Chapter 5

"Quick, grab that table!!" Stella yelled.  It was lunch break on my first day at school and I was at Starbucks with Stella, Annie, Remy, and Charlotte.  Needless to say they were not at all thrilled.  I raced across the cafe and threw my Gucci tote on the glass table.  "Got it!" I said.  

Remy came walking over to the table holding a cardboard tray with five drinks.

"Thanks," I said, pulling out my steaming white chocolate mocha.  I take a sip.  

The rest of the girls walk over to the table and sit down.  I'm in between Stella and Annie.

My first day of high school in New York is actually going pretty well.  I got one compliment on my outfit [even though it was from a toh-tal dork] that Stella helped me pick out the night before. 

I'm wearing black Tory Burch flats, skinny black pants, a white blouse from Miu Miu, and a long Chanel necklace.  My hair is up in a chic bun.

"Hey, I was thinking, we need to have a sleepover Friday," Charlotte says taking a sip of her latte.

The other girls respond in a chorus of "yeas".  "Sure," I say.

"I was nawt talking to you," Charlotte snaps.

I purse my lips and take a sip of my latte.

"Anyway, we could do it at my house.  My parents are going out so the house would be empty."

The girls nod.

"We could invite some guys over too," she says.  "Like Riley and his hot friends."

I smile.  Riley.  He's so hot.  Why does he have to be dating the devil??

An overweight teenage girl walks by our table with her butt hanging out of her way too tight pants.  Apparently she's in our grade.  Charlotte and the other girls start giggling. 

"PDA," I say.  The girls stare at me blankly.  

"Public display of a**," I say.

Annie, who is sitting next to me, starts cracking up.

"Ehmagawd, that is the funniest thing I have ever heard!!  She snorts and her latte comes flying out of her nose.  The other girls start laughing. 

We talk for the next hour.  I talked to Annie a lot, I think she might actually like me now!!  She gave me her number and I gave her mine.  Fun, fun day!!

Chapter 4

The ride from the penthouse to Four Seasons took 10 minutes with traffic.  When we arrived I stepped out of the car after Stella.  We walked up the stone stairs and into the marble lobby of the hotel.  "Name please," a girl in a tight black dress suit says.  "DuPont plus 1," Stella calmly says.  "Go ahead," the girl motions towards the door.  

Stella can definitely tell I'm nervous as heck.  "Calm down Chlo, you look great.  Just be calm and cool and Charlotte will hopefully, hopefully accept you."  Or else my life is over, she mutters under her breath.

We walk into a huge ballroom and see hundreds of gorgeous girls and hot guys walking around in black and white and sipping virgin drinks.  I'm starting to feel a bit uncomfortable here....

"Stella!"  A high-pitched voice calls.  A bubbly blonde girl rushes over to us and air kisses Stella on both cheeks.  "Hey Remy!" Stella says.  "Ehmagawd, looking fab!"  "Same, loooove the MJ, new right?"  Remy flips her hair and looks at Stella.  "Awf course," she says.  "Is Char here?" 

"Yeah, she's over there flirting with some hot guys from Harrisons," she says.  "Let's go over," Stella says.  They start to walk over and I follow.  How could she not notice me standing here??

"Charlotte," Stella says.  "Love the Chanel, so hawt."  Charlotte air kisses both girls.  "You look great too."  She glances at me.  "Who's that?"  

"Oh, that's my cousin Chloe, Char.  She's living with us for a little bit, remember?"  

"Hi," I say.  "My name's Chloe Brooks.  Nice to meet you."

"Uh-huh,"  Charlotte says and looks away.  

"Cute dress," I say.

Charlotte looks at me. 

"Drinks anyone?"  A cute waiter comes over with a tray of virgin champagne.  I take a thin glass and sip.  Stella takes one as well, the other two girls are already sipping them.

"So Chloe, where are you from?"  Charlotte flips her hair.

"San Francisco," I reply.  "Pacific Heights," I add in case that helps, but it doesn't seem to.

"So why are you here again?" She asks.  "The last thing I need is another follower."  The other girls laugh.

"I'm a model," I say, hoping to impress them.  "I did some shoots for Hollister in California but I wanted to come to New York to do some more."

Charlotte tries not to look impressed but I can tell she is.  

"A model?"  She says.  "Wow."

"Yup," I say.  At that moment, a few hot guys come up to us.  I recognize one of them, Hottie #1 a.ka. Riley.

