[center][img]https://i.imgur.com/Lw23HtB.png[/img]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/4Nn304N.png[/img]
[sub][color=ffb5fd]Location: Sterling Residence[/color] [color=a5a5a5]| | |[/color] [color=31ba9f]Collab with [@Universorum] & [@smarty0114][/color][/sub]
[sub][color=a5a5a5][url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YqeW9_5kURI][color=a5a5a5]Ambience[/color][/url][/color][/sub]
[img]https://i.imgur.com/PsDRTkk.png[/img][/center]
[indent]Soft music played through the sound system built into the walls of Selena Sterling’s lavish bedroom. The lavender-hued [url=https://i.imgur.com/8A7Wz7e.png]space[/url] was decorated in rich modern style, perfectly tailored to the teen girl’s feminine tastes. Most days, the shining California sun beamed through sheer purple [url=https://i.imgur.com/3uH0DM6.png]curtains[/url], highlighting the white and silver accents throughout the room in a way that breathed in an aura of purity and peace. This was the princess’s sanctuary, her place of rest. This was where Selena retired every night after the tiresome days that she spent training to be one of the next monarchs of Beverly Hills High.

Dressed in a silky pink [url=https://i.imgur.com/lbPk4hW.png]robe[/url], and seated on a cushioned chair in front of her vanity, Selena swirled a fluffy brush into a pan of shimmery white powder. This was her latest experimentation. The young entrepreneur had crafted her own blend of highlighter using a mixture of starch, titanium dioxide, silk powder, and an extra few dashes of silver mica — for the signature [i]Sterling Sparkle[/i]. Having already blended out her smokey eyes and defined her contour, Selena brushed on a generous amount of shimmering highlight across the tops of her cheekbones, the bridge of her nose, and her cupid’s bow.

The blonde turned her face from side to side slowly, and then tilted her chin up, admiring her artistry from every angle in the flattering glow of the ring light set behind her mirror. Selena decided that her cheeks could use a little more highlight — there was never enough shimmer with a nickname like “Sparkles”. Having completed her face and eyes, Selena leaned in to put on the actual finishing touch — a velvety coating of [i]Christian Dior’s Rouge Dior Couture in shade # 844 trafalgar.[/i] Just as she was about to press the cherry red stick to her parted lips, she jumped at the sudden sound of an alarm clock. The screeching noise even cut through the music that she was listening to.

[color=ffb5fd][i]What the hell?![/i][/color] Selena thought before speaking aloud to the AI programmed in her section of the palatial house. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Lucius, pause.”[/b][/color] The AI, which was, in fact, named after the [i]Harry Potter[/i] character, responded to her command by silencing the music. Selena inherited a love of the magical films from her mother, but she hardly told anyone about that. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Lucius, what is the time?”[/b][/color]

[i]"It is precisely 6:40 PM, Miss Sterling."[/i] The AI responded in a regal british accent.

Good. She wasn’t losing her mind. Now, the real question was, why was an alarm clock going off at this time of day — or should she say, this time of [i]evening?[/i] Selena set down the tube of lipstick, stood up from her chair, and tightened the tie on the front of her robe before marching out of the room. The silky pink fabric swept across her upper thighs as she took long, rapid strides down the hall towards her twin brother’s room. [i]Knock, knock, knock.[/i] Selena swiftly and loudly knocked thrice on the door.

[color=ffb5fd][b]“Sean!”[/b][/color] She called through the wooden barrier.

The plain room behind the closed door housed Sean, Selena’s twin brother. He was laying face down in the pillow, and though the alarm had been beeping for nearly a minute now, he hadn't moved. He was awake, and his eyes were open, but the will to stand up was yet to come to him. When he heard Selena call his name, though, he knew there would be no stopping it — she’d probably kick the door down if he didn’t respond.

