May 29, 1962

Looking into a rearview mirror I put some red lipstick on and spread the color with my pinky on the whole surface of my lips. Then I fixed a loose strand of hair that managed to escape my do and carefully, not to ruin my half an hour job, placed a hat on.

My reflection showed no flaws in my image and smirking I finished my look by putting my shades on and stepped out of my car.

The day was hot and sunny and to keep myself fresh I picked a shadowed side of the sidewalk. Odette was already waving me from the corner of the street and giving her a smile I added volume to my pace.

"Yoo-hoo," she exclaimed, and I knew she had some news that she wanted desperately to share. Odette was my best friend since second grade and all her habits I knew like my own.

My guess was right because when I reached her small frame, she was bouncing in agitation and her curled blond locks bouncing with her. Her grin turned wide bearing her pearly white teeth, and I felt her hands gripping my shoulders. Her blue eyes sparkled with mischief and she squealed squeezing my shoulders tighter.

"Stacy Ann, Stacy Ann, Stacy Ann!" She exclaimed. "You will never believe what I've heard!"

"What is it, Oddie?" I couldn't help returning her enthusiasm and smiling at her.

"I've met Nancy Whitehope for breakfast this morning. You know that she's friends with Collette Newton." I nodded in reply and Odette continued. "Well, Collette went to Lorain's hair salon yesterday, and she said that she'd heard Bonnie Sullivan mentioning that her brother Dwight was back in town. You know Dwight, right!" Her eyes grew wide searching recognition of his name in me.

I remembered Dwight alright. He was a son of General Dwight Sullivan and one of the most handsome guys in our county. After High School, he went straight to Military Academy, and we haven't seen him ever since.

Some said that he married some girl and stayed with her in Virginia, but I knew better. Dwight wouldn't do anything of that kind without his father's approval. After all, his father and my stepdad Thomas were friends. If not for the fact that I was dating Neil Carson, an heir of his father's factories, they would marry Dwight and me the same day as Dwight's graduation from the Academy. Actually, I expected a proposal from Neil any time now. Maybe even tonight during the celebration in our country club house.

Odette curved her arm around mine and pulled me into the tailor shop. "Well, at least those ridiculous rumors about him being married to some waitress will stop circulating," I said with a snort. Odette nodded in approval and let me in into the shop first.

Mr. Giovanni was already waiting for us, and when the bell announced our arrival, he exited the elbowroom and plastered a huge smile on his face rubbing his hands together.

He was a short, stout man with the mustache and balding head, but his skills in dressmaking were his main attraction. He had women lined up to his shop. The line was as long as a couple of months of wait. For us, he made an exception. My mother, Sheila Jenkins, was his favorite client. She was the one who discovered him and recommended to other customers and being a member of all possible committee, she had a lot of women referred.

"Miss Stacy! Miss Odette! I've just finished with your order!" He said lifting his finger into the air meaning to wait.

Odette grinned nodding and turned to me suppressing a squeal. Her eyes were sparkling with excitement. She loved the fact that we had a special treatment and got in before Priscilla Mallory did.

Frankly speaking so did I.

I hated Priscilla Mallory. She always behaved in front of guys as some kind of sexpot. In the reality, she was a skag and jealous shrew that puts upfront her daddy's money. The three of us used to be friends until she stole my boyfriend in tenth grade. Then she accused me of being an easy kind of girl. Odette took my side, and after Priscilla had kissed Roy Howard, Odette's ultimate love, she started hating Priscilla too.

Mr. Giovanni brought out two gowns and asked us to follow him into a fitting room. Smiling cunningly, I grabbed Odette's arm and dragged her with me.

On the first fitting, I tortured out of Mr. Giovanni what would be the color of Priscilla's dress. Just to piss her off, I decided to go with a bolder one.

It's been quite some time since High School, but my loathing hasn't subsided even a notch. Instead of pathetic lilac, the color that Priscilla picked I went with bright red. I knew for a fact that half of the girls will be wearing lilac tonight. It was sort of trendy nowadays, but I cared not for fashion when my dignity was at stake.

I slipped into my red dress, and my smirk grew even wider when I checked my reflection in the big mirror. I looked damn fine, and no one else will have the same design. My own mother will be wearing lilac.