"Hey girls," Riley says.  He goes up to Charlotte, slides his hands around her thin waist, and gives her a wet kiss.  

"Hey sexy," she says.

Riley's dating her?!??!?!?!

"Stella, is that your cousin?" Riley says astounded.

"That would be her," Stella says smiling.  I can tell she's happy her plan is working.

"Hey pretty lady," he says coming over to me.  His line is cheesy but he's sooo cute!

"Hi," I say, my cheeks turning the color of raspberry sorbet.

Charlotte looks like she's about to stab me.

"Anybody want to get some food?" I ask trying to start a conversation.  

Charlotte shrugs.  "Whatever," she says and starts to walk towards the food, Riley's hand around her waist.  

The rest follows--Me, Stella, Annie, Remy, and some other guys.  I grab a small roastbeef sandwich and some caeser salad.  We sit down at a circular table, I sit between Stella and Riley.

"Aren't you glad I bought you new clothes?" Stella whispers in my ear looking at Riley.

"Toh-tally!  I so owe you.  Riley is sooo hot!"

"Yup," Stella says.  "I dated him last year for a bit.  He's like an amazing kisser."

"Do you have a boyfriend Stell?" I ask

"Nahh.  But i've got my eye on some."  She takes a sip of her "champagne."

The night flies by, I had a lot of fun and talked to a lot of people.  I don't think Charlotte likes me yet, but oh well.  Riley and I talked, and Charlotte looked really pissed.  Too bad, he's mine cuz!!  When we left Riley gave me a hug and we exchanged phone numbers.

Faa-bulous night!!

Chapter 3

"Pass the rolls," I say.  Me, Stella, and Aunt Rachel are sitting at the Bistro on Friday afternoon.  

Stella passes me a basket overflowing with warm soft rolls and I take one.

"So after this we're heading home right?"  We had already been to Neiman Marcus, Chanel, Barney's, and this huge Juicy Couture store which I fell in love with.  "Okay," Stella says.  "Did you get hair appointments at that place above Bergdorf Goodmans?"  

"Umm hmmm," Aunt Rachel says taking a bite of her savory crepe.

Just then I see two hotties coming into the restaurant. Hottie #1 has shaggy blonde hair and blue eyes, and hottie #2 has shaggy brown hair and green eyes.

"Heyyy, Riley, hey Sam!"  Stella calls.  She knows them??

Hotties 1&2 come over to our table.  "This is my cousin.  She's going to live with us for the next year or so."  Hottie #1 smiles at me.  "Hey," hottie #2 says.  "Hi, I'm Chloe." I say.  I feel so weird in J.Crew sitting next to two people decked out in designer.  I'm like last year's Abercrombie tote and they are this season's Gucci bag.

"Chloe, this is Sam and Riley.  They go to our brother school."  

They don't seem that interested in me.  I mean, I'm in a freakin outlet J.Crew top!

"Well we gotta go, see you later," Hottie #2 now called Sam says.

********************************************************************

Stella and I stroll down 5th avenue with new hairdos sipping the 5th white chocolate mocha i've had in the last 48 hours.  We had just finished getting our hair done and I was feeling a whole lot hotter.  I was wearing a Vanessa Bruno mini skirt, Jimmy Choo boots, and a vintage blouse from Chanel.  I went from J.Crew to Jimmy Choo in one day, and I've never felt better.  My once chipped light blue nails are now wearing a new french manicure and my light brown hair with split ends is now dyed a darker brown and blown out.

"Chloe, you look so hot right now," Stella says.  "I can't believe how different you look from yesterday."

I laugh.  "Thanks Stell.  I owe you."  I down my mocha and toss the paper cup in the garbage can.  We turn up the street and enter the apartment building.  When we reach the penthouse my Aunt gasps.

"Chloe!!  Oh my you look gorgeous!!"

"Thanks."  I put my Gucci(yes, it's real) bag on the counter and flip my new glossy brown hair.

"Thank John," I say.  "He's the one who did it all."

"We should go get ready, the party's starting in 3 hours," Stella says.  I walk into my room and set down my 5 shopping bags.  I open up my closest and take out my dress.

One hour later I am looking fabulous.  I'm wearing my boatneck dress which has an empire waist.  Tights with my Jimmy Choo mary jane pumps complete the look as well as a gray-pearl bracelet.  My hair is looking fabulous from my new color and blowout, and my face is done up by Chanel, Dior, and Nars.  I stepped out into the kitchen.  Stella was already standing there in a black dress from Marc Jacobs and pumps.  

