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[sub]Prequel Party Post, Day Before
Timestamp: Friday, July 23rd 2021[/sub][/center]
[color=lightgray][indent][indent]Caroline Sinclair pushed back a strand of her luscious, blonde hair as she held her phone, pointing the camera at her face, on Instagram Live. She sang [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OCGpwIkkuXQ]Flowers[/url] by Miley Cyrus and emitted the most positive energy to the camera. The camera being an audience of at least a few hundred people, if not a thousand. Most if not all those who currently attend Edenridge High. The other percentage being the rest of the world, who simply liked the aesthetics she posted, her dancing videos and the motivational energy she gave off. She did a little dance. Obviously in a good mood. 

In the background, off in the distance, was her big brother, Niles, cleaning the pool since they hadn’t used it the past month. She knew her siblings could use a moral boost, both sadly getting dumped recently. Was she upset about it? Not really. She knew those two in particular had a lot of self love to work on. As the fairy sister, Carrie decided it was her job to show them they could be happy and content without a lover. It was her sole duty to make sure to keep their minds busy and remind them they don’t need no man. Or woman. Or non-binary person. We don’t discriminate in this house. 

For once, in a long time, all the Sinclairs were single. Sure, Niles was single before Cece, but not really, seeing how he hooked up with people in college while wooing the girl that still wasn’t over her ex. He really knew how to choose them. This was a new era for the Sinclair children. They didn’t need anyone to be happy and they would showcase that empowerment so their classmates would gravitate to their party not for love but for fun.

Coming out of the house having prepared spiked lemonade, Autumn came shimmying toward her sister. She placed one on the patio table, handed a glass to her twin and kept one for herself. If there was anyone who was feeling the single vibes, it certainly was her. Today Niles would take them out shopping. One, to buy a new phone for Autumn. Two, for party favors, hand food, and lights galore. And three, for therapy because who doesn’t want nice things when they’re sad? 

Turning her phone camera around, Carrie pointed it toward Autie who was feeling herself, taking a sip of lemonade, and swaying to the music, [color=#9DC18A]“♫ I can buy myself flowers. Write my name in the sand ♫.”[/color] The twins were vibing, getting more and more excited by the minute since their party was just around the corner. 

[color=E85546]“♫ Talk to myself for hourssss. Say things you don’t understand ♫,”[/color] Carrie sang along with her sister, happy to be alive, in the safety of her home and with the comfort of her siblings, no less. 

After a brief dance break, Autumn grabbed the phone from Carrie. They both proceeded to prance to their brother, who was shirtless. They knew their friends would drool at the sight. Another way to advertise. Using your brother’s hotness to your advantage. [color=#9DC18A]“♫ I can take myself dancing… ♫”[/color]

[color=E85546]“♫ I can hold my own handdddd! ♫”[/color] Carrie chimed in, before going from singing to greeting her brother. [color=E85546]“Say hi Niles!”[/color] Carrie giggled. Her hand appeared in front of the camera as she waved at her brother. In return, he glared at them as he scooped up the last remaining debris. 

[color=#9DC18A]“♫ Yeah, I can love me better than you can ♫,”[/color] Autumn could be heard in the background as she took a seat on the edge of the pool, lemonade in hand. Sticking her feet in the cold, refreshing water, she took another sip of her drink, observing her brother as he tried to act like the boss man when really, he was doing whatever she and Carrie wanted to make their party amazing. He was a good brother.   

Flipping his hair out of his face, knowing he needed to get a trim, Niles looked at them in annoyance, though deep down, there was so much love (he’d never admit it), [color=19C8AC]“Do you want the house to be ready or not?”[/color] 

[color=#9DC18A]“Of course we do, that’s why you’re helping,”[/color] Autumn chuckled, playfully kicking water at him.  

