Chapter 4

"Chin up, babycakes," Seth said as he tilted Marissa's chin upwards. "Now, clench your cheeks."

Marissa did what was instructed as both Seth and Zach gave a loud, overtly dramatic sigh at the sight of Marissa's hollow cheeks.

"Not those! These," Seth slapped her ass cheeks.

Marissa went wide-eyed and jumped slightly; Zach came up to her and placed his hands on her hips, twirling her around. "Now try to walk."

The brunette gave them a perplexed look. "Walk? Walk, how?"

"Strut your stuff as if you own the catwalk," Seth replied. "Like this," he said as the Jewish stylist began walking fiercely in a straight line, with his legs lifting up slightly of the ground. He stopped after a few feet and struck a posed before turning around and strutting back with élan and grace.

"Tadaa!" Seth exclaimed, throwing his arms to the air as his assistant applauded.

"You such a diva!" Zach said, at awed with his boss. "That was fantabulous!"

"Oh, I know…" He spun around to face Marissa pursing his lips a little bit. "Now, babycakes, follow my example and show us your best walk."

Marissa frowned as Zach gave her some support, "Go on! Don't be shy! Remember you are the thing!"

With that, Marissa grudgingly started to strutted down in a neat, straight line. Seth and Zach eyed her critically. "Ah, ah, ah…posture."

The lanky brunette straightened her back at Seth's command and then halted for a moment, jutting hips to the left and then, to the right before turning, heading back to her original position.

"Excellent! You're a fast leaner!"

"Now, follow us and bloooowwww everyone away, babycakes!" Seth exclaimed as she sashayed out Posh's dressing room with Zach and Marissa in tow. "I can't wait to see their faces when they look at you, Marissa!"

I don't care what everyone thinks, Marissa thought to herself. Just…her.

&&&&

Alex held her cell phone at a distance as she rolled her eyes when she heard Hailey's shrill voice over the receiver. She just finished a two-hour lunch with Johnny at Fred's, since he had another meeting downtown, Alex headed back to Harper-Nichol's headquarters at a quarter past four. When she alighted from the black Mercedes, her sister called. Being the supportive sister she always was, Alex answered the call. Now walking to the elevator, Hailey practically shouted into the phone.

"Omigod, omigod, omigod! Alex! Guess what? I have an appearance on Letterman this Friday night!"

Oh god, the blonde thought. Here we go again.

"Can you believe it?!"

Alex replied with fake enthusiasm, "Yeah, of course!" Even though her tone lacked sincerity, her loud voice makes up for it.

"Aaaahhh! I'm so thrilled! Alex, I haven't been invited to Letterman's for close to three years now. And suddenly after the page six article, I'm back on track to being an A-Lister again!"

"Congrats, to you Hailey," Alex sang back.

"Omigod, omigod, omigod! I've got to call Kevin, and Jess…EVERYONE!"

Then the blonde heard a click sound. Hailey ended the call, not that Alex was complaining. Her sister could be somewhat tiresome to her. Exhaling a sigh, she waited for the elevator to reach the ground floor. Impatient, the blonde repeatedly pressed the down. She knows it will not make the lift reached faster, but it makes her seemed more involved. And to her relief, Alex heard the ding sound a minute later. The door opened and she stepped into the elevator before pressing the sixtieth button.

&&&&

On the fortieth floor, Marissa, Seth and Zach waited for the lift. The head stylist clapped his hands together when the elevator reached the floor. The door opened and Seth walked into it with a slight bounce in his steps. Zach and Marissa mirrored his actions – except for the bouncing part on the behalf of the lanky girl.

"Munchkins!" Seth exclaimed when his eyes set upon his former stepsister. "It's so good to see you!" Seth leaned forward and began air-kissing both Alex's cheeks.

"Hey! Sethipoo, Zach," the blonde greeted with a warm smile. "…Umm…" she trailed off when she noticed a presence of a tall girl she couldn't quite place.

The girl stared to the ground as Alex tried to recall why she looked so familiar. Suddenly, the girl in question lifted up her chin and sent Alex a crooked grin. The blonde's jaw went slightly slacked when she noticed Marissa - a more gorgeous looking Marissa. Marissa, in a fucking Chanel dress and heels!

Recovering from her trance, Alex spoke, "Holy guacamole! You're Marissa…You look…great. You look great, great…" The brunette gave a shy smile as both the gay men beamed. "Not that you didn't look great before," Alex corrected herself, "But, better. Greater…great! Just, great, great…"

Seth saw the blonde repeatedly bopped her head up and down as she rambled. "Just great? Three years in a magazine business and that's all you could came up with? Great? My, my, Alex… isn't your vocabulary very wide," he said in a teasing manner.

