Quoted By:
"...an exercise in excess and a masterclass in bad taste, this disgustingly opulent abomination seeks to answer questions no one ever asked. Questions like: What would happen if a Queen Anne had an orgy with a Garrison Colonial and a Victorian? This. This would happen."
Excerpt from 'More Like Taste Falls', by Blythe Maudlin; Architectural Digest, December '54.
-----
Built during the tail end of the 19th century, back when the late Grady Noah Hughes II -Amber's great-grandfather- bought the land, Hughes Mansion was a sprawling building that had definitely seen better days. Mayor Maddox Hughes' obsession with tradition -or as Buck Hodder called it: "Being a big fat tightwad."- had prevented him from making any renovations in the last thirty years, resulting in a very Horror Chic look. Still, standing there at the edge of the cliff, right by the waterfalls, it was as imposing as ever; definitely big enough to get lost in, had you not grown up there...
The Delta went past the gate with the crumbling gargoyles and cruised up the front lawn, before parking off to the side, right by the cobblestone path. The girls got out just in time to see Mayor and Mrs. Hughes exiting the garage in their '77 Chrysler New Yorker.
"No monkey business, Amber Leigh!" Maddox wagged a finger at his daughter. "And make sure your brother's in bed by ten, understood?"
"Ugh, gag me with a spoon!" Amber exclaimed. "Like, why do I have to take care of Satan's little helper?!" She was perched up on a ladder by the porch, in her cheerleader uniform, trying to hang a banner that read: 'Welcome, Class of 198--'; the last digit obscured by a tree branch.
"Enjoy the movie, ladies!" Mrs. Hughes waved at Stephanie and the girls from the passenger's seat. "There's a sandwich tower and fresh lemonade in the fridge!"
"They're not twelve, Shirley... Have fun, girls!" Mayor Hughes smiled and stepped on the gas; the black sedan was out of sight soon after.
Amber climbed down the ladder and straightened her skirt. "Gimme!" she stretched her arms out.
Audrey tossed the six-pack of wine coolers at her.
"Like, was Jimmy's out of twelve-packs, or something?" Amber caught the drinks mid-air and held the pack at arm's length as if it was radioactive.
"Alky much?" Audrey shot back.
"Bathroom!" Tiffany blurted, making a beeline to the front door and bumping straight into Amber before vanishing inside.
"Ow! Like, what's your major malfunction, Miller?!"
"What's yours?" Audrey chuckled. "You're not seriously wearing that, are you?"
"Hey, it's like, school colors and junk!"
"That's what I said!" Stephanie smiled.
"Dude, they can see your tits from outer space. " Audrey poked at her friend's bust.
"Prude much? Like, it's not my fault none of you dorks have boyfriends."
"So, where are the Hooters off to?" Audrey nodded toward the gate.
"Oh, so like, now it's my last name, right? Original." Amber smirked.
-----
