Book 2: Stanford & Juilliard
Chapter 3: Spas & Makeover
"Ouch! Stop it. That hurts."
"Oh, would you quit whining? You wanted this to be done in the first place. So stop complaining."
"Yes, but I didn't know how much suffering I had to endure just for this to be accomplished."
"Well too bad. You made your choice, now you have to stick with it."
That was the last understandable thing said. The groaning sound was so discernible that it clouded the entire atmosphere of the dorm. The dorm in Stanford University that there were roommates in.
No matter how many times her hair was being pulled and brushed; the outcome of it always remained the same. Alice had enough of her non-stop complaining and her lack of results. She slammed the brush down onto the dressing table which in consequence made the dressing table rattle.
"That's it! This is evidently impossible. No matter how much I try, your hair is just as stubborn as a pack mule. Correction, just as stubborn as you are. You didn't want to get it done outside because you were afraid that someone would recognize you and make smart ass remarks. So you begged me to help you and…" Her grumble was cut off by Isabella trying to defend herself.
"I didn't beg. I merely asked for your assistance. And besides, it wasn't as if this was much of an inconvenience for you. Due to your love of fashion and makeovers, you immediately grabbed the opportunity with both arms. This was as much as a challenge for you as it was for me."
"Fine! You win on that argument. But unfortunately, I can't help you. No offense, but this is a catastrophe. Fortunately, we can seek professional help."
"Professional help? As in someone on the outside?"
"Yes, someone on the outside. Do you want your full body makeover or not?" All Isabella could do was nod. She was beyond terrified. She had never seen her friend in full wrath.
"Good! Now come on. We are going to a spa."
Isabella had never been to a spa before. Looks wasn't major priority in life. Until now.
As they drove to LaBelle Day Spas and Salons, Isabella wondered how she ever got lucky enough to have a friend like Alice.
Mary Alice Brandon is someone who is more than meets the eye. From afar, most people's first impression about her is that she is incredibly freaky. That might have something to do with her constant fuel of energy. She is unbelievably short and tiny. She has dark black hair which is cropped short and spiked at the tips. Her irises are dark brown with a hint of hazel lighting. Her upper lip is slightly fuller than her lower lip but fortunately, it's not that apparent. She has a huge aspiration in the course of fashion and styling. Her ideal career is to own her own boutique and run an irresistible fashion line.
Their journey to the spa went by in a blink of an eye. It was extremely fortunate of them to study in a college which was only 4 minutes from the nearest spa. During the weekends, most girls tend to spend their free time at this particular spa. It's exceptionally convenient and has a variety of treatments which sparks the local's interest.
They parked the car in an empty slot and admired the beauty of the structural compound. When they were inside, Alice headed over to the counter. Isabella just stood there in the middle of the foyer with an awe expression on her face. Everything was incredibly trendy and stylish. The floors were polished and covered with Carrara C tiles. These are Italian marble tiles that forever stay in fashion. Something Alice had constantly mentioned before. The walls were covered with Limonta wallpaper. Another Italian décor that highlighted the splendor of the spa. She was too busy gawking at the scene before her that she didn't hear Alice approach.
"Amazing isn't it? The luxuries of this tremendous spa. Aren't you lucky I brought you here?" Before she had a chance to reply, the lady at the counter diverted Alice's attention.
"Ms. Brandon, would you like your usual?"
"Yes please, but I would like to request a full package for my friend over here."
"Of course."
Isabella was staring wide-eyed as Alice's attention was redirected back to her.
"What?"
"Your usual? You've been here before?"
"Of course. How do you think I stay so dazzling? And besides, I used to come here every summer as a kid. My aunt would take me. She's a partner in the organization of LaBelle Day."
"Wow!" That was all that she managed to say. Her mind was completely stunned at this new found information.
One of the service girls led the way to a Room 101. It was a private room accommodated with all the necessary equipment for their treatment. The service girls handed two delicately looking white robes over to them.
"Make yourself comfortable. I'll be back with complimentary drinks."
Isabella waited until the girl had left so that they were alone. As she turned to face Alice, her frizzy hair was bouncing all over the place.
"Private room? Full package treatment? Complimentary drinks? You know, I can't afford this, right?"
"Isabella, quit worrying. All of this is on the house." She said before she positioned herself on an olive green cushion sofa.
"What do you mean 'on the house'?"
"I mean 'on the house'. A simpler definition would be free."
"You're pulling my leg, right?"
"Absolutely not. Why would I do that?
"But…but I can't accept this. This is too much."
"Oh, would you just stop? You're going to get worry lines. Just be reasonable and accept it. If you don't, you'll never get that full body makeover you requested. Now come on! Sit down. We are going to be here all day!"
In the end, Isabella had to accept the fact that she was about to be given a full package treatment for the cost of absolutely nothing. This is most definitely a memorable college moment.
They were now enjoying the luxuries of a body therapy session. Their bodies were fully relaxed and rested from their warm stone massage a few minutes ago. As they sat in a comfortable cobalt chair while sipping their peach ice lemon tea, the service girls were giving them a soothing foot massage treatment.
