CLEO HALLIWELL.
Being engulfed in the world of The Real Housewives of Catalina Island was a breeze. A personality larger than the entire island, the dyed blonde knew when to lay her chops and when her assistance was needed amongst the production team and other housewives to send Evelyn on the spiral of the reality of all of her consequences. In times before, the ‘matriarch’ of the Halliwell family slithered hands clean on her affairs. Still time around, after putting on her best face and indulging in finding a private investigator suitable for her tasks, she set one upon her mother. Less than a couple of days later, evidence started to flood into her lap. It was since then when she provided the information toward Reina for her disposable. Doing the dirty work never bothered her. Once she was obstinate upon something, she’ll research inside and out for the truth because the young women had a reputation of being actual rather than someone spreading false lies without evidence. Nonetheless, the open book that she was, any point when she needed to address things and own up to the accountability, would be handle in such a typical Cleo manner ─ she did what she did and no regrets behind it at all. Certain individuals need to be held accountable for the destruction they left behind. Whilst she knew she came from an affair, the blind turn of her sister’s cheeks did not astound her at all. One way or another, each one of the Halliwell girls were illegitimate. It was Evelyn who destructed their future and mentally damaged the younger two. There was a life without their mother in the picture. The only sibling who could understand where Cleo was coming from was Ava.
The blonde was aware of her older sister’s disdain for the limelight. Yet, she understood the crucial reasoning behind it and it happened to be Nathan wandering around in the states, hoping and praying to find his estranged wife. The last thing she would ever want was to see the camera’s forced in the older Halliwell’s face without her permission. Just because Cleo signed on did not mean Ava would allow them to invade her life and use her as chopped liver. If she was quite honest, out of the pairing, it was Cleo who could handle the long hours and rapid retorts when someone stepped on her toe. Anyone who dared to cross her pathway had to deal with the travesty and retaliation they liked it or not. It’s mostly why she was preservative to coddling Ava ─ who stated she could handle things on her own. From her own perception of her cerulean hues, she began to doubt otherwise but safeguard for one particular reason: some things were best left unsaid. The session of filming was rapid and nothing too strenuous on her but still, the honey-dyed female flaunted herself to the nines even in the vicinity of her house. A figure in her peripheral vision caused her to turn on her heel, boney hands intertwining in one another for a splitting moment. Standing on the opposite of the kitchen island, “Well, well, if it isn’t my favorite stranger.” Greeting in a cordial tone, mouth corners rose to the home’s ceiling at how much relief it was to see her sister now. Now, her fingers began to drum against the marble multi-toned countertop anticipating the supposed gifts. “Yeah because otherwise, I would’ve kicked your ass off. Not only do you ghost me but if you would’ve dared to step inside of my house without an apology present, out you go like I did with Evelyn in my life,” she expressed with ease. Not a single ounce of remorse in the latter portion of her words. Cerulean hues rolled at Ava before helping herself by digging into the confines of the bag and pulling them out, “Oh fuck, what a shame. I’m sure they would’ve loved a sister scene.” Hilarity was driven throughout each one of her words, a sly smirk and wink directly towards Ava. She would’ve much rather taken down the camera crew herself than allowing them to throw Ava to the wolves. “Nope, it was just a quick scene insert somewhere. Who else. I’ll see it when I air.” A shrug rolled off carelessly. A vaulted brow shot towards Ava, silvery tone lacking comfort as it was brittle and displeased by her sister’s disappearance, “A month. I’ve been counting.”
How Ava found herself entangled to the lifestyles that people led on this island, she had no idea. It seemed like a distant memory — a stranger that she could hardly recognise nowadays. Living a life of luxuries and a well-known surname attached to her name seemed like the perfect life to live on the surface, but underneath it all, it was hiding all the imperfections — the sacrifice people made for the lives to showcase their wealth to everyone else of their classes. The brunette had detached herself from said lifestyle since the mere age of sixteen; although the decision was impulsive no less, it was the best decision ever made to keep her mind sane. From the moment her father became nothing but a stranger to her anymore, she had given up the fight to find the man she adored as a child again. Perhaps it was even her fault to allow him to go on too far on the road from rags to riches, but she had to take a moment for herself and be selfish for once. To prioritise her life and pursue her dream to leave Catalina and venture out into the big fashion scene in New York. Who would’ve thought that would be the worst decision ever made in her life — well, at least she had met a monster that would eventually haunt her mind even now. Her homecoming wasn’t a happy affair, but then it also allowed her to be close to those that she held dearly to her heart again. Her sister being one of those people; having shared her predicament with her now ex-husband was a huge step to take in her mind.
Ava was thankful for the fact that Cleo happened to be more involved with their mother’s latest project instead, although she never had any doubts in that. Her sister’s personality just seemed suited for the cameras, if not being able to handle the antics of these housewives on the show. She had seen snippets of reality TV shows like these in the past to know that the housewives of Catalina wouldn’t fail to live up to those expectations. Perhaps if Nathan never crossed paths with her, she would’ve been more extroverted than she was now. Drama just never boded well with the brunette ever since she was young, and her ex-husband had cause enough chaos into her life for her to be seeking out for more. But Cleo had the strength to do so, and she often admired her for that. Even though the two sisters handled Evelyn’s antics rather differently. Cleo often confronted the woman with full force, yet Ava preferred to find bliss in ignorance, or avoidance for that matter. It was why she hadn’t visited her sister in a while, although partially she was preoccupied with her growing relationship with Rory lately. Her features deadpanned for a moment at the blonde’s word, before a small smile tugged at the corners of her lips. “You wouldn’t dare, you can’t put me on the same level as Evelyn.” She started. “But...I don’t think Evelyn would ever be out of our lives. Unless...did something happen between you two?” She couldn’t help but ask, her sister’s word raising some concern nevertheless. As she helped her sister unpacked the goods she had brought along with her, a scoff easily fell from her lips at her statement. “That’ll just make boring TV,” She shot a grin at her sister, before her features softened. “I’m sure it’ll be great, don’t forget me when you’re famous.” She retorted with a teasing tone, although guilt stirred at the pit of her stomach when Cleo stated how long it had been since they had last seen each other. Her sister’s tone merely made her feel more nervous about this visit, before a sigh fell from her lips. “I’m sorry I’ve been MIA, with the cameras and everything—” She paused, biting her lip for a moment. “You know how I am, I just...tend to shut myself off from everything sometimes. I’m sorry.” Unconvinced by her own words, she shook her head and met her sister’s gaze, attempting to find the courage for the purpose of the visit in the first place. “Listen, there’s something I need to tell you. No one knows and I want you to be the first person to know, but I also didn’t want you to find out from someone else...in case that happens. Can you...promise to hear me out and not be angry about it?”
