Confessions of a Teen Nanny 01 - Confessions of a Teen Nanny (7 page)

"That's fine, Miss Warner." Petra hurried off with the clothes, and Zoya followed her.

Cameron gave Adrienne a little hug as she was leav- ing."Thanks for coming," Cameron said."When Mimi and I go shopping, she only wants to shop in Chanel. Can you imagine? Chanel is for old ladies. See you!" Cameron whirled, and left.

Adrienne stepped onto Fifty-seventh Street and began to walk west toward the subway. She wondered if she should just spring for a taxi. She still had hours of home- work to tackle. The distinctive ring of her cell phone cut into her thoughts.

Adrienne struggled with her shopping bags to find her phone in her shoulder bag.

"Hi, it's me.Where have you been? I've left you mes- sages." Brian sounded hurt.

"Bri, I'm so sorry! I was at the Warners', and I got stuck with Cameron."

"I figured that," he said. "Listen, I'm bored. I've been sitting at my desk all afternoon. I need to get out.You still owe me a late-night slice."

"I haven't even started to study--"

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"You work too hard. Come on--a quick slice. Just you and me."

Adrienne hesitated. She knew she would probably have trouble concentrating on her math problems, anyway. I'll wake up early and study, she promised herself."Sure," she said. "I'll see you at the pizza place on my corner in ten minutes. I'm just getting into the subway."

"Excellent," he said cheerfully. "See you then."

"Whoa!" Brian said when Adrienne entered the pizza place near her apartment. "What happened to your hair?"

"Do you like it?" Adrienne asked, dropping her bags onto the bench across from him and sliding into the booth.

"It's . . . sexy," he said."You look hot." He leaned over and kissed her.

"Cameron got me a makeover," Adrienne said. "You won't believe how she's treated at Bergdorf 's. It's like she's royalty or something. It's so cool."

"What's in all those bags?"

"Some things Cameron gave me," Adrienne said, reaching over and pulling a cute Marc Jacobs dress and a Theory top out of a bag and holding them up.

"They look expensive," he said.

"They are," Adrienne said with a smile. "And they look great on me."

Brian shook his head and frowned.

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"What's wrong?" Adrienne asked.

"Nothing. I just think that you are too into their money, that's all. I mean, the Warners--Cameron--they're just people, like you and me. No big deal."

Adrienne laughed."They are not just like you and me."

"See? You're blinded by all their stuff," Brian said. "Sure, they have a great apartment, lots of jewelry, what- ever. But what do all those fancy clothes really get you?"

"Power . . . fame . . . popularity . . . come on, you can't tell me that Cameron doesn't look hot," Adrienne said.

"She's a type. I hate types. I like real," Brian said.

Adrienne rolled her eyes. "Oh, please . . . "

"Okay, maybe some guys would say she's hot," Brian conceded. "Not me."

"Why not?"

Brian leaned over and kissed her, hard. He kissed her again and again, his mouth melting into hers. He finally pulled away and said, "Because I want you."

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arrive late, leave early.

make an impression.

I t's finally Friday. What a relief, Liz thought as she herded Heather and David into the elevator of 841 Fifth Avenue. Heather had been whining ever since Liz had picked them both up from the Karl Steinbach School.

"My foot hurts," Heather said, her lip trembling and her voice quivering. "I think I'm going to die of toenail cancer."

"Toenail cancer?" Liz said, trying hard not to laugh. Steinbach was a school that prided itself in developing the emotions of its students by exposing them to challenging experiences and information. Liz had always thought the kids at Steinbach were sensitive, but they were also the most neurotic kids in New York City. Heather was a born hypochondriac.

"Heather, there is no way you have toenail cancer.

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There is no such thing as toenail cancer." She bent down to look Heather in the eye.

"There isn't?" Heather asked uncertainly.

"No. Is there anything bothering you that you want to tell me about?"

"Well . . . " Heather sniffed."Bunny Crawford dropped a book on my foot, and it really hurt. She has displaced anxiety, and she used me as a surrogate for releasing her misplaced emotions of hostility against her mother."

"So you're telling me that your friend Bunny dropped a book on your foot?"