"So indulge me?"
"Pardon?"
"I'm curious. Why did you desire a full body makeover?"
Isabella let the answer float around in her mind before she replied.
"Well, remember Eddie?"
"Yeah! The guy who you made a promise to resume your relationship after college if you don't find your soul mate by then with and whose necklace you wouldn't stop wearing since you received it."
Isabella rarely glared at anyone because she had a pure, warm loving heart. But the way Alice said it, made it sound as though Eddie was a controlling, egotistical jerk.
"What? I just find the whole promise thing a little eccentric. Don't you? I mean, people should have the freedom of loving someone else without them being contracted to a promise."
"Your reasoning is acceptable but the fact is that I really love him. And I immensely feel that this is actually true love. Not some kind of high school fling. We've bonded and we've aided each other. There's an understanding that flows through us. I feel as though this is the real deal. He's my soul mate. But we both have our aspirations. We can't just toss them aside for love, no matter how pure it is. We've decided to fulfill our lifelong dreams and then, only resume the growth of our love."
"Yet, both of you are allowed to date free willingly knowing that the dates might not lead to anything at all."
"I never said that. The possibilities of something happening are slim but the odds are still there. If and only if, one of us finds someone they feel to be their soul mate, then the promise that was made would be abolished. But if nothing happens, then things are back to normal."
"Fine! What am I to judge? It's not as if I've experienced that kind of situation before."
Although Alice is stunningly gorgeous in her own way, she's only had a few boyfriends. Some of them were just one-shot dates and others lasted a little longer. But none of them seemed the true and perfect one for her.
"This promise between both of you is completely peculiar yet it is strangely romantic. I mean, even if your social life in college majorly stinks, your love life has already been covered. You practically have a husband waiting for you."
"I wouldn't result to husband. But it is kind of sweet, isn't it?"
"Most definitely! Anyway, you didn't answer my question."
"What question?"
"You know, why you opted for this full body makeover and what does Edward have to do with it?"
"Well as you said, this promise thing sort of resembles a marriage proposal, right?"
"Um…that's taking it a little too far, don't you think?"
"Fine! But it does have a striking resemblance. You have to agree on that." Alice just nodded in reply.
"Well in four years time, if we happen to meet again, I don't want to appear like a total loser with this nauseating complexion."
"What do you mean, 'If' you meet again?"
"As I said, if the whole promise thing doesn't work out as planned…"
"No! I meant, don't you still keep in touch with him? I mean, you'll still talk on the phone and everything, right?"
"Um…well, the phone calls between us came to a major halt due to the expensive phone bill received by both. So the only way we communicate is through online messaging."
"Right! But isn't he a nerd, just like you are?"
"I beg your pardon; we are not nerds and geeks. We are just intellectually sophisticated."
"Frankly, you are nerds and geeks."
"Then you can already identify the problem!"
"Not really. I mean, he's already seen how you look and he loves you for it. I don't understand why you want to change that."
"I don't know! I just want to impress him and become someone worth his love."
"His love has already been given to you. The promise between both of you is a huge example of that love."
"Ok, maybe it's not all about him. I just wanted a change. And college presented the perfect opportunity to attempt something new. To venture into the unknown. Experience the inevitable." Alice stared at her as though a third eye had grown in the middle of the other two.
"If that wasn't proof enough that you're a huge nerd then I don't know what is. I think your nose has been buried in the books for far too long, my friend. It is most definitely time for a transformation."
"Exactly my point…wait, what?! I am not a bookworm. I just enjoy reading the simplicity of the fiction world compared to the complexity of reality."
"Well unfortunately, we live in the real world. And in this world, looks, confidence and stunning personality are beyond anything. Besides, once this full body makeover is done, you'll be getting personal training from me on acting with full confidence. Once that's over, no living, breathing man can resist your absolute, fiery charm."
"I'm sensing a warning and dangerous vibe illuminating from you."
"Well too bad, girly. Now just relax and let your treatment begin."
Once the service girls were done giving them their foot treatment, Isabella and Alice were asked to lie on a soft smooth silky white massage board. There, they were given the Lymphatic Drainage treatment, which gently and effectively flush out toxins from their skin before experiencing the Custom - Blended Swedish body therapy session. Their bodies were de-stressed with classical massage strokes of individual intensity and aromatic lavender extracts.
Next, they were given custom LaBelle Day facial treatment. Both of them opted for the purification session. This treatment is excellent for banishing acne blemishes for good. It is accomplished through cleansing, alpha exfoliation, massage, frozen dried collagen seaweed extraction, a soothing gel masks and advanced serum. This session was extremely long but definitely worth the time.
The next session was something Isabella had not been accepting. Something that was just too agonizing to imagine. Before she could protest, Alice had dragged her across the room and shoved her into a smaller private where a professional service girl was waiting.
Ooh! I wonder what it is. See if you could guess it as well. Thanks for those who read this story. Reviews are not complusory.
~*~ asn ~*~