Doll House: Book One

twenty | authentic

The lights of the Doll House studio were off when Hazel entered on a Sunday morning.

Though she'd attended the sexpo at the request of Hodges, she left directly after the Sweet Tooth reveal when she noticed that Gabriel was just as bored as she was. He'd even offered to take her back to the penthouse but she didn't want to be alone since she knew how the other girls operated during special events. They would either come home as the sun was rising or they would spend the night with one of many suitors.

So Hazel opted to spend the night at the Rebel House. With stipulations of course.

"Shit, it's dark in here." Hazel looked over her shoulder to see Ivy enter with an iced coffee in hand.

She flicked on the lights, removed her sunglasses, then sat back on the white couch with a loud exhale.

"Hungover?" Hazel asked.

"That's an understatement. I swear I only had like twenty-five minutes of sleep."

Hazel chuckled, pouring herself a cup of coffee from the Keurig before joining Ivy on the couch.

"What's going on?" Candy asked as she and Chanel entered together.

"We don't know." Hazel shrugged. "What were you both up to at the sexpo?"

"Well I never made it out of the Range Rover." Chanel shook her head. "My date had an insane sex drive."

"And I made it out but there was a producer that lived nearby so..." Candy trailed off.

Clearly staying with Gabriel was a great choice, Hazel thought. Though they hadn't had sex, it gave her a moment to spend time with him outside of the business. It also gave Hazel a chance to not be left alone in her own thoughts while the other girls rode dick last night.

But, when she received the text from Hodges at seven o'clock in the morning, her time with Gabriel was cut short. Everyone's time had been cut short except Cecelia's perhaps, since she'd spent the night with Hodges.

A minute later, the boss entered the studio, looking crisp and clean as if the eight o'clock meeting time posed zero inconveniences after a night of heavy drinking.

"Girls, I have some troubling news." He placed his hands in the pockets of his charcoal colored trousers. "As of this morning, Cece has decided to leave the Doll House family, indefinitely. She gave no specific reason but she did want me to give you all this."

He reached into his breast pocket and produced a card to the person closest to him which happened to be Hazel.

"What? Why?" Candy asked with a quiver in her voice.

"He just said that she didn't give a specific reason." Ivy said with a roll of her eyes.

"Ivy." Hodges said her name as a warning.

"So what does this mean for the larger picture? Fan statistics? Followers? Endorsements?"

"How can you think about all that when Cece is gone?!" Candy began to tear up.

"Sorry, but she was a big part of our brand." Chanel shrugged.

"It's a good question." Hodges said, handing Candy a tissue. "So I should inform you all that I've started the process of finding a new doll."

"Well, if you're looking to replace Cece, that won't happen." Chanel chuckled. "Statistically speaking of course."

"Chanel, you only speak in statistics. We get it." Ivy said.

Hodges nodded with a sigh, "Chanel's right. Whoever I choose has to be authentic which I've taken into account." He looked at the girls. "As for Doll House as a whole, prior to this incident I wanted to inform you in a more formal setting but I feel it's necessary to share everything now."

"Rebranding?"

"In a sense. I'm in the works of changing a few things but of course I'll keep you girls updated every step of the way." Hodges said reassuringly.

The girls simply stared at him. Some hoping for more answers and the others in shock of the news. All were baffled by the timing.

"Was she okay at the sexpo?" Hazel asked, speaking for the first time since Hodges entered.

"No, she was upset-with me. But I'm very confident that Cece will be okay and I've informed her that she always has a home here." His voice was gentle, as if he hoped that she would return in the near future.

The only sound came from Candy who sobbed as if she'd just experienced a death. But quite frankly, the sudden departure of Cecelia was as impactful as death to Hazel as well. It was news that she hadn't expected from her boss about her best friend. All Hazel wanted to know was what had caused Cecelia to leave? Had it been Hazel's words in the hallway?

"I don't want to keep you girls any longer since you have your own affairs."

"Well," Chanel stood up, "I need a drink."

"It's eight thirty." Ivy informed.

"Good, so I'll order a mimosa."

"This is the worst day ever." Candy cried into her tissue as Hazel reached over to pat her back.

"If you need anything, you all know where to find me." Hodges opened the door. "Ivy, can I talk to you in my office please?"

Hazel looked over at Ivy who, for the first time, looked slightly uneasy as she stood up.

Candy stood up with Hazel's assistance and they walked out together behind Chanel. Everything was all too fresh: Cecelia leaving, finding a new girl, changes at Doll House. It was a lot to handle and Candy's blubbering didn't make it any better.

This would usually be the time that she would talk to Cecelia but maybe Cecelia didn't want to be bothered. Wherever she was.

Candy went ahead with Chanel while Hazel paused in her steps and closed her eyes to begin a silent prayer.

She wished she could talk to her family. She wished she could talk to Autumn. Once again she felt alone and with Cecelia gone she really had no one. Cecelia was the only person who knew the truth about Autumn.

"I miss you." She whispered to herself. "I know you're better off up there but-" Hazel's prayer was disturbed by the vibration of her phone in her pocket.

She retrieved it then did something uncharacteristic when she saw the screen, she smiled. A natural and genuine smile. One that was untimely given the current tone of Hazel's mental state.

"Hi." She answered.

"Hey." Gabriel greeted. "I know I just dropped you off but I was heading to get breakfast and realized that I really don't want to eat alone."

"What a coincidence." She tucked some hair behind her ear. "I don't want to be alone."

"So meet me out front in ten minutes."

"Okay."

"See you soon."

"Wait, Gabriel!" She called then gulped hard. "I have to tell you something serious today. So no distractions."

"Alright babygirl. I'll try and keep my sexual comments to a minimum." He joked. Hazel nodded eventhough he couldn't see her then hung up the phone.

She knew that she wanted to tell Gabriel the full story. Not the one about Cecelia, no he would find that out before the day was over.

Rather, she wanted to tell the full story about Autumn's death. He deserved to know because Hazel liked him, she liked him and she trusted him now more than ever. So she owed him honesty.

                                       The End...