"I happen to think she's gorgeous," Zach drawled.

Marissa turned two shades redder at Zach's comment. Alex found the sight utterly adorable. She grinned, "You look…beautiful."

Marissa's heart surged as she stared at Alex's face. The brunette inwardly smiled, knowing that the blonde's comment was sincere.

When the brunette and the two men weren't aware, Alex stole glances at Marissa.

&&&&

Meanwhile at Kirsten's office suite, her senior assistant and Summer were having another conversation about…guess what, the Birkin bag – yet, again.

"Marissa don't know what's a BIRKIN?"

"I know! I had the same reaction too!"

"...I'm actually, speechless…" Anna remarked.

"We seriously need to help Marissa. Her fashion IQ is…nil!"

"Exactly! I almost cringed at what she wore today! A fucking oxford shirt and baggy trousers…"

Anna was cut off by Summer's gasped. "No way!"

"Wait, you haven't heard the most awful part yet," Anna told Summer.

"That's not the worse?" the brunette questioned as Anna shook her head.

"Okay, I want you to breathe first."

Summer inhaled large amount of air.

"She wore an one inch cord shoe!"

The brunette gasped again and Anna began to speak , "I know! What was she thinking? This is…"

The blonde trailed off as her mouth hung opened. Summer stared Anna as she asked, "What?"

"Turn around."

Summer did just that and immediately her mouth formed a perfect 'O' shape at the sight of Marissa in an all white day dress and calf sandals. Her hair was made more stylish with the blunt bangs that only made her cheekbones stood out more.

"Holy cow…"

"Holy cow indeed," Summer added.

Marissa walked in an ostentatious yet casual manner, tossing her caramel colored, shiny mane, before placing herself gracefully on her swivel chair.

Anna stuttered, "Is…is th…that the latest…"

"Chanel dress? Yes," Marissa finished with a lopsided grin.

Summer rushed forward to where Marissa sat before yanking her off the chair. Summer's eyes scanned crazily over the taller brunette's tall frame. "Omigod! Marissa! You look fab!" The brunette jolted when Summer smacked her ass. "Who would have thought Marissa Cooper has a bootie!"

"Yeah…you do look nice," Anna admitted. Noticed how she used the word nice, instead of fabulous. Jealous much? "But, you could afford to loss some weight," she sneered.

Marissa rolled her eyes to the back of her head.

&&&&

"So, what's for dinner?" Marissa asked as she plopped down the couch after a hard day's work. Maybe not much work was being done, since she was busy being a science project for two exceptionally fashionable men.

Taylor who was busy stirring the pasta sauce came out of the kitchen. The air stewardess was floored when she noticed her friend who looked like she just came out from a page of a fashion magazine. And when Marissa turned around to face her, Taylor let out a loud gasp. Then, she began to hyperventilate, fanning herself. Marissa rushed to her friend's aid.

"Breath Taylor, breath."

Still, Taylor was acting like a guppy deprived of air.

"O…my…god…" she stuttered.

"Omigod, what?" Marissa questioned, still unaware that she was the cause of her friend's current state.

"Omigod! Omigod! Omi freaking god!"

"What? Taylor, omigod what?"

Taylor pointed her index finger to the taller brunette. "You! Omigod, you!" She fling the stirrer she was holding on, carelessly and began examining Marissa as she emitted gasping sounds from her mouth. Taylor kept twirling Marissa around as she looked upon the brunette's drastic change – wide eyed.

"What happened to you, Marissa? What happened to my mallrat friend?"

"Hey! I take offence to that mallrat comment."

Taylor rolled her eyes, "Well, your wardrobe do make you look like some girl who just did shopping at Payless or Sears." Then she continued, "But this…this is…I'm lost for words! And that's astounding since I always have something to say."

"I'll take it as a compliment," Marissa droned.

"It is! Marissa honey, you look like a glamazon!" Taylor gasped, "Are these Chanel?"

"Yes, I was an experiment today…at work."

"Well, thank god for the experiment!"

As Marissa was about to say something else, her cell phone vibrated across the coffee table. TEXT MESSAGE appeared on the phone's screen. After a moment's hesitation, Marissa looked at the screen and hit the read button.

Din 2nite 9pm? Cip dwntwn. See you there!

A frown appeared on her face as she tried to decipher the message.

"What did it said?" Taylor questioned.

"I couldn't really understand it. It's like…alien codeword or something."

"Oh, try dialing the number that sent you the message."

The brunette did what was suggested by Taylor and immediately she heard a breathless girl answered the phone.

