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Chapter 9 – Dairies of A Fag Hag

My name is Kylie Porter and my life is officially manic. It isn't all spice girls and pink anymore like it was when I was younger. I would always be posh spice and live like I was HRH the Queen. I can't just tie my hair up and go out and get drunk anymore. Now, I have to have responsibility. Bloody hell, this should be funny. A Day in The Life of Kylie Porter: professional screw-up.

***

Kylie exited her room and walked down the hallway to her roommate's. She stood in the doorway and pushed it open to see Seth alone. Her short black hair, pasty completion, and red lips made her seem like Snow White. All that was missing was the beautiful red, blue, and yellow gown.

"What's the matter, then?" Kylie asked. Seth was her best friend, her roommate, and her gay. His happiness was important to her. If Seth was sad, she was sad; it was how the world worked. "Where is Jeremy? Did he not stay?"

"We fought, I don't want to talk about it," Seth was shirtless and Kylie wouldn't lie, she liked him that way. He was gay and would have nothing of her and she knew that. The woman was consistently disappointed by that fact, but would never admit it.

Seth sidestepped his roommate and started down the polished wooden staircase.

"Why is it, whenever I am in a bad mood you always insist on talking? Then, when we switch it around you want to be quiet." Kylie followed; she had a way of being persistent.

"I don't want to talk about it." Seth turned to the cupboard and took out a frying pan.

"The world is full of things people don't want to talk about." Kylie walked over to Seth's cell phone and picked it up. "Shall I give Jeremy a ring, then? I'm sure he will pick his mobile up if I try." Kylie mocked and held Seth's cell phone close to her chest.

"Don't you dare," Seth pointed an accusing finger.

"You man the cooker, I will man the mobile, got it?" Kylie paused her eyes wide and one of her skinny hands pointing to the stove. "Bucko," She said in badly preformed American accent.

"Don't call, I'll talk," Seth begged and glanced at Kylie's hand. "…and cook breakfast."

"Good, don't you dare put a shirt on either?" Kylie sat down in a wooden chair. The kitchen table given to them as a gift from Kylie's parents didn't seem to match the rest of the houses décor. It still looked new.

"Ben found out about Jeremy and me. I mean, London, all of London, he has to get on the same train as us? What are the possibilities of that?"

"For people like us it is one hundred percent possibility," Kylie noted. She moved a strand of black hair away from her eyes.

"Anyway, I guess Ben came to the house." Seth stated. "Jeremy and he got into a fight. He told Jeremy. Then Jeremy got mad at me and left. The thing was, Jeremy told me, Ben said…I was his boyfriend." Seth dwelled on those words.

"Awe, bless," Kylie admitted. "I mean, that's what you wanted to hear for the longest time – that you and Ben are boyfriends right? You would always nag to me about it."

"Yeah, but Jeremy, he came all the way from America to visit." Seth finished scrambling an egg and placed it on two plates.

"It sounds like; you messed up to be perfectly honest. I say, go apologize. Go cry your eyes out and ask for forgiveness." Kylie admitted. "I mean the world already has so many horrible things in it. Like girls who tie scarves around their waists and say it is a fashion statement."

***

Kylie was a fashion designer and worked at a boutique in central London. Her job today was to help find something vintage and make it new. Hell, it was her job every day. Last week she turned something 70's into a stupid fashion trend. She didn't know what she was thinking trying to bring back the headband. It was confusing and dumb. Hell, it sold and made money.

The girl found a vintage store and entered hearing a ring. An old woman shouted from the back.

Kylie looked through some worn out jackets and frowned with each one.

"Hi, may I help you?" Colby inquired leaning forward her eyes wide.

"I'm good thanks," Kylie hated beautiful tall girls. It was one of her reasons she became a fashion designer, because she couldn't be a model. "Actually," Kylie paused; she liked the idea of someone else doing the work for her. "Do you have anything vintage?"

Colby's mouth dropped. Who was this girl? To come into a vintage store and ask for something vintage. "Well, we'd like to think everything here is vintage,"

"Yes, you would like to think that but pulling something out of the rubbish bin and having something vintage are two completely different things. You see I work in a fashion industry and if I don't do my job, which entails you doing yours, and getting me something vintage. Then, well hell will be raised." Kylie loved being a complete bitch to attractive girls she didn't know.

"You do that fine yourself," Colby muttered under her breath and reached onto the rack. She pulled out a beautiful white and pink striped blazer. "Look, mod fit, Mod…"

"Thanks, love," Kylie smiled. "How much is this."

"Thirty pounds," Colby gave off a superficial smile. Colby knew that it was more than it was worth.

"Good, that's what I make in a minute." Kylie boasted. She handed over the money and the ugly coat she hand been holding in exchange for a brand new one. "Rubbish for rubbish." Kylie muttered. She turned and noticed her fiancé walk past the window.

Kylie dashed out of the store to say hi. She loved her fiancé and couldn't wait for the day when they would be wed. He proposed to her over campaign in a beautiful restaurant which looked out over the Thames River. As she watched him walk into the crowd she didn't notice the large trash can in front of her. She tripped and fell into it with a scream.

