Emmanuelle

      Excitement flowed through me as I woke up the first business day after winter break. Who would have thought I'd be excited about going to school but it was the first co-ed school I'd ever attended and couldn't wait to see what it was like. I showered leisurely and moisturized my skin with my orange blossom Jo Malone scented body crème before slipping into my tan lace La Perla set. I'd just slipped into a pair low riding graphic True Religion jeans when there was a light knock on the door and one of the maid's slipped her head into the room and asked me if I was up.

      "Yeah but if you could bring me a warm croissant and some French tea, I'd really appreciate it!" I called out as I grabbed my semi sheer yellow based floral Monique Leshman tunic and pulled it over my head.

      I'd smoothed the silk chiffon material over my chest, making sure my bra wasn't visible through the plunging neckline, and had my cream Jill Stuart pumps on by the time the maid came back to my room with the breakfast I'd requested. After eating, I headed back into the bathroom so that I could apply my make up. Normally I didn't bother with anything past gloss but I wanted to make an impression. With my golden tinted moisturizer, shadow brushes, and chosen palettes neatly lined on my counter I began to form my look.

      Just as I was brushing on the last coat of black Dior Show mascara over my lengthened lashes Camille came in to warn me to hurry up on I'd be late. I nodded in acknowledgment as I brushed my semi sheer golden yellow Bourjois gloss over my full lips. Once I was done I ran a finger through my hair and glanced at my reflection in pure satisfaction before heading back into my bedroom and grabbing my Louis Vuitton backpack off of my bed.

      "I'm gone Cami," I told her after I sprayed a bit of my Chanel perfume on my neck and wrists.

Leticia

      I glanced at my reflection in my rear view mirror before stepping out of the driver's side of my car and heading towards my school, eager to see my boo after missing out on his presence the whole holiday. Once outside the car I bent over to grab my bag from the passenger side, careful not to give anyone an ample view because of the short length of my denim mini skirt or my v-neck blouse. The heels of my peep-toe pumps clicked lightly as I walked across the gravel and normally I wouldn't wear heels but I wanted to make sure I looked good for Kevin. When I finally got over to the section where he and his friends meet before heading their separate ways, I found him standing next to Trey who was commenting on some female who had caught his attention this morning.

      "Who is she now?" I asked making my presence known.

      "Hey mama," Trey greeted me with a smile while Kevin wrapped a possessive arm around me and kissed me passionately on the lips.

      "Hey Trey. So who is she?" I asked.

      "Shorty over there talking to Melanie," Trey replied as he nodded his head in the direction in which he was speaking of.

      I turned to take the girl in and something about her was just so familiar. It wasn't until she plucked off her sunglasses and brushed a strand of hair out of her face that I realized just who she was.

      "Emmanuelle?" I exclaimed questioningly and she turned to see who was calling her.

      "You know her?" Kevin asked and I nodded before waving her over. She said her goodbyes to Melanie before making her way towards me.

      "What's up girl?" I asked her.

      She shrugged and saying, "Nothing much. I mean the day hasn't really started yet."

      I stared at her eye shadow in amazement of the blending techniques. It was to the point that she frowned and I knew I had to tell her why. "Sorry for staring, it's just that your eye shadow is beautiful."

      "Thank you. I had a little time and decided to try something different. I didn't want it to be too off the wall," she said lightly before turning her attention to Trey and Kevin.

      "Oh, excuse me," I giggled lightly. "Emmanuelle this is my boyfriend Kevin Ervin and his best friend Tremaine Neverson. Guys this is Emmanuelle Suarez."

      "It's nice to meet you both," she replied with a smile that revealed her slight dimples and pearly whites.

      "You too baby," Trey replied with a smile of his own just as the warning bell rang.

      "Let me go," Emmanuelle replied as she pulled her schedule from her back pack. "I have about five minutes to find my way to Physics."

      "Who’s your teacher?" Trey asked her.

      "Robert Gowdy," she answered.

      "I can show you the way. I have him third period," he answered.

      "Thank you," she replied with a smile before following him down the hall. Unbeknownst to her several girls had already decided to hate her now that she'd drawn Trey's attention.

Natalie

      "Can you believe that shit?" Carmen asked me with venom as we sat down at our normal table.

      We'd come out the court yard, like we normally do during lunch, only this time was different. Trey, who normally caught off campus lunch, was sitting a few tables away from us with Emmanuelle and really seemed to be digging her. Carmen had been after Trey since sophomore year but other than the occasional fuck, he didn't really take it too far with her. It was eating her up that Emmanuelle was getting the attention she craved without even trying. It didn't help Carmen at all that Emmanuelle seemed to be all anyone could talk about today. Talk about coming out with a bang.

