Chapter one-

Amy Cardinal. I’m almost 24 years old. (tomorrow’s my birthday). I live in a Manhattan Apartment and I’m gossip columnist, editor in chief and assistant manager for Purple Flocks magazine. Everyday, I would write up a gossip column about celebrities: who I think is together, who doesn’t wear make-up, who had who’s baby and so on.

Once I finish that, I make sure everybody else’s writing piece is good enough for the editor. Then, to top it all off, I hand the editor and director the finished product and if it isn’t good enough, I fix all the problems and mistakes. Whoa! Who ever thought that a girl growing up from New Jersey would become such a busy woman.

Purple Flocks magazine is practically my life. I work long, stressful hours in my office trying to make readers happy. After all, who would want New York’s “Best selling women’s magazine” to be a snooze.

I wake every morning, 7:00 am to get ready for work. I come in my latest outfit that I bought the day before. Usually a Guess coat with matching shoes and a coach bag. I am a very stylish girl. Don’t get me wrong, I may seem like a spoiled rich girl but, I work for it. My hours are 8:00 am to 8:00 pm, Monday-Thursday. Fridays I work from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm and on weekends I come in at noon and I am free to leave at anytime after 4:00 pm.

Now, let’s get into my looks. I have long burgundy hair that stops mid-way my torso. My eyes are light brown but, I wear colored contacts that are a sky blue. I’m an average height and a bit on the skinny side. Fashion and Celebrity gossip is my thing. I can never leave the house with out my hair styled and my clothes from an expensive Manhattan store.

“Amy! How’s it going sweetie” Jessie said, dropping an issue of our competitor’s magazine, “Explosion”.

One of my best friends is Jessie. She works for Purple Flock too. Her job is to handle our competition. She spy’s on Explosion, Newly News and Manicure. Every new issue, Jessie buy’s and gives us the scoop on how popular they’re becoming, what news they discovered, and the ideas we can’t use.

“I’m fine. What’s this?” I asked, picking the magazine up.

“Well, Explosion brought out a special copy. It’s new! It wasn’t even two weeks since the last issue. Girl, they are bringing up surprise magazines out of no where.”

“Give this to Raquel. She’ll want to read it. If she’s busy, just stick it in her mail box.” I got up and left my office with Jessie. Everyone was working, Hard.

I walked over to the editor’s office. “Knock, knock. You busy?” I asked, stepping into Rebecca’s office.

Rebecca is one of my bosses. She is editor of the magazine and another one of my best friends.

“No, sit down. I’m just totally stressed. I can’t think of any new idea’s for next months edition. Next month is our 1 year anniversary for Purple Flock. I need a special edition, a special cover. I need you to come up with a different topic. Instead of gossip you should try interviewing some Celebs. Or maybe you can get some picture’s. I need something new. Something fresh.”

“Rebecca, chill. I’ll think of something. Do you want it personal or something out there, you know. Do you want me to do celebrities or some normal people? I can handle it. Don’t worry, I’m sure you’ll come up with multiple ideas.” I patted her on the back.

“It’s just that, Raquel wants ideas by tomorrow but, I’m leaving work early today and have no time to think of new ideas. I’ve got a date at nine and she expects me to work on the magazine. I mean what’s up with that!?” She yelled, pressing her temples.

“Whoa! A date? Oh-la-la! With who? You didn’t tell me! Oh my god, tell me. I must know.” I laughed.

“Oh, nobody. Just this hot guy I met who’s planning to be an underwear model.” She explained in a calm voice. I could tell she was dying for this guy. It was all in her eyes.

“Oh man, an underwear model. Ha ha! I knew you would come back to the playing field.” I said. Rebecca hasn’t been out on a date for a while, her boyfriend broke up with her two months ago and she hasn’t been out since.

We started laughing like crazy. Then, Raquel came in. She’s Purple Flock’s manager and head of the picture department for the magazine. “Ladies, what are we doing? Next month’s issue is going to be the anniversary edition. I want you guys working extra hard. Now, Amy do you have any ideas of what you’ll be doing? Because, I was thinking maybe you should get a little personal, we want our reader’s to get to know you. To trust you. I want you to make them laugh, to entertain them with a story of your very own.” She said.

