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Gianna heard her mother's laughter from her bedroom, even though it was one story up.

It was the type of laughter that made you laugh with her, the type that made everyone in the room stop and listen.

It wasn't a pretty laugh or a soft giggle most women tried to have, but the kind of laugh you knew was filled with joy.

And that's what Katherine Gray truly was, full of joy and light. She was the kind of person Gianna aspired to be when she grew up. And it's not an exaggeration when Gianna say's that there were times where Katherine Gray was so beautiful that she'd stand out and glow.

And sure, Katherine was a gorgeous woman, but she had something special, something more to her. Gianna didn't know how to explain it, but it was something so strong and so powerful that enchanted who ever was to cross paths with the woman. Like a siren that could lure sailors lost at sea.

But sometimes, regardless of how bright you might shine, darker things will always put you out.

In this case, the dark thing that'd put Katherine out wasn't dark at all. In fact, it was the complete opposite of dark. It was a plastic packet filled with an addictive powder that was as white as snow.

And it was only a matter of time before the other shoe drops and Gianna's mother goes back to the plastic packet.

But Gianna couldn't let herself go to that place, at least, not now.

She needed to stop worrying about the future and focus on the present. Focus on the now.

So, bringing herself back, she reminded herself of the things she needed to pack in her beach bag.

She and her friends were going to a beach clean up that day and then go to Toppers party at night.

A short ding came from her phone.

Marisa Kane:

At your door in 5

She threw a few things in her bag and dove off, her Birkenstocks clacking against the marble slabs on the staircase.

"I'm going to the beach clean up!" Gianna called out to her parents.

"Alright, honey. Don't forget to put on a lot of sunscreen!" Katherine yelled back, Gianna sending her a quick 'okay' before leaving her home.

The roaring of Marisa's car could be heard from a mile away, a signal she was close to arrive.

As proven, the shiny BMW pulled up to Gianna's driveway, the girl getting in the back seat once she saw that Amelia was sitting shot gun.

"Ready to do some cleaning?" The honey-blonde joked, her phrase earning a groan from the redhead seated in front of her.

"Don't even get me started. Why can't they just hire Pogues to do this kinda stuff?" she complained, filing her nails. "It's not like they aren't used to doing those things anyway."

Then why come? Gianna thought to herself.

She had learned a long time ago how to internalize her feelings and contain her thoughts. Hanging out with a specific group of people, you couldn't just say whatever you wanted to say, especially if your opinion was different than everyone else's.