Half an hour later Odette and I left the shop. Once we stepped outside, I saw Wilma across the street and hissed into Odette's ear to hurry up.

Wilma was sweet but annoying. So we turned around the corner and swiftly started walking along the street to my car.

"Oddie! CeCe! Yoo-hoo!" I heard a high pitch voice calling us.

I let out an irritated huff and rolled my eyes. So much for trying to sneak past her unnoticed.

Before turning around, I placed on my face a grin and only then rotated to face Wilma.

"Hay, Wilma!" I replied watching Wilma waving frantically. Before I knew it, she started running towards us.

"Oh, bummer!" Odette grumped under her breath, and I had to snicker.

The last time Odette talked to Wilma, the last ended up staying with Odette the whole weekend at her house. Even Odette's mother, Yvonne, developed migraines from having Wilma around.

"Are those dresses for tonight?" Wilma stopped in front of us eyeing our garment bags with curiosity. "I've already picked up mine. What color will you be wearing tonight? Hopefully not lilac," she started rumbling. "Where are you heading, by the way?"

"Where are we going by the way next," Odette turned her face to me practically begging me to save the situation.

"To a sports club to play some tennis," I replied still keeping my smile up. "What color are you going to wear, tonight," I asked wondering if she will be more original than a majority.

"Green. I figured the whole town would be wearing lilac. My mother drove me crazy with those lilac tones. She overheard that Mrs. Jenkins will be in one, and had to drive three towns away to find the right color for her dress. Oh!" Wilma gasped fixing her reading glasses on her nose with her index finger and curved her arm around mine pulling me closer. Her dark hair veiled half of her face creating an atmosphere of conspiracy.

"Did you know that Dwight Sullivan is back in town?" Her voice turned into a hushed whisper that even Odette got curious and leaned her head to hear better. As a response to Wilma's question I nodded and glanced at Odette. Wilma might be annoying as hell, but she never shared unproven facts.

"Well, I spoke with Bonnie Sullivan, and she sounded very shady about the rumors of her brother being married. She denied, but it didn't look too convincing. She said that he would be at the celebration in the club. I hope those rumors aren't true. His father will sure cut him off from his will if that low-class girl exists. Hope it's just a plot of someone's dirty mouth."

As much as I hated to admit it, but Wilma was right. If Dwight had gotten himself in trouble with some low-class girl, General Sullivan would cut him off his will.

"Also, Cece!" Wilma ducked her head and drew me even closer. "I'm not sure... Collette and I passed Dusty's two days ago. I think I saw Priscilla talking to Neil at the back table. It was dark. I couldn't see much, but they looked quite cozy. Collette said that she saw him driving her home. I think you should be on alert. Priscilla is well known for stealing boyfriends. I heard from someone that she has already done it with guys."

"What does it mean he drove her home?" Odette piped up.

I rolled my eyes. It's Priscilla we were talking about.

"Oddie, sometimes I think that you're thicker than a five dollar malt," I huffed.

Irritation started creeping on me. I knew that this sweat hog would do something like that sooner or later.

"It means that she's trying to get to my boyfriend. I just hope that Neil is smarter than that."

My mood suddenly dropped down. Mentally, I started planning the ways to confront that skunk of a girl Priscilla. She doesn't know what was coming for her. She'd better get ready for my wrath.

A roar of the engine snapped me out of my darkening thoughts. I heard someone calling our names. I glanced behind my shoulder and yelled in bigger irritation. Clifford and his gang of zits had stopped in the middle of the road, and they stuck their heads out of the windows.

"Hay Oddie! You look so bad in this dress. I'd top you right now, but as you can see, I'm busy driving," Clifford yelled. "Yeah, I would too," some else added from the backseat.

"Flake off, Clifford!" Odette cried back.

"Don't be such a biter, Oddie! You know you want me!"

I couldn't take it anymore. "Listen, jelly roll! Keep tooling around. No one wants to hear you," I snapped.

"Ah, Stacy, baby! Wasn't that Neil I saw with Priscilla two days ago at Dusty's!" he smirked. "They looked really into it."

"See, I told you!" Wilma piped in.

