Authors note: if I write in italics, it's Lilliana speaking in her own mind. Also this does take place in 2000 but I use 2024 vehicles, clothes, music, etc. So we are going to pretend that this takes place in real time.

Season 1 - Episode 2

Lilliana POV

Life is like the ocean.

Sometimes it drowns you, other times it saves you.

    I stand in the mirror, checking out my outfit and picking myself apart. Your legs are much too skinny and long. And your hair is so dull and flat. Let's not even get started with your muddy green eyes and bad attitude. That's why she left. Because of you. I'm broken from my thoughts just as tears well in my eyes, by my father yelling my name "Lili, come on! You're going to be late for school!"

I sigh, glancing at the mirror one more time and quickly picking up my bag. I'm in the standard Chilton uniform, a black or blue jacket with the Chilton emblem embroidered into the coat pocket. Though sometimes you could wear a sweater instead. The rest of the uniform is up to the student to pick, so long as girls wear skirts and boys wear slacks; it doesn't truly matter.

Today I have on a black blazer with a silver Chilton emblem on my left pocket. I have on a cream sweater over a white button up and a short black tie at the top. A solid white skirt covers my black stockings, hitting just above the knee and I have tall black boots to finish it off. My hair is in soft waves down my back and I have on a small amount of makeup. My book bag is a black leather Prada bag that my mom got me for my birthday, along with my YSL clutch.

Her Uniform

Her bag

I throw on a few Tiffany & Co. rings then slide on my sun necklace and book locket. The sun necklace is from my father, as he used to sing 'You Are My Sunshine' to me as a baby. It is 24k gold with an opal center and hangs right above my breasts. The locket is also 24k gold and shaped as a book. It has a picture of dad, mom, and I on one side. The other side has Pandora and I, my girlfriend of 3 years.

Her necklaces

My heels click against the wooden stairs as I make my way to the kitchen. Mom has two coffees ready and a couple of bananas, while dad is no where to be seen. Mom, or Cassie, has her long blonde hair pulled back into a braid and is wearing her dark blue scrubs. "Hi baby, dad already left. Seems like we are all late this morning I guess" she mumbles, grabbing a banana and a coffee, then shoving it into my hands.

"Okay move it, I have an early surgery and you have to get to school love" she states as she pushes me through the kitchen with a kiss to my cheek. I snatch my keys from the handle and head towards the garage with mom behind me. "We are going out for dinner tonight with your grandparents, Francine and Straub, so don't stay too late at practice please" she begs before kissing my cheek. "Oh and Pandora is more than welcome to join, per your grandmothers request" she states then hops into her black Porsche Cayenne turbo GT and takes off.

Mom's SUV

I open the passenger door to my 2014 black Audi R8 V10 coupe and slide in my bag. I start my car, enjoying the hum the engine makes and quickly make my way to school. I am so late. I speed my way to school, sipping on my coffee and eating my banana. I park in my designated spot, that's decorated from all my friends on senior day, and walk to the front office. If I can talk to the headmaster, he'll wave me being late but if I deal to deal with Mrs. Richardson, I'm definitely getting a tardy slip. I open the heavy oak door and smile politely to Mrs. Richardson. "Hello Mrs. Richardson. Is Headmaster Charleston in? I need to speak to him please" I ask, hoping she won't ask for a teachers slip.

Her car
My dream car

She silently looks down to her schedule and buzzes the headmaster "Mr. Charleston, I have Lilliana Hayden-Vanderbilt here for a meeting." The line is dead before the doors to his office swing open and my grandmother, Emily Gilmore, practically runs out with the headmaster. "Oh Lili, you look beautiful today! Just a spitting image of your father and me if I do say so myself" she adds with a chuckle. She pulls me into a warm hug and I savor her touch. "Hi grandma! How are you? Oh you look so lovely and Headmaster Charleston, did you do something new to your hair? It looks dashing!" I compliment the two, knowing I'd easily get a slip from the headmaster so long as I keep him distracted.

