Studio 22 | Mary-Kate Olsen

Chapter Twenty

MARY-KATE'S POV

June 8th 2022 - New York City - Manhatta

I took my seat next to my friend Rachel and made sure there was an empty seat on the other side. Blue was coming and I didn't want her to sit away from me because she didn't know anyone. These are some of my oldest friends, they all knew each other and we tried to meet up at least once every few months to catch up. Birthdays are always a good excuse for that meeting. Ash was out with her friends at a different place for cocktails and we'd all meet up for dinner a little later.

She had texted me a few minutes ago saying she was almost here, and being on the 60th floor it would take her some time to get up here, I was anxious for her arrival. I wanted everyone to like her. I wanted them all to get on. If they did it was another excuse to spend more time with her. I enjoyed her friendship, it was just easy with her.

"What's her name again?" Rach asked me. "Blue," I told her. "Unusual," She pulled a face, great she was already judging her before they'd even met. "It's a middle name." "So what's her name?" She asked again. "Blue, we call her Blue. Her first name is Sofia though." "Why?" "It's just what her family calls her, all you need to know is her name is Blue. That's it." She nodded. "You need a drink, chill. It's your birthday." I rolled my eyes. She was annoyed. I didn't like Rach when she was in this mood. Her judgey mood. I don't care about anyone's feelings. She would be rude to Blue and she'll think I surround myself with pretentious bitches. "Play nice," I warned her when I spotted Blue walking in.

She was hard to miss if I'm being honest. She had this way of grabbing a room's attention without meaning too. I often find myself just observing her, maybe it was the clothes she wore, they were always a statement, she always looked put together. Today she wore a zebra oversized blazer as a dress and huge black satin platform heels. "I wasn't expecting that," Rachel said under her breath. I smirked to myself, I told her she worked at The Row and she immediately assumed it was someone higher up. When I told her she was an intern, I think she was expecting Blue to be, I don't know not what Blue is. I was glad Blue proved her wrong without even knowing it.

I stood up and walked to meet her, it had to be intimidating meeting a group of people you don't know who all know each other. "Hey, you made it," I beamed as I hugged her tight. I was so much shorter than her now she had these huge heels on. "I said I would." She held me back for a few moments before we pulled away. "I'll introduce you to everyone." She scanned the table. "Don't be scared, Blue." She cocked an eyebrow as if to say I'm not intimidated by princess type girls. "Come on." "When are we meeting Ash?" "Later, you can see your favourite boss later." I tugged her arm and she began to walk with me again. "Hey, everyone," She greeted, she had everyone's attention from the second she walked in. "This is Blue. Blue this is. Rachel, Rudy, Erin, Tommy and Tilly." I pointed to each of them and they gave a little wave. "Nice to meet you,'' she said with her sweet smile. I took my seat. "I saved you a spot," I told her as I pulled the chair out next to me. She walked behind me and took her seat adjusting her dress to ensure she's covered modestly.

"Don't worry about what you order, the tab is covered," Rachel said in a rather patronising way. Blue's eyes went a little doe like, like an innocent child who's under attack for no reason. I looked at Rachel. "Just letting her know," She mumbled. From that moment all the confidence Blue had walking in her melted away, she was quiet, she's never this quiet around me. I pattered her knee to grab her attention and she looked at me. "Ignore her, she's in a mood." She just nodded and went back to look at the menu.

We ordered the first round of drinks and conversation had started back up, Erin was talking to Blue. Erin is the sweetest woman you'll ever meet, she's so caring and my nerves were settled knowing she was making the effort with Blue. Like I said, Blue is really likeable. If Rach just gave her a chance and got off her high horse for a few seconds she'd actually really like Blue.