"josh?"
"Josh? It's Christine, you bird brain."
"Huh?"
"Christine? Your favorite cousin? Blonde, just like you? Rings a bell?"
"Christine! Oh my gosh, thank God it's you."
"Why do you sound like you're actually happy to hear from me? Except... Wait a minute, Eloise, are you on drugs?"
"Ewww, of course not, stupid. I just thought you were someone else."
"Josh?"
"Mmm-hmmm."
"And who the hell is that? Don't tell me you've already started dating without me?"
"Of course not, stupid. I'll tell you all about it when I get there." (I muttered, still feeling relieved that it wasn't Josh after all.)
"When you get here? Girl, if I don't see you here in the next two hours, I'll freaking tell Andrea that you were the one responsible for putting Cascara sagrada in his favourite chocolate milkshake during his graduation party last summer and almost made him p-op in his pants right before he was able to cut his cake. Oh and let's not forget the bad hair day incident".
Oh my gosh is this girl for real right now. I mean, all those things happened since like a lifetime ago, so I see no reason why she still uses it to blackmail me at every given point in time.
And the most annoying part of it is that she was actually my accomplice in everything...… Okay, well, maybe not everything. The shaving of his front hair was kinda my idea of a payback for him trimming my adorable Debby's fur.
If you're wondering who Debbie is, she's my precious Merle Chihuahua puppy, whom Andrea disfigured and made look like a completely homeless dog. I had to give her away to a friend 'cause I couldn't stand the heartbreaking condition her fur was in.
Now, back to the Cascara Sagrada incident. The graduation party felt boring, so I decided to shake things up a little bit, and Christine was totally in. I didn't force her into it, so she's totally as guilty as I am.
"You wouldn't dare," I stated bluntly.
"Oh, watch me." Like, seriously, is this girl for real right now? And why does she sound so serious all of a sudden?
"Fine, at least give me three hours. I have to have breakfast and then have my bath." I had to give in 'cause I don't have the strength to argue this early morning. She's gonna win anyways.
"Fine, be fast about it, okay? I wanna see our new hostel rooms." She sounded so excited; I could only wonder if it wasn't the same university we were both going to be in. I mean, we have to stay in creepy hostels and eat their awful food. There's nothing exciting about that.
"Go away, Christine, go find some other unfortunate cousin of yours to bug and let me be."
"Love you too, darling. I'll be expecting you in three hours tops, okay? Bye." And with that, she hung up. Shoot.
Having my bath took a while, as I had to stay an extra thirty minutes in the bathtub. Their scented oils and soaps here are amazing; I had to stay in a little longer. I'm definitely gonna get this exact product when next I go shopping.
I had their signature treat, Ciabatta con Marmellata e Caffè, before packing my luggage and heading out.
My ride to Uncle Leonardo's house was quite smooth, as I was looking forward to seeing him. He was my favorite uncle, in all of the people my parents introduced to me as my 'uncles,' and literally the most sane and useful one of them all. He's the only relative I could actually survive with, and also Christine's father, unfortunately.
We got to the front gate, and I alighted from the taxi after paying. The gate was opened immediately for me by the weird security officers. I don't know why Uncle Leonardo keeps such scary-looking men all in the name of gatekeepers. I bet all his guests feel intimidated. At least I do.
And strangely enough, each time I come here, it's always a totally different face, and the strange part is that they don't even ask me questions; they just open up the gate for me and bow their heads as I walk past them. Sadly non of them seemed useful. I mean come on I'm a lady for crying out loud do you really need to be told to get my freaking luggage.
As I stepped through the grand entrance gates, a refreshing cool breeze caressed my skin, carrying the sweet scent of blooming flowers and the faint hint of luxury.
The mansion loomed with wealth, its imposing facade a masterful blend of modern elegance and classic sophistication. The driveway, lined with perfectly manicured lawns, had two sleek, black Ferraris, a gleaming silver Porsche, and three other pink cars. I need no soothsayer to tell me those are Christine's.
I walked past them, pushing open the massive, crystal-encrusted doors, revealing a breathtaking foyer.
Inside, the mansion was a marvel of designer excess, with lavish chandeliers suspended from soaring ceilings, and walls adorned with priceless artwork. Marble floors gleamed like polished ice, reflecting the vibrant hues of exotic rugs and the subtle sheen of rich wood paneling.
A sweeping staircase curved upward, its delicate balustrades supporting a cascade of lush greenery, while a glittering crystal chandelier hung suspended, casting rainbow-hued shards of light across the roof.
The house looked totally deserted, but luckily I know my way around. Climbing the stairs, I took the first turn to my right, walking through the familiar corridors with my luggage in hand.
Just as I was about to take the last turn, a set of strong arms grabbed and pulled me into a room, locking the door behind us, as he pushed me to the wall, pinning me in a very intense and uncomfortably close position.
"Jordan? What the....?"
"Hello princess"