CONFESSIONS OF STELLA MALONE

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Chapter Two

When I made that phone call on Friday morning, I had never expected a call back. I mean, who would call Stella Malone after she had just flunked out of a high-profile job? Absolutely no one.

That's why I was thrilled when Monday morning rolled by a certain call came through. It was just nine-thirty in the morning and I was already bored. I should be at work at this time, I thought sadly to myself. Instead of a fitting Donna Karan skirt suit I should have been dressed in for work, I was in my silky pink pajama suit instead. Great, this was just magical. I would be living my life as a bum with supposedly "no more inspiration nor creativity" and—

Rrrrring.

Ooof, I jumped a bit in my seat, coffee staining my once perfectly fine pajamas. Great, I thought.

Rrrrring.

The phone rang again and realization hit me. It was nine-thirty in the morning and like I said, I should be at work at this time. An idea and a smile hit me. Maybe, just maybe, it was Peggy Sui begging for forgiveness and mercy. Psh, I'd show that sucker never to mess with Stella Malone.

Or maybe it was one of those surprise vacation getaways! You know the ones where they call and say, "Hey, congratulations! You've won a free trip to so-and-so just because we feel sorry for your lazy bum."

Or, maybe it was Saks Fifth Avenue calling me to be one of their wardrobe consultants! I mean, it didn't beat being Peggy Sui's personal stylist nor touring the world with her, but it was something.

The phone rang again, and I realized I better grab it before I missed my chance at something big. Excitedly, I scurried over not caring about my stained pajamas and answered.

"Hello? Yes, I'd love to be your personal stylist!" I squealed in the phone. Oh. My. God. I did not just say that. I felt a blush creeping on my cheeks. My eyes grew round as the real world sucked me back in. What was I thinking Saks Fifth would call me? Mentally, I slapped myself.

"Stella?" the other voice on the line called out. It was a woman's voice. She seemed to be whispering. "Stella, is that you? Are you drunk?"

I closed my eyes, embarrassed. Luckily, she couldn't see me. "Yes, this is Stella Malone speaking. Sorry about that. I realized I answered the wrong line. I didn't—"

Wait a minute. A thought crossed my mind. Hey now who in their right mind would accuse me of being drunk? I don't even drink. They don't even know me! I then realized I didn't even know who I was speaking to.

"May I ask who is calling?" I gathered myself together and asked in my most professional voice regardless of the fact that the caller had just accused me of being intoxicated.

"Stella," the voice answered again. "It's Macy."

An excitement went through me. "Macy?"

"Yes, it's me you silly goose," she joked. I smiled. She was still the same old Macy. At least one of us hadn't changed. She began to whisper again. "I saw that you called last week."

"Mhmm!" I responded as I fiddled with the telephone cord. An awkward silence crept between the two lines. Oh, it was my turn to talk wasn't it? Well, this was awkward. Well, here it goes…

"Yeah, I did call you," I spoke up and gathered myself together. "I just wanted to see what's up with you. We haven't had a chance to talk in a while. I mean, I know it's my fault with work always being crazy. But, you know I miss you though, right? And I regret not calling you and keeping in touch for the last four months."

I ended my long, once-hidden-but-now-revealed speech and realized every word I meant. I really did miss Macy and it was my fault for the lost contact. When she didn't speak up, I continued. "Well, I saw on the news that you're pregnant…Mace, I'm so happy for you."

I was about to speak up again, but for this time the sake of not being even more embarrassed. However, thank God, she spoke.

"Thank you. Me and Nick are so excited. But, I still miss you, Stells," she whispered, her voice more hoarse than before. Was she crying? Did my speech move her so close to tears?

"Macy, are you okay?" I asked gently not wanting to ruin the moment.

"Yeah, I'm fine," Macy responded from the other line, her voice growing a tad louder. "It's just that Nick was in the other room sleeping and I didn't want to wake him up. Sorry if you couldn't hear me!" She laughed.

By the end of her last sentence, her voice was up to its usual volume. Oh, and for a minute I thought she was crying…

"Anyway," the cheerful brunette began once again. "Aww, Stella! I'm so glad you called! And don't worry, I understand you've been busy working for Peggy and all! How is she? How's working as the number one, best personal stylist for the best-selling, only-selling international pop star doing for you?"

I laughed. I knew she was exaggerating…in a nice joking way. However, I also knew she was never a huge fan of Peggy's after Peggy so rudely dissed JONAS calling them (and I quote) the "Backstreet Boys of the Twenty-First Century". Of course, when Peggy called them that, the band shrugged it off, but after People and Rolling Stones magazines had a field day with it, that's when the real trouble started.

"I'm doing great, Mace. Working for Peggy is just…great." I couldn't tell her the truth. Not just yet anyway.

"Well, that's amazing, Stella!" She sounded so happy. And I knew for a fact that she was proud of me. She even told me that, well that's before I left for New York never to see their faces from time to time again. She understood my job required heavier hours and not much personal time. And I loved her for that. And that was why I couldn't tell her I lost my job.

"So, I know you're busy," Macy began. There was hesitancy in her voice. "But do you think you could take some time off and be my own personal stylist for a few days?"

Even from the other line, I could feel a smile growing on the pregnant woman's face. I could also feel a smile on my face. Would there be a Macy and Stella reunion? Just what was she saying exactly?

"Yes! Yes! I'd love to! Just tell me when and where!" I said excitedly. Finally, in a long time would I see a genuine face that I missed. The catching up would certainly do us good.

"Actually, you don't have to go anywhere! We're coming to New York for a few days for Nick's birthday! Isn't that exciting?" she squealed.

Suddenly, I felt my face grow warm. Oh shit. Nick's birthday was on the sixteenth of this month. That was only in a few days. If Nick and Macy were coming, would that mean—

"—oh, it's just me and Nick that are coming to town. Kevin is in Africa doing some charity work and—um, Joe is in LA for some children's event," Macy added quickly. I knew she did that on purpose as not to scare me by some kind of surprise arrival from Joe.

"That's great, Mace!" And this time, I truly meant it. It would just be me, Mace, and Nick. Just like old times.

"Hey listen, I have to go! But, I'll email you the details of our arrival, alright? Okay, Stella! Bye!" And with a click of a button, she was gone. I was left to myself staring at the phone. Did that really just happen? After four months of avoiding the people I loved, I would be seeing them once again.

I got up from the couch excitedly. I had better start my day. Didn't want to waste a perfectly good day off from work now, would I? I checked the clock. 9:50. So what would I do for the next twelve hours? I sighed knowing I had nothing to do. Hmm, where was Henry? Maybe I'd take him to Central Park and have a nice walk. That's what normal people did, right?


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