"See you girls in the club! Oddie, baby! You are mine tonight!" He winked holding a huge grin and then drove away. I heard whistles and howling fading as his car vanished turning at the crossroad.

Jerk.

"I guess, see you tonight, girls. I want to find Collette to tell her that it was Neil we saw at Dusty's." Wilma said and hurried to away.

Fantastic, now the whole town would be buzzing about it like there's no tomorrow.

We got to the car and went to the sports club to play some tennis. After that, I dropped Odette at her house and drove home. Our mansion had a stunning lawn with round fountain right in front of the entrance.

I parked upfront at the circle and taking the dress jumped out of the car. Before I even had a chance to reach the handle, Sheila beat me to it and opened the door appearing in the threshold.

Her blue eyes firmly set on me, but her smile was wide. When she stepped away to let me in, I noticed a martini glass halfway filled with clear liquid. I sighed bitterly and stepped into the front parlor closing the door behind me.

"It's barely a lunchtime, mother!" I scolded her.

"Oh, don't be such a sour patch! We are celebrating today! Half an hour earlier won't change anything," she giggled and made a sip. Then she turned around and headed into the living room clicking her heels by the freshly polished tiles. "Your father just called. He said he'd be home soon!"

"Don't call him that!" I snapped. "He isn't my real father!"

"Stacy Ann," she warned pausing but remained with her back to me. Her voice lost flirty notes and gained that clipped edge that scared ever-single housewife in our town. That voice was not high. Sheila never raised her voice even on the octave. And that was even scarier. Her threats were in actions not in words.

"Fine!" I huffed and bit my tongue not to continue the argument.

Thomas was my stepfather. Sheila married him when I was only seven, but I never managed truly see him as a father figure. In his eyes, I was just a nuance that belonged to his lovely beautiful wife, and he spoiled her rotten. Anything Sheila wants, Sheila gets.

Sheila started moving again. Her dress hugged her slim figure and looked like a second skin. There were no flaws in her body, only endless elegance, and perfection. Then she suddenly stopped and rotated facing me again. Her expression was already happy.

"How did your dress come out?"

"Great," I returned and hugged the garment bag closer to me.

"Marvelous! I'll make sure to thank Giovanni later. By the way, I've heard some rumors about Neil and Priscilla Mallory. I think Samantha Mallory won't be getting an invitation to my annual ball," she purred.

A smile identical to my mother's stretched on my face. That's what I meant by actions. Not to receive an invitation to her annual ball was a harsh punishment. And she could do so much more.

***

We drove to the clubhouse in separate cars. I went to pick up Odette since she wanted to arrive a bit later to make an unforgettable impression. I only wanted to confront Neil and once and for all set the record straight with Priscilla. As long as she would keep her paws away from my boyfriend, her life won't turn into a living nightmare.

I'd love to see her face when all shops in town would stop carrying her personal accounts.

I turned the radio up catching a new hit from The Beach Boys and with that we headed to the party.

The heat of the day started cooling down. I removed the car top, and the smell of honeysuckle instantly started bathing my skin in its aroma.

Being under the fading sun was pleasant. I almost reconsidered going. Some kind of melancholy fell upon me. For some reasons, I didn't feel furious about Neil, only that Priscilla got involved made my blood boil. When I glanced at all beautiful Odette, I pushed my hurt away. I decided to do what we've been planning the entire day - to cause some gossips.

When we arrived, our entrance was exactly how I'd imagined. Some jaws dropped down in a sight of us, and immediately whispers erupted. I even picked up some jealous comments. My hair was up and makeup spotless. My dress was enveloping my body the way that exposed enough flesh for guys to get curious, but not enough to make a pass at me with inappropriate offers.

My mother stretched her lips in a pleased manner. I knew that all murmur would die down after that. Sheila Jenkins gave her approval. The party could go on...

After sometime Odette and I got separated. She went to find her family, and I went to find Neil. On the way to the terrace, I met his parents who greeted me warmly. I was a "girl for their boy". His father was blissful that he could tie some nods with Congressman Thomas Jenkins. His mother adored Sheila and that adoration she showed me in full.

