Dearest readers, who light up my day like an explosion in the microwave,
Due to your numerous and repeated requests, I have decided to open a Capital S merchandise store. Now you can proudly show your love of Style with Capital S t-shirts, journals, mouse pads, mugs, etc. — all themed after the most popular Capital S posts and designed by Yours Truly.
Also, the first 100 people to buy something from the store will get a little surprise from me… A thank you for your generous support, you know? Because six months ago I was just an unemployed girl who liked clothes. Today, thanks to my wonderful readers (you!!) and sponsors, I can afford to devote my full attention to the fashion world — without getting evicted!
Anyway, stay tuned because today I’ll be posting about affordable fashion: “Look Like a Runway Model for $50 or Less.” But don’t forget: we want their clothes, not their toothpick bodies.
S is for Snacks!
Capital S
# # #
“I’m impressed Dr. Storm can still walk,” MJ says as her lab supervisor walks by with a flock of grad students in tow.
Felix looks up from his notebook, where he is recording the results of his latest procedure. “Huh?”
“You know, with everyone sticking their heads up his–”
“MJ!”
She sighs. “Sorry. I just hate the new vibe here.”
Ever since Dr. Storm announced that he was hired by “a certain prestigious university in Boston,” everyone in the lab has been falling over themselves to impress him. They are hoping to ride his coattails to the coveted institution. In truth, both MJ and Felix would love the opportunity — but not, they agree, at the expense of their self-respect.
# # #
Another day, another dark cloud over Eli’s head. Claudia tries not to take it personally, but she knows what’s on his mind. For the past year, he has supported her both emotionally and financially. And he did it happily, believing that a year was plenty of time for Claudia to establish herself as a writer. But she hasn’t, for a variety of reasons. The industry is tough, the economy is down, and Claudia (at least in Eli’s mind) is not putting in enough effort.
Now whenever they’re together, Claudia feels like she’s being watched. And judged. Reading a book? Should be writing. Playing with the dog? Should be writing. Napping? Definitely should be writing. Writing? It’s about damn time. How many words have you produced?
Of course, Eli doesn’t actually say any of these things. He just looks at her, then looks away again. But in those split seconds of eye contact, Claudia is sure she can read his disapproving thoughts.
# # #
Self-respect is great and all, but self-respect doesn’t pay the bills. Or get published in medical journals. Or win Nobel Prizes.
As the days pass, MJ and Felix watch their lab mates scramble ahead in Dr. Storm’s little rat race, and they start to feel… worried. Left behind. Foolish.
“You know, we wouldn’t have to suck up to compete,” Felix says one day over lunch. They are sharing a basket of fish and chips, which really means Felix is having fish while MJ eats the chips.
“I was thinking the same thing,” MJ says. “I mean, we’re among the top grad researchers in the lab. Dr. Storm would be lucky to have one… of us as his assistant.”
Felix didn’t miss her hesitation. One of. Only one of them can be chosen. Only one of them can go with Dr. Storm to Boston. Only one of them will get this amazing opportunity. The other will have to fend for himself.
Or herself, MJ thinks with some concern.
They both say hi to Dr. Storm the following day. MJ brings him a cup of coffee. Felix compliments his tie. At lunch, Felix invites Dr. Storm to eat with everyone in the cafeteria, but Dr. Storm already has lunch plans with MJ. At the end of the day, MJ asks Dr. Storm out for drinks, but Dr. Storm has to pass. He’s meeting Felix at a different pub.
Their competition continues throughout the week. Soon the other students are looking at MJ and Felix with disdain. “Don’t they have any self-respect?” one girl whispers.
On Friday, Dr. Storm enters the lab. “MJ. Felix. Step into my office for a minute.”
They look at each other. Had they done something wrong? Had they blown their chances? Nervous, they slink into his office, heads down.
When they’re all seated, Dr. Storm sighs. “This isn’t easy for me to say.” MJ grips the armrests so tight her knuckles crack. “I was very disappointed in you two.” Felix bites his lip. “Until this week, that is.” They both stare at him in confusion.