Niles scoffed, [color=19C8AC]“You call this helping?”[/color] 

[color=E85546]“Come on, big brother, so grumpy all the time. Lighten up and get your groove on,”[/color] Carrie and the camera started shaking, clearly showing she was dancing behind it. It caught a smile from Niles; briefly but it was there for their audience to see. 

[color=#9DC18A]“Oh, btdubs. Some pink lemonade for you on the table,”[/color] Autumn offered to Niles. Closing her eyes, determined to not let anything or anyone ruin her day, she continued to hum the song, thinking to herself this is going to be their year.  

The show didn’t last because then the instagram video stopped. After a compilation of pictures of Carrie sharing herself, her twin, and their friends, it went to another live stream, a couple hours later. This time the girls were sunbathing, showcasing their bathing suits. Their video focused on their brother mowing the lawn, headsets on, listening to his own music and bobbing his head to likely classic rock jams. [color=E85546]“We’re all single, ready to mingle!”[/color] Carrie announced, zooming in and out of Niles’ fluffy hair. [color=E85546]“And you know the best place to mingle is?” [/color]

Slipping the phone from Carrie into her own grasp, putting it in selfie mode, Autie grinned, [color=#9DC18A]“At our party, tomorrow, Saturday. 3 PM straight into the evening. You know where our house is. Be there or miss out, your choice. All I’m saying is, this party is going to be the sh—”[/color]

[color=E85546]“LIT! It’s going to be LIT!”[/color] Carrie excitedly exclaimed, speaking over Autie’s cursing, as she leaned in front of the camera, gleaming with the brightest smile. [color=E85546]“Oh, oh, oh,”[/color] Carrie chirped, giving Autumn no space, practically glued to her twin’s head, [color=E85546]“There’s going to be grilled goodies, desserts galore, the pizza ‘special’ and so much more!”[/color]

[color=#9DC18A]“We don’t only have a pool too,”[/color] Autumn winked at the camera, trying her best to not stress over the fact that both her and Niles got royally dumped right before the big bash. It sucked because she wanted to be with Derrick at this party but she knew he was a cheating piece of shit and some things were better off left in the past. Like him, he was better off left six feet under. 

[color=E85546]“We really hope to see you there! It’s going to be so much fun, and it doesn’t matter what side of town you live on. All are welcomed. So come on over. We’re kind of a big deal with a couple of southies,”[/color] Carrie revealed, as she made her party inclusive. She wanted this to be the bash of the CENTURY and that meant inviting all types of people. Southies were cool and she hoped some would attend like Zion. He said he would but would he? Did he just say it for her to get out of his hair? 

With one of his headsets out of his ear, he turned to look at his sisters, giving them a suspicious gaze, narrowing his eyes, [color=19C8AC]“What?”[/color] If he heard correctly, Caroline just said she and Autumn were kind of a big deal with some southies. Since when? 

[color=E85546]“GOT TO GOOOOO!”[/color] Carrie gave a sly toothy grin and beside her Autumn rolled her eyes behind her sunglasses and leaned back in her seat. Adjusting her slim body, showcasing a wonderful angle of her bikini, boobs and stomach to the phone camera, she inhaled and exhaled. Today was a beautiful day. Hopefully tomorrow will match the sunshine and good vibes too. Only one could hope. 

Caroline’s instagram went silent. Approaching dinner, the live stream started up again but this time on Autumn’s new phone and her instagram (Carrie’s socials were tagged though). Holding the phone, the older twin focused in on her bubbly blonde sister, in a snack aisle at Target. With her innate skills of dancing, Carrie blasted [url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I0LQWawZza4]Cheerleader[/url], Felix Jaehn Remix from her phone which was in her butt pocket. As Autumn took steps backwards and Carrie moved forward, showing off her own choreography to one of the newer Clover routines, Niles came into the picture, not intentionally. He was looking at a grocery list and putting a few chip bags into their shared cart. Playfully, the infectious happy-go-lucky blonde beauty twirled to her brother, grabbing his free hand. 