He reached a hand down to his phone, connected to the wireless network of the house, and dismissed the alarm. Then, he placed a hand by his head and pushed up, freeing himself from the pillow. Sean gazed down at the payload of his nap: a huge drool spot on his pillow, then wiped his lips with the back of his hand. He stood up and walked over to the door, opening it and staring at Selena with a huge yawn as he rubbed one of his eyes with his palm. [color=a5a5a5][b]“What? I’m up. I’m ready. You said we’re leaving at like 7, didn’t you?”[/b][/color] Sean wasn’t ready for anything, let alone a party. He was dressed in a pair of black sweatpants, and a white long sleeve t-shirt, with his hair disheveled and dried drool on his lips. Wait, a party? He couldn’t believe he was being dragged to a party… but, whatever. Selena tended to get what she wanted.

The blonde, whose tresses were currently still tied in a messy bun atop her head, deadpanned at her twin. He was SLEEPING?! They had to be ready in just over a half hour. The [i]limo[/i] would be arriving to pick them both up, where they would sit alongside the royalty of Beverly Hills High, and Sean Sterling was wearing SWEATPANTS. Selena’s next words were spoken with sharp precision, her blue eyes blown wide in judgement.

[color=ffb5fd][b]“What... are… you… doing?”[/b][/color]

[color=a5a5a5][b]“Obviously, I was resting before the party. Since we’re gonna be staying up so late, I wanted to pre-nap. I slept in my party clothes. I’m ready, Sparkles. Look, I got on pants I don’t really like, so if they get ruined it’s not a loss, and a white t-shirt… so… people can… uhm, sign it with sharpies.”[/b][/color] Flawless. Normally he was smarter than this, but all the sleeping must have begun catching up with him. Sean shifted his weight slightly, waiting for his sister’s response.

[color=ffb5fd][b]“Ahem…”[/b][/color] Selena cleared her throat and pondered what she would say next very, very carefully. The thing is, she really loved her brother. Loved him to pieces. And he has been gone for the majority of the past six years. Now he was back home, rather unexpectedly, and under very mysterious (she assumed [i]untold[/i]) circumstances. Selena couldn’t be more pleased to have him back, and to reintroduce him to all of his old friends and classmates, most of whom wouldn’t even recognize him now that he was grown. But… Seany wasn’t the same boy that left the Sterling residence back in 5th grade. Hell, Sean wasn’t the same boy that was home for the holidays. Something awful happened a few days ago, and Selena wanted to help make it better — that’s why she thought bringing him to this party in the first place would cheer him up!

[color=ffb5fd][b]“Seany. You should at least take a shower. I’ll pick out something nice for you and you can just wear that. Easy peasy!”[/b][/color] When he didn’t look immediately convinced by her words, her face softened with a hint of sadness. She tried again. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Please? This is the first time I get to show off my brother to the school in years! You don’t want their first-err-second impression of you to be [i]sweatpants[/i], do you?”[/b][/color]

Truth was, Sean couldn’t care less if their first, second, or third impressions were of him in sweatpants. However, he would relent, for Selena’s sake. He ran a hand through his hair and rubbed his eye with his palm again. [color=a5a5a5][b]“Okay, I can take a shower. We might be late though.”[/b][/color] Sean was addicted to standing in the shower. Years showering in lukewarm — at best — water really made you appreciate when you had hot water with strong water pressure. Ugh.

Sean bent down and kissed his sister on the cheek, before heading down the hallway two more doors and disappearing into the shower. This wouldn’t be too bad, maybe they’d even leave early. If he was lucky, anyway!

Whilst her brother was away, hopefully washing off some of the residual depression that seemed to be clinging to his soul, Selena set about doing what she said that she would. Poking around in his closet, which had very few pieces, she picked out an outfit that she deemed party appropriate and laid it on his bed. [i]It’s not like there were that many options to choose from.[/i] After doing that, she rushed back over to her room to continue her own personal coiffing.