"Chloe you look sexy!  All the boys are going to be all over you!"

I ran my fingers through my hair.  "Aww, thanks Stella.  You look fab as well."

"Hey, I have to show you my friends." Stella leads me into her room.  She turns on the iMac on her desk and clicks on iPhoto.  About 10 pictures of 4 girls show up-- pictures of them at a sleepover, dressed up, in bikinis by the pool.  

"These are the girls," Stella says.  She points to one with golden blonde girls.  She's wearing a medium pink.  "This is Remy.  She is super stylish."  She points to the girl next to her who has shoulder length caramel hair and is wearing a turquoise printed dress and what looks like Tory Burch flats. "This is Annie.  "And this," she points to a super-model gorgeous girl with long brunette hair in waves falling down over her B-cups.  "This is Charlotte, our alpha.  You must impress her or you will be a complete loser."  I gulped.  The last girl was Stella wearing a cute peridot sundress and flats.

Stella stepped back and looked at me.  "First impressions are everything Chlo," she said.  She ran her french-manicured fingers through my hair and smoothed my dress.  "I'd rate you a 9.4. That's good enough for Charlotte."  I smiled and took a deep breath.

"Alright, let's go."  She shuts off her computer.  "We're taking the limo, Isaac is waiting outside."  I grab my Chloe clutch and head out the door feeling a lot worse than I had been 30 minutes ago.

Chapter 2

"Hopeless, head over heels in the moment, I never thought that I'd get that Love Bug again."

The alarm on my sidekick set for 10am Eastern time goes off. 

"Morning Chlo," Stella opens the door to my room.  She's wearing sweats and a See by Chloe tee. "My mom's running down the street to Starbucks, what do you want?"

"Mmm, your mom's a lifesaver." I say.  "I'll have a grande white chocolate mocha."  

"Ohkay.  Come out when you're dressed."

I get out of bed and rummage through the suitcase that holds my clothes for a pair of It Jeans and a tee shirt from J.Crew that's written in French.  I slip on a pair of UGG moccasins and walk over to the full length mirror.  I pick up my brush and run it through my blonde hair.  Pretty good, I decide, and walk out to the kitchen.  Stella is sitting at the counter flipping through this month's Vogue.  

"Morning," I say.  I pad over to the counter and take the seat next to her.  "Oh, hey.  Mom should be back in a few minutes with our coffee."  She flips the page and rips it out.  "This is too cute," she says pointing at the MJ dress she ripped out of the magazine.  "So today we're going to go shopping around 5th avenue for clothes and your new bedding, and mom made reservations at this really nice restaurant for lunch.  We can also get manicures if we want."

"Sounds cool," I say.

"Oh, good Chloe, you're up."  Aunt Rachel comes through the door holding a try of 3 steaming drinks and a paper bag. "Stella, Cappachino, Chloe, White Chocolate Mocha," She says handing the white paper cups to us.  "I also picked up croissants." I enhale, the warm liquid erupting in my chest.  

"I told Chloe about our plans for the day," Stella says.  

"Ok, good."  Aunt Rachel sits down on the stool next to me a takes out a striped Coach planner. 

"I made the reservation for lunch at 1 and I just made appointments to get manicures at around 4."

I take a bite out of the buttery croissant and nod.  

"What time is your party tomorrow, Stella?"  Aunt Rachel asks. 

"Seven," Stella says taking a sip of her cappachino.  "I need a new dress though, I already wore that Marc Jacobs one to Jack's party last year."

"Alright," Aunt Rachel says.  "You need to get something too Chloe, right?"

I nod.  "My mom gave me 200 dollars cash and she got me a Visa."

"Oh, you'll definitely need more than that," Stella says.  "We can buy it for you."

We finish off our coffees and pastries.  I'm already feeling a lot more awake from the caffeine.  

"We're leaving in 5 minutes," Aunt Rachel calls from her bedroom.  I run into the bathroom and apply foundation, blush, mascara, eyeliner, eyeshadow, and lipgloss.  "Ready girls?" My aunt calls.  "Mmhmm," I say grabbing my fake Chanel bag I got in Chinatown.

"Chinatown?" Stella asks pointing at my bag.  How does she know??  "Uhh, yeah." I grimace. "Mom, we'll have to go into Chanel, OK??  The girls at school can tell a fake from a real one with no trouble and they'll make fun of you for the rest of the year if they know you have a fake handbag."  Stella opens the door and we ride down the elevator, into the lobby, and outside.  