Niles heavily sighed and spun her around, glancing at the camera and grumbling, [color=19C8AC]“You two have a problem.” [/color]

[color=#9DC18A]“Do we? We’re just having fun and party prepping,”[/color] Autumn snickered, sticking her tongue out at him, knowing if anyone needed things to be lighthearted, it was him. Putting herself in view, keeping a glimpse of the other two in the background, Autie offered to her classmates, [color=#9DC18A]“If there’s something you want to see at the party, or want at the party, please message us ASAP! We will do our best to have all kinds of options so everyone is generally happy.” [/color]

Knowing Carrie would not leave him alone until he started playing along with her and dancing to the music, Niles could be seen holding Carrie’s hand and doing basic ballroom dance moves. He felt stupid but it was making his sisters smile, which mattered more than how much of an idiot he felt. When his phone vibrated he was quick to release Carrie, his opportunity to end the dance and shop on. Looking at his phone to a text he had been waiting for, all week, Niles couldn’t hide the sudden happiness that flooded inside of him. He got the confirmation he wanted. His mood shifted drastically while the camera view still had him in the background. 

She said yes. 

Kianna was going to give him a chance. 

Fist bumping in victory, he glanced up at his sisters, both watching him like hawks, sharply. He realized the camera was still on him. [color=19C8AC]“Okay that’s enough. Turn that thing off.” [/color] While it couldn’t be seen, Autumn had a shit eating grin and Carrie’s expression had gone blank. 

Looks like their brother might not be single for long. Hopefully this time around, he was doing this because he wanted the person and not the idea of the person. Still, Carrie sighed. Them being single together for a time, longer than a week, was short lived. She should’ve known better. Niles and Autumn were serial lovers. Even when they are single, while briefly, they need to lean on someone for quiet comfort. Niles had Rye, Autumn had her. Something about them being alone terrified the two and Carrie couldn’t understand why she wasn’t like that. Why did they need someone? Why couldn’t they just love themselves? Why did everyone put so much emphasis on this feeling of ‘love’? Was it love when it was fleeting? 

Gesturing for her sister to turn off the live stream, Carrie peered over her shoulder to see the views. A deep sadness sat in the core of her chest as she thought about how lucky her siblings were to have people interested in them constantly. Even if they had no limits, no boundaries, and no expectations, they enjoyed their youth. She envied them because they knew what it felt like to be with someone, in all ways that matters to a person, even if the consequences were a broken heart. 

Was she starved for affection? Intimacy? Was she jealous that her siblings always had someone? Even if it wasn’t the best someone, they always had someone. It wasn’t fair. No one would want her in that way. She gave up on her crush on Danny Belmonte a while ago, catching the vibe that he wasn’t interested in females as much anymore. That’s his own business, of course, but she could tell simply by how he held himself that his heart belonged to someone else. Carrie never even kissed a boy or girl. She was about to be a senior and she was falling behind all because she cared about everyone else’s happiness but her own. 

[color=19C8AC]“Caroline, you coming?”[/color] Niles called out, waiting to turn from the aisle. Autumn was quiet, standing right next to her seemingly always happy twin. Believe it or not, she could feel the envy and pain. She could feel the loneliness that Carrie never spoke out. She could feel everything that her twin bottled up and wished there was a way to help her, but afraid to reveal things that were better left forgotten. Carrie seemed to have forgotten their childhood, before Noella came around and adopted them. Autumn wanted to keep it that way. Instead of calling Carrie out, Autie laced her fingers with hers, patiently waiting for her sister to regain herself.  

Shaking the sads out of her mind, Caroline rushed to her brother with her sister in hand, [color=E85546]“Yes!”[/color]

Niles nodded and turned the aisle, ready to be home already so he could think about [i]her[/i]. Smiling to himself, he whispered, [color=19C8AC]“She said yes…”[/color]

Saturday would be an eventful day for the Sinclair children. 

That goes without saying. 

Niles Sinclair was excited.

For the coffee date, not the party. 
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