Then I stumbled upon Colette and Wilma. They said that they saw Neil somewhere in the hall only twenty minutes ago. So I brushed them off swiftly and continued my search.

I almost reached the deck when General Sullivan waved me in greeting. Next to him stood his wife, Arlene, and their daughter Bonnie. I smiled to them and made my way to make a small conversation.

"Just look at this, beauty! Isn't she pretty, Dwight," Arlene cooed.

"That she is! Your parents must be so proud for bringing up such a beautiful daughter," General complemented. "Dwight, look who do we have here!" He called Dwight who was with his back to us talking to Lloyd Cartwright. Dwight turned around, and I grinned answering his smile.

"Oh, my! CeCe!" He eyed me up and down. "I'll catch up with you later," he told Lloyd, who seemed to forget about their conversation and stood staring at me.

Lloyd was that ex-boyfriend of mine, who cheated on me with Priscilla in tenth grade. I might as well add that I haven't spoken with him since then.

Dwight made his way to me and took me into his arms in a soft hug. "I've missed you, CeCe! When did you manage to turn into such a beauty!" he exclaimed.

I laughed hugging him back noticing a smug face of his father as well. I knew that he wanted us married, but Dwight and I were just friends. We never had any kind of special feeling towards each other.

"You look so handsome! My God, Dwight, it seems that you are a whole foot taller now!" I returned.

He let go of me and for a couple of minutes, we just kept a casual conversation. Then, General Sullivan offered us to take some fresh air. I took it as him forcing us to spend more time with each other. I honestly didn't mind. Dwight was pleasant in every single way, and his company was always favorable.

We reached the deck and then went to have a little stroll around the garden.

Twilight was getting thicker, and some stars started showing in the sky making the ambiance around romantic. In a couple of minutes, we found ourselves in a comfortable silence and just kept walking and gazing around. However even with everything sat up for a kiss, I didn't feel the pull towards Dwight. It was like taking a walk with your brother, even if a very handsome one.

When we got to the lake, I noticed a couple standing by the water having a heated argument. At first, I wanted to avoid them taking the course in the opposite direction, but when the voice of the guy turned loud and irritated, I recognized the voice. It belonged to Neil.

A fury overpowered me. How dare he go behind my back publicly snogging around with Priscilla!

"What do you want me to do, Pris!" He yelled.

"You promised to break up with her a week ago!" Priscilla screeched. How I hated her ugly voice.

"I will. Soon. I can't just break up with her after two years!" he retorted with exasperation.

"You've said you would like three days ago!" she cried again.

Interesting.

Three days ago I didn't notice anything unusual in his behavior. He seemed happy. He even had said that we would be going to see his grandparents in Connecticut in three weeks. The scum!

Pissed off, even more, I grabbed Dwight's arm and pounded towards Neil and Priscilla. When he noticed me, his eyes rounded, but Priscilla seemed to be delighted. Her stupid grimace turned into a mask of poorly hidden satisfaction.

"Are you planning on breaking up with me, Neil?" I asked in a cold voice.

"I...um...I'm," he mumbled incoherently.

"Are you?" I asked again.

"Listen, Stacy! We love each other," Priscilla blurted out. "He was with you only because of your daddy the congressman!"

"Pris," Neil hissed. "What the hell!"

"You said you would break up with her. You stated that you've been with her only because of her parents'! Go ahead! Break up with her," she pointed at me naming me "her".

"Don't bother, Neil. But it's okay! You see, Dwight and I, haven't seen each other in so many years and now realized that we want to be together. I was actually looking for you to tell you that," I pulled Dwight, and it seems that only then Neil and Priscilla noticed him standing with me.

Priscilla's mouth was twisted into an unattractive scroll. If she wanted Neil, she could have him. Even though Neil was handsome and wealthy, Dwight was twice as good-looking and twice as rich. His family had money inherited from their grandparents from both sides. They've been living for four generations in wealth. So in comparison, there was no comparison. Dwight was a gentleman by blood that I couldn't say any more about Neil.

"Stacy," Neil's eyes turned angry. "We aren't breaking up!" He exclaimed.

"Neil!" Priscilla whined, but then her eyes flickered to Dwight, and she cut herself off.

"What's the matter, Pris?" I