Alena Elizabeth Reynolds has it all. With her silky-smooth never-frizzy brown hair, almond-shaped coffee-colored eyes, and a long-lasting scent of Channel No. 5, how could she ask for anything more? As the president of the Ambassador Secret Sorority at Manhattan’s own Rosewood Prep boarding school, she was destined to be the hottest thing to hit Manhattan since Bloomingdales and Bergdorf’s. With her beta, BFF Lindsay Shaw, and her other BFF Coco Blige by her side, she can do almost anything.
Well, now that she’s got her perfect accessory (Vans Michael Justin Conrad, only the hottest guy to ever appear on earth) she is ready to take her post as the Manhattan Queen. But could a visit from her dad change everything?
The Ambassadors Estate
Alena’s Room
Sunday, September 8th
9:27 am
Alena Reynolds sat up in her mahogany four-post bed and removed her silk eye cover. Her dark purple velvet comforter and white faux fur blanket slid off of her shoulders and landed in her lap. Alena positioned her pillows behind her and grabbed her TV remote from the old French-style bedside table. She turned on her plasma screen and changed it to Channel 11, the Weather Channel. Suddenly a small intercom box on her bedside table talked.
“Alena, are you awake? You have a visitor arriving in 20 minutes,” said the familiar voice of Lindsay Shaw.
Alena held down the intercom button and spoke loud and clear. “Who is coming and send up the pledges,” she said.
“Vans is coming over and they’re on their way,” said Lindsay.
12 seconds later a group of 5 girls walked into Alena’s room. Lindsay was behind them and she walked over to Alena, handing her a purple clipboard.
“Ok,” said Alena, “As an Ambassador pledge, you must help the Ambassadors get ready in the morning. Tell me your schedule.”
A tall thin girl with long red hair pulled back into a preppy ponytail raised her hand.
“Yes, um,” said Alena.
“Taylor,” said Lindsay.
“We pledges are to be awake 90 minutes before the first member wakes up. We are to retrieve your breakfast order card and bring it to the chef. Once you have awoken we deliver your food and then help you get ready by doing your hair, make up, and retrieving your clothes,” said Taylor.
“Correct,” said Alena, “which one of you has my ½ slice plain bagel with 3 squirts of butter, small mug of fruity cheerios in vanilla soy milk, and my morning mocha?”
“Brooke,” said Lindsay.
A short girl with long blonde hair and green eyes walked over, carrying a silver tray with food on it. Brooke sat the tray on a small sliding table and pushed the table over to Alena’s bedside. Brooke turned to walk away.
“Wait, Brooke, face me,” said Alena.
Brooke turned around with a small hint of horror in her eyes. She was obviously thinking what did I do wrong? Will this jeopardize my Ambassador membership?
“You need to wear a lighter pink lip gloss, that is too dark for your olive skin tone,” said Alena.
“Thank you for the advice Miss Alena,” said Brooke with a small curtsey, and she returned to her spot in line.
Alena looked up at the TV to find a chubby white man with a cheap, brown toupee and a brown bushy mustache talking in front of the New York weather map.
“Today is going to be a beautiful day with a high of 82 degrees in the Manhattan area and a low of 74. Its time to switch your winter boots for some tennis shoes because it’ll be a nice day for a run,” said the man.
“The only time I’ll ever run is to a free-for-all at Bergdorf’s,” said Alena.
Lindsay giggled and sat down on Alena’s bed. Alena shut off the TV and looked back at the pledges that were quietly talking to each other.
“Ok, I’m going to need you to fetch me my Michael Kors black wrap tunic. Also bring me my black suede Jimmy Choo boots, and a pair of dark wash True Religion jeans,” said Alena.
2 girls walked into Alena’s closet to go in search of her desired items.
“You two, go start a hot shower,” said Alena.
The next 2 girls walked into Alena’s bathroom to start the shower.
