The Meaning Games

Prologue

Everyone is addicted to something, including a certain kind of sin. Whether it is a person, a secret or a substance, it gets under your skin and hooks you, paralyzes you, and won't let you free. You become tangled in a silky, silvery web weaved by the most cunning of spiders. And in Chevy Chase Village, Maryland, the sinner is a high school girl. Her name carries with her a legacy, a dynasty, and a business. People were mesmerised by her, idolized her, and were willing to sacrifice anything for her. Especially her four best friends. All Avarie Castelo would need to do is say jump, and anyone would reply how high?

Her friends couldn't complain of course, because they were the lucky ones. Even though something mysterious had been happening lately, and Avarie had been slipping out of her room in the middle of the night, not returning for hours and not discussing it either. See, Avarie had a secret. She had a lot of secrets, some she would never delve into the back of her mind and relive, and tell. But she had one that she shared with her friends. And the secret was that she liked to play games, and there wasn't anything her friends could do about it. They were candidates and they would play it out. Even though every girl played, and helped plan each one precisely, they didn't really know what they were winning. They fought to obtain, chose to destruct, and cared to ignore things, all for their glorious friend. But were the games really games if they were larger than life, messing with life and becoming out of control? Where they really games if they were your life?

***

"Havana, sweetie, don't eat that." Avarie Castelo said smoothly. Her voice was deep, and filled with authority. Havana Avenue put the packet of chips down on the floor, without looking Avarie in the eye. Satisfied, Avarie nodded, pushing her designer glasses back up her nose. Although she relaxed in the sun lounger again, she didn't take her eyes off Havana, who was now stood in the middle of the garden, biting her lip, looking lost amongst the artfully cut bushes and the swimming pool. Havana lowered her head, letting her brown bob hit her in the face, covering her as she cowered away from the food.

Avarie was with her friends, on a spring afternoon taking advantage of the sun. When her eyes finally did leave Havana, she turned and looked at all her friends. Jordan Cahill, the geek, was studying as per usual, in one of the chairs. Avarie knew that she'd read that book before – they'd read it together. She was reading it again to make sure that she hadn't missed anything. But, Avarie thought, she'd miss something soon.

Collins Wazowski was near Havana, holding her t-shirt out in front of her. She was conscious, because of how skinny she was. She had an over active thyroid, and her collarbone and hipbones always stuck out, much to her dismay. She'd learn that what she looked like didn't matter; there were more important things.

Avarie's eyes drew back to Havana, who was looking at her feet. She was like a mouse surrounded by wolves. She knew that Havana wouldn't once snarl or bark at any of these girls, like they easily could each other. She'd learn confidence; after all, her teacher was the master.
Saja Devereaux sucked iced tea through a straw by the patio door, momentarily distracting Avarie. Before they were even friends, Saja hadn't even liked iced tea. She adored Avarie the most. She tried to dress like her, think like her, and show her expressions in the same way. She'd learn that her inspiration had more than the side of the story she projected. They'd all learn something in the end.

A twig snapped in the distance, from far behind the gardens of the Castelo's house. Avarie's pulse increased for a split second as the hairs on the back of her exposed neck stood up and her eyes scanned across her back garden. Her garden was surrounded with a large fence to block out unwanted visitors. There was a pool, and a lush, large green area where lounge chairs were neatly placed in a row. At the back of the garden was a stable, where Avarie and her stepmother kept their horses. Avarie relaxed when she realized the noise came from the next-door neighbour's garden – Saja's garden. Jeremy, Saja's brother, had spent a lot of Avarie's childhood spying on her through the gaps of the fencing panels. He had always stared at her with such a lascivious gaze.

The others hadn't even noticed the sound. That was the thing about Avarie. She realised things, heard things, and thought of things that others didn't. She was different.

Avarie stood up, and walked over to the swimming pool, slipping off her cardigan to reveal a tanned, toned body. Designed by her father, the swimming pool was built around rockery of large stones. The stairs were located at the side and a higher level built at the deep end enclosed a Jacuzzi. It looked like such an expensive design, but only the best was allowed in the Castelo house. That, and Marcus Castelo needed a plot of land to develop on and experiment with before using it as the blue print of a new chain of Castelo hotel's. She'd felt a surge of adrenaline when she'd heard that twig snap. And she was the only one who'd heard it. It was as if it was a secret that she knew and the other hadn't realised.

Her friends would feel both adrenaline and fear soon. They needed to feel these things to survive. Because, after all, even if they didn't know they were playing yet, each girl was a contestant and everyone could win it, even if someone lost.

Avarie swam to a long inflatable and then pulled herself up, lying on it. There she relaxed and settled in. Saja took off her jumper, obviously debating whether to join her or not. Jordan slammed her book, but unlike Havana, Avarie didn't flinch. She then got up and walked to the pools edge, placing her hands on her hips.

"She can eat them if she wants," Jordan said in her friends defence, looking down at the chips.
Avarie's lips twitched but other than that, she didn't do anything. They'd been friends the longest; they wound each other up. No one ever knew who would win an argument because they were both persevering and determined. They had very strong views, but those views didn't always see eye to eye. Still, there was no bad blood between the girls. They were close enough to be sisters. But even Jordan was cautious at times. Avarie had a gun for a tongue. "She doesn't want to get fat, now, does she?"

"Avarie!"

"No," Havana said quietly. She didn't look at any of her friends, and rocked on the balls of her feet. "It's alright. She has a point."

Jordan shook her head simply, and went back to reading her book. She was infuriated, but it wasn't because of Avarie's smug expression. Instead, it was because Havana could never stick up for herself, and didn't seem to have a backbone when it came to their best friend.

Collins had since put on her grey Star Wars shirt and had snatched the chips up from the floor. She opened the bag loudly, took a handful, and shoved them in her mouth. Then, before she'd finished chewing, she opened her mouth and spoke. "I'll eat them if no one else will."

Saja Devereaux sniggered from where she was. "That's a perk of your condition."

"Yes," Collins nodded, rolling her eyes simultaneously, "because also being an insomniac is a perk."

Saja shrugged. "No pain, no gain."

Avarie smiled, listening to her friends. Yes, no pain, no gain was definitely a good piece of advice. Avarie got down from her float and swam over to the edge of the pool, getting out. She wrapped a towel around her to warm herself and then looked at her friends who were all scattered around the garden. Saja walked to the lounge chair that Avarie had been sitting on earlier, moving her long hair from behind her back so she could sit without catching it. She was the only one of the five girls who wasn't Caucasian. She had a Japanese ancestry. Her hair, long and thick, reached her ribs and her eyes were a dark, rich chocolate. Saja lived next door, but she spent most of her time in this house not just because of her friend, but because she had a crush on Milo Dunstable, too, Avarie's stepbrother.

Collins brother, Thayer, had dropped by earlier and had chucked a small stone at Avarie's bedroom window. When she looked out, he'd nodded and then ran off as if he hadn't even been there. It was handy to have allies in this town; they helped you accomplish things without being suspicious. Tomorrow, things were going to be exciting, everyone was going to be ready. Avarie stood up straighter, flicking her hair over her shoulder. All four of her friends were far different from each other. But they had a lesson to learn, they had a purpose and they all meant a lot to Avarie. "Girls, who is up for a little game, huh?"

***

Five girls, perfect girls, like to play games. They had no threat to back down, and couldn't get any higher on the social ladder. They had the power. They had no danger of being made to back down.

The only fair thing Avarie could tell her friends at this moment in time, the only advice she could give them, would be that they wouldn't expect anything. Avarie was leaving nothing to chance – or so she thought.