As If One Bass Was Enough | ღ nate archibald ღ

1.

The day began like any other, with a resounding sigh her ears pricked up to the muffled sound coming from beyond the comfort of her white king-sized duvet to which she was buried beneath, as one of the maids called for her to get out of bed. Except this time, in her head it sounded like a high pitch resonant frequency as the thumping hangover-induced headache felt like it was ripping her brain to shreds. Last night was indeed a wild one to say the least.

"Miss Bass, you must get up otherwise you will be late!" It was with deep restraint that Pandora's most favoured maid, Marina, held back the urge to add yet another exasperating "again" to the end of what felt like the tenth importune, as this was in no way a one-off situation but what felt like a daily nag.

Pandora simply rolled her eyes in annoyance. It's times like this when she wishes she could just be done with this nonsensical obligation of attending private school. There is nothing she couldn't learn faster than through simply picking up a book and studying the material at her own accord – which she finds herself doing anyway. Why the incessant need to sit in these pointless classes, listening to these so-called teachers drone on for what seems like an age, to get nothing more out of the class than what she already knew beforehand.

"... Fine, you win! I'm up!" she groaned, as she took her time to stretch and let out a yawn, before reaching to her bed side table to grab an aspirin.

After reluctantly dragging herself out of the bed, Pandora was soon dressed in her uniform, with her long, loose, brunette curls left to hang down by the sides of her face. Unlike her best friend Blair, who'd adopted the classic preppy style of your typical UES princess, Pandora on the other hand preferred to ride with a more basic, casual look – often turning to the darker colours of the spectrum as her palette choice, but almost always accompanied with her signature shade of red lipstick. Today's attire, a combination of a bottle green cropped knit jumper, matched with a black high-waisted skater skirt and dark brown laced ankle boots. Simplistic, but elegant. Not at all in line with Constance's uniform protocol but did she care? Not in the slightest. After all, she is Pandora Bass.

If it weren't for Blair, and the omnipresent grey cloud of disappointment hanging above her head, put there by none other than The Father, Bart Bass, she would've without a doubt taken the opportunity to re-define the meaning of the word truancy, in true Bass style of course. She can only assume this is also why Chuck bothers to show up now and again too.

Waiting for her outside of the hotel was her brother Chuck in a much too familiar stance, as he leaned along the side of their limousine with a cigarette lit coolly in his mouth.

"Was beginning to think you'd died." he quipped at her lateness, as he flung the fag to the ground.

"If only," she replied nonchalantly, as she followed her brother into the limo. Pandora wasn't in the mood for any sibling banter this morning, or any morning. If you haven't guessed already, she isn't much of a morning person. But that unfortunately doesn't deter Chuck from trying his luck at riling his favourite (and only) sister.

"So, last night then? Who would have known my little sister would have a taste for the Class A's-" he started, only to be immediately cut off by Pandora, who had her head leaning against the car window.

"-as much as I would relish the thought of a deep and meaningful conversation with my dearest brother on this wonderous morning, no doubt on a subject that I'm sure would deeply nurture the intellectual core of my mind, I'll have to unfortunately pass on this instance." she interrupted sarcastically, as she pressed a hand to her head to signal the discomfort of her pounding headache that was still yet to dissipate.

Chuck scoffed at her tone. "As charming as always, sis."

"And you as annoying as always, Chuck." she countered. "Not all of us have inherited an immunity to hangovers, so if you could do me the curtesy of not opening your mouth for the remainder of this journey, I'd very much appreciate it."