“You go and schedule a hair appointment at Calypso at noon and call Vans and ask him if he could bring me a Starbuck Chai Tea Latte no froth,” said Alena.
The girl scurried out of the room and downstairs to the phone.
“I love pledge season,” said Lindsay.
“Me too,” said Alena. “Wanna meet for a mani-pedi at 1:00?”
“Sure, I have to run up to Grenwitch to meet my sis for lunch, so probably more like 1:30,” said Lindsay.
“Ok, then I’ll have Max touch up my roots,” said Alena.
“Later Al,” said Lindsay.
“Later Lin,” said Alena.
The two shower girls returned and said that the shower was ready. Alena sent them to retrieve some fresh towels. Alena walked into her bathroom and undressed. She stepped into the steam shower and felt a whoosh of warmth rush over her body. Alena felt the streams of water fall upon her like warm rain. She slowly applied her Herbal Essence “Drama Clean” shampoo in her hair and rinsed it out, feeling the clumps of soap drip down her back. Suddenly there was a knock on the bathroom door.
“Come in,” Alena said.
The two girls who had turned on the shower walked in and placed the white towels on the heated rack.
“Thank you,” said Alena.
“Your welcome Miss Alena,” said the girls, and they walked out.
Alena quickly finished up her shower and then turned off the water. She squeezed the dripping water out of her hair and then she grabbed her towels. She rapped one around her size 6 body, and the other she use to towel dry her hair. When her hair had stopped dripping water, she rapped it up with the now mildly damp towel and walked over to her sink.
Alena applied a soft coat of her Almay Smart Shade foundation with a sponge wedge and then put on a few large brush strokes of Physicians Formula powder. She added some Era eye shadow by MAC to the crease of her lid, some Vanilla Cream by MAC to her eyebrow bone, and some Naked Lunch by MAC to her lid. Alena smudged a small amount of brown eye liner to the outer corners of her top lids and then applied her Cover Girl Fantastic Lash in Very Black to her eye lashes.
Alena quickly blow dried her hair and applied her Anti-Frizz serum to her brown locks. She put her hair in a high ponytail and left her bangs hang down on the left side of her face. Alena applied a light coat of her Channel lip-gloss and then walked out of her bathroom. The 2 girls who were assigned to fetch her clothes had left and placed the desired clothes on Alena’s now made bed.
Alena quickly changed and then grabbed her oversized, black Channel tote and her orange LG enV. She walked out of her room and heard the doorbell ring; Alena’s boyfriend was right on time.
“Hi,” Alena said when Vans walked through the door.
“Hey there Princess, I have a Latte to deliver,” said Vans, his shaggy blonde hair hanging slightly in front of his crystal blue eyes.
“Yes, good, you got my order than,” said Alena, snatching the Latte and giving Vans a kiss.
“So, are your ready for our usual Sunday brunch?” said Vans.
“Yup,” said Alena.
“Ok, then lets go, my parents are joining us today,” said Vans.
“Cool,” said Alena. “I’m guessing that they’re here from Connecticut.”
“Yeah,” said Vans.
Alena and Vans walked out of the foyer and down onto the street. The sun shone on the street and the pair got into Vans’ private car.
“The Central Café please,” said Vans to his driver.
The Central Café
Table 12
Sunday, September 8th
10:40 am
Alena and Vans sat at the 4-person bistro table underneath the red awning of the Central Café across from Central Park. Across from them sat Mr. and Mrs. Conrad. Mrs. Conrad had long blonde hair pulled back into a low bun, her blue eyes examining her plate of eggs and a slice blueberry coffee cake. Mr. Conrad’s graying hair was slicked back and his face was freshly shaven. He smelled of Calvin Klein cologne and his brown eyes were focused on his blackberry in his hand.
“So, what brings you two to town?” asked Alena sweetly.
“Well, Vans had the idea that we could all meet for brunch. He talks a lot about you and I’ve been dying to meet you,” said Mrs. Conrad.
