Welcome to Willowbrook

Ex-besties and conflicting cousins

Same day
Griffin County
Florida

Courtney Milton sat in her Camry and, once again, had the irresistible urge to cry and hit something. Or, more specifically, someone. She unlocked her phone and studied the picture that had been haunting her for the past few hours. It was a picture of her old best friend, Danyall hanging out with some people she didn't know. There was a brunette, a blonde girl with purple highlights, a purple haired girl, a dark haired girl and a couple of guys. But it wasn't the picture that hurt the most. It was the caption under it when it was posted on Instagram. The caption said, 'Camping out tonight. Nothing like chilling with my besties.'

Courtney felt her insides rip with jealousy. How could Danny do this to her? She had left Florida for a couple of weeks and suddenly she had new friends now? Best friends for that matter? What about her? She hadn't even called or texted Courtney since she moved. Was a few weeks really okay for a person to forget someone? Or was it because they were prettier than her? She couldn't deny it, her new besties were beautiful and the guys were drop dead hot, especially the one with pale whitish-blue hair. Was that it? She wasn't pretty enough to be her friend? She could hear the voices of all her former bullies, laughing and mocking her in the back of her mind. The way they would call her fat, ugly, useless and they would mock whatever it was that she was wearing. She hit the horn in frustration and felt nothing but the desire to get Danny back at her own game.

"I can help you know." She heard a rather soothing voice and turned but found no one. "Relax my child. I only want to help, your friend has been hiding secrets from you and I hope know how to get her back." Courtney felt a sudden calm and knew she had to find the voice. "Follow me." The voice spoke again and she started her car and drove off. She knew this was crazy and stupid, but she couldn't care less. She had to find the voice and hoped that she could get her revenge. She stopped the car at an old warehouse and entered. She saw an old red haired lady wearing tattered clothes.

"Ah, you listened to the call. You work for me now child and will do everything I say." Courtney simply nodded. The lady chuckled, "Alright then, it's time you learned the truth. But I should warn you, once we start, there is no looking back." Courtney nodded, if this would help her get pay back, she was willing to try it. The lady chuckled, "Good choice. Now, time for a story..."

*

October 7
Aurianna's house
Willowbrook
Wisconsin

"Okay, since this is your first day, you two need to look as fabulous as possible." Marcie said as she studied Cali and Seren. They were in Danny's room, as well as Ivy and Danny, and were helping Cali and Seren get ready for school.

"Do what you must but do not give me a skirt." Cali said as she stood under her friend's scrutinizing gaze. Ivy chuckled, "You would think since you were royal you would like skirts." Cali physically shuddered, "I do not speak for other royals, but I can assure you I am not a fan of skirts. They are pure torture for me, gowns as well." Ivy and Danny laughed. "In that case," Marcie waved her wand and Cali changed into a white button up shirt and black trousers with black knee high boots. "How's that?" Marcie smiled triumphantly. Cali walked around and shrugged, "It is alright I suppose. But is that all? Will there be no jacket?" " There will be," Marcie said, "but I haven't thought that far. I don't want to give you a blazer like Ivy and leather jackets aren't really your style."

Danny raised one of her brows, "Why don't you want Cali to wear a blazer?" Marcie rolled her eyes, "So they won't have matching uniforms. It'll be our thing." she said in a 'duh' tone. "I'll deal with Cali later. Let's do Seren." Seren clapped her hands in excitement. She always got excited by seemingly little things; this time was no different. "I definitely want a gown. A pinafore sounds perfect." she said to Marcie who inspected her, trying to see how she would look in her mind's eye and eventually shrugging before waving her wand. Seren wore a plain white long sleeved shirt, a black pinafore with the school badge and a pair of black and white high tops. She squealed and hugged Marcie.