What Happens in L.A.

Chapter 1: Cold Dinner

A

"...I just know that our lives will be lived the utmost potential. I'll miss you Richton High."

Claps erupt throughout the auditorium. Parents, students, and teachers all acclaim from valedictorian Lilly's speech. Addilyn Pierce could not care less after hearing her practice these exact words in her bedroom for ungodly hours. If anything, she's just glad it's over with as her eyes graze through nameless faces, until one pair of eyes lock with hers. What is he doing here?

If this was any other situation, she would have turned around and walked as far and quickly as she can away. But due to this being High School graduation, she forces one of her most believable fake smiles, and turns her head away. Her step brother, Jayce has been traveling the world on set for the past year and a half with his dad, and they're rarely home to make an appearance, not that Addilyn is complaining. But his presence is unsettling, and she can already feel irritation growing like weeds inside of her.

Somehow during her showdown with Jayce, the clapping stopped and Lilly was replaced with the principal.

"This concludes our ceremony. I hope you all succeed greatly in life, and on behalf of all the teachers and faculty, we were all glad to have you."

In a perfect world everyone would throw their hats in the air like in the movies, and all you hear would be cheers. But all that happens is dull. Parents clutch their designer items, and go towards their child, only a few clap with hearts swollen with pride. The children of careless attendees yawn and walk towards their parents, waiting for the fancy party that will be held after, eyes lifeless. Their Life is pretty dull, really. Money has given them constant stability. The few lucky enough to have parents who care, cry and run into the arms of their family holding flowers. But for the very selective few, they walk to teachers and shake their hands. By selective, that means class presidents, and valedictorian Lilly.

Addilyn gives her a bright smile with dull eyes and walks toward the crowd of former students. Almost every person turns and smiles or acknowledges her presence. She was wildly popular from her name being in everyone's mouths. She was either "his sister" or "Addilyn Pierce" (her full name was a must). Oh, how interesting she was to them. But in the sea of people, she only notices one person, holding his girlfriend from behind, whispering sweet nothings in her ear. But it all seems to stop as he looks up and her smile becomes illuminate and authentic, and her eyes a bit brighter. He gives her a smile that he never gave his girlfriend, and goes back to half heartedly whispering. No one notices their encounter, and it's expected by now. No one would ever believe Addilyn would be ever interested in anyone but her oh-so-perfect long term boyfriend, Chase who graduated last year.

The only thing that pulls her from the trance is her mothers voice. "Addilyn, dear, come on. We're going to be late for dinner."

Tonight, Lilly, Mason, and Addilyn's families are going to a rare dinner to celebrate. It's particularly normal to everyone else, but for them it's a nightmare. Between Lilly's intellectual mother, Mason's soft spoken mom, and Addilyn's attention craving sergeant, someone is going to raise hell.

With a nod, she walks in the direction of her car, dodging people radiating happiness, until she sees the crowd of people surrounding the one person she doesn't want to see at the moment. Addilyn turns in the other direction, ducks her head, and attempts to speed walk away.

"A, nice to see you again."

"Shit," she turns around and smiles. "It's always nice to see you, Jayce."

"Doubt that."

"No, no. I'm really happy to see you. Expect I just have to ask, why are you back so soon? Famous life too much for you to handle?" The crowd of people surrounding him step back, holding their phones and look hopeful for a fight.