After five minutes of walking we arrive at Fifth Avenue.  "Let's go to Neiman's first," Stella says pointing to a large building.  I am overwhelmed by the huge buildings and the hundreds of people walking down the sidewalk wearing designer and sipping lattes from Starbucks.

"Here we are." Aunt Rachel opens the huge glass doors and I'm in heaven.  I may not have designer, but I love designer.  Everything around me is probably hundreds of dollars, and I'm buying some of it!!

"Let's head over to dresses," Stella says.

"Ehmagawd Stell, this place is freakin amazing."  I take a sip of my 2nd white chocolate mocha of the day.

Stella laughs.  "Yeah, this place is pretty cool.  Oh my Chlo, this dress is calling for you!!"

She takes her non-holding-latte hand and points at an empire waist gray dress from Vera Wang.  "This is so chic, Chloe!  You want it?  It's only 800."

Oh.My.Gawd.  Stella is about to buy me a 800 dollar dress!

"Umm, you really don't have to do this for me," I stammer.

"Girl, you're my cousin.  Come on, let's go find shoes and a clutch to match. "

An hour and a half later I have a gray Chloe clutch with "Chloe" written on itin black, a pair of gray mary jane heels from Jimmy Choo, and a cute matching gray pearl bracelet and dangly earrings for the Bat Mitzvah.  I also picked up two other dresses, one from Chloe, one from Alice and Olivia, 5 pairs of pants from Marc Jacobs, a few tees from Juicy, tops from Anna Sui, Miu Miu, Sonia by Sonia Rykiel and Chloe, about 7 pairs of shoes from Prada, Juicy, MJ, Tory Burch, UGG, and Jimmy Choo, about 4 necklaces from Chanel and three pairs of earrings from Juicy and Chanel.  Stella also bought a dress and some shoes as well.

We walk up to the counter and I pull out my 200 dollars cash. 

"Don't worry about it Chlo, I'll pay for you.  She reaches into her Balenciaga bag and pulls out a hot pink credit card.  She hands it to the lady behind the counter.  After exactly 4 minutes and 12 seconds of scanning my clothes she points to the receipt.  "Ten thousand four hundred and twenty-seven," She says and swipes her card.  She hands 3 bulging bags over the counter.  We each grab one.

"Let's head over to Chanel, I need some makeup and handbags.  And we can get some for Chloe."

"Thank you so much for buying me all of that stuff," I say.  

"No problem Chloe,"  Aunt Rachel says.

We are now standing in front of a 3 story Chanel building which I have nicknamed Chanel Land.  "Mom, can you pick me up some mascara and eyeliner.  Get Chloe some lipgloss, eyeliner, and foundation.  We're going to head over to bags."

"This place is insane!!  I'm in Chanel heaven," I say.  

"Haha, yeah, it's pretty cool."  She stops in front of a handbag display. 

"Which one do you like?" She asks.

I pick out a black quilted bag with two Cs on the front in white.  

"Cuh-yoot!" Stella says.  "I have one like that."  She looks around a bit more.  

"What about this one?"  She points to a smaller gray bag with some sparkles.  "I've never seen it before, I think it just came in."

"Oh-kayy," I say and pick up the bag.  

We head up to the counter.  "Two thousand ten," the lady says and hands us two big bags with CHANEL written on them.  We walk out of Chanel.  I feel so unfashionable in my iT jeans and J.Crew tee.  I'm super pretty, but I'm not that stylish because my parents don't like paying for clothes.  I really want to change into my new clothes so I fit in!!  Stella is walking beside me in tights, jimmy choos, and a long coat from Oscar de la Renta.  Her nails are perfectly done and her hair is in perfect curls.  Me?  My nails are wearing a light blue Essie that is chipped and my hair is down.  I guess i'll have to change that.

Introduction

This is my story of going  to New York to live with my cousin Stella and my Aunt Rachel.  After I was scouted out by Hollister 3 months ago in the mall, I have been wanting to go to New York to model.  I come from a middle class family living in a town house in the city of San Francisco, and I don't have too much designer.  I'll be living in the middle of Manhattan and with the girls from the elite Miss Van Willerton's school for girls.   Follow me as I learn to live like the elite, and let a boy change me.  Will it be for good or worse??  The only way to find out is to read.........

[[This is a fictional story]].

