Author Celise Downs » Blog Archive » Miss Snitch Mondays: Chapter One cont’d

June 23, 2008 | Book One, Book Stuff, DA Series, Draven Atreides

From now until the April 17, 2009 release date of A Royale Pain: A Draven Atreides, Teenage FBI novel , I will post the unedited version of this book. Every month will be a different chapter, but since the chapters are so long–and unedited–I will post a few pages every week. Keep in mind that what you’ll be reading is the first draft of Book One, pre-editor and pre-spell check. It’s extremely raw, so there will be spelling errors. Comments and opinions are appreciated and may be taken into consideration during the current revision process. If you would like to order this book at a discount, be sure to get on the DA Book One Pre-Order Notification List at the end of this post.

I look at her with a raised eyebrow. “We’re going to a spa, Poe.”

“Yes. A spa where there might be celebs,” Poe counters, hands up and eyes wide in her classic “duh” expression.

“A spa where we’re going to be wearing a robe,” I retort, imitating the same pose.

“A spa where there might be celebs,” Ricky interjects.

“What’s the point in getting a new outfit if we’re going to have to take it off two seconds later?” I ask.

“The point is, we’ll be seen,” Poe says.

“Did she mention celebs might be there?” Ricky quips.

“What’s wrong with just slapping on some jeans and a sweater?” I say with a shrug.

Poe pushes her uneaten sandwich aside and leans in close. “This is the Royale Treatment Day Spa, Dray. The home turf of Taffy Royale.”

“And celebs,” Ricky whispers from behind his hand.

“People like us don’t get in to places like that. Tomorrow, we’re going to look like the type of people that get in to places like that. Seen—” Poe starts.

“Celebs with no make-up,” Ricky throws in.

I reach over and slap his arm.

“—and be seen. That’s the name of the game,” Poe continues, ignoring the exchange.

“It just seems a little unnecessary,” I say with another listless shoulder shrug.

“I can practice my acting skills and you can write about it someday. It’ll be fun,” Poe assures me.

“Yeah, what’s not to like?” Ricky offers. “Fuzzy robes and slippers, hangin’ out with Julia Roberts…”

“Or Madonna—”

“—Nicole Kidman—”

“—Nicole Ritchie—”

“—J. Lo—”

“—Jennifer Aniston—”

“—Paris Hilton—”

“—Lindsay Lohan—”

“—Halle Berry—”

“—Angelina Jolie—”

Poe and Ricky stop to stare at one another for a moment. Poe tilts her head to the side and Ricky rubs his chin with his index finger and thumb.

“Y’know, I can’t picture A.J. at a spa,” Ricky says.

“At least, not in this country,” I snicker.

Ricky reaches out and places his hand on my arm. “Don’t you want to go, mija?” he asks with a confused frown. “It’s the chance of a lifetime.”

If they only knew, I think with an inner sigh. “It’s not like I’ve waited a lifetime to go to a spa. It’s not exactly at the top of my To Do list,” I say aloud.

Ricky gives me a look that suggests he might have to slap some sense into me. “Okay, so just to recap, babydoll. You’re going to a Grand Re-opening of a classy spa where famous people…will…probably…show…up,” he says slowly. “Just in case you passed out during the only thing we’ve been talking about since lunch started and suddenly came to.”

I crack a smile and nudge his leg with my foot. “Ha-ha, very funny.”

Poe leans back in her chair and stares at me. “Look, if you don’t want to go, I can ask someone else,” she says. “Not you,” she adds quickly, pointing a finger at Ricky as he opens his mouth. “We already had that discussion.”

“I said I would go,” I say.

Poe claps her hands in delight. “Coolness. So, I was thinking about ditching my last class—kidding,” she says, avoiding Ricky’s fierce glare. “I can wait till school’s out.”

“I thought you said it was tomorrow?” I say, starting to crumple up my trash.

Poe releases a blustery sigh and throws up her hands. I smile at the dramatic gestures and think Poe will make a great actress someday.

“Geez, talk about short term memory. Shopping, Dray. We’re supposed to go shopping for new outfits for tomorrow. I thought we could hit up Charlie’s,” she suggests with a knowing smile.

Useless shopping. Joy. Even if it is at Charlotte Ruse, the clothing store where I work part time. The theme from “Saved by the Bell” filters through the speakers, effectively keeping me from saying something I’ll probably regret later.

“So we’ll meet by your car after school,” Poe is saying now.

“Yeah. Sounds good,” I agree, picking up my backpack. Ricky gives me a one-armed hug before shouldering his own bag.

“Fantabulous.” Poe steps around the table and wraps her arms around my neck in a hard squeeze. “See you later.”

“See ya.”

#

Standing in a dressing room at the Charlotte Ruse in Scottsdale Fashion Square Mall, I gaze at the outfit Poe had chosen for me.

“So what do you think? Do you like it?” Poe’s voice reaches over the adjoining wall.

“I look like you,” I say with a turned up lip curl.

“No you don’t,” scoffs Poe. “The slightly sloppy schoolgirl is a good look for you.”

“Possibly. But not in this outfit,” I object.

“You don’t like the black corduroy skirt?”

“It’s too short.”

“Slouchy beige sweater boots are the in thing now.”

“It’s November, Poe. In Arizona. Not Alaska, for crissakes.”

“Right. Well, do you at least like the white cami and the green hoodie with the red apple patch?”

I bob my head from side to side, shrug my shoulders and make a small sound in the affirmative.

“I like’em,” I reply.

“So what type of bottoms are you going to wear?” Poe asks.

“I saw some orange low-rise sweats out there with the Orange Crush logo on them,” I say, toeing off the sweater boots.

Poe releases a bark of laughter. “Yeah, I saw those. They’re some brown ones with the A & W logo on’em. Did you see those, too?”