Chapter 1: We're All Sinners Here

…the New Woman of the 1920s boldly asserted her right to dance, drink, smoke, and date—to work her own property, to live free of the strictures that governed her mother's generation… In many ways, she controlled her own destiny—Joshua Zeitz

The 1920s was deemed the Roaring Twenties and sometimes The Lost Generation. Many things were new and thrilling about this decade; women were becoming more liberated, disobeying their parent's, hanging out late and getting involved with all sorts of men. It was the decade of Hollywood, where the celebrities were treated like Gods and Goddesses. It was the decade of were anyone and everyone can make it big and rich fast, Wall Street boomed and everyone seemed to be making money someway and somehow. And most importantly it was the decade when Congressed passed the law on alcohol, otherwise known as Prohibition.

When the law on banning alcohol came, crime went on an all-time rise. Bootleggers, gamblers, prostitution, and drugs, everything was game when it came to this law.

I sat outside the train station, sitting on a bench, my legs crossed as I tapped my fingers against the wood, waiting to be picked up. It was summer time, yet today was oddly cool. So I was dressed in a expensive cream colored gown that draped over my slight curvy frame, that had a silk lace over that topped at my ankles, having a slight train in the back, making it drag on the dirty ground, a cream colored jeweled high heels, plenty of white pearls were draped around my neck, hanging between my breast and a cream colored cloche hat that was decorated with mini pearls and jewels. My hair was swept over my left shoulder. Despite my innocent attire, I kept my makeup dark, my lips painted a sinful red, my eyelids a dark grey color and my lashes made to be thick and black.

I surely stuck out in my clothes; a wolf in sheep's clothing. I was never the type of woman to be caught in this type of attire, but I deemed it appropriate to wear for my dear cousin Jordan Baker. She was first or second cousin removed, I think. But I decided to come and stay with her for a long while to get away from certain people in Chicago.

The city of New York seemed to be a dark place, especially from the side of town I was in. But it isn't like I couldn't take care of myself, I wasn't some ditz. I learned a long time ago what can happen to a pretty girl on the streets all alone, I've experienced it and seen it. And I don't have plans any time soon to be taken advantage of any more.

"Wow miss, are they real pearls?" a male voice asked. I turned my head and I felt like jumping out of my skin when I saw a tall and burly looking dark-skinned male who looked even darker with black soot covered him from head to toe. I felt a bit frightened at seeing him; my instant reaction was to call for help.

But then I saw that he wasn't looking at me with no hint of malice what so ever more curiosity. I gave him a smile, flashing my white straightened teeth. "Why yes they are," I replied to him, holding up string of pearls, showing them off to him, watching in amusement as he stared at them in bewilderment.

I felt a bit sorry for the black man. I would admit I had a bit of prejudice against the Negro's but I knew deep down they were people just like any other white man or woman. "What's your name honey?" I asked softly, pulling out a long cigarette from my string purse, lighting it and taking a long drag out of it.

The male looked shock that I would even most likely have the audacity to ask his name. He shifted a bit, his muscles bulging against his dingy white top. I thought about how many men he could have killed with those muscles of his. He was large and built like a building but he didn't seem to have not an ounce of violence in his body. "I-It's Jeremiah mam," he stammered out, looking a bit shy and sheepish. I felt myself smile against the cigarette and then said, "It's a pleasure to meet ya Jeremiah. Can I call you Jerry?"

He gave me a nod. "Well Jerry, do you make a lot?"

He seemed thrown off by my question. "What?" "I asked do you make a lot? Money I mean dear."

I knew that was a stupid question to ask him, knowing full well he didn't make a lot of money, especially since he was a black man. Even black men were poorer than the poorest white man because of the simple fact that they were black.

"Not much mam…not much at all. But enough to at least keep a roof over ma' family's heeds," he said taking off his hat to rub his sweaty forehead. I nodded and took another puff of my cigarette, mulling over his answer. "How many kids do ya have Jerry?"

"Just two at the moment…two little gals, Berta and Coraline. The baby on the way is a boy, I was thinking we name him John. Ya know, after John Rockefella. He a rich white man, his name means success. I want ma' boy to be successful so he can take care of us when I get old and worn out. I'm working harder to send my two gals to school…" he said, starting to ramble on about his life.

I felt bad for Jeremiah once more. Here I was sitting on my ass, not having to do much with my life except open my mouth or pose for some money, and he was working his butt off in the worse working conditions to put food on the table for his family. Now that just wasn't right at all, now was it?

"…and I wanna send ma' girls to private school. Be the first colored girls to be in a private school. Maybe be big time lawyers or something that makes mon—" "Jeremiah sweetie?" I said, cutting him off before he could ramble on any further.

"O-Oh! Yes mam?"

I took off one of my pearls and then dug into my purse, pulling out a few hundred bills. I then put it all into his dirty and calloused hands. "Here ya go," I said softly, my eyes softening at him. Jeremiah's eyes bulged out of his head as he stared at the money and the expensive pearl necklace in his hands.

"M-Mam?! What is dis' for?" he asked in shock.

"Them pearls there is for your wife. I'm sure she'd look good in them and the money is to help your family with anything they might need," I said with a wide smile.

"T-Thank you mam! Thank ya!" Jeremiah said in utter happiness. "You're welcome Jerry, now be sure to keep those pearls and money somewhere safe or someone may try to go and steal them." Jeremiah nodded his head fast and quickly put everything into his overalls.

