Beyond: Beyond the Lights

Chapter 2

MADELINE

"Are you sure you don't want to take a break, sweetheart? You've been out here all morning!" I heard my mother call for me as my racket made contact with the green ball yet again, a frustrated huff leaving my lips as it landed just outside of the line. "Sorry mom, I just want to get some practice in before school starts again."

And that was the truth. I had to practice, after all, practice makes perfect, right? And I had to bring my 'A' game this year.

"Okay well, don't forget, we have that press-conference for your father and our family portrait picture tonight." Of course, the annual portrait had fallen on the same day as my father's press conference to announce his plans as the Dean of Richmont Academy, a brand new university in Beverly Hills, a University that features two schools cojoining for the very first time: Hargrove Academy for boys and Saint Mary's Academy for girls.

The two schools joining together had been great exposure for my family, well more so my father, Xavier Torres, the newly appointed dean. With my father's new title, it required my family to fall back into our roles, the perfect family. But nobody knew the truth about my life behind closed doors. Nor the fact that my parents have been legally separated for years despite still living together and acting married. Or the fact that my cousin, Sebastian Price, was actually my half-brother after my mother cheated on my father, thus leading to their separation. So I suppose it's safe to say, I blame my mother for the unhappiness within my family, between my parents and myself. While my father is far from perfect, at least infidelity isn't one of his flaws.

"-line Rose! Are you even listening to me?" The sound of my mother's voice snapped me out of the swirling thoughts in my head as I turned to face her, "Sorry mom, I heard you. Dad's press conference and the portrait photoshoot tonight. Got it." I snipped, meeting her annoyed face. Our gaze locked on our respective sides of the fenced in Tennis courts at our house. After what felt like an eternity of silence, her voice reached my ears again, "Five o'clock sharp."

After she finally walked off, I settled in for another half hour of practice, until my phone began ringing off to the side. Jogging over, I took a sip from my pink water bottle as I answered the call, belonging to none other than my best friend, Elena De Costa, who was due back to LA after spending the summer visiting her father in Australia. Pressing the green accept button, I could've sworn I went deaf at that moment. Elena's ear piercing squeal came across the line before any words were exchanged.

"Oh my gosh, Madi, I had the best time! But gosh, it's great to be back in Los Angeles. Can you believe I actually missed this place? It's crazy how much I missed the food, the palm trees, the beaches..." As Elena continued to ramble, I packed up my Tennis gear, and began walking to the house, laughing along to her list of things that she missed most in LA. As I made my way into the lobby of my parents' house, I heard the chipper brunette on the other line conclude her list with my very own mention, "and most importantly my best friend!" Mocking my offense to gain some sense of normalcy within that day, I spoke up for the very first time, "I was beginning to think that you forgot about me, El!" And just like that, we indulged in a four hour phone call about our respective summers. And to no surprise, Elena's summer had been filled with endless fun, whereas I spent mine training and studying for the upcoming semester.

Hanging up the phone with Elena, after scheduling a lunch date for Sunday, I slipped into my dress for the family portrait. It was truly beautiful and full of elegance. It was a gold strapless gown, much like the one my mother would be wearing. After a long inner debate, I decided to leave my hair straight and down and apply some appropriate make up. Once I was all ready to go, I added some black jewelry to compliment my father's tuxedo in which he'd be wearing, and made my way down the staircase and toward the room where our photo would be taken.

My mother had been preoccupied when I turned the corner, probably giving the photographer instructions if I had to take a wild guess. However, I did feel my father's strong gaze fall to me as I maneuvered through the crowded room towards him.

"Hija mía, te ves hermosa esta noche." He greeted, a warm smile, which wasn't exactly common for my father. "Gracias papi, te ves muy guapo." And he did look very handsome in his black suit with gold accents.

My gaze lifted to my mother, who I had predicted just as well. Her dress matched my own and our colors complimented my father's attire. Her auburn hair was pulled into a tight bun, an excessive usage of hairspray to keep it in place, but nonetheless, she looked beautiful.

Studying the unfamiliar faces in the room, I searched for the final familiar face of the teenage boy, just under a year younger than me. While it didn't come too shocking that he wasn't being included in this whole extravagant photoshoot, I felt the pang in my heart for Sebastian, whether he believed it or not.

The guilt didn't last long, as I was soon being ushered away to the mark, hearing the click, click click. The cameras were rolling, which only meant for one thing, plastering a smile on my face and pretending to be the perfect daughter in the perfect family.