Clandestine

twenty two

-julia-

I clap as the next model strides on to the stage. It's one of Rosalina's biggest competitors so I only clap to appear polite. Carlotta doesn't even clap, glaring down the model. Luckily the bright flashing lights and the hundreds of people guard the model from Carlotta.

I lean over in my seat and ask Carlotta, "When is Rosalina's next item coming out?"

Carlotta shrugs, "I don't know. But, I'm sure we will be able to tell which one is hers because," she raises her voice loud enough to be heard by the surrounding spectators, "I'm sure Rosalina's will be the best."

I shove her and give her a look, but she just shrugs again. The formal, pristine atmosphere of the fashion shows makes Carlotta want to scream. She's too used to the noisy environment of her pool.

She takes a sip from her drink and groans. She says, "Why do people come to these things? Why would you pay so much money to watch people walk around in ridiculous clothes?"

"Some people like things besides swimming. Besides, other people might be here for their own business. Like Rosalina said, there could be a lot of people willing to invest in the fashion industry. After all, fashion is at one of its highest points."

"Stop. You are starting to sound like Rosalina. I love her, but I think I can only handle one."

I grin and we fall back into silence as the models continue to pour onto the stage. The screen above the stage states all the brands flashes to Rosalina's brand. A model dressed in a gorgeous, flowing blue dress marches on to the stage. Carlotta and I burst into cheers. It's a little more than what most people are doing, but I bet Rosalina can hear the two of us backstage.

Hopefully she's smiling. She's brought us to enough of her shows to know that we won't quietly sit in our chairs and make comments about the intricacy of the embroidery or the fabric of the shrawl. We plan on making our support known to everyone around.

Once the show is over, Carlotta and I patiently wait for Rosalina to find us. The millionaires and investors and CEOs and several other important people that I probably should know the names of, filter out besides us. The room is nearly empty and Rosalina still isn't here.

Carlotta says, "See, this could either be good or bad. Maybe Rosalina is telling all her models how well they did and when the practices for their next show will begin because she just got booked for a bunch of more shows. Maybe she just got approached by a million investors and she doesn't know what to do with herself. Maybe a bunch of celebrities just bought the entire collection. Or maybe she's crying to herself in the bathroom because none of the things I just mentioned happened. She really had her dreams set into this show. It was way more important than anything she has done before. She thought this was going to be her big break. If she didn't get that break..."

"Do you think we should go find her?"

"No. What if all the things that I mentioned before are happening? We don't want to interrupt that. We just have to wait it out. She won't keep us waiting too long."

We wait for several more minutes, discussing different aspects of the fashion show. Even after coming to several of Rosalina's shows, we still don't understand many of the details of the fashion business. Sure, Rosalina has drilled into our heads all of the things that are 'cute', but we don't' understand the details.

We don't' know what fabric is the best or what kind of stitching will throw investors away or what the models have to do to prepare or what kind of walk you should actually have .

We don't know any of it, even though Rosalina has probably told us. Just like Rosalina and I can't begin to pretend everything that goes into swimming. And Rosalina and Carlotta don't understand anything about politics.

We decided along time ago to wholeheartedly support each other in our lives, even if we didn't understand them at all.

Finally Rosalina comes out from behind stage. She gives us all hugs and we congratulate her.

"What took you so long?" I ask.

"I got two investors. Two. That's more than I could have ever hoped for."

We give her another fierce hug.

"Also, Penny is back from her vacation. I met her in the hallway and we had to catch up of course."

I smile, glad that Penny's back. Rosalina and Penny have been dating for almost a year and they are both head over heels in love. Ever since Penny went on a month long vacation, Rosalina has been lost. If she hadn't had the fashion show to distract her, she might have gone crazy.

Penny enters through the doors and we say our hellos. Rosalina says, "Penny and I are going to go out for supper to talk about her lovely vacation without me."

Penny grins and kisses her on the cheek, "You know it was a vacation from you. If I hadn't left you behind, it wouldn't have been a vacation at all."

Rosalina sticks her tongue out at her and says, "Anyway, we are going out to supper to talk about the horrible time I had after she abandoned me. Then I heard about a party at the Tinsley. Do you think we could go? I really need to do some stress relief."

I frown. The Tinsleys are having a party? Her father just died. Why would she be throwing a party? My mother said that the daughter was just like her father, but does that mean she would throw a party after her dad has died?

Unless my mother never told her that she was dead.

My mother told me that she told the daughter, but I now know that I can't trust everything my mother says. After all, you can't trust a murderer, right?

I shiver runs through me.

Rosalina raises an eyebrow, "Please? I know your families don't get along, but I really need it. I don't want to go without you. I would go with Penny, but apparently she is abandoning me again."

Penny rolls her eyes, "I just need to visit some family. I promise I will spend of all of tomorrow with you."

Rosalina grins, "Whatever. Please can we go?"

I know I told Rosalina that Alan Tinsley is dead. Did she forget? Perhaps with the stress of her fashion show she wasn't even listening.

Maybe I should go anyway. The daughter will be there, right? What if she doesn't' know that her father is there? I should tell her.

Can I see the daughter of the man my mother killed?

I say, "Yeah, we can go."

Carlotta stares at me in surprise and I say, "I think it could be fun. I've always wanted to meet the daughter of my mother's enemy."