Bad Taste (Part I) // Colby Brock

117 - Rebecca

Time flew by faster than Colby ran. One moment, I was sitting on my couch in my living room, then I was at the studio going through all the details I might be asked about at the showcase, then I was texting Colby as I climbed into my car, then I was pulling up on the packed parking lot next to a silver car.

I was here. I was about to walk into the showcase. Granted, it hadn't started yet. The showcase started at five and I'd arrived for half-four after a strenuous hour-long drive. But still, those who arrived early like me had a small area to drink non-alcoholic drinks, eat some snacks, introduce kids to fashion legends, and prepare for the showcase.

It was here that I had the worst memories. Dear old Mom and Dad had always been distracted during the showcase itself, but before, they had nothing to do besides introducing their two "gorgeous baby girls" to all of their rich, powerful, influential friends like we were museum artefacts. It was also here that Angela first tried to convince me to give in to her disgusting addition with that leech and all of his friends. I hadn't allowed myself to remember much from that day, but I knew she'd said something about those disgusting friends being linked to birds? It was a weird day that I tried not to think about. Ever.

It was also here that I would see my sister for the first time since she slashed my arm to test whether my vampire boyfriend would kill me or not. I supposed I should have known she would do something insane, because she was insane in a lot of ways, but I never expected that.

Nor had I expected her to act like nothing had happened the moment I walked through the doors. I saw her instantly because she was dressed in a bright white pantsuit with her dyed platinum blonde hair tied up in a big, fancy bun I couldn't dream of doing for myself. She saw me and she smiled widely across the room before dragging someone along behind her.

My heart thumped in my chest as I searched for an escape but there was none. I had to talk to Angela. It could have been worse: it could have been my mother.

Angela stopped just in front of me. Like day and night, we completely opposed one another. Right down to the looks on our faces. "Hey, Becky. How are you?" She asked politely, clinging onto a random guy's arm. I didn't pay attention to him at all despite the bad vibes oozing out of his every feature.

"Better than I was the last time you saw me," I replied sharply, glaring at her. She flushed a light shade of pink and the man next to her instantly snapped his head in her direction. My eyes flicked, for one second, to his eyes.

A silver ring was expanding.

Of fucking course Angela would have a vampire date with her. Of course.

"Right, I forgot to apologise about that, didn't I? Well, I am sorry. I had to do something and I couldn't think of anything else at the moment." That was a complete and utter lie. I didn't need my weird ability to tell that. "Can you forgive me?" Angela continued, oblivious to my obvious glare.

"No, not really," I said as I took a step back from her. Why didn't I tell Jax to arrive early? Stupid Rebecca.

Angela brushed me off like dirt. "There's time for that, anyways. Oh, I'd like you to meet James." She pointed toward the man she was hanging off of like a bimbo. I cast one glance in his direction, being careful since I knew he was a vampire. He wore a fancy white suit to match Angela's with a small, red handkerchief in the pocket. He looked like he had been turned when he was in his late twenties, so the two of them together didn't seem outlandish. But something was off looking at them.

Before I could figure out what, a beautiful young woman called out Angela's name and she spun to answer. Without even a word to me, she and the guy, James, walked off together. I looked around for anyone I knew but I hadn't been to a showcase for years, so there was no way I was going to recognise any of these people.

For a moment, that bothered me.

I got to making friends instead. The people around me were all incredibly stuck up, I could tell, and not one of them were particularly friendly toward me until I introduced myself as Rebecca Woods. Then all of a sudden I was the centre of attention in their little punctured-ass group.

It was suffocating to constantly be asked questions about my sister and mom and have to avoid answering directly because I had no clue about the answers to any of them; I hadn't talked business for ages. Mom was easier to talk about since I didn't despise her like I did my sister.

When I mentioned that I was here for me to represent my studio, the questions of inspiration started to get flung into my face. The showcase hadn't even started yet, but the two groups of people I'd talked to already knew my style and the fine details of the line.

It took about twenty minutes to circle to a third group, who I didn't stay with for very long. They were worse than anyone else had been, a whole forest shoved between their cheeks.

By the time I was circulating toward another group, Jax was due to arrive so I changed course to step outside and wait for him instead.

If he'd arrived on time, I wouldn't have been left alone in the dark in an unfamiliar place.