“You are two of my strongest students, and for a while there it seemed like neither of you were interested in coming to you know where, with me. But I’m glad to see that this week you both have really stepped up your game.”
They exhale in relief.
“Anyway, I just called you in here to let you know that I have officially narrowed the list of candidates down to 5, and you’re both on it. At the end of each week I’ll notify the entire group of their standings. I think that’s only fair.”
Felix and MJ nod.
“This week, one of you is at the top of the list.”
Without even realizing, they both lean forward in their seats.
“And that person is…”
I can be happy for him, MJ thinks. I can be proud of her, Felix thinks.
“MJ.”
Omigosh! MJ thinks. No, I can’t, Felix thinks.
# # #
One night Claudia wakes up alone in bed. Well, alone with the dog Max, anyway. “Eli?” she whispers. If he had trouble sleeping and moved to the couch, she doesn’t want to wake him, but if he’s just wandering for some reason, she’d like to know that he’s there and safe. “Eli?” she calls again.
No answer.
Confused and concerned, Claudia gets out of bed to search for her boyfriend. He’s not in the bathroom, not in the kitchen, not on the couch… Then she sees a light under the door of their home office. A light not unlike the one that emanates from her laptop when she is up late writing.
Quietly Claudia pushes the door open. There, sitting in the dark, is Eli. On her computer. With her work-in-progress open on the screen in front of him.
“What are you doing?”
Eli jumps back, startled. “Oh, hey, nothing.”
They both know that’s not true. Claudia waits for the real, non-reactionary answer.
“I was checking your word count.”
“Excuse me?”
Eli slowly closes the laptop and backs away. “Your word count. I check it. Every night.”
Claudia’s eyes fill with fire. She opens her mouth to speak, then closes it again. She closes her eyes too. “Get out,” she says. “Just get out.”
# # #
For Sophie’s birthday, Reggie and Diego take her out to one of her favorite restaurants downtown — an expensive treat for the poor little birthday girl who still hasn’t found a job. She and Diego order sophisticated aperitifs, like lobster ravioli and bruschetta. Reggie asks for spaghetti with extra meatballs. As he shoves humongous bites of saucy ground meat into his mouth, Sophie and Diego stare, appalled.
Later — after Reggie changes into the spare shirt he always keeps in his car — the trio goes out for drinks and dancing. Sophie partners with Reggie for all the hip hop and techno, and with Diego for the salsa and bachata. As usual, Diego is mobbed by leggy blonde girls who notice his sexy Latin moves. Sophie just grins, knowing that he’d never go for them the way he once went for her.
When they get back to her apartment, there are four boxes at the door. Birthday deliveries! One is from her parents, one from MJ, one from Claudia, and one from X. Giddier than a monkey at a Chiquita plant, Sophie grabs the boxes and hurries inside.
“We got you something too,” Reggie says once they’re settled in her living room. He hands her a bag, and then steps back. He knows the tornado will touch down quickly and fiercely.
Diego, on the other hand, doesn’t move fast enough, and soon he is covered in a mess of cardboard, wrapping paper, and bows. “Aren’t you going to read the cards?” he asks as he digs himself out of the avalanche.
“Of course,” Sophie says, sounding insulted. “Later.”
Reggie chuckles and shakes his head. “All right, let’s see what you got.”
She pushes away some tissue paper so they can see all the presents laid out on the coffee table and go through them one by one.
“A cappuccino maker! A Capital S t-shirt. A Capital S journal. A Capital S mouse pad… A Capital S mug… And one, two, three, four Forward Fashion scarves?” She looks up at Reggie and Diego with a horrified expression.
“Guess we know what the special surprise gift from Capital S was,” Diego snickers.
Reggie, on the other hand, keeps quiet. He’s not sure how Sophie will react.
While the boys watch and wait, Sophie takes a moment, and a deep cleansing breath, to steady herself. Then she crumples all the scarves into one fist, launches them at Reggie and Diego, and starts to laugh so hard her sides hurt.
