Author's Note: Hi there! Yes, this is my first fic ever. Before we start, though, let's get some things straight: one, no, I am not rich, so correct me for any mistakes; two, there WILL be OOCness in this fic; three, this fic was inspired by Cecily von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl and The It Girl. I'm no Cecily, but I'll try my best to work this with my own style :) When I say inspired, I mean that this fic is based on the ideas that both Gossip Girl and The It Girl have. Construction criticism and correction for any mistakes I made are welcome, but please, no flames. Anyway, I hope you enjoy this fic, I will try to keep it as interesting as possible.

Disclaimer: Bleach does not belong to me, its characters and Karakura all belong to Tite Kubo. Any names Bleach-related that you see in this fic are all property of Tite Kubo. This fic was inspired by Cecily von Ziegesar's Gossip Girl and The It Girl (which are both fabulous book series, by the way. I love 'em).


A Brief Prologue...

Hi there. Now, don't lie---there had to be one point in your life where you wondered, "Hey, what if I was a rich person? What's that like?" Admit it. Unlimited cash equals glamor, luxury, and a social life. But only a handful lucky group of people actually ever get to taste this high life and enjoy it. Straight from the most expensive and latest fashion designs to the greatest apartments you'll ever see, these kids have it all. Spoiled, glamorous, and popular, they're the elite, on top of the social pyramid, and to simply put it, they're the best. And they strive to stay to be the best. Seems like a perfect life, right? Well, when you're driving on the high lane, you go on the smoothest and best rides of your life. But you've got to remember---you're still driving...which means that no matter what, you can still crash...and burn.

Now, on with the story of the lives of several troubled teenagers. The party where it all started...


"...No, mom. I'm fine. ...Yes, I'm doing alright. ...No! Look, I, I'm doing fine with all the maids you've sent me here with. ...Mom, it's been a year since I've arrived in New York. I'm not a little kid anymore, if you haven't noticed. ...Yes, my grades are high as ever, I'll send you a copy of my first report card as soon as it comes out. ...Alright. I love you too. Tell dad I said hi." Momo Hinamori sighed as she set the phone on its receiver and let herself fall back on her queen-sized bed.

It was her mom. Again. Asking if everything was alright, if she had encountered any problems, or if she was getting good grades in school like she was supposed to. Momo closed her eyes, and thought how ridiculous her mom was being, worrying over those kind of things. If she couldn't handle the pressure or the education, she would've been smart enough to beg her parents to move back to Tokyo a year ago, back when she was a shrimpy fourteen-year-old.

Momo glanced at the clock attached on a wall. It read 8:30 P.M. She sat up straight---if she wanted to get to Orihime's party on time, she'd have to get dressed and head out right now. She opened her giant closet, full of all the prettiest garments of clothing you could ever imagine. Momo decided to wear something casual, and picked out a Betsey Johnson skirt and a pink georgette. She then slipped into her Kate Spade espadrilles, stuck her pink Motorola Razr in her Gucci handbag, and left her apartment, and took the elevator down to the lobby, and strode out the doors.

The streets of Upper East Manhattan were crowded and busy---this place was never quiet. Momo made her way through the streets full of people, and hailed a cab to Fifth Avenue, where she entered a large apartment house. Momo took a look at the time in her cellphone. 9:01. A minute late. Well, not that it really mattered. In this world, so as long as you show up, nobody really cares. That is, if you were important enough...


Instant Message: ShuuheiHisagi

ShuuheiHisagi: Hello? Helloooooo? Arisawa! Where r u?

TatsukiArisawa: Wouldn't you like to know.

ShuuheiHisagi: Gasp. Could it be that you're skipping Ori's party? I sense betrayal.

TatsukiArisawa: No, you dickwad. I'm already here.

ShuuheiHisagi: What! Where?! I need to check u off the list!

TatsukiArisawa: Well, good luck with attempting to find me, Shuu---but to make things a whole lot easier, I suggest you just check me off on the attendance list.


Orihime Inoue scanned the room full of partying teens in her apartment. She had been generous enough to host this before-the-first-day-of-school party for everyone---well, the popular everyone, since her parents were currently away in Hong Kong, doing who knows what. However, right now, she was looking for only one person---her handsome and tall orange-haired boyfriend, Ichigo Kurosaki. Orihime bit her lip. What if he chose not to come? It was possible. ...No, he would come. If anything, Ichigo would at least come for her sake. Right?

