DAYTONA BEACH, FLORIDA
Perkins House
Friday, August 18th, 2017
04:09 (PM)
Madison was, for the weekend, absent parental supervision, a situation she was keen on utilizing and taking full advantage over. Every year, at least for as long as anyone was able to remember, a senior class member would invite as many classmates over as they'd like. In some instances, it was a select-few. Others, the entire senior class. Sometimes, there were even multiple festivities. Nearly every year, like clock-work, the administration would discourage any and all attempts at the unofficial tradition. Those efforts, routinely, would be futile. Word had been spread, and it wouldn't had taken long before the Principal would have a discussion with Madison, as well as with her parents, regarding the potential consequences for any, and all, poor decision-making that would inevitably occur.
The very same conversation with her parents would, certainly, follow - even if they couldn't exactly cancel their planned weekend trip to the Netherlands. Be as it may, they certainly didn't want to squash the dreams of a girl they had raised, and treated, as a princess all throughout her life either. Quite the precarious balance. In the end, her parents ultimately went ahead, trusting their eldest daughter, with the solemn promise by Madison that it wouldn't get out of hand. Such was the bargain that was made, though whether it would adhere to those stipulation remained to be seen.
With her parents having departed the previous morning, Madison had dedicated her Thursday evening to setting up for the occasion. The spacious living room, straight ahead of the main foyer of the modern-esque Perkins mansion, was completely transformed, with furniture being re-arranged and situated along the wall to make room for expansive floor space. Most of the more expensive items were moved to the garage, where it was locked and safely stashed away - in case things did, in fact, take a turn for the absurd. Massive glass double-doors were opened, leading to a large in-ground pool and nearby hot tub, followed by a tropical-themed garden that ran alongside the fence, separating the premises from the beach just behind it.
Right of the living room was the dining room and kitchen, stocked with snacks and beverages of nearly every sort. Her parents were, at least, wise enough to lock up the alcohol, though certainly naive in believing party attendees wouldn't have simply brought their own. Although food had been laid out on the kitchen counter, every traditional sort from burgers to hotdogs to pizza to chips and dip to doughnuts, and with empty space to spare in the instance others had brought some of their own to share. To the left was a game room and home-gym. Upstairs was left untouched, being it only consisted of bedrooms and a study. The entire house appeared almost as if it were a giant solarium, with radiant natural light seeping in from expansive windows along the walls and embedded in the high ceiling in some parts.
The fusion beach-house party was nearly set. Madison, wearing a t-shirt and jean shorts over her two-piece swimsuit, sat down for a brief moment to scroll through her phone and respond to a few texts that had been sent in the hours since school had let out. All that had been missing for the occasion were the guests, and she patiently, although eagerly, awaited the first ones to show up. Details were spread via word-of-mouth, text, and social media.While 5:00 was the "planned" start-time, it was certain many would appear at least an hour beforehand.
Plenty of driveway space awaited the first arrivals, with even more along the street for those who would arrive after. Good thing, given word was spread that everyone had been invited.
Time continued to tick, then the first car would turn down the driveway and park just behind Madison's Acura.
Madison glanced up, and away, from her phone, and walked over to the front door, opening it, and smiling as she awaited to see who it was...