"Yes." Heather sniffed again.

"Then we have good news. You don't have toenail cancer. You have an actual hurt foot. I bet when we get upstairs if you just take your shoes off, you'll feel better right away."

"Hey!" David said. "It skipped our floor! We're going up."

Liz glanced up.The elevator was indeed going all the way up.

The elevator door opened, and Emma stepped in with a well-dressed redheaded girl.

"Adrienne?" Liz said, shocked. Liz looked at her friend. She couldn't believe her eyes. Adrienne had had a serious makeover. "You look incredible!" Liz said, giving Adrienne a hug. "When did you do this?"

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"Last night." Adrienne smiled. "I got the Cameron Warner makeover at Bergdorf Goodman."

"You look amazing."

"She looks stupid," Emma said. "She looks like Cameron."

"Be nice," Liz warned Emma.

Emma shrugged and turned to Heather.The two girls stared each other down like cowboys in an old Western movie.

Liz rolled her eyes at Adrienne. The tension between the two little girls was funny.

"Wait a second," Liz said. "What are you doing here? Wasn't yesterday your last day?"

"Not quite." Adrienne laughed. "Mrs. Warner asked me to stay for another month. They couldn't get their nanny in time."

"That's great!" Liz cried."But why didn't you call and tell me?"

Adrienne sighed. "I went out with Brian, and then I was up past midnight doing homework. Plus, my mother was not happy at all about the makeover."

"Why?" Liz asked.

"Beats me," Adrienne said. "She's so hypersensitive sometimes. She was furious about all the clothes. At first, she thought I'd spent all the money I'd earned on them. Then, when I explained that they were free, my mother

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went ballistic. I don't get it. I mean, what's the big deal?"

"They were free?" Liz said.

"Yeah. Cameron treated me. We even had personal shoppers--one for each of us."

"You had personal shoppers?"

"There's no other way to shop!" Adrienne replied. "Cameron's so great, don't you think?"

"I guess." Liz wasn't sure how she felt. She had really started to like Cameron at Mimi's. But the way she was now cozying up to Adrienne made Liz unsure."It's kind of weird that Cameron just gave you all those clothes," Liz whispered, even though the kids didn't seem to be paying attention to their conversation. "I kind of see why your mom might be angry."

"It's not weird. She's my friend," Adrienne said. "And I can't believe you're siding with my mother!"

"I'm not. Okay . . . new subject," Liz said. She knew it was always better to stay away from the latest battle Adrienne was having with her mother. "Do you think Cameron will really set me up with Parker? I can't stop obsessing about it."

"You don't know? You're seeing Parker tonight!" Adrienne said as the elevator opened to Dr. M-C's apart- ment.

"Tonight? What are you talking about?" Liz demanded, holding open the elevator door with her foot.

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"Oh, no!" Adrienne cried. "You don't know."

"Don't know what?"

"Cameron just told me upstairs that she's arranged a whole dinner party for us at Khmer, down on Bleecker Street. It's tonight! I'm bringing Brian, and she's making cer- tain that Parker is there for you, and she invited some of her other friends from P-B also.We're meeting at eight-thirty."

I have a date with Parker! I have a date with Parker! Liz was finding it hard to breathe, she was so excited. It was at that moment that she caught a glance at her reflection in the mirror in Dr. M-C's entryway. She was wearing her school uniform. There is no way I'm going on a date with the cutest guy in Manhattan wearing my school uniform! she thought. I have to go home to change.

She looked at her watch and went over the different options in her mind. She had to work until eight tonight. She could race to the Upper West Side, change clothes, and then race all the way downtown. She knew she'd be really late.And she didn't trust that Parker would wait around for her. I could borrow something out of Dr. M-C's closet, she thought, but she buys the worst things, and nothing would prob- ably fit me. She didn't dare ask Adrienne to swipe some- thing from Mrs. Warner. That was way too risky if Cameron was coming to dinner.

"I'm going to have to run out and buy something to wear," Liz announced.

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"I'll help you!" Heather shrieked. "I love to go shop- ping!"

"See," Adrienne said, pointing to Heather,"I told you there was nothing like a personal shopper!"

