Jay Jay's POV
The mansion was strangely peaceful.
Which was exactly why I knew something terrible was about to happen.
I stood in the kitchen pouring coffee while the morning sunlight streamed through the massive glass windows.
Outside, the pool reflected the pale winter sky.
Inside, everything looked calm.
Too calm.
Behind me Percy was standing in front of the refrigerator door using the reflection to adjust his hair for the fourth time.
Sebastian leaned against the counter eating toast.
Leo was scrolling through his phone.
Aurora and Chloe were arguing about something upstairs.
And yet…
Something still felt wrong.
Percy suddenly turned toward me dramatically.
"Baby sistah."
I sighed.
"Yes?"
"Do I look good today?"
Sebastian choked on his toast.
Leo didn't even look up.
"You asked that five minutes ago."
Percy ignored him.
"This is important."
Sebastian wiped crumbs from his mouth.
"You're meeting humans, not judges."
Percy gasped.
"My appearance is always important."
Aurora walked into the kitchen just in time to hear that.
She leaned against the counter.
"Percy."
"Yes?"
"You look exactly the same as yesterday."
Percy looked offended.
"Impossible."
Chloe walked in behind her.
"Who cares?"
Percy placed a hand on his chest.
"I care."
Sebastian laughed.
"You're unbelievable."
I took a sip of coffee.
"Relax."
Leo finally looked up from his phone.
"They land in twenty minutes."
Immediately the room went silent.
Then Percy straightened his jacket like a prince preparing for battle.
"Excellent."
Sebastian stared at him.
"Why are you acting like you're meeting royalty?"
Percy smiled confidently.
"Because they're about to meet me."
Aurora burst out laughing.
"Oh my god."
—
Forty minutes later we were standing outside the mansion gate.
A sleek black car slowly pulled into the driveway.
Sebastian leaned toward me and whispered,
"Place your bets."
"On what?"
"Who's the most chaotic."
Percy scoffed.
"No one can beat my level of charisma."
Chloe rolled her eyes.
"Please stop talking."
The car door opened.
First out stepped Mia.
She immediately threw her arms into the air.
"LONDON!"
Aurora blinked.
"…Okay she's loud."
Next came Adam, stretching like he had just finished a nap.
"Cold."
Then Sarah, stepping out neatly while fixing her coat.
Finally Noah, still holding a snack.
Sebastian whispered,
"Why is he eating already?"
Leo shrugged.
"Maybe he never stops."
The four of them looked around the mansion grounds slowly.
Then Mia spotted me.
Her eyes widened.
"JAY!"
She immediately ran toward me.
Before I could react she wrapped me in a tight hug.
"You disappeared!"
I laughed.
"Hi to you too."
Adam walked over casually.
"So this is the famous mansion."
Noah looked around while eating.
"…Rich."
Sarah nodded politely.
"Very impressive."
Then Percy stepped forward dramatically.
"Welcome."
Everyone turned toward him.
He flipped his hair.
"To my domain."
Sebastian whispered,
"Your domain?"
Percy ignored him.
"I am Percy Mariano."
Mia blinked.
"…Okay."
Adam tilted his head.
"You're the handsome one Jay warned us about?"
Percy immediately straightened.
"Yes."
Noah nodded.
"Confidence confirmed."
Sebastian laughed.
Aurora whispered to Chloe,
"This is already chaos."
—
Inside the mansion things became even worse.
Mia ran straight into the living hall and gasped.
"THIS PLACE IS HUGE."
Adam dropped onto the sofa immediately.
"Comfortable."
Sarah examined the architecture calmly.
"Modern design."
Noah walked toward the kitchen.
"Food?"
Sebastian followed him.
"Finally someone with priorities."
Percy stood in the center of the room with his arms crossed proudly.
"Well?"
Mia turned toward him.
"Well what?"
"Aren't you impressed?"
Adam raised an eyebrow.
"With you?"
Percy nodded.
"Yes."
Adam leaned back.
"No , I was depressed with your fake handsomeness."
Sebastian nearly fell off the couch laughing.
Aurora clapped her hands.
"This is already the funniest day of my life."
—
Ten minutes later everyone was sitting in the living hall.
Or at least attempting to.
Mia was pacing around the room.
Adam had taken over the biggest couch.
Noah had already found the snacks.
Sarah was talking calmly with Leo.
Percy sat like a king in an armchair.
Sebastian watched everything like it was a comedy show.
Mia suddenly pointed at Percy.
"Okay question."
Percy nodded.
"Yes."
"Why do you keep touching your hair?"
Percy looked shocked.
"Maintenance."
Adam smirked.
"How long does it take?"
Percy looked proud.
"Twenty minutes."
Sebastian burst out laughing.
"You spend twenty minutes on your hair?"
Percy pointed at him dramatically.
"Beauty requires effort."
Noah raised his snack.
"I respect the dedication."
Aurora collapsed onto the couch laughing.
Chloe wiped tears from her eyes.
"This group is insane."
—
Later that evening the chaos only grew worse.
Sebastian and Adam had started competing in the gym.
Mia and Aurora were exploring every corner of the mansion.
Noah had practically moved into the kitchen.
Sarah and Leo were having an oddly calm conversation about business strategies.
Meanwhile Percy was standing in front of the mirror again.
I leaned against the doorway watching him.
"Percy."
"Yes baby sistah?"
"Why are you fixing your hair again?"
He turned toward me.
"Preparation."
"For what?"
He smiled confidently.
"Tomorrow."
"The party?"
"Yes."
He pointed toward the hallway where the others were shouting and laughing.
"They think tomorrow will be chaos."
I raised an eyebrow.
"And?"
Percy flipped his hair again.
"They have no idea."
From the gym Sebastian suddenly shouted,
"ADAM THAT WAS CHEATING!"
Adam shouted back,
"IT WAS STRATEGY!"
Mia's voice echoed from upstairs,
"GUYS THERE'S A SECRET BALCONY!"
Noah yelled from the kitchen,
"WHO ATE MY SANDWICH?"
Aurora shouted back,
"IT WAS SEBASTIAN!"
Sebastian yelled,
"LIES!"
Chloe laughed loudly somewhere in the hallway.
Sarah sighed deeply.
Leo simply shook his head.
I crossed my arms slowly.
And for the first time since arriving in London…
I smiled.
Because something told me one thing very clearly.
If this was just the day before the party…
Then the masquerade tomorrow night was going to be absolute chaos.
And somehow…
I had a feeling the real drama hadn't even started yet.
.....