Colby watched the event unfold and smirked to herself. "Trash for trash,"

***

Kylie returned to the boutique and cleaned herself up before proceeding to the front table. She watched one of the assistants, her competition; tie a scarf around one of the manikin's waists. The boutique had sand colored walls with white swirls. A large ornate crystal chandelier hung from the ceiling.

"Kylie," Her boss said in a low confident voice. Kylie walked into her boss's pristine clean office and smiled.

"Yes madam," Her boss was French, it was a formality. Basically Kylie had to pretend she was French around her boss. This included the double cheek kiss. Kylie instantly noticed their latest catalogue; it hadn't been released to the public. The magazine sat on an almost clear desk. A skinny blond model wore a profligate fur coat and stared at Kylie laughing. She spotted the address on the magazine label: Juan Montez. The Garden Court Hotel, the American representative was in London.

"I wanted to talk to you about your latest designs. They are wonderful except…" The French woman looked up at Kylie. "I see you spotted the new magazine."

"Yes, you know, if you want, I will hand deliver it to Mr. Montez." Kylie offered. She had met with this client before, she wanted a second opportunity.

"You don't have to," The woman held her chin up.

"I want to," Kylie insisted lifting the magazine off the table. "I really would love to because I love having excellent customer service."

Secure with the magazine Kylie walked out into the store and noticed the assistant tie yet another scarf around a manikin's waist, double scarves. Kylie stomped up to the manikin and pulled off the second scarf. "No more scarves," Kylie said and threw it on the ground walking out.

***

The opulence of the Garden Court Hotel astounded Kylie as she approached the front desk. Marble floors and columns were pristine clean and sparkled, while a glass door separated the entrance to the hotel's restaurant.

"Hello," Kylie said in a faux cheerful voice. "May I have Juan Montez's room; I believe he is a guest at your hotel."

"Does, Mr. Montez know you?" Gwen asked looking up from the computer in her hotel uniform. Her hair was pulled back into a tight bun and she looked official.

"Does he know me?" Kylie said placing her hand to her chest insulted. "Of course he does,"

"Okay then, let me call him," Gwen lifted up the phone and glanced at the computer screen dialing the number for his room.

Kylie noticed by the hotel receptionist's accent that she was indeed American. "There seem to be a lot of American's around today. I swear they'd think it is okay for them to live here or something." The British girl muttered under her breath.

"What did you say your name was?" Gwen inquired, noticing what Kylie said but ignoring it.

"Kylie, just tell him Kylie and he should know." The girl tapped the granite counter impatiently as Gwen hung the phone up.

"He is in the West tower, fourth floor, room 456." Gwen informed.

"It's about time," Kylie spat out and hurried off to deliver her magazine.

Gwen looked at the girl go then turned back to her computer screen.

Kylie entered the elevator and watched the buttons light up. She glanced at her engagement ring and watched it shimmer. It was a small stone, her partner couldn't afford much. They had yet to start the wedding preparations but she knew they would be simple and traditional. She looked up and snapped out of her trance as the doors slid open.

The room numbers grew on the wall as she came closer to the one she was seeking 456. Kylie paused outside the room and hesitated for a moment. She knocked and the door opened. Juan greeted her in a towel with beads of water dripping down his toned chest.

"Long time no see Kylie," Juan said nonchalant as he walked deeper into the room.

"I just wanted to deliver this magazine." Kylie announced shallow voiced.

"You sound scared," Juan whispered pressing up against the girl seductively.

Kylie wanted the man so badly, she was all wet with his soaked body squished into her. "I am engaged and I know what we had was great…but it wasn't…" Kylie couldn't finish her word. Juan had planted his lips on hers. It was a soft kiss, one that she could have easily pulled away from.

Juan stepped back and let his towel drop. Kylie couldn't control herself as she wrapped her arms around his waist and they walked back towards the bed. That one lustful night months ago felt like yesterday. It was a wonderful night, alcohol, romance, and most of all fabulous sex.

They collapsed on the bed and kept kissing each other with a vigor seen in animals. Each kiss led to another like words in a sentence pulling forward a story.

"No," Kylie stopped and sat up sliding off the bed. "No, I can't Juan, I am engaged and with you it is just sex and glamour. I grew up in that, I need something new…something that I can go home and look in the mirror and live with myself."

"Calm down, it was just a kiss…your fiancé wont even know," Juan said.

"I'm not going to throw away my relationship to appease you." Kylie stated firmly and turned to walk towards the door.

Juan looked down at the magazine Kylie dropped. "What if I told your boss you're actions today made me not want to endorse her product?"

Kylie froze, that was low. "You wouldn't,"

"Yes, I wouldn't…if you have sex with me." Juan smirked, standing up and swaggering over to Kylie in an American fashion. He kissed her once again. "You know you like it baby."