"Thank ya miss, can I uhhh know your name?" he asked a bit shyly. "If ya don't mind…"

What a sweetheart. "Vivien but you can call me Miss V," I replied with smile, looking behind him when I saw a cab making its way down the road towards my way. I smiled, knowing it was Jordan.

"Well thank ya kindly Missus V," Jeremiah said. I nodded to him with a smile, pulling out my white silk handkerchief and giving it to him so he could wipe his forehead. "And here ya go; it's something you can remember me by."

Jeremiah smiled and took the handkerchief and wiped his forehead after taking off his hat, getting soot, sweat and all out dirtiness on it, but it didn't really bother me. The cab pulled up and I waved off Jeremiah. "You best be heading back to work now Jerry, I'll see ya around eh?"

Jeremiah nodded, giving him a big wide smile as he put on his hat. "There ain't too many kindly white folks who would give a nigger like me pearls and money. You must be a sweet gal. Thank you again Missus V," he said, tipping is hat to me before running off where the other workers off. I smiled, feeling a bit proud and happy of myself for doing a good deed.

I was no saint, more sinner than anything, but I knew when someone needed help and was struggling. Not everyone was getting money really fast because of Wall Street booming.

"Helping out the poor little Negroes?" I heard a husky voice say. I raised my brown eyes to meet my cousin's icy blue eyes. Jordan didn't change much except her hair was cut into that of a bob, she was taller than me, very statuesque and small chested with a boyish look to her that only added to her beauty. Her hair was an inky black like mine and it contrasted heavily against her pale skin as did I. Many females in our family were all known for our inky colored hair, something that I favored greatly.

Jordan wore a simple white outfit, the pants legs wide and the top sleeveless with a heavy plunge. She wore white jewel encrusted heels and pearls dangled around her neck and hung low between her small chest. She gave me forced smile as I stared at her. I gave her saucy smirk and replied, "There is nothing wrong with helping the needy is it?"

She shrugged and crossed her arms. "I believe the needy don't need our help, we are rich my dearest cousin, and we are a bit…above them," she said with a shrug of her shoulders. I resisted the urge to roll my eyes at her snobbish tone and grabbed my bags when the cabbie came.

"Let me help you with your bags, pretty lil' thing like you don't need to lift a finger."

I tsked in discontent and pulled my bags away from him. "I can put them in myself," I said in response, hurriedly putting my bags into the cab before getting in. I heard Jordan laugh a little and say to the cabbie, "Don't worry honey, she can sometimes be a bit rude."

I rolled my eyes this time as Jordan got into the cab.

"Where to ladies?" the cabbie asked.

"East Egg," Jordan replied.

The cabbie nodded and began to drive off. I raised my dark brows in confusion. "Why are we going to East Egg? I thought you lived in Long Island?" I asked in confusement. Jordan gave me a smile and patted my knee.

"Well I wanted to take a quick stop and let you meet an old friend of ours. Remember Daisy Buchanan?" My eyes widened. "Daisy? Little blonde nit?" I asked in bewilderment. Jordan smiled a toothy grin and nodded.

Her and Daisy grew up with one another, but I knew Daisy also, having met her a few times when my mother and father would go visit Jordan's family. As far as I could remember Daisy was always a bit dim-witted, and a ditz. She was bubbly and always so full of life, while Jordan and I were more on the cynical side.

Daisy always had her head in the clouds, looking forward to marriage and having a child, having a man take care of her. I had no interest at being a housewife or being wined and dined on by a man. I rather make my own money, without a man in my life.

"Yes Daisy! I was planning on picking you up and then taking you back to my place and then going to see Daisy. But I decided to just let you come along and see her also. I'm sure she'd love to see you again!" Jordan said with a secretive smile, looking at me. I gave a slight roll of my eyes.

And well…Daisy and I never got along too well. I couldn't stand her air-headedness and she couldn't stand my callous nature. It made me wonder how she could put up with Jordan for so long. Because Jordan wasn't the best of friends (or cousin for that matter); she was a gossip and rather dishonest, and thinking about that now made me wonder why I would even want to come and spend the rest of the year with her.

"Yes…I'm sure she would," I muttered, looking away from my cousin, knowing full well she would like to speak about some gossip involving Daisy but I was in no mood nor did I care to hear about it. So I leaned my head against the window, closing my eyes, signaling to Jordan that the conversation is over.

I heard her suck her teeth but she didn't bother anymore.

I let out a small sigh of relief into my head. This was the life I lived in, the life of the rich and famous, where they make mistakes and would hide behind their money. They act like their saints, but I know the truth about them about myself.

We're all sinners here…

END

STP: I loved this chapter. It gives some insight into Vivien. She is related to Jordan and she is a little bit of a snob but she does have a heart and does care about people, not that she lets them know that. She's also a little vixen and carries herself in a very boyish and wild manner. She's reckless, and she knows it. She doesn't hide behind her money, because she isn't afraid to handle things on her own. And this is what will separate her from the rich and everyone else. She'll be acting as a foil character for Daisy along with Jordan ^-^. I might make her fool a little bit with Nicky :3 Who knooows~

Nick: *blushes* I-I never agreed to this!

STP: Shush! R&R All!