Story (part 1)

Olivia rubbed her eyes drowsily and tossed the baby blue feather duvet off her slim body. She crossed her room bumping several objects on her way to the bathroom. Groggily she peeled off her pajamas and went into the shower. “That’s better,” she exclaimed reviewing her reflection in the mirror and tightening the towel around her body. Olivia started her beauty routine opening various cabinets and applying various creams. After reorganizing all the products she had used Olivia walked out of her bathroom straight to her walk in closet.

She examined a pink paper clipped onto the closet door, and then put on a pair of True Religion jeans and a black polo shirt. She walked out of her closet and into the bathroom again. This time she opened one of her drawers and extracted a hairbrush. She expertly started combing her light brown hair being careful not to get the shirt wet. She brushed her teeth and applied a bit of NÖA perfume and went back into her room. A grimace took over Olivia’s face as soon as she saw her messy room. There were shoes, sweaters, jeans, shirts, and purses scattered throughout all of her room. With a grunt she walked toward the objects and started picking them up one by one, setting them on their assigned places in the closet each time her hands were full. She was busy picking up a pair of DKNY dark jeans and an American Eagle shirt when she heard a soft knock on her door.

“Come in,” she said bending down to pick up a bright orange Coach purse. “Good morning sleepy head,” said a tall dark woman. “Do you have any idea what time it is?”

Olivia directed her sight towards her night table where a digital watch stood. “Yeah, it’s 8:17” she answered cockily. The woman opened her mouth to say something but Olivia was quick to cut her off. “I know, I know. I’m supposed to have breakfast with my parents and the Stratford’s at 8:30.”

“If you know that then what are on earth are you doing here, and if I may add with your hair soaking wet?”

“I’m sorry Katlin,” Olivia said in an annoyed tone. “It’s just I got home really late last night and I was really tired. But you have to calm down. Breakfast is in the dining room which is only like 1 minute away at turtle speed. I won’t be late I promise.”

Katlin raised her arm and with a questioning look pointed at Olivia’s hair. “Okay, okay. I’ll go dry it right now. Gees!” An annoyed looked filled Olivia’s eyes as she walked toward the bathroom, followed by Katlin. Olivia pulled out a blow dryer from one of the cabinets and started drying her hair. Katlin opened a folder she had been carrying and pulled out a pink paper.

“Did you read your copy this morning?” She asked Olivia referring to the pink paper that was up on the closets door.

“Not really. I just read about the breakfast.” Katlin looked at her Rolex and frowned.

“Right now,” she almost shouted to be heard over the loud hum of the blow dryer, “you have to go downstairs. We will review your schedule after you are done with breakfast. Now go!”

She shoved Olivia, who turned off the blow dryer and ran off to her closet where she grabbed her black Michael Cors ballet flats. She put them on in a hurry and shot out through the door. Olivia ran past several doors, hurried down a staircase, passed a study, and a couple of other doors. When she reached the living room, Olivia slowed down and steadied her breathing. Then she moved on and reached the red-wine colored dining room, which to her surprise she found empty.

“The breakfast will be served outside today,” came a male voice. Olivia turned around to face a white-haired man dressed in a tuxedo.

“Oh, thank you Martin.” She smiled at him and he returned the gesture. Olivia quickly turned and hurried to the other side of the house. “Outside. How nice of them to share this crucial piece of information,” she mumbled with a frown. Within seconds she entered a room made of wood. A huge fireplace towered on a wall and sofas and chairs filled the room. She quickly wed her way through them and arrived at a clear door. Outside she could see her parents, a boy her age, and another couple. She plastered what she hoped was a sincere looking smile on her sleepy face, and made her way outside.

“Oh darling,” chirped a tall, thin woman, opening her arms wide.

“Sorry I was late; I was just picking out the last details for tonight.” Olivia lied expertly, while hugging the woman.

“Don’t worry about it, you have more important things to do then hang around with a bunch of oldies,” kidded a small man with his idea of current slang. Everyone at the table laughed politely at the joke, and Olivia moved on to say hi to the man who had just spoken.

“I always have tie for the Stratford’s,” she managed from inside the bear hug Mr. Stratford was giving her. While some more polite comments about using her time flew around, Olivia greeted the very elegant Mrs. Stratford and their son, Sam. She then proceeded to sit at the table, which was filled with delicious looking pastries and fruits, in her seat next to Sam.

“So, what will you be wearing at the gala tonight?” cooed Mrs. Stratford, fluffing her artificially blond hair.

Worried that her face would betray her and show she really hadn’t even begun looking at tonight’s details, Olivia forced herself to giggle and make her toothpaste grin even wider. “I was actually hoping to keep it a secret, you know, as tonight is a very special night I thought I might surprise every one.”

“Oh well that’s a wonderful idea, Livy,” her mom commented. “I wonder why I never thought of that.” The fathers took this as their cue to start their business chat, and the mothers went on with the fashion talk, none of which interested Olivia remotely.

“You have no idea whatsoever what you will be wearing tonight, do you?” asked a rough voice startling her. Olivia whipped her head and stared at Sam.

“Not a clue.” She replied coolly. “Is it that obvious?”

“Well, for them it isn’t, but for someone who knows the real you it is. I mean, come on it is a Saturday morning after a heavy party last night, and I’m supposed to believe you-totally un-fashion interested Livy- woke up early to choose what you will be wearing tonight? Ha ha I don’t think so.”

“That could be insulting,” she toyed. “But I guess it’s true. What can I say Stratford, you know me better than I thought.” She smiled coyly and pulled her humid hair into a bun tying it with one of the various colorful elastic she had wrapped around her miniature wrist.

“That I do, Brown.” He replied with a confident grin.

“But you are wrong about one thing,” challenged Olivia while spreading some natural butter on her croissant.

“Really, and what is that?” Sam questioned.

“It’s not that I don’t care about fashion, it is just that it is not my obsession. I can tell you some brand names and I do like to shop occasionally, but it is not what my life is centered on.” She a matter-of-factly nod and bit her pastry decisively.

“Good to know Brown.” With that they both turned their attention to the food sitting on their white china plates.