Selena pulled out her hair tie and quickly pressed a few loose curls into her locks using a hair straightener. She pulled her tresses back up into a more carefully styled, purposefully messy bun. With a few flicks of her wrist, Selena pulled pieces out of the bun to frame her face — finishing off the perfect beach party hairstyle, in her opinion. She finally got around to putting on that red lipstick she intended to wear as well. The preppy IT girl-in-training was now half-dressed in a black leather [url=https://i.imgur.com/tsd6FAZ.jpg]mini skirt[/url] — she’d gotten the memo from Ophie and the candygirls to wear black — and a strapless [url=https://i.imgur.com/4Y4TEyR.png]bikini[/url] top, when she heard an unexpected voice from outside her bedroom door.

[color=31ba9f][b]“Knock knock, the second token gay has arrived,"[/b][/color] The voice said through the door, before it was pushed open to reveal Jamie standing in the entryway.

Jamie walked in and took a seat on the edge of Selena’s large bed, taking in her outfit and smiling. [color=31ba9f][b]“Okay I know I said I wasn’t gonna come buuuuuut, I decided I needed to get out. Plus, I’m still pissed that those meatheads thought they could snub us like that,”[/b][/color] Jamie said. [color=31ba9f][b]“Also, I would’ve done the all black thing except, this shirt is way hotter, and when the gay’s are this few and far between, I’ve gotta put a little extra work to get the closeted ones out and about. Sidenote, you look great!”[/b][/color] 

Jamie let relief flood his head for a moment. When navigating the social minefield of high school, every conversation that went smoothly was a big win, and he’d consider that as smooth as ever. He’d never been socially awkward, but still, he knew how this school worked. You say the wrong thing and someone holds it against you for the next six months. 

[color=ffb5fd][b]“Black is sexy. Plus, I know for sure that one very [i]uncloseted[/i] gay is following the impromptu dress code.”[/b][/color] Selena smiled teasingly at the sandy-haired boy. She spun around and grabbed her shirt off of the display mannequin that she often put together her outfits on — it was matched perfectly to her measurements. The girl carefully pulled the black blouse over her head, avoiding messing her hair up, and turned her head over her shoulder to speak to Jamie. [color=ffb5fd][b]“And thank you, you look fantastic as well. Could you do me a solid and zip?”[/b][/color]

Jamie smirked and rolled his eyes playfully at Selena’s mention of Marshall, his face flushing red. He and Marshall were two of the handful of gays at BHHS, and so it made sense that they gravitated towards each other. They flirted a lot, but that was that. Jamie was much too busy for a relationship. Well, at least that’s what he told people.

He zipped up her blouse and spun around towards the door. [color=31ba9f][b]“Alright, please tell me you have some food in this palace, I need to eat something to make sure I don’t end up white girl wasted in front of all the Elite”[/b][/color] Jamie said, heading out the door and into the hall, taking a second to admire the architecture inside the house. [color=31ba9f][i] God, I love living around rich people[/i][/color] Jamie thought, grinning. 

As Jamie stood there in the hallway, one of the many doors clicked and the knob spun slowly, before it swung open, and out stepped Selena’s brother, who stood with only a towel around his waist, water still dripping down from his hair. [color=a5a5a5][b]“Oh, hi. I’m Sean, Selena’s… twin.”[/b][/color] The boy stepped closer to Jamie, offering a wave with his left hand, while his right (dominant) hand held his towel. [color=a5a5a5][b]“I’m kind of new here, I guess.”[/b][/color]

Jamie would love to say he kept his cool. But that would be a lie. Here he was, standing and waiting for his friend in the hall, when a nearly naked, beautiful, beautiful boy comes out, dripping water like a literal wet dream. [color=31ba9f][i]Oh God, you are cruel.[/i][/color]

Jamie stood there, mouth struggling to formulate all the things his brain was shooting out, as he very clearly looked over this boy, shook to the very core. Why had Selena never mentioned that she had a hot twin brother? Why was he meeting him half naked? Why was he not saying anything? All these thoughts raced through Jamie’s head, and still, he acted like he’d suddenly gone mute.