Chapter 1

I step off the plane Chloe bag in one hand, a bottle of Fiji water in the other.  I whip on my oversized Gucci sunglasses and begin my way down the cool steel stairs.  After my 7  hour flight from San Francisco to New York, I was not looking my hottest.  I basically run into the baggage center and set my tote down.  I wait there until the buzzer starts and the bags start coming.  Three minutes later I spot my LV suitcase, and two minutes later, another comes along.  Now all I need is my trunk.  I sit down, open up the latest VOGUE, and start flipping through it.  

"Hey girl!!!"  A familiar voice yells.  "Ehmagawd, Stella!!!"  I jumped up and hugged my gorgeous cousin.  "Oh my Chloe I missed you so much!!"  Stella hugged me tighter.  

"I am sooo glad your here!!  I've been counting down the days since August!!"  

"I am so glad to see you!!  I may-jorly need a Starbucks!!"  

"There's one on the way home, we can definitely get one for you hon."  Stella looked at me.

"I am in love with your outfit!"  I looked down at my pink Alice and Olivia dress and silver MJ flats my Aunt had sent me for my birthday.

"Chloe, look who it is!!!"  My Aunt Rachel walks into the terminal.  "Ehmagawd Aunt Rachel!!"  I yelp and throw my arms around her.  She smells like Chanel No.5. "You look gorgeous Chloe," She says.  I smile and run my chipped Essie painted nails through my hair.  "Now let's get your bags and go out to the car, I have the heat running."  She picks up my bags and the three of us walk out.

I pull on my Wayfarers as I step outside.  It's sunny but really chilly.  Aunt Rachel opens the trunks and puts my luggage in.  I slide in the back seat and Stella and my Aunt go in the front.  

"So love, are you excited to be living in New York??"  Aunt Rachel, opens a box of Altoids, and sticks one in her mouth.

"I really am," I say.  'Thank you so much for letting me stay with you guys, I really appreciate it."

"We're more than happy to help our favorite niece," Aunt Rachel says and smiles.  "I arranged for you to meet with the modeling agency next Saturday.  And you'll be starting school with Stella on Tuesday at Miss Van Willerton's."

Gulp.  Miss Van Willerton's??  Since when did Stella transfer from UNIS?  I thought I was going to be going to school with hot guys from Spain but instead I'll be going with the stuck up Manhattan Elites.  

"I can't wait for you to meet my friends Chlo," Stella says.  "My friend Juliana is having her Bat Mitzavah on Saturday, and she said you could come.  It's going to be at the Four Seasons hotel, how cool is that?  You can meet all of the girls."  

"Oh, that sounds great," I say.  "I don't know If I have much to wear though."  I've outgrown most of my stuff and the only Designer dress I have is this one.

"How about we take you shopping tommorow, Chloe?"  My Aunt asks.  

"That sounds great," I say.  

We pull into a pretty apartment building and park outside.  "Here we are Chlo,"  Stella says.  Aunt Rachel takes my bag and we walk up the stone steps and into the marble lobby.  "Hello Ms. DuPont," the manager says.  "Good evening Harry," my Aunt replies.  He opens up the elevator and we step in.  

"We're on the top floor," Stella says and puts her Chanel bag on her shoulder.  Ding.  The elevator door opens and we walk out.  Their apartment is the only room on the floor.  "We live in the penthouse," Aunt Rachel says.  EHMAGAWD!!  A PENTHOUSE?!?!?!?!   My aunt opens the door and we step inside.  The hallway has marble floor and tan walls.  It extends into a living area that is beautifully furnished with a suede couch, leather sitting chairs, and a plasma screen TV mounted to the wall.  A huge window is in the back that has french doors going out to a huge balcony with a table, lounge chairs, and a built in hot tub.  To the right there's a kitchen with granite counter tops, state-of-the-art appliances, and an island that has tall bar stools with chic red cushions.  "Your room is over here, next to mine," Stella says motioning to two doors on the left.  She leads me to a big room with a queen sized bed and a bay window.  "You can get some bedding tommorrow when we go shopping.  

My Aunt comes into the room. "Is this room ok Chlo?" She asks.  "Yeah, it's great," I say.  "Hey sorry to be a party pooper but do you mind if I go to sleep?  I'm really jet-lagged."  

"Oh honey, it's fine." My Aunt says.  "Goodnight."

"Nite Chlo," Stella says.

I put down my bags and change into my A&F pajama pants and Juicy Couture tank top.  

Goodnight New York.