Passion.

Chapter One

"Goddamnit!"
"Claire Stone what are you screaming about?" My mother asks. "I can't get this hair right. This is bullshit."
"You're screaming because you can't get your hair right? Get it together."
My mother. Alexis Stone. She's a typical 'perfect' woman, who supposedly has it all together. What a persona.
As for me, I'm just trying to make it through college. Finals week is the most stressful week and I don't need this to be a distraction right now. Of course with my mother being the town councilwoman she's throwing a welcome party for the Smiths. I don't even know who they are, let alone why everyone feels the need to welcome them back to Seattle. I'll figure it out. I walk downstairs and my mother jolts a fake smile towards me. "You look just fine sweetie. Say hello to the Peterson's." This is Alexis Stone. The towns sweetheart. Rich from my father's death, loved by her place in this world, and one terrible mother. I walk downstairs and say hello to the family's lining up to walk in. I hate this house. I don't belong here. My mother insists I act as a rich girl in order to be adored. But I don't want to be adored, I want everyone to leave me alone. It's always the same questions. "What do you plan to do after college? Will you follow your father's footsteps and take on a political role? Do you have a boyfriend? Are you moving out soon? Why don't you have a boyfriend?" It's always about what my status is, never about what I like or what my passions are. I'm going to college for journalism, and no one cares about that at all. After shaking hands with The Petersons, The Richards, The Fiakos, The Scotts, The Moros, The Layds, and The Stevensons, I'm exhausted. I need to hide. My mother always brags about the rooms in our house, so I know I'll be safe if I go into the garden room outside. It's my secret hide out spot. Our backyard is huge, so no one will notice the room behind the trees and darkness of the night. I step in and shut the door behind me. It's so beautiful. I turn on the light and see the plants radiating green and red and black colors. If my mother ever found out that I secretly take care of plants, she'd kill me. But they're nice to look at, and they shouldn't go to waste. If Alexis Stone found out that her daughter was just some lame child taking care of a garden she'd complain about how boring I was. She complains about a hundred other things anyway. Mostly about my body. It's always been about that with her. I'm not perfectly shaped, I don't have a nice lean body with hair that sits on my shoulders precisely straightened. I'm not thin and I don't have lovely parts of me like most women do. I don't look like her. Even though she might not admit it, I've seen what she looks like when she gets out of bed and let me tell you, it's not what she looks like dressed up. She acts as if makeup and diamonds will throw away the disgusting personality she has. As if the layers of expensive clothes will hide the layers of tragedy that goes on in this mansion when it's just me and her at night. But I like it here. Not in this town, not at my college, just here. Alone and surrounded by nature. That's my home. I hear a squeak of the door opening and look to see a man walk in. "Excuse me. Someone's in here." "Oh. I'm sorry." The man says. "It's okay." He's about to shut the door, but I wonder why he's here so I insist he stay. "You don't have to leave. What's your name?" I ask. "What's yours?" "Claire." "It's a beautiful name." Leaves his perfectly shaped lips. His eyes are a hazel color and under the bright lighting, they're intriguing. He takes a seat and says "I had to get out of there" while running a hand through his thick brown hair. "Yeah. It could get pretty crazy." I agree. "Pretty crazy? It's a fucking mad house. I think I saw someone drinking something with pieces of gold floating in the cup." I laugh at his usage of words. I sit down next to him and huff. I'm tired of pretending I'm someone I'm not. "What's your name?" I ask. "John." What a basic name. "Well, what's your story? Do you not fit in with the tailored suits and crystal watches?" "They're all so cocky. Men walking around with thousand dollar suits thinking that they're the best just because they're richer than most disgusts me." Oh my god. He's probably gay! No straight man this attractive would ever say something like that. "Well I guess I should head back. My mother's probably wondering where I am by now." I say. "My fathers probably wondering the same thing. I'll see you around Claire." I smile and he smirks in response. He leaves first and I take a minute to close the lights and admire the loneliness one last time before heading back into the chaos. I walk in and Alexis asks where I went. "I had to collect a few personal items and I met a few lovely people. Is everything well mother?" "Yes daughter, ah there they are." She says, alarmed by someone's presence. "Meet the Smiths." I look over and see John and an older but extremely handsome man standing next to him. "I'm David." John says, putting out his hand to greet me. I guess the name John was what this dress is for me, a cover up. "Hello." "I'm Roan Smith. Lovely to meet you Ms.Stone." He greets me so formally. "Please, call me Claire. Nice to meet both of you." I say. I look over and see my mother, smitten. She looks.. attracted to David's father. "Father. Go mingle." He says, and Roan nods along. I follow David and he confesses. "I didn't know who you were. Sorry I told you my name was John. Your mother's a delight." He says, but I see the honesty lying behind his face. "Oh, you don't have to lie. She's a bitch." He laughs at my honesty. "You're very powerful and honest. I admire that." Oh he's gay. He has to be. "Thank you. You're not so bad yourself. That overpriced suit looks good on you." I compliment him. "This suit is fucking annoying. I'd rather be naked." He says, all to loud. "Shh." He lets out another laugh. It's a comforting sound. "Are you gay?" I ask, bluntly. "No. Why?" He responds. "You're just very nice to me, and I don't know why." I admit. "Because you're stunning. And realistic." "I'm not stunning." I say, thinking out loud. I know I'm not pretty. I'll never be one of those girls who walks into a room and lights it up. But that's okay because I've come to terms with what I look like. "Yes. Yes you are." He says, tucking a piece of dangling hair behind my ear. I blush at his touch. A man has never touched me before. Ever. I had a kiss in high school and that was about all for my 'love life'. I've never been with anyone sexually. I take his hand and lead him up to my bedroom. I know I just met him. We don't have to go to far tonight, but maybe I could just spend time with someone nice to be around. He's better than any other person here. When we get to my room, he asks why I brought him here. "Because I'm bored." I say, and realize how rude that sounds. "No, I , I didn't mean it that way. I'm not bored with men I'm just- Before I could finish my sentence he puts his finger over my lip and says, "It's okay. You don't have to explain anything. Let me show you something." He walks me over to my mirror and gets behind me. He's much taller than me, so I can see his face hovering behind mine. He looks so invested into what he's about to do. He puts his finger on my knee and slides it up. He goes over my dress and traces the outline of my body. When he gets to my shoulders, he removes my hair from them and begins to kiss my neck. Wow. This feels so good. I hold onto the back of his neck and he goes to kiss my chest, where some cleavage is revealed. But before we can get there, I see a man standing at the doorway. It's his father. He removes his lips from my bare skin and I gulp before quickly saying "Nice meeting you! Hope you had a good time." David laughs at the situation and brushes it off swiftly. Isn't this a bit odd for him? His father just saw him sucking on my neck, you would think he'd have a bigger reaction. I guess maybe it's a common sight for his father. When they leave my room and disappear out of my house, I take a deep breath. That was intense.