Oui!

6

"Arlo, honey, you would like a drink?" As the adults were busy setting possible social fires between each other, their children were also busy mimicking them, and so far Adele had managed to stay out of it. Of course, until Veki-Lou showed up. "Arlo! Oh, and Adele." "Ha, oui. like that was by accident. Like she only just happened to see my Arlo first." "How are you liking the party?" Arlo asked, sensing the mood. Veki-Lou had a horrible habit of trying to attract Arlo, oddly ever since Adele and Arlo became a nice item. Which would be 8 months. The worst part was that the three of them knew full well that it wasn't because Saveki liked Arlo. Oh no. This was just to make some drama, possibly cause some pain to Adele. Whatever it took, really.

"So, where is everyone?" Adele raised a brow, indicating the people at her mother's event. "You know, our age?" "Saveki," Adele said, Veki-Lou grinding her teeth to her name, "are you blind?" "No, you know, the people that matter! The cool kids!" She meant her friends, and Adele caught on. "Ah. Thankfully they aren't here." Olivia Jasmine Arbers, Tulisa Chang, and Amelie Olsen, Veki-Lou's closest entourage. Amelie would soon arrive, her mother Angeline had to come to this party. She could widespread something in minutes, and in the event that something went wrong, she knew what to do. She knew it was selfish, but Adele, for the sake of her own and her family's reputation, hoped her mother didn't mess anything.

"Yasmie! Yaya! Hi!" Ok, this was getting ridiculous. Most of Mara's friends had arrived, and everytime they did, well, let's say from a distance you would think Yasmie knew all of them since birth. "Angeline! So glad to see you. And Amelie too?" She nodded her head, as Amelie appeared from behind.. But where was her husband? "Where's Ragnar?" Angeline looked down and hid her arm behind her back. "Oh, he's decided to skip out on this one." Strange. Ragnar Olsen didn't usually dip on events thrown by her husband. And why did Angeline hide her arm behind her back? Was there something she wasn't meant to see? Or was it a simple Norwegian thing she was looking into too deeply? Well that could not be important now. The point was, Angeline was here, and it was now more than evert hat everything had to be the image of perfection. If not, it could mean being 16 again.

"Angeline! Jidu, you're so unbelievably late! If something happened, what would I do?" "Sorry Mara." "Just make sure you have your phone ready." This could resemble the dialogue of schoolgirls, but it was how they played the game. After all, it wasn't like Yasmie was out of the game; she was trying her hardest not to mess up because she knew the game was still going. It was like hiding in tag, praying you wouldn't get caught. Except the results of getting caught in this game were to great. Just look at Janie Luera. She was friends with Yui Sunma-Laurent (who should soon be arriving, or not), and Yui had the highest social position ever, being in the high league of fashion designers, her husband the CEO of LaCreie Medical, the best hospital and medical services to have. Janie Luera happened to hang somewhere in the same crowd as Yui, and they got along. No one knew what happened; it all came too fast. All they knew was that though Janie had been completely cancelled, the likes of Yui Thompson weren't talking to her anymore, so she might as well have been. No one even spoke her name nowadays, and she only let certain people into her house and her life. Yasmie didn't want to end up like that, she was climbing up! If she really played her cards right she could end up like Yui, if not better. She was in interior design, and she was one of the best. Which was why her house was known for being Instagram-worthy.

"Everyone! Everyone, may I please have your attention?" Yasmie was preparing the toast. The party ended at 10, and it was 9:30. Everyone turned to her. "Bonsoir, mes amis, and thank you for coming tonight!" Applause. "I threw this party not onl to start summer, but also to welcome a new friend, not to me, but to all of you. For those of us whose husbands work in law, please meet your new coffee mate, Madeleine Lumien!" Applause, and most people were murmuring. Suddenly Yasmie started to wonder whether this was the right card, Mara and Angeline looked mildly interested, but that didn't stop her from noticing that Angeline's phone was out and on. Madeleine stepped up to the podium and waved. Yasmie handed the microphone to her, and she took it, with doubt, but she took it. "Hello," Maddie said in a quiet voice. This was how she won people's hearts. To everyone else, she was an adorable small woman who wasn't quite used to the spotlight. And to be fair, she wasn't entirely. But Marc knew better, better than Yasmie, better than Joseph, better than everyone that this was a mere act. Some of her may be intimidated, you could recognise the faces in the crowd instantly and know how much power they held over you. But most of it was a pure act. She wasn't shy at all. Maddie was very ready for her new social life, and she would not be shy when she arrived. At least, that's what Marc thought anyways.