Name Blame, the Bonding Game

Confusion Boulevard

Holland-

What is it about a Saturday stuck at home that just makes you go nuts? Mother and father forbade Marisa and I from going out until our benefit tonight. Our friends are coming over in about a half hour, but there are only so many things to do in an over sized over traveled estate house. The house is huge, but my friends and I have managed to over travel it anyway. The rain is pouring down outside, so there's no outdoors for us, they'll have to come in through the portico, rain is not our friend in this case. At least all our families are going to the same event tonight. So are the Vanderbilts though that should be interesting. Blakelys and Vanderbilts do not belong in the same room. Yet alone at the same benefit.

Don't know how this will go down. Marisa comes down to the Purple Parlor to wait with me for our friends. She manages to look like a model in sweatshirt and yoga pants. The doorbell sounds and a butler immediately answers.

"Good morning Ladies and gentlemen." He says with a nod to the people, I'm hoping are our friends, at the door. "Mister and Miss Keaton are awaiting you in the Purple Parlor." Marisa had just begun to play the keyboard when Ivan walks in followed by our other friends. He walks up to Marisa with a nod to me before wrapping his arms around her waist and standing behind her.

"Morning Love."

"Morning." She replies leaning back into him as she turns the keyboard off. And turns to face the group. "Morning everyone." She says with a blush on her cheeks.

"I want to show you something; Jasmine, Luci, Kristi," She says making a point not to mention Isadora's name.

Isadora stands awkwardly in the parlor before making a point to follow the rest of the girls, until Kristi holds her back.

"No." She says, "Don't. Don't break the friendship anymore than it already is."

"Are you going to stay to keep me?"

"I will."

"We will." Ivan says, "Go," He tells Kristi.

"So, Izzie?" Kipping says dragging out her name, "What have you been doing."

"This is going to be a long conversation." I hear Greggor mutter under his breath.

Marisa-

"Look, I don't want a big promposal, please understand that. It's not for you to decide. It''s my prom date, not yours. If you want a big ask, then more power to you. Ivan and I are already so in the spotlight, the media will just blow this out of proportion."

"What happened last night?" Jasmine asks me. "You keep looking worried."

"The Avenue that killed Luke is back." I tell them softly. "While Ivan and I were talking in the car, I heard the Avenues arguing. The one that killed Luke, I think he said that Luke got between him and his target. His target was one of the five of us, a girl. Another reason to stay out of the spotlight."

"Oh my gosh, are you sure that's what he said!" Kristi asks coming in late.

"I think the target was me." I  tell them, "You were already at the car, and I was still leaving when he pulled the gun. If only I could ask him. I know Luke and I always told each other we'd die for each other, I just hoped it would never happen."

"So what you're saying is that he said he would die for you, and he did." Luci says.

"It only make's sense." Jasmine answers, "You know the way he'd always protect her, his love for her was undeniable, and fierce." The other girls nod agreeing with her.