      "Stop it Car," I told her simply.

      "Seriously Nat," Carmen replied. "How fair is that? What does she have that I don't?"

      "She's new and she's probably a challenge," I answered honestly.

      "So what?" Carmen snapped. "You're trying to say I'm easy?"

      "Not with everyone, just Trey," I answered with a smirk.

      "Fuck you very much," she snapped and popped a mint but didn't take her eyes off the couple.

      After watching Emmanuelle giggle at something Trey said Carmen stood and smoothed her gray and white semi transparent blouse of her tight gray tinted skinny jeans and walked over to the couple, her snake skin high heels clicking along the way. I shook my head and sat back to watch the scene she was about to cause.

Carmen

      "Hey Emmanuelle," I said with a fake grin as I made my way to their table.

      She and Trey turned to see who called her and Emmanuelle frowned while Trey looked between the two of us before turning his attention back to Emmanuelle and asking her if she knew me. She shrugged before saying, "I think I met her before. Are you one of Nat's friends?"

      It took everything in me not to frown or show attitude. She knew who I was, shit I'm not someone people just forgot. "Yeah, Carmen," I replied and a smirk formed on her face.

      "Yes, the one who thought I was beneath her right?"

      "It wasn't like th-"

      "So what's up?" she asked interrupting me. "Was there something you wanted?"

      "Just wanted to see how your day was going," I replied.

      "Really? Well Trey has been showing me around so it's all good," she replied.

      "Can I talk to you for a minute?" I asked her.

      She turned to Trey and said, "Can you give us a minute?"

      He nodded and grabbed his drink before leaving the table. "So what do you want?"

      "You need to stay away from Trey," I told her simply.

      "Excuse you?" she started.

      "I've been after Trey for years and I'm not going to let you just come in and take him," I told her.

      She gave me this weird look and said, "Why should I care about that? You've done nothing to make me take you feelings into account so if I want him I'll have him."

      "Emmanuelle, don't do this," I tried to warn her.

      "Maybe next time you'll act like you have some home training when introduced to someone. Maybe then, they'd actually care how you feel," she replied before leaving her seat and making her way over to Trey.

Tremaine

      "So what are you doing tonight?" I asked Emmanuelle.

      She shrugged and said, "I hadn't had anything planned, why?"

      "I was thinking about going to this jazz spot with great soul food. You want to go with me?" I asked her as I led her to her next class.

      "Is this like a date?" she asked turning her captivating blue eyes to my brown pair.

      "Yeah," I answered as we got to her class.

      Emmanuelle bit her bottom lip and allowed our eyes to keep their connection for a bit before nodding her yes in affirmation. She grabbed my phone off my hip and quickly added her number before speaking. "I most likely won't see you after this class but call me so I can give you my address and find out when you're coming to pick me up."

      "Aight mama. I'll see you later," I replied as I watched her walk into her class.

Sylvia

      "I wish they would hurry up," I groaned to my sister Kiera as we sat in the waiting room of Helenia's Nail Spa.

      I'd made an appointment for this time last week and we were still waiting. That's what happens when you choose to patron one of Miami's premiere nail spots. There were other nail salons, probably one on every other corner, but Helenia did every type of nail there was and her designs were always top notch. For that reason alone people didn't have a problem paying fifty plus dollars for a full set. Just when I was going to go to the receptionist and ask if Julia was free the door opened and a vaguely familiar female walked in.

      Normally I wouldn't have given the girl more than a glance but there was his nagging in my mind saying I should know her. It wasn't until she took off her sunglasses that I realized who she was. I would know those blue eyes anywhere.

      "Her eye shadow is on point. I wonder who did it," Kiera whispered to me.

      "It isn't all that," I told her as I leaned over to hear what she was saying to the receptionist.

      "Hi, is Helen in?" the girl asked.

      "Yes is something wrong?" the receptionist asked.

      "Can you tell her that Emmanuelle is here and that I need her to get to me ASAP," she told her.

      "We're running a little behind today-"

      "I can see that but if you can just tell her what I asked, I'd really appreciate it," Emmanuelle interrupted kindly.

      The girl nodded and headed into the back while Emmanuelle slipped her sunglasses into her Louis Vuitton book bag and glanced down at the watch on her wrist before sighing and tapping her painted nails on the marble top of the receptionist desk. Just as she pushed a stray lock behind her jewel adorned ear Helen came out with the receptionist with a bright smile on her face and engulfed the girl in a brief hug before grabbing her hands and looking at her nails.

      "I take it you can take me?" Emmanuelle asked Helen, the owner of the spa.