On and on and on. Raquel may have a million and one great ideas but, she doesn’t shut up. It’s like she says one thing then, it turns into a huge speech.

“And maybe Rebecca since your so good at overlapping you can do two interviews and maybe a poll about which celebrity couple is hottest. Let’s see there’s four hot couples out on the market and only”-

What is wrong with her? No wonder she never gets dates. She’s freaking 30 years old and she looks like she’s gotten plastic surgery. I hope I don’t look like that when I’m thirty. Ugh!

“But, there’s always the option of young couples, you know? Like, teenage couples but, then again it’s a sophisticated magazine. We want sophistication. We want it fancy, we want it perfect”-

That’s it! Sophistication. Oh my god! “I have a brilliant idea!” I shouted, interrupting Raquel.

“Darling, please don’t interrupt. it’s extremely rude, and very unsophisticated. Now shoot! What’s the idea?”

“I am going to teach people how to be fancy. How to be sophisticated. I’ll put up ads all over New York for people that need to learn to act sophisticated.” I suggested.

“Yawn. No offense Amy but, would people really like to hear about normal people problems. It’s a good idea just needs something special. A little spice. It needs…a man! That’s it. You need to teach a man. Take pictures. Write notes. Have chemistry but, not too much to get him to avoid you. Invite him to your house, teach him the basics of being fancy let him have sort of a test to see if it works and you have three weeks.” She said, walking out of the room, cigarette in one hand, fur scarf draping her fragile neck.

***

“Three weeks, three weeks. Three weeks! Oh my god. I am going to dye. How am I suppose to teach a man sophistication in three freaking weeks. Like, what the hell am I suppose to say, hey let’s be sophisticated. Oh by the way, you have three weeks to learn.” I rambled.

Me and Jessie went over to Rebecca’s house to help her pick out an outfit for her date. “Jeez, somebody is going a little Sysco.” Jessie mumbled.

“Guys enough. My dates coming in an thirty minutes. I need a cute outfit. How about this one?” She asked holding up a short black dress with a lace hem.

“It looks more like you want him in bed then at dinner.” I suggested. She put it away and brought out something else. It was a pink sundress that came a little below her knees.

“Umm, I vote barf!” Jessie said.

“You guys! Be serious.” Rebecca went back into her closet and fished out one more thing. It was a gold shirt with long, puffed sleeves. The pants were black skinny jeans.

“Now that is a hot choice.” I said, feeling the material. Jessie got up and did the same thing. “Ooh girl, he won’t resist you. I got dibs on it next.” She said.

I laughed. A light buzz came from Rebecca’s apartment door. “I’ll get it.” I walked over to the door. Standing there was a gorgeous being from heaven.

Holy cow! He was a about six feet, his hair was a dirty blonde that was wavy. His eyes sparkled green and his shirt was unbuttoned so low I could see some abs. the muscle in his arm was a bit exposed even though his shirt was long sleeved. It sort of popped out to you.

“Hello? Uhh. Did I get the wrong address?” He asked, looking up at me.

“If your Daren, than no.” I replied, almost going into drooling mood. Jessie came behind me.

“Whoa! Hello there.” She said, offering a hand in a flirty way. He lightly kissed it.

“How do you ladies do?” He asked, invitingly. Jessie giggled.

“Rebecca’s getting ready. You can have a seat if you’d like.” I walked over to Rebecca’s room, Jessie followed.

“Becky you did not tell me he was a prince.” I joked. Rebecca smiled.

I think Jessie was still daydreaming. “Why don’t you guys get to know him a little more. I mean who knows maybe we’ll hit it off and you guys might be seeing him a lot.” She explained.

I walked back out into the living room. “So, you live around here?” I asked.

“Yeah, I live in the Villa apartments about two blocks away.”

“Do you have a job?”

“Well, I’m starting a career in modeling. I’m trying out with Gap and Macy’s.” He answered.

“Any kids? Any tattoos? Any more girlfriends? How about past marriages?

Rebecca walked in. “Amy! I’m sorry Daren. My friends are a bit…over protective.” She linked her arm through Daren’s and they walked out.

“See you later.” She said.

“Bye, don’t come home to late or I’ll call 911!” I shouted, locking her apartment door.

“Jess? Where are you?” I called. She was lying on the bed.

“I’m staying here until she comes home. I wanna know everything!” She told me.