Ava tapped her foot impatiently at the bottom of the stairs. She had a test at 9:00am, and now it was already 8:32am. Her dad promised to drop her off at school last night, but she had not laid eyes on him since she woke up.
"Dad!" she yelled. "Come on, we're gonna be late for school!"
She darted toward the kitchen, snatched a slice of toast off the plate, and slung her bag over her shoulder in one fluid motion.
Their apartment was decent, framed pictures of Ava and her parents displayed on the wall. The first picture of her was when she was barely five years old; Her baby pictures were not displayed which said a lot about Ava.
"Honey, you should eat breakfast properly!" her mum called from the stove, but Ava was already halfway to the door.
"Sorry, Mum! I don't have time. And I will be late if you don't tell your husband to get downstairs right now!" Ava shouted back as she shoved her feet into her sneakers.
The impatience written on her face increased with every passing minute.
Her mum sighed dramatically, one hand on her hip. With her apron on and her hair in a messy bun, she looked equal parts tired and amused.
"Babe! She's going to be late. What are you doing up there?" she yelled toward the stairs.
A few seconds later, her dad appeared, completely disheveled. His shirt was only half tucked in, his hair looked like a bird's nest, and his shoelaces flopped undone as he hurried down the steps.
Grinning sheepishly, he rushed to plant a kiss on his wife's lips.
"I'm sorry, love. Dad kinda overslept today." He tucked in his shirt and ruffled his hair, trying to make it look presentable.
"I know, I know." She laughed softly. "Just get her to school before the bell rings."
"Sorry, princess. Let's go," her dad said quickly, giving her a peck on the forehead.
Ava scrunched her face in disgust and backed away.
"Ew, Dad. I'm not a kid anymore. I'm eighteen."
She darted outside while her dad followed behind, chuckling.
"Alright, alright, young lady. But you'll always be my little girl. And I can kiss you whenever I want," he said as he slid into the driver's seat.
Ava groaned loudly as she climbed into the passenger seat.
"Dad! Don't say stuff like that. If someone else heard you, what do you think they'd say?" she said, putting on her seatbelt.
"Who cares?" her dad replied, pulling the car out of the driveway.
"Let me remind you, Mr. Brooks—you have a beautiful wife at home," she said.
"Of course, but having you as a side chick wouldn't be bad," he said, winking at her.
"Eww, Dad! You're not my type," she said, looking as if she was going to puke.
Her dad gave her a playful glare.
"You're not my type either, young lady. Now put on your seatbelt before I change my mind and let you walk to school."
"Yeah, whatever," Ava replied, rolling her eyes.
The car slid out of the open garage onto the road, and they continued bickering until her dad eventually gave up.
*****
Meanwhile, in another city far from the Brooks…
A soft knock echoed on the polished oak door.
Aria didn't turn from her window just yet. She tightened the ribbon on her uniform and brushed a strand of her long hair behind her ear.
"Tell her I'll be down in a moment," she replied, her tone composed but distant.
The butler bowed his head slightly.
"Very well, miss." She heard his receding footsteps, making her sigh tiredly.
She checked the mirror one last time, grabbed her school bag, and headed downstairs.
The Harrison home looked like a small, modern castle. The staircase curved gently, the floors were polished marble, and tall windows let in soft morning light. Everything was neat, quiet, and perfectly arranged—nothing out of place, nothing rushed. Staff moved calmly through the hall, and the air carried the faint scent of fresh flowers placed there every morning.
Aria walked down the steps with practiced grace, already used to the elegant stillness around her.
She entered the dining room where her father sat at the head of the long table and her mother at the opposite end. Her father held an iPad, and her mother was quietly reading a book.
"You're here. Take a seat, dear," her mother said.
"Yes, Mother."
Aria handed her school bag to the butler and sat in the middle of the long table, between her parents.
Her father set his iPad aside and nodded to the butler to begin serving breakfast.
"How was your night, darling?" he asked.
"It was splendid, Father," she replied, picking up her cutlery just as the butler placed a plate of eggs, baked beans, grilled tomatoes, and buttered toast in front of her. It was a simple British breakfast.
Her mother closed her book gently. A sweet smile crept onto her pale face as she looked at Aria with gentle eyes.
"Dear, we'll be taking a quick trip later, after you return from school."
"Where are we going?" Aria asked as she ate her food. She sighed inwardly, already used to her parents announcing trips without warning.
"We were invited to a gala in City B. Make sure you pack light, dear. Your dress will be delivered to the hotel suite," her mother replied.
"Yes, Mother." She set her fork down carefully.
Her father cleared his throat. He did this every time he wanted to make an announcement.
"Also, Matthias from the Ashton household has requested to be your fiancé. You will meet him at the gala tonight."
