Chapter 1:

Cobblestone Streets

"MASSIE!" Dylan shouted above the buzz of the tourists. "MASSIE! OVER HERE!"

Massie glanced around the crowded cobblestone street. She thought she'd heard someone call her name. Directing her gaze to a red-haired girl, she smiled softly and pushed through the crowd to her friend.

"Dylan!" she smiled, giving the girl a once-over. "What are you doing here?" She brushed a piece of her brown hair out of her eyes, waiting for an answer.

"Mom suggested we stay in Italy for a while. She says after a few days walking the streets in the hot sun, I'd drop a few pounds." She rolled her eyes. "Or at least that's what she said. I think she has an interview or something and just decided to drag me along."

Massie laughed lightly. "Well, guess that's good enough for me." She put her right index finger to the corner of her mouth, looking over her friend again. "Turn," she commanded slowly, like a designer looking over their model.

Dylan smiled softly, holding in her giggle and performed a slow turn, popping a pose that resembled someone jumping out of a cake.

"Hmm... I see..." Massie clicked her tongue and tapped the corner of her mouth gently. "You have never been fat!" she nearly yelled, her brown eyes sparkling.

Dylan sighed, a small smile still on her face. "Whatever."

Massie nodded firmly, and pulled on her arm. "Cummon, let's go. I wanna check out one of these Gucci stores. They supposedly have the latest fashions a few weeks before America does," she tugged on Dylan's arm again and started toward the roadside store.

"Besides, I only have one day left of vaca. And I have got to get something exclusive for our Freshman year."

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Massie groaned under her breath as she heaved her shopping bags onto the couch in her hotel suite. She and Dylan had parted ways after their shopping was done, and none of the hotel employees had offered to help her. She let out an exasperated breath; she'd have to talk to her father about their defiance.

Massie silently pulled two bags out of the corner of her private room and started to sort various items into either. Ever since she'd been told of Kristen's 'state' she'd always buy her something when she went shopping. She'd even found some styling Pucci scarves and things if she still wanted to cover the hideous hair-cut she'd received.

When she was done, she lugged the bags back to the corner of the room and dove onto the bed, flipping open her laptop in one smooth movement.

"Be on. Be on. Be on," she chanted under her breath as she signed in. A smile crossed her face as she saw Claire's e-mail pop up under the 'Online' status title. She quickly typed in a message, hoping her neighbor would reply instantly.

Massiekur: CLAIRE! How's Bean?

It took a moment for Claire to reply, all the while Massie was nervously tapping her manicured fingernail on the edge of the computer.

Clairebear: Yea, she's fine - says hi

Massiekur: Good coming back 2morrow... how r things thr?

Clairebear: same ol' same ol'...

Massiekur: k.. listen, g2g.. goin o/ 2 eat.. tty in a few..

Clairebear: fine.

Massie shook her head and closed the laptop, packing it back in its case. She looked over at the tan arm chair, mainly at the dress that was draped across it. Sighing, she stalked over to it and carried it to the bathroom.

As she stepped back out, her hair washed, dried, and pulled back, wearing the dress and a pair of strappy Jimmy Choo shoes, she realized that she didn't really want to leave Italy. The realization of her going to highschool finally hit her and hard, too.

She would be a geek compared to the older girls, no matter what her popularity status was at OCD. The girls at OCDH wouldn't care that she was the proud leader of the Pretty Committee, in fact, they'd probably have a clique of their own. Biting her lip, she forced the thoughts out of her head and strode out into the hall to meet her parents and dine.

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AN: And there ya are. Okay, a few things. First of all, this is my first fanfic, so that's why the chapters may be short at first, that and I'm far from the plot at the moment, but I'm heading there. The chapters should get longer as we move on.

And most of the 'online slang' I use is what my friends and I use when we IM each other. I'm not going to have them use it all the time, so it shouldn't get too confusing.

Wicked Rae wrote all of this chapter.. Figured I'd give that credit to myself. xD Yes, there was a quick update this time because all we did to this chapter was edit it a bit.. didn't really add anything.. Please R&R to keep us going!