"I feel pretty, oh so pretty. I feel pretty and witty and gay! And I pity any girl that isn't me tonight," Katalina sang, skipping out of the accessory closet. Her waist was adorned by several different belts and bangles covered her arms up to her elbows. She waved around the scarves she was bringing Christina as she continued. "I feel charming, oh so charming. It's alarming how charming I fe—"
"Enough!" Christina cried, plucking a rust colored scarf from Katalina's hand. She tucked it through the belt loops of a beige skirt on one of the dummies. "Stay still for a moment and tell me what you think of this one," she implored. She watched Katalina do as she was told, tilting her head from side to side. "Well?"
Katalina pulled off some of the bracelets she wore and held them against the outfit. "There are virtually no sleeves on this shirt thing, so you've got plenty of room to stack up some of these babies."
Christina looked it over and nodded. "Why didn't I think of that?" Then she thought about what she had just said. "Wait, don't say anything." Over the past few days, Christina had come to learn many things about her new assistant. Katalina was always ready with a song, a smile, a word of advice, and a witty remark.
Brrrriiiiinnnng.
And she was always ready to answer the phone.
"Phone's ringing!" Katalina yelled, making a mad dash through racks of clothing and around the few people milling about the Closet. "Christina, it's Betty," she said, bringing back the phone. She rocked back and forth on the balls of her feet as she waited for her boss to be done.
Christina set the phone down and took the bracelets for the outfit from Katalina. "I need you to go get the measurements for the models for the Victoria Sanchez line from Betty. If you don't remember where her desk is, just ask Amanda. And be nice!" she advised. Every time those two spoke, nasty words were exchanged.
"Wouldn't it be nice if we were older, then we wouldn't have to wait so long," Katalina began, waving good-bye to Christina, who shook her head with a smile. She continued singing on her way to Betty's desk, pausing only to stick her tongue out at Amanda as she passed the circular receptionist desk. There, she had been nice enough. She hadn't said anything nasty or offending to the snooty blond.
Amanda's flawless face contorted in fury at the new girl's pertness. Betty had let Amanda walk all over her, but this girl put up resistance. And she wasn't even from Queens. Come to think of it, Amanda didn't have any idea where she was from. All that mattered was that she was a new enemy. Katalina had a pretty enough face to attract unwanted attention from a certain someone, and that was the last thing Amanda wanted.
"Oh, cute bracelets," a man with curly brown hair commented as he walked by Katalina.
"Thanks!" she replied, skipping backwards for a moment.
"Ugh," Amanda snarled. "Please tell me you're just being mean to her like we are with Betty."
A surprised expression appeared on Marc's face as he realized that he hadn't meant it in a mean way. "Actually, I think she can pull off the layered look. Others, I'm afraid, cannot," he said, motioning to the multiple bracelets on Amanda's wrists. He backed away from her desk as she snarled again. "Sorry, the truth hurts like wearing out-of-season heels." This time he was looking at one of the Mode girls walking by, who gave him an offended look.
"Marc!" a woman's voice snapped.
He jumped a little, and then slammed the papers he had brought over for Amanda on her desk. "Gotta go," he said as she snatched the papers away from him.
Katalina approached Betty's desk noiselessly, sneaking up behind her, and peered over her shoulder. "Whatcha doin'?" she asked. Betty didn't reply, but merely handed her the measurements. "Someone's a bit preoccupied," she observed.
Betty sighed and turned her swivel chair to face Katalina. "Have you ever been in love?" She didn't really expect an answer to such a personal question from someone she barely knew, but she got one.
"Yup. You take one look at that person, and all of a sudden time stands still. Your heart beats faster, your breath catches in your throat, your palms start to sweat, and all your mind can process is how much you just want to be with him. Or her, if you're a guy. But you're not, and I'm pretty sure you're into guys, so..."
Betty laughed. "Yes, I am very much into guys," she said. Her cheery mood passed over quickly and she returned to having a confused, wistful look on her face. Was Walter the one? Should she try for Henry? Should she just let things go and see what happened? She turned back to her computer and rested her forehead on her desk.
"Hear me when I say, when I say I believe. Nothing's gonna change, nothing's gonna change destiny. Whatever's meant to be will work out perfectly. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah."
"Do you have a song for everything?" Betty asked in amazement. Every time she was around this girl, she was singing. Betty knew it nearly drove Christina crazy, but the seamstress somehow managed to put up with it.
Katalina's shoulders rose up, and then settled back down. "Yeah, I guess. That's just the way my mind works. Just wait till I start quoting things. I sure hope Christina has lousy aim, 'cause she's sure to throw things at me."
Betty laughed again. "I'm sure she won't," she reassured her, smiling. As Katalina turned to leave, she stopped her. "Um, thanks. I know that was a really personal question, and I'm sorry if it made you uncomfortable."
"We're friends, Betty. That's what friends are for. But seriously, don't stress too much. It's not healthy," Katalina informed her.
As Katalina passed the circular desk on her way to the elevator, Amanda wanted very badly to say something spiteful, but simply resorted to childishly sticking her tongue out at Katalina's back.