Either not noticing or not caring that Jamie had gone mute, Sean stuck out his dominant hand for a handshake. In doing so, he let go of the towel wrapped around his waist — and it fell to the ground without a care. Sean, seemingly unfazed by this, waited for his handshake to be accepted.

This wasn’t happening. Nope. Nope. Nope. This boy, Selena’s brother, was naked, in front of him, like, completely nude. [color=31ba9f][i]When the fuck did my life become a porno![/i][/color] Jamie thought.

Suddenly, a wave of confidence overcame the scrawny boy. [color=31ba9f][i]Jamie Callaghan, stop stammering like a virgin and shake this guy's fucking hand![/i][/color] Jamie thought, before he earnestly shot his hand out and grabbed Sean’s, giving it a firm, probably too firm, shake and nodding as if he hadn’t totally seen the Sterling Family Jewels on full display. [color=31ba9f][b]“I’m Jamie, uh, Jamie Callaghan. I’m a, er, friend of, uh, Selena’s”[/b][/color] Jamie managed to eek out, his mind definitely not focused on this boys face.

As if on cue, Selena stepped out of her room after Jamie. She had a small clutch with the essentials in it tucked under her arm, and she was looking down to adjust her shoes. When she looked up from her feet, let’s just say she didn’t expect to see what her eyes were about to witness. [color=ffb5fd][b]“O-oh. Oh my god! What are you doing, Sean?”[/b][/color]

Her phone vibrated within the clutch. With an exasperated huff, she checked the screen. Ophelia had texted her, saying they were only a few seconds away. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Please put some clothes on, our ride is almost here. Jamie, you’re coming with, right?”[/b][/color] She asked, her fingers poised above the screen to respond and say that she had yet another plus one to add to the limo ride.

Jamie silently thanked God for his intervention and nodded at Selena’s question. [color=31ba9f][b]“Yeah, yep, for suuuuuure,”[/b][/color] Jamie said, gulping. He made a mental note to ask Selena about her brother’s preferences at some point tonight because he’d be damned if he was going to miss out on [i]that[/i].

Sean looked at his sister and squinted for a second, before realizing. He reached down and picked the towel up, [color=a5a5a5][b]“Oh, sorry. It doesn’t… I’m not used to that being a big deal,”[/b][/color] He mumbled, before hurrying off into his room to put on the [url=https://i.imgur.com/U4hQtCz.png]outfit[/url] chosen for him by his sister.

[color=ffb5fd][b]“So sorry about that.”[/b][/color] Selena quickly apologized on behalf of her brother once he was out of earshot. [color=ffb5fd][b]“He’s been a little… different lately. He’s not usually like that, I don’t think.”[/b][/color] She explained and then realized that she didn’t even really know if that was the truth. Maybe he was like this? Truth be told, she didn’t know what she knew about her twin brother anymore

[color=31ba9f][b]“No, it’s fine. Um, quick question, do you know, y’know, if your brother likes, er, boys? Just, y’know, asking for a friend.”[/b][/color] Jamie asked, blushing profusely.

Selena raised her brow, the pretty little blonde arch taunting the boy. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Oh, for a friend, huh? He went to an all boys school in Switzerland where they apparently don’t make a big deal of being completely stark naked. So… yes, to answer your question. But not just boys, as far as I know.”[/b][/color] Selena’s phone buzzed once more, cutting her off. It was Skittles again.

[quote]Skittles: [color=eda946][b]im not usually so short with u but if u dont hurry up hailey might stab me somehow with fudge. time is of the essence baby girl[/b][/color][/quote]
[color=ffb5fd][b]“Looks like it was time to leave about two minutes ago. C’mon dearie.”[/b][/color] Sel hooked her arm into Jamie’s elbow to walk outside together and called for her brother as they walked. [color=ffb5fd][b]“Let’s go, Seany. Meet us out front A.S.A.P.”[/b][/color][/indent]