Harlow – "too glam to give a damn." - unknown
I finish filing my new acrylic nails, as my butler barges into my room.
"Oh! Excuse me miss, I didn't mea-" he starts off feebly, he bows and stays there as he talks to me.
"MISS?! I am not miss, thank you! Now leave." I snap. I hate shouting at people, but it's the way I've been taught. Still, he doesn't get to call me miss when I've said many times, I'm non-binary.
My maid brushes my unruly short blond hair into a neat bob, then applies my makeup and puts on my heels. Suddenly, I remember the letter I have to do. Ugh.
I get my maid to hand me my pen, which my father bought for me last week. It's fully gold, even the ink. I start scribbling some random stuff;
To the people I will share a room with,
My name is Harlow Quinn, I'm eighteen and 5ft 9. I go by they/them, so don't call me she.
Your sincerely,
Harlow Quinn
I hand the letter to my maid, who copies it four times and sends it off.
As I walk down my staircase, I'm led out to my driver. He takes me to the mall. I can only buy a few bags and some rings before it's time to go. I sigh as I remember the hideous deed I'm forced to do. Four hours, of school?! It's an outrage! Sure, other universes get more, but this is Joyaland! We should never be forced to do any such thing!
After my hideously dressed tutor finally leaves, I'm left on my own. I walk around the house, through the tennis courts and past the swimming pool. Bored, I go back inside and try on the new rings. After that, I tell my driver to take me back to the mall. I buy twelve, gorgeous dresses I just had to buy each only costing $1000 dollars each, a real bargain! I go back home and start giving the maids a fashion show, they all adore it, of course.
Later that evening, as I'm getting a pedicure, my mind wanders to next week. How on god's name, do they expect me to live in Rosaland?! Let alone share with five other people! I bet it'll be filthy, not to mention those freaks outcasted to that universe will be there. I'll be staying with criminals! I honestly don't understand why my father is making me go, he says "it'll broaden your view" broaden my view?! It's not as if I'm living under a rock, I know exactly what they're like, poor, dirty, criminals. It's an outrage!
Feeling more than a bit annoyed, I cut the pedicure short and go down into the gallery. Once I finally get rid of the body guards my father insists on me having, only by fluttering my perfectly green eyes, am I allowed to relax.
I kick off my 8inch heels and lie on one of the benches. I sigh heavily as I stare at the white ceiling. I feel a little like I may have overreacted, maybe they won't be as bad as my father and everyone else here keeps saying? Maybe they are human? Maybe they're just like us?
No, they're not. I can't let myself think like this or someone will find out and everything will go wrong! I press my palms into my closed eyes and breathe. Sometimes I wonder what it'd be like, living freely, without anyone constantly watching over me. Maybe the week away will be good, it'll give me a break from having to be so… so… perfect.
Once my father and older brother, Taylor, gets back. From the fancy bank they both work in, I sit perfectly straight at the table.
"Have they been good?" my father asks the bodyguard, the guard nods shortly.
"Good, now we can eat." He says. We eat in silence the sound of knives and forks scraping irritates me, but I ignore it. I unconsciously rest my elbow on the table,
"Harlow! Arm!" my father roars, I immediately snatch it off the table and apologise. At that moment I decide it's not going to be so bad next week.
After we eat, my father announces we're having a party again tonight. I resist the urge to fall asleep as my maid re does my makeup and I change into one of my new dresses, I paste on a perfect smile and walk down the steps.