Victoria and Alyssa (Part 1)

Introduction

Ahhh, Victoria and Alyssa. A classic, really. What? You don't know about them? How can that be? Goodness gracious, I guess I'd better tell you about them then. It won't be easy though. After all, their story is long- very long. And complicated. If you're not the type to pay close attention to a book and remember things, just forget about it. If you are, you're in luck. Their story might be long and complex, but it's a good one. Yes, I could sit there and read it all day long. A classic. A true classic.

Victoria

"Victoria." The tone was sharp and impatient. I looked up automatically at my name. There stood Mary-Ann, our maid. Though she was as poor as dirt and just another one of our servants, I'd always felt compassion towards her. She'd been like a mother to me ever since my own passed, at age 12. Oh, that was so long ago. I was turning 18 soon. Very soon, in fact. "Yes?" I said cautiously. Mary-Ann was hardly the type to get upset. I studied her face. Her brown eyes were tired and strained, like her voice. Hmmm, I thought. Maybe she's ill. That would cause her temper to run short. And she did look paler then her usual russet color. But she proved me wrong. "Miss, I have said your name five times now! Would you please stop daydreaming? I have a dress to get on you and I need you to work with me. The party is in an hour and we still need to wash your hair!" Her voice had risen hysterically as she spoke. I sighed; she'd always been the panicky type. "Relax." I said. "I don't take long to get ready and I already washed my hair. Besides, it's just another party. Father holds one practically every other day." I raised my arms so she could slip the pale blue dress over my head. "Not this one. There's finally a doctor coming to town! He has a son in training and your father needs him to feel welcome. If we lose another doctor, I don't know how we'd cope." It was true, we'd lost so many doctors I'd lost count. Our small town, though it was a wealthy one, didn't like to pay much. However, it had caused many of us to get sick and die. "Very well." I said, and winced as she pulled the strings to my dress tight. Too tight, maybe, but this was a special occasion. I needed to look my best. We finished up with the dress and she brought me into the washroom, where I sat in front of the long mirror. I gazed at the picture of my mother, which was framed and propped up on the desk. She had been so beautiful, with her long, buttery blonde hair. Her blue eyes were young and bright. It brought tears to my eyes and I wondered briefly how she would look now. I tried to imagine her with wrinkles and gray strands but it didn't fit. Even if she was alive, I was sure she'd still be her beautiful self. Lost in my thoughts again, I only vaguely felt the soft tug of my own long blonde hair as Mary-Ann tied it up in blue satin ribbons. When she was done, she left me to powder my face. I opened one of the drawers to find a tube of pink lipstick. It had been one of the many gifts I had accumulated on Christmas, and it was one of my favorites. I checked my reflection. Mary-Ann had tied my hair high on my head and had woven the ribbons through the braids. It was fancier then usual, though I had to admit I looked very pretty. Almost like Mother. I was suddenly intimidated with a thought. If I looked this pretty, I could only imagine how Alyssa looked. Alyssa. How I envied her with every fiber of my being. She had Father in her, but had the same dainty features as Mother. With her thick dark hair and fiery amber eyes, she was both gorgeous and dangerous looking. Like a rose, I thought. She was like a blood red rose. As if on cue, there was a knock at my bedroom door. "Who is it?" I called. Without answering, Alyssa glided in. She glanced around my bedroom with a look of slight disgust. My bedroom was decorated with her two least favorite colors; light pink and yellow. Of course her room was dark red and gold. She liked a lot of dark colors. "Are you ready?" She asked. I'd always though that her sweet, musical voice didn't really go with her appearance or personality. "Almost." I said, eyeing her dress. Speaking of a blood red rose, I thought. Her dress was made of deep red silk and black lace and her dark hair was in a long, silky braid down her back with a red satin ribbon woven through it. Somehow, it added elegance to the whole outfit. I added one more coat of lipstick, after seeing Alyssa wearing lipstick herself. Her skin was darker then mine, making it more appropriate to wear her lipstick in red. I set the tube in the drawer and slipped on my shoes. Then I turned to my sister. "I'm ready." