New York Debut (19 page)

Kriti seemed to enjoy Haley and Ariel’s attention as she told them about her dad’s designer reproduction business in the city. She even showed off her fake Hermes bag that could easily pass for the real deal in most circles. Haley and Ariel were both eager to see Kriti’s dad’s store, and Kriti promised to take them there tomorrow.

“I wouldn’t mind looking at the knockoffs too,” said Taylor from behind them.

“Me too,” said Rhiannon.

“Everyone can come.” Kriti’s dark eyes sparkled happily.

“Everyone who wants to settle for fake bags,” said Eliza snootily. Daisy said nothing, but DJ suspected by her expression that she would easily settle if Eliza wasn’t looking.

“Not everyone is dumb enough to waste hundreds of dollars for silly designer names,” countered Casey.

Eliza just glared at her, then turned back around and whispered something to Daisy. Naturally, Daisy laughed. Poor Daisy.

“When I become a famous designer . . .” Rhiannon giggled, “I’ll make sure that my clothing stays affordable for everyone.”

The chatter went on back and forth, and DJ realized that she was really glad that she’d been able to come. Despite her whining and complaining about obsessed fashion freaks, it was fun to be here with her friends and on their way to New York. She would have to remember to thank Grandmother — and Dylan — for including her.

It was getting close to seven when they finally arrived at Grand Central, and the terminal was alive with color and motion as if the whole place was abuzz with Fashion Week. There were banners advertising the various designers and events, and a flurry of people coming and going, all seeming to have some connection to Fashion Week. DJ thought she could feel the electricity in the air — and once again, she was glad she’d come.

Grandmother had ordered two stretch limos. Inez gathered up Haley, Ariel, Kriti, Rhiannon, and Casey into one of the cars. DJ and the others went with Grandmother.

“I feel like a celebrity,” said Daisy as she leaned back into the seat and sighed loudly. “Or like I’m still dreaming.” She laughed. “Don’t wake me up!”

“I love New York,” said Taylor. “Even though I’m a West Coast girl by birth. I still love New York.”

Eliza didn’t say anything. Instead, she stared down at her cell phone as if she expected it to ring. Rumor had it that Harry had just broken up with her, but no one wanted to ask. The other rumor was that Harry already had his eye on Taylor. And that didn’t surprise DJ a bit, especially after she’d seen him watching Taylor at lunch today. Fortunately, Taylor had seemed oblivious and, naturally, DJ didn’t mention it. Still, she knew it would only spell trouble. But hopefully, it was trouble that they wouldn’t have to deal with until they went home.

“The garment district is in Manhattan, otherwise known as Midtown,” Grandmother informed them, acting as if she was their tour guide. “The other two districts are Uptown and Downtown.”

“How do you know which is which?” asked Daisy.

“Uptown is north of Midtown, and Downtown is south.”

“Oh.” Daisy nodded, but still looked confused.

“Don’t worry about it, Daisy,” snapped Eliza. “I know my way around well enough. We won’t get lost.”

“No one should get lost,” Grandmother informed them.

“You have your maps, and your feet or the subway can get you almost everywhere you want to go.”

“What about taxis?” asked Daisy.

“Good luck,” said Grandmother. “Don’t forget this is Fashion Week. A very busy time. Often you can get where you’re going much faster on foot.”

“Unless you’re wearing four-inch heels.” Eliza held up a red strappy shoe. “And, trust me, these Christian Louboutins are not made for hiking.”

“That’s why I told you girls to carry a spare pair of running shoes in your bags,” Grandmother reminded her.

Eliza made an innocent face.
“Running
shoes?”

“Yes,” said DJ dryly, “those are shoes that are specially designed to
run.”

“Here we are,” announced Grandmother.

“Already?” Daisy looked reluctant to leave the stretch limo.

“We weren’t that far from the train station,” DJ explained. “We could’ve walked if we didn’t have luggage.”

“Some
people could’ve walked,” said Eliza as she got out of the limo. “Not anyone with any class.”

