I woke up, mad, warm, and completely confused. I looked around; the room empty, and it was only seven in the morning. My modeling started tomorrow, and I was curiously walking around the spacious apartment. I checked in the living room with no one in it.

"Hello?" I called. I walked over to the big, open window. I looked down, seeing my ultra enemy and my best friend walking back to the building, laughing with Starbucks coffee in their hands.

About two minutes later, smiling Tierney and Paytin walked in with three cappuccinos, and a bag.

"Heyyy!" Paytin called. "How's my other bestie?"

"Fine." I muttered, trudging into my bathroom near my room.

"What's her problem?" I heard Tierney ask.

"She's just…I don't know. I think she's jealous of us and I bet she wants to kill me."

I spun around the corner, darting almost straight into a surprised Paytin. "I'm not jealous, Paytin. You're leaving me behind and letting that beast treat me like her loyal servant!" I snapped.

"Well, maybe if you'd quit going on about how I just made a mistake and ended up being roomies with you anyways, you'd realize how stupid and spoiled you sound," she looked me in the eye; just like Tierney gave me when I met her. "You know I can snap back at you just as fast as you do it to me, Leah Myer,"

"You shouldn't talk that way to yourself. Yeah, I know who I am, and obviously, you don't know who you are."

Just then, my phone buzzed anonymously.

Tierney Davis: shut-up, loser. Ur such a poser. Just give up & go home now b4 its 2 l8.

I glared at Tierney. Then, abruptly, I pulled up my phone to Paytin's face. She read the message, and turned around to Tierney.

"Omigod, Tierney. You just sent that to her? Stop before you get disqualified." She snapped. Then, settled, they went on gossiping.

When Paytin got up to go to the bathroom, Tierney snapped into full competitor diva mode. "Do you honestly think you're going to last or – more importantly – make it tomorrow? C'mon, really, I bet you used that grant that you got on that outfit from Macy's then bought some health insurance for yourself and bought some Barbie's to play with," she smirked. "Did you really, honestly think that you're actually worth it?"

"I didn't think, Tierney, and obviously you spent a long time in Macy's…I'm almost curious if you're trying to spread your own rumors on me. Oh, really, I'm flattered – and you still think Paytin's not going to be mad than ever if you talk like that to her best friend since third grade?" Tierney looked around for another burn to hit me with. "Yeah, I didn't think so. And not to mention, you're such a liar. You both are – this is such a funny joke! Where'd you find this one – at the I'm-a-sour-loser store?"

"Actually, if you didn't just notice who's right behind you, you'd still probably have a best friend." I turned, shocked, at a Paytin who looks like I…I…I hurt her like I just did now.

"What? Why are you being such a jerk to Tierney? By the way – Tierney is actually rich, and she actually does have friends. She doesn't lie, and she's obviously not a sour loser, either, Ms. I-hate-Paytin-because-she-made-one-mistake-and-it-turned-out-sucky-and-unworthy-for-me princess." She huffed.

She walked over to the door, and she nodded for Tierney. "And maybe – just maybe – you should just go home. By the way – if you see my old best friend – tell her I want her to take your place."

I couldn't believe this was happening so quickly. Tierney's trying to replace me – and Paytin's falling for it.

Paytin opened the door and said, "I'll see you later, Leah."

"When are you coming back?" I choked out, trying not to break down. I didn't know anybody here but Paytin, and we had shopping plans made for today.

"Later." Tierney said, and they linked arms and walked out. Tierney glanced at me, and mouthed "Told you so."

I flopped onto the soft, plush couch and breaking my skinniness, I ordered an English Vanilla cappuccino, powdered mini doughnuts, spinach and artichoke dip and boiled chips, and bacon and maple sausage links to the room. I didn't care what the person said when the person would come up; right now all I cared about watching was some comedy movie like Grown Ups or some kid movie like Despicable Me.

After about ten minutes of previews and ten minutes of Despicable Me, a heard a knock on the door, and some Asian girl's voice was on the other side. I paused the movie and yelled, "Come in!"

The lady was Asian, and she strolled the cart in, smiling. "Oh, honey, are you okay?" she asked in her high pitched voice.

"Yeah, no, not really. My roommate Tierney is stealing my best friend and setting me up."

