Chapter 2: Shimmering Red Pumps

While Betty pressed her finger on the button to the MODE floor in the elevator, she shivered at the cold she felt from being in wet clothes.

She was now two hours late to work because she had been walking down the street when it started raining cats and dogs. At first she wasn't that upset, because she managed to ditch the rain for a little bit, but then her phone slipped out of her hand and managed to slide across the pavement into a hole.

She had run in the rain to pick it up before it got too damaged but the darn thing was bedazzled so much it was like a protective shield. All thanks to her nephew.

She took out her phone from her pocket and saw that she had several missed calls. She didn't even care to see who they were from, so she just placed her phone back in her pocket.

At least one good thing that would happen today was she was going on a date with Henry. She smiled, but automatically her thoughts went to his slutty ex-girlfriend Charlie. Wow, she really needed to stop listening to Amanda.

"BETTYY!" Amanda said in happy tone that Betty had never heard from Amanda directed at her before. Was she dying or something and Amanda was happy?

"Uh...hey Amanda" she walked up to the donut and Amanda smiled and held out a small gift box. Betty smiled looking up at her "For me?" she asked in surprise. Amanda nodded with a grin. Betty undid the ribbon and opened the box to see a small picture frame with a photo of Amanda winking at her.

Betty giggled, shaking her head. It was such a silly gift, but the fact that Amanda got her a birthday gift made her forget all of the craziness of her morning.

"Thank you Amanda. That's really sweet!" she said thankfully. Amanda smirked "Now, you'll always get to see me at your desk."

Betty giggled "Thanks"

"What happened to you?" Amanda asked just now noticing her soaked hair and dripping clothes. "You look hideous."

Betty nodded looking down sadly "I know. I got stuck in the rain. I'm going on a date with Henry"

Amanda made a face "That dweeb. Oh Betty, why are you still with that douche? He's totally playing you!"

"Amanda, things are just...complicated"

Amanda rolled her eyes "Ya, ya, whatever" she got out of the donut and took Betty's hand forcefully leading her away "Where are we going?" Betty wondered.

"I'm fixing you up! You're going to look smokin tonight!"

Betty smiled brightly "Really? You're going to help me?" she asked in surprise at how nice Amanda was actually being to her.

Amanda shrugged "Eh...just don't go telling everybody! This stays between us."

"What about work? I should go check in with Daniel"

"Oh, he's not here"

"Where is he?"

Amanda had a slight smirk on her face, but shook her head "He just said he had an errand to run, and he would be back later."

"Ok...is he going out with Renee again?"

Amanda stopped and looked at her curiously. "Why do you ask?"

She shrugged "He's been with her a lot lately. And when you say errand, I know that means something else."

She shook her head "No, really, this time is different. And don't you worry about little Miss skank whore!" Amanda replied mischievously.

"What do you mean?"

Amanda continued walking again. "Oh, nothing." She took Betty's hand and pulled her into the Closet.

"Hello there, Betty...Amanda, don't you steal any more shoes!" she said to her before hugging Betty "Happy birthday, luv"

"Aw, thanks Christina" Betty hugged her tight, when Christina held her by her shoulders "Why are you all wet?"

"She got stuck in the rain. I'm giving her a makeover!" Amanda said as she already began taking Betty's blazer off. "AMANDA!" Betty said annoyed. Amanda looked at her.

Betty shook her head "Don't go crazy" she said with a smirk. Amanda grinned and zoomed through the Closet finding something for Betty to wear.

While Amanda was busying doing that, Christina handed Betty a gift. Betty's eyes lit up "Aww, Christinaaa!" she took it and tore open the wrapping paper and smiled brightly when she saw a Gucci handbag. "Oh, it's so pretty." Tears filled her eyes remembering how she told Christina how her mother gave her a bag like that. She was about to hug Christina when she dropped her arms down remembering she was still wet.

"Oh, come here, luv!" Christina pulled her in for a hug. Betty smiled "Thank you."

"I found something! It's perfect!" Amanda squealed and then ran over to where the shoes were and picked out a pair of shoes. "Here, go wear these!" she said forcefully shoving the things in Betty's arms.

Betty looked at her in shock "Wait, there is actually something in my size?" she said in surprise. Amanda looked down guiltily. "Betty, I always make fun of you, but you're not that big. You just wear big clothes."