“You mean the remedial class?” teased Taylor.

DJ laughed. Okay, maybe she shouldn’t encourage Taylor, but it was nice to see that Taylor still knew how to bring Eliza back to reality. She’d missed that.

Grandmother smiled up at the old-looking building. “The Carlton isn’t the fanciest Manhattan hotel, but it’s my favorite.”

Eliza frowned. “I thought we were staying at the Bryant Park Hotel.”

Grandmother blinked. “What made you think that?”

“Isn’t that where the models stay?”

Grandmother laughed in a rather dismissive way. “Oh, my. You girls have so much to learn about the fashion world.”

The other girls’ limo arrived, and soon all nine girls, Grandmother, Inez, and their luggage were spilling out onto the sidewalk. Several bellhops rushed toward them with big smiles and oversized carts to load the luggage on.

“Isn’t this wonderful,” said Rhiannon as they went inside the lobby.

“I’ve never been in New York,” Casey admitted to DJ. “But I thought it was bigger than this.”

Kriti laughed. “You know, I said that exact same thing when we moved here. I mean, it’s certainly big, but the buildings are so close . . . the streets are so narrow, and Manhattan is really not all that large. It’s kind of a small sort of big, you know?”

“That’s true,” said Taylor.

The girls explored the luxurious but crowded lobby as Grandmother registered them for their rooms. The place had an old-world sort of elegance, and DJ decided that she liked it. Much better than the huge modern hotel they’d stayed at in Vegas. Inez was calling to the girls now. “Come, come,” she commanded. “Mrs. Carter wants a word with you.”

Grandmother gathered the girls around her in a semiquiet corner near the elevators. “I know that I’ve already lectured you about manners, decorum, and representing yourselves as ladies, but I just want to remind you that I will not tolerate any nonsense.” She looked directly at Eliza now. “And absolutely no alcohol.” She glanced at Taylor too. “Is that understood?”

“Totally,” said Taylor with a smile.

“Of course,” said Eliza a bit meekly.

“Good.” Grandmother held up several key cards now. “I have put Eliza, Daisy, and Kriti in one room. You girls can figure out how you will share the two queen beds.” She handed the key cards to Eliza, and DJ had no doubts that Princess Eliza would be the one to have a bed to herself.

“In the adjoining room will be Desiree and Taylor.” She handed them both a key. Then she looked directly at DJ. “I will be in the room next to yours. Not adjoining, but close enough. I’ll expect you to take the role of a junior chaperone, Desiree.”

“Me?” DJ frowned.

Grandmother nodded, then turned her attention to the other girls. “And Casey, Rhiannon, Haley, and Ariel will share a room across the hallway. Inez will be your chaperone, and since she prefers to sleep alone, I have ordered her a roll-away bed, which I was told is quite comfortable. Any questions?”

Grandmother smiled. “Good. Now, your bags should be in your rooms. And, if you’ve looked at the schedule I gave you girls, you will know when and where we are meeting for dinner. Until then . . .”

Suddenly they were all scrambling for elevators, waiting in lines, and crowding in here and there when they got the chance. As it turned out, Eliza, DJ, and Taylor found themselves crammed into a corner as they rode up to the twenty-third floor.

“How do you rate?” Eliza’s voice was quiet, but with an edge.

“Huh?” DJ peered curiously at her.

Eliza nodded to Taylor, “You two getting a room to yourselves?”

DJ shrugged. “So?”

“So . . . why are you two so special? The only ones to get a whole room with two beds to yourself.”

“Just lucky, I guess.”

“Or maybe DJ set it up special with Grandma-ma.” Now Eliza’s voice sounded as if she was suggesting something.

“What are you inferring?” asked Taylor.

Eliza got a slightly wicked smile. “Oh, I don’t know . . .”

It was time to get off the elevator, but DJ was still curious. “What are you trying to say, Eliza?”

“Oh . . . well, you two shared a room in Vegas together. You had to be roommates when Taylor got back. And now you have to have a private room and no one else does . . . I guess some people might draw some conclusions . . .”