He smiles and replies "why I have Lilliana, thank you for noticing!" I send him a large smile before he asks "now what did you need this morning? Perhaps another tardy slip so you won't be late to class, hmm?" My cheeks stain a crimson red and grandma stifles a giggle. "You know me too well Headmaster. I was at the hospital for a bit too long last night and didn't make it home till about 1 am." His eyebrows shoot up and grandma's face turns sour. "Lilliana Emilie Christina Hayden-Vanderbilt" she pauses for a second to dramatically catch her breath "Jesus that's a long name, anyways, Lilliana you must get your rest! If you want to succeed in life, you have to take care of yourself too."

I nod my head agreeing but don't take it to heart. If I can't work off a few hours of sleep, there's no way I'll make it as a surgeon. They just don't understand that but mom does. I smile politely as headmaster Charleston writes up a late slip for me. "Oh Lilliana before you go, we have a faculty meeting next Friday that you are required to attend, along with the rest of the Senior Leadership. This will go over the major Senior schedule and any type of pranks or spirit weeks you all want to do." I nod my head and grab the slip form him "yes sir. I'll write it in my calendar. Now I need to get to class before Mr. Medina calls out a search party." They both chuckle and I pull grandma into a hug before I leave "I love you and I will see you Friday for dinner."

I push through the doors of the office and head to the direction of my second period class, English with Mr. Medina. Along the way I bump into Tristan Dugray, who also has a tardy slip in his hands. "Hi stranger, how have you been?" I ask him, as he pulls me into a side hug. "I've been good, ready to cause some chaos now that I'm back. Any ideas for the Senior prank?" He asks. I shake my head no "Dora and I have been thinking of ideas but nothing good so far. Next Friday is the meeting with headmaster Charleston and the faculty for the prank though. So I need to get an idea at least" I shove a hand through my hair, causing the curls to bob as my fingers rake through them. He laughs at my obvious stress and I send him a glare "look not all of us has an evil demented little mind like yours Dugray!"

Tristan lets out a loud chuckle as we approach our classroom. "We could meet this weekend with the gang and come up with some ideas, how does that sound?" He asks. But as I go to reply, two new students approach us. One has long brown hair and green eyes, similar to my own. She is a little shorter than me and has a beautiful olive skin tone. Tristan eyes her up and I gently slap his arm, mouthing 'no' to him. The other student is slightly behind Tristan, covering her face and muttering to herself.

I throw my hand out to the one that's not hiding and smile. "Hi! I am Lilliana Hayden-Vanderbilt and I am class president. Welcome to Chilton and if you need anything please don't hesitate to ask! And this guy is Tristan Dugray. Try to avoid him, he's a trouble maker" I joke as Tristan lightly shoves me. She giggles then takes my hand and shakes it "my name is Alexandra Danes but everyone calls me Lexa." Tristan's eyes never leave hers and I have to hold back a sigh. Another one bites the dust. I wonder how long that'll last.

The other girl finally steps from behind Tristan and my breath catches in my throat. My twin, Rory Gilmore, stands in front of me, glaring. My mouth dries up so I reach out my hand to shake hers but she barrels through me and into the room, mumbling "not interested." My jaw drops and I look from Tristan to Lexa. "Did that bitch really say not interested?" I ask, mainly to Tristan but Lexa replies "yeah she's always been a bitch. Do you knew her?" I shake my head "no. But she's my twin sister." Lexa sends me a shocked look but nods her head then goes into the classroom, with Tristan and I following. Our usual group sits together Paris towards the front by Louis and Madeline. While Pandora and Jake sit towards the back, saving two seats for Tristan and I.

Their seating in each class

   I place my tardy slip, along with Tristan's, onto Mr. Medina's desk and then slide into a seat beside Dora. "Late again babe. Do I need to start calling you when I wake up?" She asks with a smirk and I wave her off.  She grabs my hand and gently squeezes it before going back to her notes. Rory stands before the class, nervously playing with her hands and I have to hold back a chuckle. She awkwardly introduces herself then slides into the only empty desk near the front of the class.

Lexa didn't introduce herself and snagged a seat in front of me, beside Paris and behind Rory. I quickly take out my notes and sparkly pens, color coding my notes. The class flies by, mostly because Paris and Rory bicker back and forth. I stuff my notes into my binder as the bell rings. "Hey Lexa, need help to any of your classes?" I ask. She shrugs her shoulders and passes me her schedule. "Huh, lucky you. We have all our classes together, along with dumb and dumber back there" I point to Tristan and Jake.