Christina gave Betty a look rolling her eyes. Betty patted Amanda's arm before going behind the curtain to try on the dress Amanda selected.

"NO SOCKS!" She heard Amanda shout to her. Betty laughed as she looked at the dress her crazy co-worker selected. It was a mid-length A-line dress with alternating red and pink horizontal stripes. She was surprised they even had something this bold and bright at MODE. And that Amanda selected it for her to wear. It was pretty. She liked it.

As she slipped on the dress, she smiled happily. This birthday wasn't turning out so bad after all. She slipped her foot into one of the shimmering red pumps Amanda chose. As she looked at the shoe on her feet, she felt...she felt fierce. The shoes were so pretty. And had a heel that was a little taller than she was used to, but she liked them so much.

As she stepped out from behind the curtain, Christina and Amanda looked at her with bright smiles. "Yay, you're like my own Mexican Barbie!" Amanda said as she ran over to her.

Betty disregarded her comment. "We have to fix your hair and make-up!" Amanda added.

"You look very pretty, Betty" Christina said. "How does MODE have a dress like this?" Betty asked in wonder.

"It's a reject! Wilhelmina nearly exploded when she saw the stripes, not to mention the colors." Amanda stated factually.

"I like it" Betty said as she took another glance at the dress.

"I think it was made for you" Christina said observantly.

"I agree, it's so you, but still stylish enough to be...not hideous!" Amanda said as she plugged in the hair dryer she somehow found.

When Amanda had finished with Betty's hair and make-up, Amanda and Christina had bright smiles on their faces.

"Oh Betty...you actually look like you belong here now!" Amanda said wistfully. "I agree, luv, you look great!" Christina added.

Betty smiled, but then Amanda shoved her in front of the full length mirror. Betty's eyes went wide in surprise "Woww..."

Amanda and Christina grinned looking to each other.

As Betty looked at her reflection she was surprised how nice she looked. The dress looked pretty and her hair was in such gorgeous braids that cascaded in curls like a waterfall. She always saw that Amanda had beautiful braids in her hair, and she had actually done it for her. And she even put in a small sparkly clip in the center braid.

And the makeup was so pretty. She had applied a very light purple eye shadow with black liner and pink lip gloss, "I...I'm actually..."

"You're pretty! Which is totally not fair, because you look gorgeous, and not to mention you have three guys crushing on you!" she stated in annoyance.

Betty looked at her "What?"

Amanda rolled her eyes "That dork you think loves you but has a slut-face baby mama, not to mention that sandwich guy that is always drooling over you."

"Who is the third guy?" she asked in confusion.

Amanda had a sly looking grin cross her face "I'll leave that for you to find out" she said with a wink. "Can you lose the glasses? They totally mess up the look! And oh, the braces! Try not to smile too big!"

"Oh don't be daft, you look beautiful, Betty" Christina said as she stepped beside her to place her arm around her supporting.

"Thanks...and thanks Amanda for...trying to help."

Amanda nodded "My work here is done! Bye!"

She sashayed away, but looked back shooting Betty a flirty wink. "Wait till you see the third guy!" she said with a smirk and continued walking.

Betty looked to Christina "Who do you think she is talking about?"

"Who knows love, whenever that one goes yappin away, I try not to listen"

Betty shrugged and looked at herself in the mirror again. She smiled and actually felt pretty. Happy birthday to me, she thought to herself. She looked at the pumps she was wearing in the mirror and she seriously felt so...confident and...Kind of hot wearing shoes like that. She knew she was stupid to think that. Her? Betty? Hot? Yeah,right!

Curiosity definitely got the better of her wondering who Amanda's third 'crush' was for her. Walter? She thought, disgustedly. She shook her head.

She didn't know any other guys...well, beside Daniel. And that was so the last guy that would ever have a crush on her.

Thinking of Daniel, where was he? He'd been out this whole time?

She wondered where he was, and what 'errand' he had to run. She didn't know why she felt a little disappointed with the thought that he might be with Renee. She was the one who told him he should give her a shot. Now, she wondered what she was thinking. She sighed.

She was curious what Henry would think when he saw her. She smiled brightly and headed to her desk, feeling a lot more optimistic for the day than she had earlier.