Fashion Queen

The Not-So-Smooth Move

Brooke Valentine stares as the bus takes off, and not a single soul offers to help her settle into the new town. When the bus driver announced the stop as Pine Haven, Brooke did not expect that the bus would stop in the middle of nowhere, in a so-called town. Everyone just watched her as she struggled to get all her belongings off the bus. The moment she did, the bus left, leaving her alone with all her bags. With a sigh, she begins to walk down the path of what appears to lead to nothing.

"Maybe this town will look more appealing when I walk into the heart of it," Brooke thinks out loud.

Without thinking, Brooke takes everything she brought with her and walks down the long road.

----

"Maybe I went the wrong way after all," Brooke says, looking around, as the little shops close.

Brooke sees a guy and shouts out to him, "Hey! Excuse me!"

"Are you talking to me?" He answers, looking confused.

"Um, yes...I think I'm lost. Do you know where Pine Haven is?" Brooke asks.

The guy looks at her with an eyebrow quirked up and an amused expression, "As a matter of fact, I do know where Pine Haven is. You happen to be standing in the town square right now."

Brooke's jaw drops open and she takes a look around her once again.

"No way! You don't mean..."

He smirks, "You're in Pine Haven, baby."

Taking a few minutes to recover, Brooke asks, "Okay...Um...Do you know where I can find an Eric Novak?"

"Follow me, new girl."

"Is it far?" Brooke asks, gathering her belongings that she placed down on the floor earlier.

He turns around and gives her a funny look, "This is Pine Haven. It's a pretty small town."

"Right..Of course," Brooke mumbles and he starts walking.

"Try to keep up. It's not a long walk but I have to return to work," he says and begins walking.

"Wait!" Brooke shouts out. "Aren't you going to help me carry my bags?"

He shrugs without glancing back at Brooke, who is staggering behind, "You managed to get all that here somehow. You can carry it for a little more."

Letting out a huff, Brooke quickly grabs everything and tries to catch up with him.

---

"Hey Eric! I have a present for you!" Rude guy says while walking through a door.

"How can he just waltz inside someone's home like that?" Brooke wonders out loud.

Another guy shows up, "He's always like that."

"Um hello. I'm Brooke Valentine. Are you Eric Novak?" Brooke asks the other guy.

"Hey Brooke. Yeah, I am," Eric answers.

Eric continues, "You are welcome to stay in the room behind this house."

"Thank you!" Brooke squeals excitedly.

Eric chuckles, "I'll help you with your bags."

"Wow! There are chivalrous people in this town," Brooke says, giving the rude guy a look as he walks by her.

"Hey I brought you to Eric," he responds.

Eric returns from moving half of Brooke's bags into her new home, "Jay, shouldn't you help her?"