   The two send me a middle finger and I laugh. "We also have the same class with the rest of my friend group" I pause and pull her to the girls "this is Pandora or Dora, my girlfriend and her twin Paris. Then there's our besties Madeline and Louise." She introduces herself to everyone, immediately getting comfortable. Jake starts to flirt with her, pissing Tristan off and making her cheeks turn pink. "Five bucks says by the end of the school year they're dating" I whisper. Dora shakes her head with a smirk "you're on. But I think it'll be by the end of the week!" I let out a giggle and we make our way to class, not once even thinking about my twin.

     Classes passed quickly, especially with the drama between Paris and Rory. Honestly the highlight of my day was Rory getting sent to the office for yelling at me and Paris. Pandora and I pull up to my house, her car parking in the driveway as I pull into our garage. Mom and dad aren't home so we fix ourselves a small snack and head upstairs to my room.

I open the door to my all black room and smile. I designed the room myself and it's my favorite place. My four poster bed sits in the middle of the room, with black twinkling lights wrapped in gauze hanging above it. Windows take up the other half of my room, showing off the expansive garden and the huge lake that our estate backs up unto. The other side of my room has a stairway that leads to my own personal library and desk.

Her House
It's a mix of the two

Her room

    I veer to the right, towards my closet as Dora plops unto the bed. "I'm changing and then I'll be right back" I shout. I walk into my bathroom first, then open the door to my two-story closet. The top level has all my jewelry, jackets, and accessories (hats, scarves, gloves, etc). I place my jewelry up then descend the stairs to the main level of my closet. It has all of my clothes, shoes, purses, and makeup. My vanity is squeezed in between the window and walls, fitting perfectly. The drapes are drawn so I begin to undress, flinging my dirty clothes into my basket. I grab new undergarments then flip through my clothes until I settle on a tan, cropped turtleneck and a cream satin skirt. Perfect for dinner with the Hayden's.

Her bathroom
A mix of the two

Her closet & vanity

Her outfit

    I stop by my mirror, looking at myself again and sigh. My eyes look vacant and have dark circles underneath them from the lack of sleep. My hair is frizzy and lacking shine, while my face looks gaunt, as if I've been skipping food. My cold eyes slide up to meet my own in the mirror and I flinch back. I don't recognize the girl in the mirror and it scares me.

A warm pair of hands encase my waist and I jump at the contact. "You're beautiful Lilliana. There's nothing wrong with you okay? You're absolutely perfect. No matter how dark and twisty you think you are okay? I'll be here to pull you from the dark waters Lili" she murmurs in my ear. I wrap my arms around her neck and nuzzle my face into her shoulder, willing her words to be true.

If only she knew,

I've been drowning for as long as I could remember.

Authors note: so what do we think of the first chapter? I did things a bit differently than I normally do. Like the whole beginning and end of the chapter going together. This is also just the intro for the book so it's more of an informational chapter.

• What did y'all think of this chapter?

• What do y'all think of Lilliana?

• How do y'all feel about the new additions, Lexa and Jake?

• Why do you think Rory was rude to Lilliana?

• And what would y'all like to see from this story?

Thanks my dears. 🖤 Please check out my other books:

- Abomination a 100 WTS book

- Apathetic a Twilight book

- Asperse a Percy Jackson book on BuckyVerstappen98   page :)

- Avenoir a 'future stories' book
(You can request a future story in this book)

- Autophobia a The Walking Dead book

- Acerbus a Marvel/Avengers book

- Alexithymia a Shadowhunters book

- Munificence a Santa Clause book

- Latibule a Sons of Anarchy book

- Aviothic a Fourth Wing book

- Crudêl a Chilling Adventures of Sabrina book

- Bellicostic a Game Of Thrones book

- Aeonian a House Of Night book

- Agathokakological a Once Upon A Time book

- Relinqueret a Gilmore Girls book

- Caliginous a Grey's Anatomy book

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I love Emily SO much

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