Smoke and Mirrors Book One

Ten years earlier.

GABRIELLA.

I've always known Elle hated me but knowing just how far she'd go just to hurt me really scares the hell out of me. After what happened a few weeks ago, I've constantly lived in fear, wondering what kind of stunt she'd try to pull next just to hurt me. I've tried avoiding any conflicts with her but strangely, she seems to find our fights somewhat amusing and she even goes as far as instigating them just to have a reason to insult and bully me.

Flashback(two weeks ago).

"I should really get you a puppy so you don't always feel so alone at home." Martin says, I frown.

"I already told you I can't have a puppy, mom would kill me if I got one. She hates having pets around and Elle also happens to hate them and you already they practically rule the entire house." J remind him and I could hear him sigh deeply on the other end of the phone.

"You come from a family of very shitty people, except your dad though. Isn't he home?" He asks.

"He had something to do so he went out. I also can't keep bothering dad every time I'm bored at home, he has loads of work to take care and it would be unfair of me to interrupt him just because I'm bored." I reply and he sighs again.

"You need to try to make friends Ella, you can't keep avoiding people." He repeats the same thing he always says whenever I call him to complain about being bored and alone.

"Correction Martin, I don't avoid people, they avoid me. Nobody wants to be friends with the girl whose twin sister is widely known for her nasty personality and her wickedness." I remind him yet again and I can already imagine him rolling his eyes right this moment.

"Then try to stand up for yourself and let people know it's not fair of them to avoid you just because they fear that stupid sister of yours." He replies, I sigh. He definitely made it sound like it was the easiest thing in the world when in actuality, it isn't.

Gabrielle hates me and she wants everyone to feel the exact same way so anyone that actually dares to make friends with me, gets on her bad side and no one wants that.

"Can we just..." I'm about to reply but I'm interrupted when my bedroom door suddenly flies open.

"We need to talk." Elle's voice boomed in her usual annoyingly rude tone and a sigh of frustration unknowingly escapes my lips.

"I'll call you back." I quickly tell Martin before hanging up.

"What do you want Elle?" I ask tiredly.

"You don't have to make it obvious that you don't want me in here and trust me, I too don't want to be here but I was preparing to go for a friend's birthday party and mom had asked me to invite you." She says, I frown.

"Why would mom ever ask you to invite me to one of your parties?" I retort in obvious disbelief, earning an eye roll from her.

"She claims you need to go out more and since I obviously have a more vibrant social life compared to yours, she wants me to unfortunately, take you with me." She responds but I was buying it.

"I don't believe you Elle and the Elle I know would have adamantly refused so do me a favour and leave me out of whatever it is you're up to." I warn her tiredly, hoping she'd just leave but she doesn't.

"Listen you fool, I don't plan on begging you to come with me cause I don't even want you coming but mom actually threaten to ground me and I can't get grounded just because of you. If you don't believe me, go ask mom but you have an hour to get ready, okay?" She threatens furiously before walking out of my room.

***

I had actually confirmed from mom that Gabrielle wasn't lying and when I tried telling mom I wasn't interested in going to any party, she completely went off about how I should stop depriving myself of having a social life by staying home all day.

I told Martin about it and he surprisingly agreed with my mom but did not forget to add that I be careful since my twin isn't exactly the most trustworthy person in the world.

So I'm currently standing right in front of Kerrie Jones's humongous mansion, were she's throwing her sixteenth birthday and judging from the loud music, flashy lights and the horrible stench, this party is definitely not going to end well for me. I could already tell that more than half of the people in there won't fit my criteria of possible friends and frankly, I'm not too excited about being here.

"Listen carefully to me Ella, when we go in there, you're on your fucking own and whatever happens to you is solely your responsibility, not mine, understood?" Elle warns and I reluctantly nod positive before watching her head in whilst tailing right behind her from a distance.

Unsurprisingly, she's immediately swamped by her friends, who didn't even notice when I pass right beside them.

The extremely loud music hits me hard and I could already imagine myself throwing up anytime soon. I watched as girls about my age shamelessly sway their bodies to the music seductively, whilst some were too focused on flirting with the boys.

I find a quiet place to sit, which happens to be the kitchen and since I normally don't trust any of the drinks offered in parties like this, I refrain from taking in anything.

I pull out my phone and randomly start to text my dear bestie Martin, who immediately replies me.

M: You good?

G: Yh, just bored!