      "Of course sweetie. You should have called me though; I would have just had you come straight back. So what are you looking for?" Helen asked as she took Emmanuelle into the spa and I got annoyed. Here this girl came, a walk-in, while I was still waiting to get serviced and my appointment was for twenty minutes ago. Someone was definitely going to head about this.

Emmanuelle

      "Well I have a date tonight with this cute guy and I have an idea of what I want to wear but the mani and pedi would clash. I need something earth toned. I nice metallic gold-ish brown or something similar. You always hook me up so just do whatever," I told her.

      Helen quickly started the massage chair at the pedicure station before running the warm water and filled it with a lavender scented oil, lavender salts and a couple of scoops of this product she specially ordered that helped in smoothing the foot out and peeling off dead skin. As soon as I slipped out of my pumps [and pulled my jeans up to my knees] I placed my feet on the towel covered leather at the edge of the porcelain tub so that she could take off the polish before slipping my feet into the hot water.

      A little over an hour later I left Helenia's Spa, $140 cheaper, with a beautiful manicure and pedicure and white Haviana flip flops protecting my feet from the gravel instead of the cream pumps I came in with. With a quick stop at Leon's to pick up a new curler I headed home. I was in the middle of finishing my computer project for Calculus when my cell phone started ringing.

      "Hello?" I asked as I pressed the speaker button and continued on with my work.

      "Can I speak to Emmanuelle?" a male voice asked.

      "This is she," I answered with a pause wondering who it was.

      "It's Trey," the guy on the end started before saying, "what it do shorty?"

      "Nothing, just finishing up some work. So what time are you coming through tonight?" I asked him.

      "Is eight good for you?" he asked.

      "Eight is perfect," I told him with a smile before reciting my address and making sure he knew how to get here before ending the conversation.

      "Where are you going?" Mike asked coming out of nowhere.

      "I have a date tonight Mikey," I answered.

      "Anyone I know?" he asked as he plopped down in a free chair.

      "Nah, it's just some guy I met at school. I figured I'd give this whole dating thing a go. Does daddy still have you and Shawn watching me?" I asked him.

      "Yeah. We were actually tailing you today so don't worry about us interrupting your date. You won't even know we're there unless something goes wrong," Mike started.

      "That's cool. When is my father coming home?" I asked curiously.

      "He actually had to go out of town on business for a couple of days-"

      "I just saw him this morning," I told him as I remembered passing my father on my way out this morning.

      "Something came up," Michael said before telling me he'd be in the theater watching a movie if I needed him.

      Once he was gone I checked the clocked and noted that I had two and a half hours until Trey would get here so I saved the work I had been doing and heading into the bathroom where I proceeded to wash my face and take a relaxing hot bath with my hair piled at the top of my head. Forty-five minutes later I left the bathroom feeling relaxed and ready to embark on this date.

      I bobbed my head to the sounds of Justin Timberlake's My Love while I smoothed Jo Malone's nectarine blossom & honey blossom scented body crème over my silky soft skin. With that done I slipped into my lace La Perla bra and panty set before rolling on my deodorant and slipping into my cream pleated Valentino dress. Just as I was zipping my dress a clash of thunder rolled through the sky before light pellets began to fall.

      I sprayed my nectarine blossom & honey blossom scented cologne on my neck and wrists before heading into the bathroom to apply my make up, which went quicker than earlier since I had decided for a simple classy look with just a bronze shadow on my lids and used a liner brush to paint a strip on my lower lid. The rain was still going strong after I had brushed on, both, my mascara and lipstick so I decided against curling my hair for just brushing it back into a classic low ponytail.

      Just as I was fastening my Majorca pearl and stone earrings in my ear Evelyn came up to my room to tell me that Trey was waiting for me downstairs. I nodded and asked her to tell him that I'd be down in a minute as well as to let Mike and Shawn know I was about to leave. She nodded as I slipped my bracelet on and walked over to my Valentino shoe box so that I could quickly put on my shoes. With that done I shrugged on my brown leather Valentino jacket and grabbed my Gucci purse before leaving my bedroom and heading down stairs.

Tremaine

      I glanced around the house in amazement. I'd seen pictures of the outside of this house in one of my mother's many Life & Style magazines but never had I ever imagined I would be inside THE Manuello Suarez's house. When I'd asked Emmanuelle out I had no idea who she was until I'd been on my way and followed her directions right onto Star Island and towards this house; talk about having a lot to live up to. Before I had a chance to wander too far Emmanuelle's soft voice called out to me.

      "In here Emmanuelle," I replied as I turned to follow her voice.

      "Are you ready?" she asked me curiously.

      "Yeah," I replied as I walked with her to the front of the house and opened my umbrella so I could walk her to the passenger side of my awaiting Audi.