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * Alyssa and I stepped out onto the patio. By just glancing around I could tell the party was like all the others. As we entered, men and women eyed us, so I straightened my shoulders, raised my chin a fraction, and walked as smoothly as possible, just like I'd been taught. I peeked at Alyssa to see she was doing the same. As I made my way through the crowd, I shook hands, nodded, and smiled to complete strangers. I probably knew them but I never bothered remembering the names of those who came to Father's parties. I found myself lingering by the food and beverage table. The table itself was made of a fake wood. It looked real though, so no one questioned it. There was a pale yellow cloth draped over it and on top lay mini cakes, rolls, fruit, dip, water, juice and the finest wine in the area. I began to list the items on the table in my mind to amuse myself, but something caught my eye. I glanced up to see a young man standing by the hedges. He seemed to be trying to hide from everyone but from my angle I could see his features clearly. His warm brown eyes were noticeable, even from a distance. His light blonde hair insisted on falling in his eyes, no matter how many times he swatted it away. His figure was lean but muscular. He looked so grown up, yet I recognized him right away. "James." I breathed. Though he couldn't possibly have heard me, his eyes met mine and then lit up with recognition and surprise. A thousand memories flooded my mind. "James." I said again, louder this time so he could hear me. "Victoria." He said in answer, and strode over to me. We hugged for a moment and then he shook his head in disbelief. "I haven't seen you in so long. What in the world have you been up to?" I laughed. "Shouldn't I be asking you that? I've been here, going to school, attending parties, and so on." He smiled. "I've been off training." "Training?" "Yes. I'm going to be a doctor. We're moving back here so my father can help." "Your father is the one everyone's been talking about?" I asked in disbelief. "Yes. And I've been meeting so many people." He suddenly looked exhausted. "Well don't worry. Follow me." I took his hand and led him up a path in the small patch of woods behind our manor. I didn't stop until I reached a small clearing. There was a stone bench that sat along the side of the clearing. We sat down on it and I closed my eyes, focusing on the silence. I'd always loved the quiet. A moment later, I reopened my eyes to find James studying the clearing. "It's beautiful. How did you find it?" He asked. "I found the path years ago, after Mother died. I was so upset that day; I just wanted to be alone. I found the clearing and decided that this would be my secret place to go whenever I wanted time to think to myself." I replied. He nodded, thoughtful. What lovely eyes he has, I thought. This close I could see flecks of gold in them. "So." I said. "You're going to be a doctor. That's quite an achievement." He smiled modestly. "Well I haven't quite gotten the skills down but yes, I will be a doctor someday." We started talking about achievements we've made, and then shared laughs about memories we had of each other. We lost track of time and the distant voices and sounds of the party eased. The sound of cracking leaves and twigs caught my attention. I looked up just as Alyssa strolled into the clearing. "Alyssa." I said in surprise. At the sound of her name, James looked up. The surprise was evident on his chiseled features. I knew why. Alyssa seemed to get prettier and prettier every day. James hadn't seen her in five years. I felt familiar envy rise up in me once again. James stood to greet her. "Alyssa. It's been so long." Her own eyes widened with surprise, but I could tell she was faking. She'd probably seen him earlier. "James? James Freeman?" They hugged as we did and then smiled at each other. Alyssa turned to me then. "Running away from the party, are we?" She said with a knowing smile. "Well, it's over now so you two can come out." She looped her arm around James' and the two walked out ahead of me. I was forced to rush to keep up. It was true most everyone had left. The few that remained were James' father, our neighbors, and a family whom I'd never met before. James' father, Dr. Freeman, looked up as we approached. "Oh, splendid! Come now, James. We must get back to our manor." James nodded. "Yes Father." He turned back to us and smiled. "Well, we'll meet again soon enough." He caught us both in an embrace. "It was good to see you two again." He whispered. We watched as he and Dr. Freeman climbed into the carriage and pulled away. The other families got into their own carriage and they too left. Father turned toward us. "Well now girls, I must get back to my office. It's been a long day, hasn't it?" "Yes, it has." I murmured, though it was clear he wasn't expecting an answer, for he turned and left before the words even left my mouth. Father was like that, I thought. He didn't do it to be cruel; Father was simply just very dismissive sometimes. He was warm, but in his own way. A dark figure caught my eye and I turned to see Alyssa staring at me a few feet away, the fire from the lantern reflecting in her dark eyes. "What?" She shrugged. "Strange seeing James again, isn't it?" Sensing her teasing, I simply just shrugged back. "Yes, well we're lucky to have him. His father, I mean." I said, correcting myself. She caught it though, like she always does. "Is someone a little excited to see James?" "Well I haven't seen him in years, of course I'm excited. After all, we were close friends." It was true; we'd grown up together. When he moved, just a year after my mother's death, it was almost unbearable. He was always the one to talk to if the death was too much of a burden on me. As soon as my thoughts wondered too deep into her death, I shut them off, as I always did. Instead, I turned back to Alyssa.