Eden

I always laughed whenever I heard that rich people don't cry Or that we had the world at our feet. I didn't laugh because it was ironic, no it was true. We did have the world at our feet and we didn't cry. But at what cost? The cost of your happiness? The cost of your peace of mind? Or the cost of everyone you love around you? It was your call. As for me, I was indeed what they described. I didn't cry. I had the world at my feet. I never begged to get anything. My receipts were the length of phone numbers when I shopped, my wheels were the latest in the country. I had a large house everyone envied. When did it all then go wrong? I didn't even know myself. All I knew was that things weren't right. Have they ever been right? I'm not even sure. I'm just knee deep in whatever ocean I was. "Eden, let's go home." My dilated eyes dragged themselves away from the smoke in the air to the pair of eyes beside me. I looked into my brother's eyes and felt this instant anger. Boiling rage from the pit of my soul that made me stand up so quickly my head felt like it was going to fall off. "What are you doing here?" My voice sounded slurred. "I came here to get you and Cat. What else?" "And then preach to me how broken I am? No, thank you. I'm going home with Barry." I wanted to say that I came with him but I didn't feel the need to explain myself to him. He looked tired. Like he hadn't slept all night and he let out a sigh that sounded like that. Tired. Like how I was as well. Tired. "Eden, please let's go. I promise I'm not going to say anything. Let's just go home." His voice was strained and weak, and I felt this guilt tug in my chest because I knew it was my fault. I had left home two nights ago with Cat and we went to meet Barry, our drug dealer. He told us about the party, and we came. It was hosted by some college students and they had drugs and alcohol. Just what I needed. I'm sure he had been looking for us and with my phone long dead, he would have pulled all his hair from his roots. "Fine, I'm coming." I left the cigarette in the ash tray where I sat and picked up my phone. "Eden, you're leaving?" I turned around to meet the guy I had followed here. "Yes. I'm leaving. See you later." I dismissed him and walked outside without caring to know if Kane was following behind me. The sun didn't welcome me at all with its harsh rays hitting my unprepared eyes with full force, making me squint my eyes quickly. I raised my hands to block the sunlight and cursed under my breath. "You should walk fast if you don't like the sun. It's already noon." I heard Kane's voice beside my ear. How long have I been here? I didn't even know I had time at all. I quickly got into the black SUV and put on my seatbelt wanting nothing more than my bed right now. Kane's phone suddenly beeped and his screen lit up. My eyes focused on one thing. Monday. Today was Monday. School. "Yes, I searched for you all through the weekend." He said, as if he could read my mind. That wasn't what surprised me. I was actually surprised that he gave up school to be here now, driving this car and heading toward the house that belonged to a passed out cat in the back seat. "So, I would have done the same." I hissed back and folded my hands across my chest. He glanced at me and looked back at the road, obviously not ready to drag. But I meant it. I would have done the same. He could be the annoying brother I was brought into this world with, but the fact remained he was my brother. As hard as it was, he was all I had. Well, the only sober person I had. Every other person in my life was just like me. f****d up. We finally pulled back home and opened the door to quickly get out of the car not wanting to start any discussions with him. I've had enough of them already. "Eden, wait." I heard his voice, stopping me in my tracks. I turned back to meet his brown eyes. "What?" I asked when he refused to say anything. I had already begun to feel a very strong headache and all I wanted right now was to be in my bed. "Martha is in the house, she baked a fresh croissant and I brought out some warm clothes for you. Try to wear them before you sleep. The aspirin is on your table in your room." He ran through them like he had thoughtfully done them before coming to get me. Like he did them these past few days before going out to find me and returning home empty handed. "Alright." I nodded and came down from the car before looking at him one last time. I knew he was going somewhere else to be alone. I didn't ask him to come in and rest. I knew he needed it but I also knew he needed to be alone. That's what he did whenever he picked me up from parties like this. "I'll be back soon." He smiles softly before driving out of the house, leaving me at the front door of this stupid useless large house I lived in. Make no mistake to call it a home. It never was. My parents were what everyone would call the power couple. The perfect example of a happy marriage. The parents everyone wanted. My father, Zayn Madrid came from a family who owned one of the most luxurious watch and scent brands, Echelon. My