Aria froze. Her fingers curled slightly against the table.
"Did he request it personally, Father, or did you and his father decide that on your own?" she asked, staring straight at him.
"That doesn't matter, Aria," he said, dropping his fork and wiping his mouth with a serviette.
"Father!" Her voice cracked—hurt and frustrated.
"Go to school." His tone was final. He stood up, took his iPad, and walked out of the dining room.
Her mother rose and slipped an arm around her shoulders.
"Dear, don't be too upset. Your father just wants what's best for you."
Aria gently pulled away.
"You mean what's best for the company."
She took her bag from the butler and walked out, leaving her mother sighing deeply behind her.
Outside, she got into the car. Her driver closed the door for her, then climbed into the front seat and began the drive to school.
Aria rested her forehead against the window, watching the trees blur past.
"I wish I could run away right now," she muttered under her breath.
Back in City B…
"Ava!" Zack, her best friend, called out. She turned and smiled when she saw him jogging toward her.
"Oh, hey, Zack. I thought you wouldn't make it to school today," she said, walking over to him.
He smiled, running a hand through his hair. Zack was taller than most boys in their grade, with brown hair and deep dimples that showed whenever he laughed. Everyone considered him handsome. They had been friends since middle school, and although many classmates assumed they were dating because of how close they were, Ava had made it clear plenty of times that they weren't.
"My dad got called back to work, so we couldn't go on the trip," Zack said as they both placed their books into their lockers.
"Hey, Claire!" someone called from behind them.
"Oh, hey, Jane," Claire replied before the two girls linked arms and walked off together.
"I heard there's going to be a gala tonight," Jane whispered excitedly as they disappeared down the hallway, their voices growing faint.
"That reminds me… hey, my dad was invited to the gala. To enter, you basically need a plus-one. So my dad's going with my mum. My dad also said I could tag along. Soooo…" Zack said, winking at Ava.
"What?" she asked, looking clueless.
"Wanna be my plus-one?" he asked, extending a hand with a playful bow.
Ava burst into laughter and shoved his hand away instantly.
"Bro, you know I don't wear dresses," she said, looping her arm around his shoulder.
"Hey, come on, I'm serious. Don't you want to see something new? And, if you can come…" He stopped halfway, getting all serious. He took her hand off his shoulders and grabbed it softly.
"I'll let you in on a secret, hm?" he said, letting go of her hand.
"Let's go shopping after school," he said finally, nudging her playfully.
Ava rolled her eyes.
"Alright, rich kid," she said, sighing dramatically.
"Let's get to class before Mrs. Brown gives us detention."
They both went to their classes, and the day ran by quickly. Teachers came and went, lessons blurred together, and seconds flowed into minutes, minutes into hours…
Somewhere in City B…
"I'm ready, Mother," Aria said as she came out of the dressing room in the five-star hotel.
Aria was wearing a silver dress. Tiny diamonds traced the edges, catching the light with every subtle movement. The gown flowed freely to the ground, sleeveless, revealing her slim arms and porcelain skin. Her hair was tied into a sleek low bun, a few loose strands softening her delicate features. She took a slow turn in front of the mirror, watching the fabric shimmer and ripple with each movement. A faint smile curved her lips as she straightened her posture graceful, composed, and ready for the evening ahead.
"Love the dress, Mother," she said, taking a slow spin again as she lifted the edges of the gown with her hands.
"It looks perfect, dear," her mother replied. She was already dressed in a sleek blue evening gown and stiletto heels.
"The car is waiting downstairs. We wouldn't want to be late, would we?" she said, gently taking Aria's hand. They both smiled as they prepared to leave the suite, the soft glow of the evening lights reflecting off the diamonds on Aria's dress.
They were already on their way to the event when her mother spoke up again.
"I forgot to mention, dear—the gala is a formal affair, and all guests must have a companion," she said, shifting uneasily in her seat.
"I am accompanying your father, so Matthias will be your companion, as arranged by him," she added finally.
Aria looked up at her mother in shock, quickly masking it with an indifferent expression.
"Alright," she said, turning away to stare out the window. She knew better than to throw a tantrum. She could hear her mother sigh tiredly and tap her lap restlessly. Aria already knew she had no choice. She remained silent until they finally reached the gala.
Aria's heels clicked softly against the marble as she stepped into the gala. Her silver dress shimmered like falling stars, capturing every eye in the room.
Across the hall, Ava stood awkwardly beside Zack, holding a glass of sparkling juice and wishing she were anywhere else. The dress she wore didn't feel like her. This world didn't feel like hers.
Two girls.
One room.
Worlds apart.
Unaware that tonight,
their stories were about to twist into one.
To be continued…