City at Dawn

Chapter Three: Izzy

Isobel Grace Bass

It would be a lie to say that I didn't have a great time at Aspen. I had the time of my life.

I went with my two best friends, Grace and Erica, to my chalet at Aspen without any adult supervision, so we got to do pretty much whatever the hell we wanted.

I arrived at Aspen at the beginning of summer and for two months I spent my time with some friends I had there and a lot of things happened that maybe weren't supposed to happen. My two best friends then came down the remaining month. We went to parties every day and shopped till we dropped, or well at least they did. I wasn't always around, and god if someone ever found out why I was really in Aspen, it would be the end of me. Good thing my friends always have my back. Still, no one knew the whole story, not even them.

The best thing was that I didn't have to worry about anything. It was just me and my friends being wild in a foreign city where most people didn't know us. Where my secret was safe, and even in the coldest weather, all I felt was warmth.

So when we finally had to return home and back to reality, let's just say we were not happy about it.

I was hoping to see Laura. It had been months since we last saw each other. I still don't know why she had the crazy idea to go study a whole semester at a boarding school in Paris and then stay all summer for an internship. She said it would look good on her college transcript. Not that she needed that anyway. I swear that girl is ambitious, she could get into whatever school she wanted, still, she was always doing more.

When it comes to me... Well, I am the complete opposite, I am not the overachiever, perfect little princess my sister is. My mom has always wanted me to be like her. She has never said out loud, but I know she wishes I was like Laura. To me, she was just Laura but to everyone else, She was the queen of the upper east side.

I guess I was more reserved than she is. I like to enjoy the simpler things in life, I am not into the drama that roams in our world, and I am definitely not a queen. At least I wouldn't like to call myself one. That is just too flashy.

I like art, I like music, I like how it enriches my soul, and I love how I don't need others to be happy. I just need my art and my music.

I also like just going out and party with my friends. All I need really is them, my art and books. Nothing else. But the thing was, my mother couldn't see that I'm not into the same things as her. Sure, I like fashion very much, but apart from that, I am very different from my mom and sister. I would call myself different from every upper east sider.

As I waited in the elevator to go up to my penthouse, I couldn't help but be a little sad that I was going back to my mother's judgment. I knew it would not be easy, but I was happy to see the whole family back together again. Also, I was waiting to see my mother's reaction when she sees the new addition to my face. I know she will not be pleased which just makes this so much better.

The elevator door opens up and I step out to find my knucklehead siblings arguing, as they usually do.

"I wasn't gone that long, and you two are already ripping your heads off!" I exclaim laughing a little.

Laura and James look at me as if their non-civilized brains were unable to process the fact that I was right in front of them. Finally, my sister reacted and runs up to hug me. Yep, it was indeed good to be home.

"You pierced your nose!" James points out in complete and utter shock.

"I love it!" Laura says. "but you do know mom will kill you for it..."

I smirk at them as I take the fake nose ring off. I let out a wicked laugh. "That is where all the fun lies my dear sister," I answer making James burst out in laughter and Laura shaking her head in disapproval.