Chapter 8

DP + RS

Part Two

Same evening as previous chapter

Georgia Iris Crenshaw was born in the early seventies to Thomas Jayne Crenshaw who

was quite a well known in science circles as an award winning scientist and wife

number one the kooky artist Savi Blake who never did take to the academia crowd and

rather liked lounging in the back of the room at the most stale boring parties ever and

smoke a cigarette from one of those old-fashioned long holders and go home to paint

parodies of the ever polite wives who were too smart to be domestic but too dumb to

have no vision. Whereas Mindy was born to fourth wife Constance Smith who was an

ophthalmologist and Mr. Crenshaw was one of her patients. Both girls were certain that

there were more siblings and Gigi had vague memories about her mother's flowy

caftans fitting tighter than normal before she was sent to juvenile hall for threatening to

blow up her math teacher's car before a few outcasts made it the "in thing" to do in the

late nineties. Mindy always felt that she was half of a missing twin but there was no real

proof of that and neither she or her sister could find anything on their snooping

weekends when anyone labeled 'parental' was out of town.

They were at a nearby motel as Gigi helped her sister transform into the perky All-

American girl.

"Mindy, --scratch that, I'm going to start calling you Rhoda—stop shaking."

"I—I don't know what movie Drake went in."

"Relax. I haven't lost my edge and neither have my ex-juvie friends we're all helping you

on this. The answer is simple."

"Gigi, do you care to share with me? Oh no! Not the smoky eye…I frigging hate that

look." Mindy commented when she saw her sister grab her expensive French eye

shadow compact.

"We'll page him. I'll use the natural colors and tone it down. Stay focused or you'll lose

him. Take a deep breath. Oh and by the way did you try out for cheerleader yet? My boy

Marcus has found some great yearbook photos that we can manipulate in Photoshop."

"I don't like being a pet project."

"No offense, honey, but you'd be lost without us and our theater workshop of goodies

that make Rhoda a reality."

"I'm sorry. I can't page Drake. I have to accidentally bump into him…"

"I KNOW THIS." Signs of her sister's famous temper rose to the surface, "Just relax,

okay? Since Dakota Wells is a spineless little twerp who is lucky that I didn't slash more

than her bicycle tires. Marcus has a cousin who goes to Megan's school who should be

at the Parker house now. She'll have Drake paged by pretending to be Megan…"

"That won't work…I miss my pearl necklace from Grandma."

"Talk in the VOICE. And you have to stop worrying about trivial things."

Mindy coughed and spoke in the soft mousy faux Southern tone that she despised.

"That won't work. Megan is smart. She'll know Marcus' cousin placed the call."

"There's always an alternative plan. I'll take care of that while you finish your lipstick…

wear non-abrasive colors."

"Thanks, Gigi. I know I'm a pain in the ass."

"No. You're just in love and we're all here to make sure you and Drake get together. So

Rhoda, I want you to leave your worries behind."

Mi---Rhoda used a skinny lipbrush to apply 'subtle pink dream #9' to her lips making

them plump and sensual.

She hated the purple silk camisole top but was glad to team it up with a pink v-neck

button down cardigan sweater. The skirt was gray and in the trendy ruffled layers and

Rhoda never thought she'd be happy to be wearing purple flip-flop sandals. The next

step was the perfume and Gigi brought a whole department store in her traincase.

Rhoda picked the one that smelled like granny smith apples because she was hungry.

"Okay, let's see."

Rhoda spun around in the chair.

"You look so good. I'm almost tempted to do you."

"Gigi, that's disgusting."

"It's a joke. You really should lighten up. It's all taken care of. If you are going to catch

Drake in the lobby we better get a move on."

"What about your stuff?"

"I paid for the whole night, Rhoda, since we're going to come back here and all…."

"OH NO! What if Drake wants to take me home?"

"We'll discuss that on the way. Now tell me your name."

"Rhoda Simmons."

"OOH, you're getting better putting that sashay into your walk. Don't forget your purse."

"A Chanel?"

"Only the best for you. Oh, I forgot the most important thing. If Drake wants to buy you a

pizza or whatever---Get the salad and a diet sod—or better yet a water. Eat ladylike."

"Check."

"Oh and forget your school knowledge. Rhoda doesn't know those things, she's just a

girl—you're just a girl."

"Who is going to get Drake Parker before the night is out."

"That's my girl! I missed being bad M-Rhoda. This has the potential to go very well

indeed." Gigi blew a bubble with her Carefree Sugarless bubblegum as she dropped

her sister off at the Premiere to get her Prince.

Drake's mood went from pissed over Megan crank paging him at the Premiere to a

state of bliss when he saw Rhoda on the payphone. Gigi recommded using a prop it

always added a deminsion.

"Rhoda? Hi."

Rhoda said goodbye to the non-existant person on the other line and hung up.

"Hello, Drake. I didn't know that you'd be here tonight."

"Me and Josh are seeing a movie."

"Oh, then I guess I should go, I don't want to ruin---"

"You're not ruining anything. Would you like to go out for a drive?"

"S," She started to say, but then stopped, "What about your brother?"

"He knows the way home."

"Yes, I would then."

He opened the door for her. "Great."

Drake hoped he wasn't smiling too much, but this woman was waking up parts in him

that he didn't even knew existed.

"I do have bad news though." she put the extra pout in her voice like Gigi taught her.

"What is it?" Drake asked as they walked to his Corvette.

"I can only stay out for two hours. My sister is picking me up at the Premiere."

"Well, I promise you, it'll be the best two hours of your life."

"And yours too, Drake."

He opened up the car door for her, "You have a pretty smile." He whispered in her

ear.

"Thank you," Rhoda shyly put her hand on Drake's knee and then quickly removed

it, "You're too sweet."

Drake smiled as he put the key into the ignition never fully realizing how empty and

hollow his social life was until tonight.

Rhoda was beginning to make all of the difference.