UP IN SMOKE

STARBUCKS

BACK BOOTH

MARCH 5

9:00 PM

Claire rubbed her tired eyes as Cam slid into the booth with two steaming cups of coffee. She gratefully accepted it, and felt the leather jacket Cam had slid over her shoulders shift. She adjusted it as Cam idly ran his hands over the engagement ring on Claire's finger. Claire felt her stomach do a little flip, exactly like it had done at the age of 12. It really still amazed people that two people had lasted as a couple so long. And Claire was glad every day that it had.

Claire could feel exhaustion creep back. Every since the magazine party, Massie had been acting really strange. Over the years, Claire had become accustomed to Massie confiding in her, then lying to the rest of her friends. But for some reason, Massie wasn't spilling. And, she was completely paranoid of opening elevators, phone calls, and even e-mails. It was so bizarre, and no one could figure her out. And so, everyone had been running hard, trying to please Massie and get their boss back on track.

"So what do you think?"

Claire blinked, and felt hers face heat up. "What?"

Cam shook his head. "You. Me. Empire State Building…tomorrow?"

Claire felt herself smile, and for a moment she managed to chase away the stress of the day. The Empire State Building….it was so…perfect. Totally romantic, and, well, totally Cam.

"Of course."

"Cool."

Cam was silent for a minute, sipping his coffee. Finally, he spoke up.

"Hey, did you know Alicia and Josh went out to that new club last night?"

Claire shrugged. "Not surprising. Alicia always had a thing for him."

Cam sipped his coffee again. "Really? When Josh came back to watch T.V. on Derrick's plasma, he said Alicia flirted with every guy there and ignored him."

"If she doesn't like him why'd she go with him?"

"You're a girl, you tell me."

Claire bit her lip. "I dunno."

"Mm…..gracias…of course I took- alright. Adios."

A tall girl strode through the doors in a daring black dress that threatened to rip with every inch the girl took. Claire turned, and saw with a jolt it was……Melissa? Clair gave a small wave, but Melissa wasn't facing her direction, and she didn't slow down her slight strut through Starbucks. So Clair tried a different tactic.

"Hey!" Claire said. Suddenly, everyone grew silent. Melissa stopped. She turned towards Claire, and slowly pulled her sunglasses down to the bridge of her nose to give her a cold glare. Claire felt iciness flare off her glance.

She snapped her phone shut, tugged at her dress. "I'm sorry. Do I……know you?" She said. And then she turned and stalked off.

Cam glanced at Melissa, tried to ignore the great body, and sharply turned to look at Claire. "Who's that?"

Claire shook her that. "The new girl...but………," she chewed on her bottom lip."Maybe not."

Cam sighed. "Man, what a weird week."

MASSIE'S APARTMENT

MARCH 5

2:00 AM

"So, are you doing anything tomorrow….tonight?" Massie asked as she busily brushed her hair and blew on her nails.

"Yanno, Massie, when you called at 11:00 and said you wanted me to come over; I didn't think it would a girly-girl sleepover." Claire sighed and stretched out on the couch as Alicia painted her toenails.

"We needed a girl's night."

"Ah-greed," Dylan and Kristen said. Claire ignored them and answered Massie's question.

"Cam and I are going to the Empire State Building."

"OH! We should find you a dress." Massie jumped up and clapped her hands.

Alicia grinned. "I say we find you something nice to wear for Cam and the ESB."

"You don't need to-"

"YAY!" Massie sprang to her closet.

"You're scary when you're hyper and running on four hours of sleep," Claire muttered, but eyed the gorgeous shirts, dresses, and skinny jeans with excitement.

Massie gave an uncharacteristic giggle, and pulled out an orange cocktail dress, held it up to Claire, then tossed it to the side. She repeated the movement with shoes, pants, and accessories, until there was a mountain-high pile of designer clothes near her bed. Finally, she reached towards the back of her walk-in closet and returned with a soft blue racer-back mini dress, a pair of black jeans, and gold knee-high boots and held them up with a flourish.

Alicia clapped her hands. "Oooooo…Cam will be drooling!" She tilted her head to the side. "Wait- aren't those the boots I wore when I went out with Jo……" Her voice trailed off when everyone turned towards her.

"You went out with Josh?" Massie said.

"No…I was gonna say……………………………………Jo……slyn!" Alicia nodded. "Yeah, um, we went to some coffee hut and had……..coffee!"

Massie gave her a weird look. "And Joslyn is who?"

Alicia reddened. "A….friend! Uhh…I gotta pee!" And with that she dashed to the bathroom. Massie shook her head and turned towards Claire.

"Please don't act like that with Cam tomorrow."