"Ahhh, those best friend troubles. My daughter is twelve and her best friend is ditching her…very sad, very sad….well, I hope you feel better dear…and, Tierney Davis, you say is your roommate?"

"Yeah, and my other roommate and best friend is Paytin Marshall."

"Oh, I have seen them in the spa about five minutes ago. Tierney had escorts and everything. Watch out; Tierney Davis is the fashion director's daughter. Mrs. Davis buys the judges to make her win all the time. And Tierney's not even that pretty! She goes to my sister's spa here in the building once a week, and she does do everything!" the woman huffed.

"Well, Miss, here's your coffee," she handed me my coffee. "Artichoke and Spinach dip, sausages, and last but very not least, your yummy doughnuts." She smiled at me.

"Thanks," I said, sitting up, letting the grueling information sink in.

"You're very, very pretty, Miss. I hope you make it far," she said, and with that, she strolled out.

After I finished the movie, my food, and licked the dip's bowl out, the door opened. Tierney just came in with more streaks, and perfect manicured nails, about five big shopping bags. Paytin had coffee, three shopping bags, and manicured nails, but with a look that she was feeling guilty about the fight that took place earlier.

"Um, hi," she whispered. Tierney stopped laughing, and dropped her bags off by the island.

"Omigod? You're feeling sorry for…." She drifted over my pile. "And who did you invite?" she asked.

"Oh, myself, my dignity, and, oh, the occasional hell," I snapped. "Like you even care,"

Paytin swallowed slowly.

I got up, and trudged to my room, changed into skinny jeans, gray stilettos, and a gray Hollister t-shirt with a black overlap, and walked out of the room with my purse. "See you later," I snapped, and as I walked out I heard Paytin start talking loudly.

As I was going down the hallway, I realized I forgot my phone on the coffee table. As I turned back around the corner, I walked straight into a guy.

"Oh, sorry!" I said, panicking. Then, I looked up into Mr. Dreamy-Hottie's eyes, and I felt like falling over. He was incredibly hot: to muscle shirt to tan skin, blue eyes, and….everything.

"No, no, your fine. I was just…." He trailed, looking back. "Yeah, um, talking to a friend."

"Sorry, again," I said, walking down the hall. He turned around, and grabbed my hand.

Swoon.

"Hey, I'll see you around, I guess. Fashion Contest?"

"Yeah. I was just about to go shopping for tomorrow."

"I'll see you tomorrow, then…." He trailed, wondering my name.

"Leah." I said, smiling.

"Right – Leah?" he asked, grinning.

"Pretty much," and we broke apart. Remembering his face, he reminded me of Ronnie from Jersey Shore. And I reminded myself of Sam.

I started walking back to the room, and opened the door to a once crying Paytin, and a glaring Tierney.

"You're just protecting her from nothing. Just like last year, you're gonna go out on the second day," Tierney snapped. "I suggest you pay me back that $850 I just spent on your clothes and that $70 I spent on your spa treatments." Tierney glanced up at me, and softened.

"You're such a princess," I heard Paytin mutter.

"Hey, Leah! Wanna go to the jewelry downstairs? Omigod, I could find the best color for your skin tone!" She said like we were mega BFF's.

"Umm…" I trailed, but nodded, afraid if she said no or killed me.

I walked in farther, grabbed my phone and heard Paytin whisper, "I'm sorry," but I didn't say a word because I was sick of apologies and fights.

I nodded, and walked out with a cheerful Tierney, and, actually, Tierney was talking about juicy gossip I was in dire need of hearing about.

Every time she started a new topic, I thought about Paytin. That was me just a few hours ago, I thought, but why should you help her? She didn't for you; don't give it to her back!

So I went with my cruel gut, and felt stupid. I was such a good friend, wasn't I?

Just then, my irritable phone rang; a text from Paytin.

Paytin Marshall: im sorry, leah. Dont play along with that thing. Shes so self-centered!

I saw Tierney reading it too, so I quickly typed back a reasonable answer for all three of us, and said:

Leah Myer: dont tlk 2 me all. u left me, so y shuld i b nice 2 u? & rlly, i rlly wouldnt tlk like tht 2 urself. Give me some space 4 1nce.

Paytin Marshall: oh.

And I didn't get one response for a while, but Tierney suddenly said with happiness, "You're smarter than I thought."

And I left it at that, untouched, and unfeared.