***

Kylie came down from the room and walked back in the lobby. She wasn't sure how to feel at the moment. The girl looked at the woman at the desk who helped her earlier, Gwen. She glared at the receptionist she felt that that woman didn't know anything about love. Kylie wished she could be as ignorant as some people, ignorant and beautiful.

She moved a strand of black hair out of her eyes as she stepped outside into the twilight. London had warmth about it which reassured Kylie and whispered a plan into her ear. She called the boutique and informed her boss that she was under the weather. Kylie's feet brought her home.

Seth was already cooking supper and made a specialty dish he looked excited about. The kitchen was filled with unfamiliar smells, not unpleasant, but unfamiliar.

"Kylie, hey, I am making the ultimate American comfort food, meat loaf." Seth explained. "Mashed potatoes and gravy too,"

She stared at the oven and let out a sorrowful sigh. "I'm not that hungry actually…I think I need to see my therapist tonight."

"Why? What happened?" Seth turned his eyes wide at his friend.

Kylie dug into her purse and pulled out a t-mobile cell phone then flipped it open to scroll through her numbers. She was a little surprised she didn't have her therapist on speed dial yet.

"Fine, ignore me, I won't tell you want happened to me today." Seth said sitting down at the table ignoring the food for a moment.

"Just tell me, I am not in the mood to work it out of you today." Kylie found the number and looked up for Seth to speak. "You know I adore you right?"

"Yeah," Seth nodded. "Okay, so I apologized to Ben…he said it was okay because he…he had been seeing someone else too." Seth looked down at the table his long brown hair fluttered down over his face. "He," Seth whispered holding back sadness. "He said it was okay," Seth thought about how happy he felt when Jeremy told him that Ben called him his boyfriend. That happiness disappeared with the newfound knowledge of Ben's other guy.

Kylie wasn't sure why Seth was crying but she knew she had never seen him cry before. To be perfectly honest, she wasn't even sure if he was it felt so serial.

"What about Jeremy?" Kylie questioned hoping to get Seth off the topic of Ben. She had never met Ben but didn't think much of him.

"Jeremy," Seth spoke as if he didn't recognize the name. He gathered his composure then looked up at his roommate. "We talked too; he is mad, real mad and is thinking of spending the rest of his time here with his cousin."

"I see," Kylie gave a reassuring smile. "Well, to me it sounds like everything with Ben is working out and Jeremy can't hate you that much if he talked to you. Maybe you should think about seeing a therapist though."

"No," Seth laughed his cheery self emerging as he neared the warm stove. "I'm okay, just had a bad day." Seth focused on his cooking and tried to think about other things.

"Alright, then," Kylie dialed her therapist and scheduled an appointment. The moment Kylie hung up her phone she felt better, she would talk her problems out with a trained professional and that would be that. "You know, I never got around to asking you…what is it you see in Ben? He doesn't seem that great to me."

Seth pulled the meatloaf out and rested it on the stove then faced Kylie with a thoughtful expression.

"He is the kind of guy I don't have to worry about. The kind that after a long day I can come home and hold and know that he is holding me back. Those nights when he laid next to me, keeping me warm, I just felt so…satisfied." Seth stated his eyes staring off to a dreamy place. He served himself and sitting across from Kylie.

"What about Jeremy? Isn't Jeremy satisfying…I mean you two have been together for ages?" Kylie brought up feeling disgusted by Seth's passion for a guy who cheated on him. Yes, Seth cheated too, but Seth was her friend and she could accept that.

"I guess, I don't feel that way with Jeremy anymore." Seth sighed, regretting the loss.

***

Kylie entered the small waiting room and noticed the sign on the door said there was another appointment. The receptionist reiterated this fact to Kylie as she left for the night. The girl took a seat in one of the chairs and picked up one of those trashy paparazzi magazines she loved so much.

The door opened and out walked a brown haired guy she had never seen before. He was, in fact, Ben Howe and looked at her curiously.

"Have a good meeting," Kylie noted standing up grabbing her purse.

"Yes," Ben whispered a bit embarrassed, it was his first time seeing a therapist about his problems.

"Good," Kylie nodded and looked past Ben as the woman came to the door and nodded for Kylie to enter. "My turn," She spared few friendly words with the stranger thinking that all they had in common was they talked to the same woman. She could be nice with him though, because he was like her in the way that they both needed someone to talk to.

Kylie walked by Ben and he watched her enter the room and disappear behind the closed door.

***

The thing about life is although your life is your life you share it with everyone around you. I can't go through a crazy day without some manic six degrees where it affects someone who knows someone. Basically my point is, your bad day is everyone's bad day. Makes sense, right? Or maybe nothing makes sense because it is all jumbled up like a broken puzzle and we can't find any way to see who connects to who and what goes where anymore.

***

AN: Okay, here is the one chapter we don't follow Ben around.  The purpose of this chapter was to see the other characters in their lives at work. There are some deeper things to it like comparisons of Kylie and Seth's life to Ben, Colby, and Gwen's life. Ben's story did move forward a bit more in this chapter. Basically he forgave Seth so now Seth and Peter know about each other and Ben is out in the open about all that.

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