Unknown

2

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I woke up to the sound of my mother playing 'Scarlatti's Sonata in C Major on the grand piano. She played it when my sister and I were little. My parents were musically and academically preeminent. My father used to tell stories to us about how he gave up music for law when we were little.

My thoughts were interrupted by a knock on my door.

"Come in," I advised.

"Hello, sweetie!" my bubbly Aunt Silvia walked into the room.

"Aunt Silvia! What are you doing here?" I jumped out of bed to greet her.

"I came for the banquet!" she announced, hugging me.

"How long are you planning on staying?" I asked hopefully. I was more casual with my aunt than my parents. I didn't have to impress her. I was just myself.

"About two weeks or so, I'll be staying in the guest room in the west hall." she cheered.

"What is going on, Christina?" Alice walked into the room, rubbing her eyes and yawning.

"Alice!" my aunt hugged her.

"Aunt Silvia!" Alice greeted.

Alice, being her usual self, dragged my aunt into her room to show off her new awards. I didn't find myself in Alice's room often because it was a privilege to be let in. She had rose pink walls and brown furniture. Her whole room matches from duvet to book. She has four shelves just for her awards and my father added more shelves almost every month. My room, however, was the polar opposite. I had walls with patterns of skylines in black and white and all of my furniture was white. My sheets were black and white along with almost everything else in my room.

I made my bed and walked into my closet. I looked at the outfit planned for the banquet, a pale pink ball gown with 4 inch diamond heels. I wasn't a very pink-like person, but my sister was. I walked into my bathroom and took a quick shower and got ready.

"Christina?" my father called through the intercom as I put on my dress.

"Yes, father?" I asked.

"A boy named Calum Hood is here for the banquet." he told me.

I couldn't help, but smile. Calum made me feel beatific in ways no one else did. He could make me laugh, make faces, and speak in class. I hadn't done any of those kinds of things before, but it felt extravagant being able to let go.

"I'll be there in a minute," I called and scurried out of my room.

Our house was rather vast. We had a north and west wing that met together with a wide stairwell.

"Calum," I gasped when I saw him below the stairwell. I scurried down quickly to greet him.

His hair was gelled up and he wore a formal black suit. He stood up straight with his hands behind his back.

"Christina, you, you look ravishing." he looked in awe.

I giggled slightly.

"As do you, Mr. Hood." I joked.

He held his arm out for me and I took it, linking our arms together.

"I've never seen you in pink before," Calum whispered into my ear.

"No one has," I whispered back.

He chuckled into a cough as we headed into the ballroom for the banquet.

"Christina?" my mother stopped in front of us.

"Mother, this is Calum Hood. He's a friend of mine." I introduced her.