♕ THE FRAGILE FLOWER ♕
Inside your porcelain fists, your palms begin to crack.
AVRIL SINCLAIR TWENTY ONE FASHION DESIGNER LEIGHTON MEESTER
Some would say that the flower which blossoms in winter is a miracle -- and indeed it is, if a certain flower goes by the name of Avril Sinclair, the eldest and heir to a successful family politicians and lawyers originally from Europe. Some would say it is only a matter of time until Avril becomes just as noble and arrogant as the blood that runs through her veins, but the public eye failed to notice the subtle hints of humbleness that lie in her eyes. Born in a dark and cold December in France, Avril's brown eyes seemed to have enchanted her parents, and from that moment on it seemed like nothing else mattered to the Sinclair, who continuously devoted their lives and time maintaining a safe environment for their perfect daughter; perhaps almost too perfect to be true. Their happy-go-lucky, girly little Avril was their most prized gift and treasure, and the Sinclair were set on having her follow the path of Law or Medicine, envisioning the brightest of futures they could have ever imagined for their only child. Avril did it all -- ballet after school, piano lessons just before lunch, English lessons before bed, horseback riding classes on Saturdays, book club on Thursday evenings, dress fitting on Mondays, social events on Friday nights, etiquette classes on Wednesdays... And the ongoing list of duties and shallow endeavors did not stop until Avril began failing miserably to reach their expectations, crawling into a shell of introversion only to never come back. She felt nothing but despise towards the meetings and social events the Sinclair's had always prized, but it was not as if her sweet lips were capable of letting such hatred escape from her mouth. Avril simply quieted, shied away and rested in the abilities she had so persistently poured heart and soul into, letting somebody else do the work -- her sister.
It was no news that the Sinclair's had another child. A bastard child, per se, whose age and appearance were extremely close to Avril's. This shadowy, dark side of the past had always been hid by the Sinclair's, whose mere existence was the clear evidence of a stain of betrayal from Avril's mother. Yet, their glossy smiles seemed to be enough to hide all the hurt in family portraits and cover magazines. When the Sinclair's were questioned about the legitimacy of their youngest daughter, the answer would always be a hesitant smile and a polite, overemotional one-liner about the importance of love and consideration, but deep down, the Sinclair's were bloodthirsty wolves training their daughters to be queens, claiming the throne was theirs. When Avril was first introduced to her sister -- only at two years old of age -- a deep feeling of pity settled in, and later on she understood that the youngest daughter would have to face a lot more than Avril had ever faced herself. The reputation that came with being a bastard baby would be too high for an elitist French family, but to the Sinclair's surprise, their biggest weakness became their biggest strength, thanks to the bond that the girls created. A bond that has always been stronger than the love Avril had for her parents, or even herself.
Avril's support system has always been her sister, Marie, and the statement goes both ways. Whilst they have slowly come to dislike their own family, Avril's happy, soft side clings to Marie's wilderness like no other, and they are two peas in a pod. When Marie needs counselling, it is Avril who provides her a shoulder to cry on; in return, Marie is the loyal and aggressive knight to her sister, never allowing her to truly get hurt. The companionship allowed Avril to let go of the pressure weighing down on her shoulders, and she has never considered herself truly fit for the throne. Rather, it is Marie herself who constantly pursues the Sinclair's interests, leaving Avril gladly working behind the curtains in her quiet room, designing clothes and pursuing her fashion interests. It has been this loyal and everlasting partnership that brought the two French beauties to New York. Fooled are the ones that believe it is a mere vacation, for Avril knows herself that nothing in a Sinclair is ever planned out to be a mistake. Yet she has no genuine idea why her sister and family truly dragged her into this chaotic mess of diplomacy, politics and crime. She has failed to notice that the political fall of the Alpericci's calls for the rise of another name and it seems like the Sinclair are just the perfect fit for it. Moving overseas has become a huge burden, but there are far worse problems than being homesick. And the young, optimistic Avril has yet to figure them out.
But hell, what happens when one knows nothing? For all that Avril cares, this is another one of her father's chess-like maneuvering, and whilst her sister and mother are just as involved in the family business, Avril is getting closer and closer to the target. One of the Alpericci's has certainly called her attention, and she may not be able to dwell on her last drops of rationality left. A certain suspicion grows bigger and bigger in her, and her guts tell her it's time to go home, but there is little she can do when her parents are the ones with the last word, and quite frankly, they're all loving the attention -- even Marie herself. All she has now is the hope that they will settle down, and that the world will turn their eyes to more important matters that don't involve the affairs of the NYC elite.
♕ ROBERTO ALPERICCI: Roberto's softness and gentlemanly acts towards the vulnerable Avril have truly got her hypnotized. Whilst she knows that her sister is particularly inclined towards him, Avril is genuinely in love with the Alpericci's heir. Much to her demise, it seems like Roberto himself has got his eyes on someone else -- and it's definitely not a Sinclair.
♕ MARIE SINCLAIR: The confidant. Best friend. Sister. The two have begun to drift apart ever since their arrival in NYC, and Avril is visibly affected by Marie's blind ambition and harsh ways towards the family. Avril is concerned she might not be able to stop the entire Sinclair's from falling apart, since their greedy ways have become a self-fulfilling prophecy of their greatest demise.
♕ SERENA SINCLAIR: Her mother and her greatest role model. Avril has always been particularly close to Serena -- but the woman's perfectionism and harsh words have been driving her away. Additionally, the certainty that Serena has never truly loved Marie has left Avril scarred, truly concerned that her family is falling apart, bit by bit.