THE ELITE (On Hold)

Chapter 5: New Faces

The invisible body turned me around and soon enough, I found myself looking into a pair of cold, stony grey eyes. "Excuse me, but I believe you're in my way," said the stranger in a deep, cold voice. She wore a sour expression on her face as though there was something funny under her nose. She was tall and slender and had the look of a rebel. She was looking at me in annoyance, arms folded, foot tapping the floor.
"Er -?"
"Look, I would really love to hang around and chit-chat but I honestly have more important matters to attend to and I haven't got all day. So, if you just stepped aside, I'd be able to get on with it and you can just continue to do whatever it is you're doing. 'Kay, Sunshine? Lovely," she stood there glaring at me as though she expected me to tap-dance.
"Uh, he-llo?" she said snapping her fingers under my nose ( People can be so RUDE sometimes!) "Aargh!" she shouted, shoving me aside and sliding open the compartment door.

There was the slight revealation of two other girls seated reading magazines. "Hey, Aubrey!" came a familiar voice. I recognized the speaker as the girl I'd met earlier, Chloe Edmond. "Don't you 'hey' me! Oh! You won't believe it (she was about to close the compartment door). The ner-"
"Summer?" intervened Chloe, cutting her off. The other girl, Aubrey, spun around. "Whoa! You're the new girl? Ha! Pathetic if you ask me," she said, as she spat at the ground where my feet were. Chloe glared daggers at her. She was laughing her head off when she caught the look on Chloe's face. "What? I mean, come on! Have you seen her? Look at what she's wearing. Absolutely no fashion sense, if you ask me." "Well, no one asked you, Aubrey," replied Chloe icily.
"Look, yo-"
"Chill, Bree," came a drawling voice. The girl who'd been seated next to Chloe, closed her magazine with a sigh, and stood up.

Her honey blonde hair had been pulled back into a classic ponytail. She sported side-swept bangs which flipped perfectly across her left eye, leaving just one bright, green eye visible. She had chalk-white skin and was rather fashionable. She looked like the ultimate diva. Just by looking at her confidence and the way she carried herself, I could tell she was the leader. She seemed strangely familiar. I'd seen her somewhere. The question was, Where?

She gave me a full three hundred and sixty degrees scan. I could feel those bright, green eyes moving across me; processing every single, tiny detail: the windswept hair that looked as though a bird had been using it for a nest (It was a windy day), the odd pleate in skirt, the hands that shook, the terrified expression.....Yep, the works. Finally, after what seemed like hours, she said in a rather girlish yet somewhat bossy voice,"Pleasure to meet your acquaintance -erm- Summer, is it?" "That's me," I replied quickly, rather relieved that she didn't toss me out the window instead. "I'm Paris, by the way," she said, holding out her hand.

That's when it hit me. I remembered her now, Paris Adelaide Acton. I'd seen her on the cover of the new edition of The Daily Scope. There'd been a featured article of her and her mum, Victoire Acton, a former Miss World and supermodel, which explained Paris' spot on fashion sense and those beach waves were to die for.
"Ahem!" Paris cleared her throat loudly bringing me back to reality.
"Oh, sorry," I fumbled to take her hand. I can't believe I'd left her standing there for five minutes with her hand out waiting for me to take it. Doing something like that to the daughter of the diva, Victoire Acton, wasn't going to get me any high ratings where popularity was concerned. "Have a seat," said Paris, gesturing to the now empty seats in the carriage. I glanced at Chloe who gave me a small yet encouraging smile. "Thanks," I muttered, sitting on the seat next to the window.

The seat was rather comfortable but being surrounded by three complete strangers, all of whom I only knew by name, was needless to say, very uncomfortable. I looked at them and they looked back. The look in Aubrey's eyes was wild, Paris was looking at me as though she wasn't sure what to think of me and Chloe- Chloe was looking at me as though she was seeing all the good things about me and none of the bad. She nudged Paris in the ribs.

"Wha- oh, right. So........Summer," I looked at her,"Uh, What's your favourite colour?" Both Audrey and Chloe stared at her in disbelief. "What?" questioned Paris, as though she saw nothing wrong in asking a person you met for the first time about their favourite colour. "Really now, Paris" said Aubrey, in a tone of utmost disbelief at Paris' ridiculus query. "Since when did you derive interest in this conversation, Aubrey?" said Chloe cooly.
"I'll tell you sin-"
"STOP! Everyone, chill!" I yelled, breaking up the dispute. All three of them glared at me. Chloe looked shocked that I had the nerve to say something like that in front of Paris and Aubrey, Paris looked as though this was the first time someone had dared to raise their voice when directed to her ( I seriously didn't doubt that) and Aubrey looked point blank annoyed that I had the audacity to even speak to her.

"My favourite colour's blue - like my eyes. Secondly, you don't have to pick a fight everytime someone says or does something. Can't you just get along? Aren't you supposed to be friends? Jeez," I said all this very fast and without thinking, and I instantly regretted it. Why did I have to open my big mouth? Yeah, it was true but sometimes it's better not to say anything. Especially when it's your first meeting with rich socialites.
"Sorry, I shouldn't have said that," I said looking at my feet and feeling like an idiot. "Don't be," said Chloe walking over to me," I guess, we never really realised how much time we spent fighting rather than being best friends till.....well, now! But now we do, and for that Summer Vince, I thank you. I also extend a hand of friendship to you, that is, if you will accept?" she looked at me, her big brown eyes boring into mine. Both Paris and Aubrey looked on, mouths hanging open. "I....accept," the words were barely out of my mouth when Chloe bombarded me with a bear hug.
"Ouch! Ribs.......broken!"
"Sorry!" laughed Chloe, as we broke apart. Paris and Aubrey exchanged looks. It was evident from their faces that this was as much a surprise to them as it was to me. I couldn't care less. I'd made a new friend.