"Hey, Orihime! What are you brooding over about? This is your party---loosen up!" said Rangiku Matsumoto, walking over to the auburn-haired girl. Orihime sighed, "Yeah, I guess. But, it's just that...you know...Ichigo...he's..." "Oh, are you worrying over that kid? Believe me, he likes you a lot, Orihime." assured Rangiku, waving her hand dismissively.

"Well, Ichigo's never really been the type who thought his appearance at a party was necessary, but still, this isn't just ANY party, it's MY party...his GIRLFRIEND'S party..." protested Orihime, worry in her eyes. Rangiku sighed before saying, "Listen, Orihime. Ichigo LIKES you. A LOT. Okay? He would come to a party and dance on a table wearing one of my Diane von Furstenburg wrap dresses to keep you happy, okay?" Orihime looked unconvinced, but nodded, "Yeah, you're right, I guess I'm being a little silly."

Rangiku shook her head, "No, you're not, it's the typical action of any worried girlfriend. You just need to relax a bit. Come on, let's go join up with the others." Orihime nodded, and straightened her Donna Karan dress before following the blonde with the large bust, who was wearing a pink Juicy Couture shirt, a khaki skirt, and a pair of suede Anna Sui shoes. Rangiku gestured Orihime to join the others, and before she could follow, Rangiku saw something that made her go "Holy shit".


Instant Message: IzuruKira

IzuruKira: Renji! Are all the invited ppl here?

RenjiAbarai: No. I don't know.

IzuruKira: Well, uhh, Shuu said to hurry up.

RenjiAbarai: Well, then, you're better off leaving me alone, don't ya think?!?!

IzuruKira: Calm down. Can you try to get in touch with Ichigo? He's ur best friend, right? Ori's real upset right now, I'm sure if you find him, she'd feel much better...

RenjiAbarai: Look, I'm just a fricking guy, not Superman.


Momo looked around the giant apartment room, trying to find Orihime, one of her best friends. Ugh, with THIS many people, it was Mission Impossible all over again. Looks like she had no choice but to text message Orihime. However, before she could, Momo had received a text message from everybody's favorite gossip bank---Rangiku.

What could the message be? Momo opened the message, and her eyes widened in surprise: "HEY! HEY! EVERYONE! UNLESS MY FUCKING EYES JUST DECIEVED ME, I JUST SAW RUKIA KUCHIKI---IN THE FLESH!!!!" Momo was stunned. Rukia Kuchiki was the school's former it girl, despite her not-too wild and outgoing nature, until she had been expelled, and returned to Tokyo, Japan. She had also been one of Momo's best friends, along with Orihime. The three had been inseparable, glamorous, popular...Momo became spacey for a minute, remembering the crazy yet great times she had spent with Rukia and Orihime.

Rukia Kuchiki was mature, graceful, and elegant. Maybe it was the elegance and smart way of thinking that won everyone over, not to mention that her looks were very defined. She had been one of Momo's best friends, too, but she knew that Rukia and Orihime had been much closer. Why did she come back after that sudden disappearance? It was strange. And just WHY would she attend Orihime's party with no warning? It was all so weird.

"Hey." came a voice behind Momo. She jumped in surprise, she had been so lost in her thoughts, she hadn't even realized someone was behind her. Momo swiftly turned around to meet face-to-face with Toshirou Hitsugaya. "Ahh! You, you scared me, Shirou-chan!" Momo exclaimed. Toshirou snapped, "Hey! I told you not to call me that stupid nickname!"

"Oh, but you used to let me call you that all the time..." protested Momo. "Yeah, when we were like three or four! And besides, you wouldn't want me calling you Bed-wetter Momo in front of other people, now would you???" Toshirou snapped. Momo pouted before saying, "Well, besides that, hi. I haven't seen you in awhile. How was your summer?" She had to admit, "Shirou-chan" looked pretty damned cute in that white Ralph Lauren polo shirt and black Giorgio Armani pants.

Toshirou shrugged, "Eh. I've been busy. You know how my dad is. I spent most of my summer in Shanghai because of my family's business." "Oh. I see...ahh! Did you get the text message from Rangiku-chan, Toshirou? You know, about...Rukia?" said Momo. Toshirou replied, "Yeah. You don't know for sure, though. That Matsumoto tends to send out false alarms."

