UP IN SMOKE
STARBUCKS
4:00 PM
Alicia sighed and rubbed her temple as she blew gently on her coffee mug. She glanced around her surroundings, watching rushed businessman grab their coffee and run. She ran a finger through her long, sleek hair and tried to ignore a couple stares she was getting from some of the hormone filled boys in the shop.
Alicia's cell phone rang, but she hit ignore. She was not in the mood to talk to moody Massie and listen to her tirades. Ever since Massie had become editor and chief of her own magazine, she had been hitting the temper button often. And she'd hit it hard.
The door dinged as an athletic looking blond bounded through, panting and holding a box of miniskirts and satin halter tops. The girl swung her head side to side, and once she spotted Alicia she ran to the booth, and sat herself heavily down on the seats. Alicia sighed and applied some more lipgloss, and tossed her starbucks in the trash can.
"Hey Kristen."
Kristen sighed, and reached across the table to grab Alicia's cell phone. She flipped it open and began to dial.
"Kristen!" Alicia said. Kristen didn't answer. The phone continued to ring as Alicia tried to get her cell pone back, but Kristen fought her off. Finally the person on the other end answered.
"Hello?"
"Hey Massie," Kristen said. "I found Alicia."
"Ehmagawd finally," Massie said. "Put her on the phone."
When Alicia had the phone back in her hand, she pushed her hair back and licked her lips before speaking. "Uh, Hi Massie."
"Hey. Listen, I have no time to talk. I really need you to find Dylan. Claire was helping her deliver the message to Samuel, but Claire left Dylan at some café and Dylan left."
"Couldn't you call her?"
"I don't have time, I need to start designing. Listen, after you find Dylan call me and you guys can go home. Come to the conference room tomorrow at ten. 'Kay?"
"'Kay."
The line clicked as Massie hung up, and Alicia turned to Kristen. Kristen had ordered a tea while Alicia had been talking, and she was stirring it slowly and tiredly. It had been a long day, full of Massie's rants and running back and forth between the magazine building and Samuel's studio.
After Kristen had sipped her tea for a few minutes, she pushed it aside and leaned forward. Alicia did the same.
"Yanno how Massie is always complaining about Sasha?" Kristen asked.
"Yeah."
"Well I found someone to replace her."
Alicia smiled. Although she was usually the one to give the gossip, sometimes it was fun to switch position. "Spill."
CLAIRE'S APARTMENT
6:00 PM
Claire sighed and kicked off her sneakers and felt the joy of her feet sinking into the plush carpet. It had taken a while to track down Dylan, and she was glad to be home. She padded over to the large couch and sank into it, ready to fall asleep. She wasn't in the mood to eat, and she felt her tired eyes closed.
Her cell phone rang. Springing up, Claire dragged herself to her purse and opened up her cell phone. She checked the caller ID, and when it wasn't one she recognized, she flung it back in her purse, and pulled herself to the couch again.
The doorbell rang. Claire didn't bother getting up. She wasn't in the mood for any interruptions. When a large knocking followed, Claire slowly opened her eyes, and unfolded herself from the couch and groggily went to the door. She reached her hand into a plastic bowl of gummies she always kept, and popped one into her mouth before answering.
She came face to face with Melissa Jordan Hawke, who smiled a stunning mouth of teeth and let herself into Claire's apartment. Claire stared dumfounded at the girl before opening the door wider. "Umm, I hate to be rude, but get out?"
The girl turned slowly. Then she bit her lip and tapped her heart. A Massie move, Claire thought. "Oh Sorry," She said. "I'm Melissa. Jordan Hawke. And I heard you were Massie Block's assistant?"
Claire blinked and let out a yawn. "I'm sorry, I'm tired, and I heard of you from Massie, but I really need sleep."
Melissa shrugged and smiled before striding to the door. "Understandable."
Claire closed the door, locked it, and settled back on the couch. Bizarre, she thought. Really, really bizarre.
Hey I know it's short, but this is just small filler I'm putting in to get the story rolling. Please do not comment harshly, this is not meant to be a great chapter, I'm just doing it to help the story take root.