Sandcastles

Chapter Four

Pictured: Evan Peters as John Tyler

Troy and I turned in our ten paged scene today after finishing it last night. Yeah, it took me until Thursday night before I could work up the guts to go back over there. Luckily, Alexander had a swim meet so he wasn't there. Madeline also came over with me so she could talk to Marc some more. Apparently he doesn't have to take any of his exams so he is staying until Thanksgiving, which is still weeks away.

Troy also talked me into auditioning for his play. So, on Tuesday I will be singing one of the songs accompanied by a monologue from the play. I'm actually really excited. But Troy also told me that Alexander is auditioning for the leading male role, which makes my stomach turn. If he does that, I probably won't audition for the lead role. Troy also gets a huge part in who gets cast, since he is the director.

So all weekend I will probably be practicing for my audition. Well, I thought I would anyways. But right when I'm in the middle of doing my homework due on Monday, Madeline bursts into the kitchen and gets Ben and I's attention.

"There's a party at the Ludwig's tonight. You want to go?" She asks the two of us.

"Hell yeah." Ben says with a grin. Madeline looks at me and I shake my head with a disgusted expression. She groans and sits on the stool beside me.

"Please?" she begs. I shake my head again. Nothing could ever compel me to willingly go ever there.

"Why should I go?" I ask her while bouncing my pencil on the paper. She sighs and thinks for a minute.

"You're my sister and I want you to." She tells me with a small smile. I scoff at her and write down the answer to a math problem. "Come on, Isabelle, it'll be fun."

"Well I'm going." Ben says while standing up from the stool. "And I'm going to get ready."

He leaves the room and walks down the hall. I look at Madeline who has pleading eyes. She just wants me to go so I can help her get a date with Marc. But I refuse to be near Alexander.

"Plus, I know a special Ludwig boy really wants you to go." She says with a wink. I laugh. Troy is really sweet and all, but he's only a friend to me. He keeps trying to flirt with me all the time but I don't think of him like that.

"That makes it worse." I tell her. She smiles and gets up.

"Well, I would get ready if you decide to go." She says before disappearing into our room.

I debate whether I should or not. It would be kind of fun. And I've never been to a party before. After a few minutes of thinking, I decide that I should go. I walk back into our room and pick out clothes to wear. Madeline smirks when she sees me.

I'm about to go take a shower when Madeline stops me, saying that Ben is already in there taking a shower. Just then, I hear the water cut on. I also hear the cabinet creak open followed by a screech from Ben. I stifle a laugh and wait for him to get done. After about fifteen minutes, he's out and I go in to take a shower. I blow dry my hair when I'm out and straighten it. I put on the jeans and Blink 182 tee shirt I had before walking back into our room. I put on the makeup that Madeline recommends before walking into Ben's room. I ask him if he has a flannel that would match my shirt, and he hands me a blue one. I leave it unbuttoned before going into our living room and sitting on the couch.

Ben follows behind me and he is nearly unrecognizable. He has removed his glasses and wears the contacts that he never wears. His usual beanie is not on and his black hair is spiked up. Instead of the normal sweater, he has on a loose tank top. Yeah, definitely not my normal brother.

When Madeline walks out, I notice that her eye makeup is almost as heavy as the first day of school. She takes her keys and we walk out to her car. On the way there, I do not see the familiar curly haired guy overlooking the water. Maybe he's going to the party. Madeline pulls her car onto the street that the Ludwig house is on, but it is filled with cars. She finds an open parking space way far away from his house. The three of us get out and walk up to the mansion-like house. The sound of music blaring is noticeable from outside.