entering the fray. Lucia's own can of citrus-something sat still waiting on the dressing table, untouched for an hour since being opened.
"Just about ready to go."
"You said that an hour ago."
"My bad."
Carla shrugged, leaning over her sibling to inspect her face in the mirror. It too was touched by gems and glitter, and sent sparks flying across the glass. Satisfied, she pointedly shifted Lucia's can towards them. "You good? Drink up and let's go." One last lookover, and Lucia snatched the can, attempting to down it, then thinking better of it midway.
"I'll drink it on the way- let's go!"
By the time the two arrived, the buzz was kicking in for both of them, and they were all smiles as they walked into the house, greeting people left and right. The two of them were well known, well-liked despite their (or rather, despite Carla's) scandalous reputation. Lucia exchanged glance-overs with a passing handsome stranger as they hooked their finger around the ring of another can, catching the fizz on their lips.
"Damn, there's a lot of people h-" They and Carla spotted her at the same time, and Lucia's spirits immediately dampened. Isabella stood across the room, dressed as glamorous as ever. She looked stunning. Lucia felt sick.
"Come on." Catching their arm, Carla tugged them in the opposite direction. Lucia's head was bowed, but Carla threw back a frown at Isabella. The frown lingered as she noted the person Isabella was talking to. Are they friends, or what? It was going to be a problem, but as her gaze returned to her sibling, she noted it as one for another day. She spoke, tone hushed, as they walked towards where Monet and Isaac stood chatting. "Ignore her; she's not your problem tonight, okay?" Resisting glancing back, Lucia's response was as resolute as they could muster, "Okay." Carla gave their arm a reassuring squeeze, and by the time they reached Monet and Isaac, Lucia was bright once more, giving each of them a hug.
"Hey!"