"Hey! Marissa! What's up? You in for tonight?"

"Uh, hi Summer," Marissa answered as she recognized the voice.

"So you in?"

"In for what?"

"Dinner! We're having a dinner at Cipriani downtown. Me, Alex, Anna, Seth and Zach. You heard of it right?"

Even though Marissa has never heard of it, she lied, "Oh, ya. I've been there." She didn't want to seem more alienated and clueless than she already was. "But, do you mind if my friend tags along?"

"Fab! See you both in a couple of hours!" Summer screeched and hung up.

Marissa snapped her phone shut and spun around to face Taylor. "Where's Cipriani?"

"Sounds familiar," Taylor responded before she suddenly exclaimed, "Oh! Ooh…it's the Northern Italian restaurant at SoHo. My mother talks about it obsessively to me. She said I would never be a true New Yorker if I haven't dine there."

"Should I be upset that your mother who's a forty-something housewife living in Annandale-on Hudson knows about every cool place in this city, than us a couple of young adults living in Manhattan. We're completely clueless."

"Welcome to my life," Taylor sighed. "Why are we eating out anywhere? I've already cooked?"

Marissa couldn't tell the truth, and that she was actually going to some high-end restaurant for dinner to see a particular blonde. Instead she answered, "Nah, just wanted a change of taste. Summer told me it's their treat." Another lie.

"Plus, your mother would be so proud if you told her you've dine there."

Taylor thought about it for a moment. "I'll rack my wardrobe for something appropriate and decent to wear!"

Marissa beamed.

&&&&

"Marissa, over here!" Anna called, a champagne glass in one hand and a cigarette in the other. She was standing in the middle of the outdoor tables, leaning seductively against a chair. "Everyone's inside. I'm just having a smoke."

Just then, Summer came sashaying to where the trio stood. She leaned forward to Marissa for a double air kiss, which the brunette had no choice but to reciprocate.

"Glad you could make it," she sang merrily.

"Thanks for inviting us. I love it here!"

Taylor coughed at Marissa's reply. "Liar."

The tall brunette elbowed her roommate discreetly.

"Hi. I'm Summer," the assistant said holding out her hand for Taylor.

Marissa flushed. "Oh, how rude of me. Summer this is Taylor. Taylor this is Summer." They shook hands as Anna came up to them.

"Taylor, this is Anna," Marissa introduced as the blonde grabbed Taylor's wrist, staring at the bracelet.

"Wow! Fab bracelet!" The blonde girl exclaimed before she asked, "Is this Gucci? Wait don't answer that. Of course it's Gucci!"

"Thanks. My mother bought it for me last year as a birthday gift," Taylor said, clearly pleased. "And yes, of course it's Gucci! Like duh!"

Less than five minutes there, and already Taylor seemed like she fitted well with the crowd.

"I have to be honest with you, because I'm a very honest person," Anna said as Marissa rolled her eyes. "I thought you were like some fashion victim who thinks Forever 21 is couture," the blonde laughed, "I mean, when I first met Marissa she was a complete disaster! Not that I'm insulting you Marissa…"

"Nope, you meant it."

"But I'm so wrong! I love your style!"

Taylor beamed. "Thanks! I love yours-"

But before Taylor could finish, Seth came in from behind and pushed Anna away before engulfing Marissa in a warm embrace.

"Babycakes…glad you're joining us," Seth sang before inspecting Marissa's attire. She wore a indigo cigarette jeans with a Chloe top and Helmut Lang leather blazer. "You look good tonight. Guess that crash course earlier worked!"

"Let's go in!" Summer said. "Alex and Zach are waiting for us inside!"

Marissa's ear perked up when she heard Alex's name. She politely untangled herself from Seth and followed Summer as she heard Seth introducing himself to Taylor. Summer led Marissa to a table at the back corner where Alex and Zach was mingling with a blonde lady that she couldn't recognize. Zach hoisted himself effortlessly to his feet, kissed both Marissa's cheeks. The brunette braced herself for another Euro double kiss from Alex but the blonde surprised her by greeting with a peck on the cheek and a sweet smile. Which was a definite plus point in Marissa's book – since Alex seemed different than the others.

"Everyone, this is my friend Taylor," Marissa told the rest as Taylor came in with Anna, Seth and Summer. Zach pulled a seat for Marissa and Taylor, and the tall brunette wasn't complaining since she was sitting next to Alex. When everyone settled in, Anna surprised Marissa when she turned to face the blonde sitting next to her, giving her a kiss on the lips.

Alex noticed the startled look on Marissa's face. She leaned to her left and whispered, "That is Anna's girlfriend Rachel Hoffman. She works for the marketing department."