“Such as?” Taylor turned to face Eliza.

“You know . . . and, trust me, I’m an open-minded person. I have no problems with sexual preferences.”

“What?” demanded DJ. “What are you insinuating?”

“Nothing . . . nothing at all.” Eliza gave them her sugary sweet smile. Then just as she slid her key card into the lock, the other girls came down the hallway, laughing and joking about some guy who had hit on Daisy in the elevator.

“Eliza is such a witch,” said Taylor as they went into their room.

“She’s just jealous,” said DJ as she picked one of her bags from the small heap on the floor, tossing it onto the queen bed nearest the door.

“Jealous of who?”

“You, of course.”

“And that would be because of . . . ?”

“Harry, for one thing. You know that he broke up with Eliza, don’t you?”

“Everyone knows that.”

“And now he seems to be looking at you.”

“Hey, I’ve done nothing to encourage — ”

“You didn’t have to.”

Taylor swore as she tossed a bag onto the other bed.

“Just be warned, Taylor. Eliza may be on the warpath.”

“And that’s news?”

DJ laughed, but at the same time wasn’t so sure that it was all that funny. Hopefully Eliza wouldn’t do anything stupid . . . anything that might spoil Fashion Week for the others. Because, as strange as it seemed, DJ had suddenly started to care about how everything turned out in New York. And the reason she cared was as much for her grandmother’s sake as it was for the girls who really wanted to be here.

16

“I AM GOING SHOPPING TODAY,”
Eliza proclaimed as they finished up breakfast in the hotel restaurant.

“Just don’t forget to be at Dylan’s studio at one o’clock sharp.” Grandmother finished signing the bill, then stood. “I promised him that we’ll be at his complete disposal until five for all the last-minute fittings and adjustments.”

“I won’t forget,” promised Rhiannon. “I’m already counting the minutes until I’m actually in a real design studio.”

“I’m counting the minutes until I’ll be in a real fashion show,” added Daisy.

“Not just a fashion show,” Grandmother corrected. “Fashion Week!” She smiled at the girls. “Now does everyone remember what I said about staying together? I don’t want any of you traipsing about the city by yourselves, is that perfectly clear?”

They all said yes, and then Grandmother reminded them to keep their cell phones on. “And have a pleasant morning. The weather seems to be cooperating with us today.” Then she hurried over to a nearby table where she was heartily greeted and welcomed by what DJ guessed were some of her former fashion associates. DJ had been surprised at how many people had stopped her grandmother to say hello. And she hadn’t missed how pleased Grandmother was when she was recognized. Or how proud she was to show off her girls. And, a couple of times she actually took the time to introduce her granddaughter. Although DJ didn’t appreciate the bit about “aspiring model.” That was the last thing DJ would ever aspire toward. But she had been polite and simply smiled. Let Grandmother enjoy her day in the sun. At her age, these little perks were probably becoming fewer and farther between.

“Back to shopping,” said Eliza as the girls gathered their purses and jackets and things, getting ready to head off to see the city. “Who wants to go with me?”

“I do! I do!” Daisy giggled self-consciously now. “I mean, I don’t have much money to spend, but I’d love to watch you spend yours.”

Eliza smiled, then looked hopefully at the rest of the group.

“Anyone else want to hit the big designer stores with me? I know where the best shopping places are, and I’ll pay for the taxi.”

But it seemed she had no other takers. “So what is everyone else doing this morning?” she ventured.

“I’m going to the Garment District,” announced Rhiannon. “I want to see it all — from the Fashion Walk of Fame clear down to the last button shop.” She laughed. “Or as much as I can see in a few hours.”

“What about everyone else?” persisted Eliza. She looked directly at DJ now.

“Some of us are going with Rhiannon.” DJ tried to sound low-key, but the truth was DJ and Taylor had already decided to go with Casey and Rhiannon to the Garment District in the hopes that they could put some space between themselves and Eliza. After the way Eliza had been treating Taylor last night, it seemed the safest route.