"Yeah, but...what if it was Rukia?" asked Momo, biting her lip. "If it was, so what. It's just gonna be a brief shock, Momo." shrugged Toshirou dismissively. He could be so indifferent. Just then, Toshirou felt a small buzz, and from his pants pocket, he pulled out his black Treo and checked the text message he had just received.

"What does it say?" asked Momo, curiously. "...It's another message from Matsumoto about Rukia. Apparently, the Rukia look-alike came and disappeared as she had come. No one knows for sure." answered Toshirou, putting his phone back in his pocket. He had never really cared for the gossip Rangiku spread. He had never even really known Rukia Kuchiki, either. He was always invited to parties and the like, but he had never really interacted with the former it girl.


Instant Message: OrihimeInoue

OrihimeInoue: Ran! What's this bullshit I hear about Rukia back in NY?!

RangikuMatsumoto: Hey, hey, for all you know, it really could be bullshit. I could be wrong.

OrihimeInoue: First, my bf goes missing. Now, I hear rumors of HER presence in my party! This just sucks!

RangikuMatsumoto: Orihime! U need to take a chill pill. Just relax. I don't think it was really her, anyway. Just concentrate on the party, okay?

OrihimeInoue: W/e.


Orihime bit her lip, in both worry and fury. She couldn't believe it! During freshman year, Rukia was her best friend, but was expelled from school for hosting a wild party on school grounds which resulted in a vicious fire. At first, Orihime, like Momo was depressed at their friend's return to Tokyo, and the beginning of sophomore year seemed dull. However, as the year went by, her feelings changed. Suddenly, Orihime was standing at number one, the top. And now, as she would become a junior tomorrow, Orihime didn't know about Momo, but she was enjoying the fact that she was now the one in control.

All over the school, Orihime was the one with the best looks, best body, best clothes, best this, best that. No one could defeat her in anything. She knew it was mean of her to think that way, but the dead truth was, Orihime, Rukia, and Momo just weren't in Kindergarten or middle school anymore. But now! After one year, Rukia returned! And just like that, the spotlight returned its focus on Rukia once again!

It ticked her off, this rumor. No matter how much of a rumor it was, and its high chance of being false, Orihime was still worried. However, Orihime decided to push the troubling thought aside, and her focus returned back to the party. No way Rukia was back. Tomorrow was the first day of school, and the queen would be going back to take place on her rightful throne. With that, Orihime clicked away in her black Miu Miu shoes.


Instant Message: IchigoKurosaki

IchigoKurosaki: Rukia came back?

RangikuMatsumoto: Hey, look who finally decided to speak up! Where r u, spiky? Ori's throwing a huge fit because of ur absence.

IchigoKurosaki: ...I'll deal with her. Anyway, Rukia's back?

RangikuMatsumoto: Pushy, aren't we? Well, I made sure again. I was wrong :P Too bad. Looks like it wasn't Rukia, it was some look-alike. I got everyone worked up for nuttin'.

IchigoKurosaki: Oh.

RangikuMatsumoto: But really, where were you, bucko? U should really get ur ass over to ur girlfriend's party, tho.

IchigoKurosaki: I'm busy with...stuff.

RangikuMatsumoto: Ho. Why so secretive? A dark affair? Watching porno? Discovered that ur actually gay?

IchigoKurosaki: U don't need to know.

RangikuMatsumoto: Y? Am I right?

IchigoKurosaki: Look, its 10:00 in the night. Go get drunk, kiss some guys, maybe even bring one home, and get some sleep. K?


So there you have it. You have just witnessed a glimpse of the elite in their finest. You haven't met them all, but you've met the important ones. ...What? What's that? ...Ahh, of course, I haven't forgotten about Miss Rukia. Is she back? Is she not? Will she come later? I'm not disclosing :) However, let me just tell you, this is gonna be one hell of a school year...

Author's Note: I really hope that this chapter wasn't too boring. If you think this fic is worth reading, please correct any mistakes you find and please keep on reading this fic. I also hope that nobody had trouble identifying any names of the characters (please tell me if you did), and hopefully, nobody had trouble with the format. Either way, despite its really boring start, I'll try to make the next chapter a lot more interesting and longer. Thanks for reading!