Marissa whispered back, "She's a lesbian?"

"Yeah, have been since I first met her."

"I totally didn't get the vibe from her," the brunette muttered as everyone busied themselves with the menu.

"There's something wrong with your gaydar then," Alex replied softly, giving Marissa a wink.

The brunette stared bewilderedly at Alex. Does she knows I'm into women? Marissa thought.

The waiter came in and everyone ordered their respective drinks. When it was Marissa's turn to order, she racked her brain trying to think of some remotely cool drink.

"Um, I'll have an Absolut and grapefruit juice, please," she mumbled.

Anna and her girlfriend shot Marissa a look. "Really?" Rachel asked, looking at the brunette wide-eyed. "I don't think they serve Absolut here."

"Why don't we start with a few bottles of wine," Alex suggested when she realized Rachel tried to embarrassed Marissa. She leaned over and whispered again, "Don't feel too bad. When I first came here, I ordered a beer."

Marissa laughed, thankful for Alex who made her feel comfortable. "Don't lie. You didn't ordered a beer," Marissa said with a crooked grin. "But thanks for making me feel better."

Alex flashed a charming smile. "No sweat. Superhero Alex to the rescue," she replied as Marissa chuckled.

"Dork."

&&&&

An hour later, everyone was engaged in a argument about which celebrities went under the knife. Just then, Alex's phone rang but everyone who so immersed in their discussion, they didn't even realized. Well, except Marissa – who kept stealing glances at Alex throughout dinner. She tried to hear what Alex was saying but it was almost impossible due to the noise the rest was making.

When Alex clicked the phone shut, Summer asked, apparently she appeared to be drunk, "Who was thaaaaaaat?"

"Um, Johnny," Alex replied, disinterestedly.

"Ooh," both Seth and Summer squealed. "Why aren't your gorgeous boyfriend with us tonight?" the former probed.

Marissa felt her heart sank when she found out Alex has a boyfriend. A gorgeous boyfriend according to Seth.

"Nothing big, he has a dinner meeting with some client."

"That's too bad. I love to stare at his lovely ass," Seth drawled.

"He does have a nice ass," Zach added. "Too bad he's boinking you!"

Summer laughed out loud at Zach's remark. She was the only one who knew Alex and Johnny hadn't had sex yet. The blonde's cheeks flushed when her assistant was laughing like a hyena, Alex prayed hard that Summer would not spill the beans.

"Let's finish up dinner and heeeaaaad to my place for…Karaaaaooookkkkeeee!" Seth bellowed, drunkenly.

&&&&

An hour later, they were settled in Seth's couch, sipping champagne while listening to Summer singing in a dreadful voice.

"I decided long ago, never to walk in anyone's shadows! If I fail, if I succeed, at least I live as I believe!" Summer sang flatly, effectively butchering the Whitney Houston's song.

"Oh god," Alex groaned, sinking deeper into the plush sofa as Marissa who was sitting next to her, mirrored Alex.

"No matter what they take from me ,they can't take away my dignity. Because the greatest love of all is happening to me," Summer continued the chorus as she danced around.

Marissa looked at everyone around her. Seth, Taylor and Zach, hang their hands to the air, swinging them left and right. Anna and Rachel was oblivious to everything as they was engaged in a heated make-out. Then, Marissa finally turned to Alex to see the blonde looking horrified.

"Are they always like this?"

"Oh yeah," Alex replied. "It's just the beginning. Brace yourself for the later part."

Marissa gulped as Summer went on screeching in the mike. "I found the greatest love of all. Inside of me, the greatest love of all is easy to achieve. Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of ALLLL!"

Seth, Taylor and Zach applauded as Summer kept bowing to show her appreciation.

"Way to go Polly Pockets," Seth slurred.

"My turn! My turn!" Taylor shouted, rushing to the center of the room.

"Your friend seemed to be enjoying herself," Alex remarked. "Fitting in very well."

"Oh yeah."

Just then, a familiar tune started playing as Alex and Marissa sunk deeper into the sofa.

"No matter how hard I try
, you keep pushing me aside. 
And I can't break through, there's no talking to you," Taylor sang. "It's so sa-aaa-ad that you're leaving. 
It takes tii-immm-ee to believe it. But after all is said and done, you're gonna be the lonely one," she gestured her arms wildly.

"Here comes the chorus, get ready," Alex told to Marissa.

"Oh! Hoo! Do you believe in life after love? I can feel something inside me say, I really don't think you're strong enough! No ooh!"

"Go Taylor!" Summer exclaimed, punching her fist to the air.