THE BLOCK ESTATE
MASSIE’S BEDROOM
Wednesday, October 21st
8:45 P.M.
After she’d taken Bean and the actors for their nightly walk, Massie lit the Kobo Moon Wisteria soy candle on her bedside table and inhaled deeply. Usually, the sweet, soft scent of jasmine and honeysuckle calmed her. But not tonight. She took three more slow, deep breaths, and turned to face the mess in her room.
Clothing donations for the fashion show had been arriving at the Blocks’ doorstep all week, and wardrobe boxes were stuffed end-to-end in Massie’s usually pristine white and purple bedroom. Colorful silk, sequins, and satin littered her floor.
Everything was so chaotic that it seemed more appropriate than ever that she’d made the benefit circus-themed.
A quick knock sounded on the other side of Massie’s door. Before Massie could shoo the intruder away, Kendra was standing in her room.
“Good. You’re back,” she said, before registering the disaster state in front of her. Her hand flew to her mouth as her eyes traveled over the wardrobe boxes barfing last season’s threads.
“I knooow, Mom,” Massie said, kneeling down to fish Bean from beneath a pile. A pink silk head wrap tumbled from the puppy’s mouth like a long, shiny tongue. “And I don’t need a lecture. It’ll be cleaned up by tomorrow.”
“I hope so,” Kendra murmured, taking a step back toward the doorway as though the mess might attack her. “You can ask Inez for help if you need it.”
“’Kay.” Massie willed her mom to leave.
“Where are the models?” Kendra asked, leaning against Massie’s doorframe and smoothing her short dark bob. “Finished with the walk-through already?”
“Yup,” Massie said, gently wrestling the pink head wrap away from her puppy and tossing it on her bed. “They’re back at the hotel.” She’d told her parents that the MAC girls were models she’d hired from Peace’s agency, and that their nightly walks were rehearsals for the show.
“How’s everything going?” Kendra asked, her voice taking on her “I know something’s going on, so you might as well tell me all about it” tone. “You seem a little stressed.”
“I’m fine.” Massie waved her away. “It’s just a lot of planning, that’s all.” She pretended to rearrange the hangers in one of the wardrobe boxes so she wouldn’t have to face her mom. One look in Kendra’s wide brown eyes, and Massie worried she’d spill everything.
“Okay, then,” Kendra said from the other side of the box. “Get to bed soon, okay?” She stepped over three mountainous piles of clothes and pulled Massie in for a hug.
“Okay,” Massie murmured into her mom’s navy silk blouse. She inhaled the remaining vapors of Kendra’s D&G Light Blue perfume, but even that familiar scent couldn’t calm her. The only thing that was going to make her feel better was getting organized. So she pulled away and ducked back into the wardrobe box. “’Night.”
“’Night-night,” Kendra said. A few seconds later, the door to Massie’s room clicked shut.
Massie breathed a sigh of relief and reached for her iPhone.
HO HO HOMELESS GAME PLAN
MAC GIRL RUNWAY OUTFIT HAIR MAKEUP ISSUES/CONCERNS RUNWAY READY?
Massie Hervé Léger strapless foil dress (fabric looks x-tra shimmery under runway lights!), Miu Miu gold strappy sandals Side part, loose waves. (Think Gisele in Rampage campaign.) SHIMMER, SHIMMER, and MORE SHIMMER!!!! None. art * * * * *
Layne Gaultier trench dress, Prada jeweled slides CONDITION, CONDITION, CONDITION!!! No scrunchies. No headbands. No barrettes. No nuh-thing. Anything but Hello Kitty. Seriously. Anything. Hasn’t worn nice clothes in her entire life. What if she has an allergic reaction to expensive fabric? Solution: Philosophy Amazing Grace body butter. Will keep her skin smooth and rash free. * * * *
Lilah Nanette Lepore teal sequin georgette minidress (color will look ah-mazing with her matching eyes!), Jimmy Choo T-strap sandals Ojon deep condition; shine spray. (Think Selma Blair.) Keep it neutral. Haven’t seen her in heels or a dress. Ever. What if she trips? Solution: Keep the heels low and hope for the best. * * * *
Jasmin Ralph Lauren Collection silk jersey halter dress, Zanotti jeweled thongs Messy, sexy beach hair. (Think Rachel Bilson.) Beachy bronze goddess (Bobbi Brown Bronze Shimmer Brick, MAC Lustreglass in Instant Gold.) Claire thinks she looks familiar! art Could make the Tampax commercial connection and blow MAC girls’ cover. Solution: Keep Jasmin away from tampons and Claire. * * *
Kaitlyn Stella McCartney black silk bow-sleeve dress, vintage black Louboutin pumps Sleek bob (Think Katie Holmes, only less mannish.) Smoky eyes, neutral lip. She’s super tall. What if Chris Abeley only has short friends? If worse comes to worst, put her in flats. * * * *
Cassidy Kendra’s vintage Chanel goddess dress (the one that looks like a muumuu). Not the cutest, but somebody’s got to wear it! If Jakkob has time. Ditto. Always looking for quote-unquote “motivation.” What if she loses it halfway down the runway and doesn’t finish her walk?Remind her preshow that her “motivation” is $$$$$$. * * *
Bean Burberry plaid wool sweater. Oscar Blandi Jasmine Shine Spray for a shimmering coat A natural beauty! She will steal the show. art * * * * *
Massie felt better staring at the neat, organized columns in her Glam Plan spreadsheet. But then she felt a rush of panic again, remembering what she was still missing. Boys. What good were glammed-up girls if she couldn’t provide cute boys to escort them down the runway?
Frantically, she speed-dialed Layne. The call went straight to voice mail.
Chucking the phone onto her bed, Massie collapsed onto her duvet, every muscle in her body tensed. Had she not told Layne to be available by cell 24/7, especially in the few days before the party? The ex–Pretty Committee never would have slacked off in the most crucial pre-party hours like this.
Sensing her stress, Bean scampered onto her bed and settled next to her. But not even the soothing scent of her soy candle or the scratchy warmth of Bean’s tiny tongue could calm her.
Calm was nawt an option when her reputation was on the line.