“We hope that you’ve been nothing but the epitome of perfection, because our boy deserves nothing less,” said Mr. Conrad.
“I’m never anything but perfection,” said Alena.
“Good,” said Mr. Conrad.
Alena glanced at Vans who had placed his hand on her knee. He knew that his parents were way out of line at that comment.
“So, mom, dad, when will you be returning to Connecticut,” said Vans.
“On Wednesday, you father has some business he needs to get taken care of,” said Mrs. Conrad.
“Oh,” said Vans.
Alena pulled her phone out of her purse and quickly sent a text to Lindsay.
To: Lindsay
LIN!!!! SAVE ME!!!!! Awk moment w/ VMJ’s parents!!! I AM DYING HERE!!!! >:0
Suddenly Alena’s phone rang; it was Lindsay.
“Sorry, please excuse me for a moment,” said Alena.
Alena got up from her seat and rushed to inside of the café.
“Lindsay you are my savior! That was so horrible!” said Alena as she sat down on the small lounge chair.
“I say your S.O.S. and I knew it was urgent,” said Lindsay. “So what’s up other than the awkward parents.”
“Not much else, I’m just killing the time until my hair appointment. I might go get some new jeans from H&M,” said Alena.
“OH! If you see any size 4 Sevens, please get,” said Lindsay, “I’m in need of a new pair.”
“Ok, I guess I’d better return to the nut-fest, I’ll call you when I’m done at Calypso,” said Alena.
“Kay, bye,” said Lindsay.
“Bye,” said Alena.
Alena tossed her phone back into her bag and then she returned to the table where Vans and his father were fighting over the check. Alena sat down and picked at the last bits of her cinnamon coffee cake.
Calypso Salon
Sunday, September 8th
1:06 pm
Alena sat in the leather hair chair while Max worked his magic on her slightly over grown roots, trimmed her bangs, and defined her layers.
“So, I’m guessing that the Sunday brunch didn’t go well today,” said Max.
“It was beyond repair. Vans’ parents were total stiffs and I could tell that they disliked me the moment Mrs. Conrad suggested I started Yoga. I’m about as toned as a girl can be without a 6-pack,” said Alena.
“Ooo, that’s cruel,” said Max.
“Mrs. Conrad is like a big mess of Botox, plastic surgery, and poison,” said Alena.
“Yes, I got that,” said Max. “Other than that, how is pledge season going. Anyone remotely close to achieving the “accepted” honor?”
“So far a girl named Brooke and another girl named Taylor have impressed me,” said Alena, “Other than that, its not that good of a turn out. I’m still looking for that one special person who is totally unexpected. That’s who I’ll accept.”
“Oh, like someone who chooses to wear Dolce and Gabanna way more than Channel?” said Max.
“No! Anyone who favors D&G over Channel is going to be kicked out before they’re even in,” said Alena.
Max and Alena giggled and soon Max’s masterpiece was complete. Alena walked up to the front desk to pay for her hair and touch ups.
“That’ll be $180,” said the tall receptionist who had her long blonde hair in a large bun on the top of her head to show off how great her neck looked in her burgundy turtleneck.
Alena swiped her platinum in the machine and signed her signature with the special pen. When everything was paid for, Alena walked out of the salon and then entered Manhattan Nails. At one of the leather massage chairs sat Lindsay reading the latest edition of Teen Vogue. Lindsay had her hair up in a ultra-preppy ponytail and had changed into a pair of tan cargo short-shorts, an olive green silk tank top, and a pink cardigan.
“Hey Chica!” said Lindsay when Alena sat down in the pedicure station next to her.
“Hey L,” said Alena.
“Love the hair, Max did a good job,” said Lindsay.
“When doesn’t he?” asked Alena.
"Uh, never," said Lindsay.
Alena and Lindsay giggled.
"So how was Grenwich?" asked Alena.