father was the youngest among four brothers, so he was given leverage to do whatever he wanted. So, he joined Hollywood and became a big shot director and producer. He met my mother, Belle Monroe, on a set directed by one of his closest friends. She was cast as the lead role as they didn't even hit off well the first time they met. My Dad, claiming she was dramatic, and my Mom, claiming he was proud. But soon enough hate turned into love. My mum was an actress and a model. She modeled for her family's makeup and beauty brand, Odette. Odette was the name of my mother's great grandmother, and the founder of Odette, a French lady who came over to the United States during her time. My mother was very beautiful. There to her name Belle, she had everyone wrapped around her finger as everyone wanted to be associated with her. Either for her money or for her beauty. But she wasn't an easy fish to catch. So when news came about that Zayn Madrid, one of Hollywood's most eligible pretty boys had bagged her, it was sure to grab attention. They were a couple at that time. Zayn and Belle, the perfect couple. Their passion radiated off the cameras as they were eaten up by the paparazzi on social occasions and before you knew it, my Dad had put a ring on his finger. She became Belle Monroe Madrid. Five years later and they both welcome their first issue. A boy and a girl as twins. What could be more fabulous? Quickly put into the spotlight without a time to breathe or choose if we even wanted it, we were gained by all and many. The beloved children of the perfect couple. Eden Monroe Madrid and Kane Monroe Madrid. Yes, we kept our mother's last name as well. But growing up wasn't as perfect as the beginning. They were both busy with their work as brand owners and movie directors, so they left us to train ourselves. Leaving kids at home alone already spells out trouble, and that's what happened. Being the daughter of Belle Monroe came with a lot of expectations. I had to be perfect. Just like her. Everyone was ready to compare me to her so I had to live up to the expectations she set before I was even born. First they all waited to see if I'll be pretty just like she was. Luckily, I am the carbon copy of my mum so that wasn't an issue. Then they wondered if I would be an actress and a model like her. I began to star in some movies and modeled for some brands. Even Kane and I were like partners modelling for brands and we were always on the cover of magazines. We were always put against the next New York's twins we knew. Marie Jose and Jose Louis Millan. Yeah, I knew them. Life was going well for us at a young age. We made our own bucks, the people loved and adored us and we were rich. What more could we ask for? Well as you would have it, our parents were too busy with either their jobs or themselves to care about us. The funny part of it all was how we'd do short videos and skits for social media and to show the world we were happy. When in actual fact, we didn't even know each other. I only knew I was the new face of Odette now, and many other brands and everyone wanted to be me while I would have done anything to not even be where I am now. Growing up, I took life differently from my brother. A lot. Kane was always the perfect son. He had everything under control and never lost his cool. I did everything wrongly. I smoked, I drank, I did drugs, I had parties like it was a norm. Everyone wanted the rich princess life of Eden Monroe Madrid. I loathed it. Kane always reminded me of what I couldn't become. Of what I failed at and I disliked him for it. He was always so proper and did everything boldly and correctly. I was just like a shadow of his perfection. "Good morning, Miss." I turned around to see who was calling my attention the minute I walked into the house and saw no other person but Martha. She has a smile on her face. A smile I'm sure was probably fake or real, because she was laughing at me and the way I looked. I didn't want to talk to anyone, so I just nodded but she continued anyway, probably ready to get used to my attitude. "I made breakfast, so if you come down for breakfast later..." "...keep it for later, Martha. I'm not hungry. I just want to sleep." I cut her off. I was not ready to put anything in me anyways. With a small smile she nodded and left me alone again to my thoughts. I walked inside my awkwardly large room and found it already cleaned and arranged. That didn't surprise me, because we had workers who did that for us. Clean up after us, either at home, or in the media. On my bed was my nightwear, neatly folded and a sticky note that read, "don't forget to take your aspirin. Kane." I rolled my eyes and crumbled the paper, throwing it into the dustbin in a clean shot. I took off my clothes and had a quick shower. I put the nightwear on, and took aspirin for the now head splitting headache I felt. I closed my curtains and turned up the AC with its remote before turning off my lights. Immediately, my room was filled with starry night light. I wished this was how beautiful my life was. Like this night light.