Oh, there is nothing here to wear! Liz thought, combing through the racks at Loehmann's, a discount store where she sometimes found great things very cheap.

Heather was in absolute heaven. She had never been in any store besides the children's department at Brooks Brothers, and for her, Loehmann's was a paradise of women's clothes and bustle. David, on the other hand, was beside himself with boredom. It was only through regular administrations of Halloween-sized Snickers bars that Liz managed to keep him under control.

"How about this?" Heather asked, pulling a vibrant Pucci knockoff off the rack.

"Too colorful," Liz said."I need something really sim- ple and sexy. Look for things in black."

Heather sorted through the racks. The two girls worked side by side until Liz felt she had seen everything in the huge store twice.

"Can we please go?" David begged. "I'm dying!"

Liz sighed.There was nothing.

"Okay. I give up," she said. "Let's go."

"Wait!" Heather cried. "What about this?"

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"Never mind," Liz said. "Let's just . . ." Then she saw the dress in Heather's little hands.

It was perfect--a simple, little black dress in a fine wool crepe. It had a bateau neckline, and a tiny pink rib- bon tied around its empire waist. It was Audrey Hepburn. It was Gwyneth Paltrow. Liz didn't care what it cost. She had to have it.

She turned to Heather."Heather, you're the best!" She gave the girl a big hug. Heather beamed. Liz took the dress from Heather's hand. The tag had a bunch of prices and read: ORIGINALLY--$1,600; 50% OFF--$800; 50% OFF--$400; 50% OFF FINAL SALE--$200. The dress was still a little expensive, but Liz knew it would be worth it. She looked at the label. It was Oscar de la Renta. She had to try it on. She put the kids in two small chairs in the waiting room, and stood on a stool in her changing room so she could keep an eye on them, peering over the door as she dressed. This must be what yoga is like, she thought as she balanced on the teetering stool, pulled off her uniform cardigan, and stepped into the dress at the same time.

Exiting the dressing room, she turned to Heather and David. "What do we think?" she asked.

"You're pretty," David said, his mouth still covered with melted chocolate.

"Thanks." Liz smiled. "At least one guy today will think so."

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On the way home, Liz called her mother. "Hi! Adrienne and I both just finished work, and we're heading to her apartment to watch a movie together. Can I sleep over?" Liz hated lying to her mother, but she knew her mother would never easily let her go downtown with a bunch of kids she didn't know. Ever since she was a little kid, her mom had to have a complete background check on anyone Liz wanted to hang out with. Liz didn't want to deal with explaining everything tonight.

"You can't sleep over," her mother said.

"Why not?" Liz tried to sound calm.

"We're leaving early tomorrow morning to go upstate to see your grandmother. Have fun with Adrienne, but make sure you're home by eleven. I'm going to wait up for you."

Liz knew there was no point arguing. Her parents were big on curfews. "All right.That's fine. Bye, Mom."

Eleven. If dinner was at eight-thirty, that was plenty of time to eat, flirt with Parker, and leave with him wanting more. Cinderella timing, she thought. Arrive late, leave early. Make an impression.

Liz finally put Heather and David to bed and hurried into the bathroom to change. Slipping on the new dress, she wished that she had a cashmere shawl or a little jacket that matched. Dr. M-C was out for the evening, and the

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housekeeper was in the kitchen watching TV.

It's just for one night, she thought, slipping into Dr. M- C's closet. She pulled a pale pink cashmere wrap from a shelf lined with dozens of shawls in every conceivable color. There wasn't a lot that Liz would ever want to wear in Dr. M-C's closet. Because of her size, most of her dresses looked like they had been made by some really expensive tent- maker, but her accessories were cool. She had more beauti- ful scarves and wraps than anyone Liz had ever known.

Sitting down at Dr. M-C's vanity, Liz used the mirror to quickly put on her makeup. The restaurant they were going to was very hip, so she paid special attention to her eyes, lining them in a smoky dark powder. A little gloss to the lips and she was done. She looked at herself in the mir- ror. Perfect.As a last touch, a spray of Joy--the most expen- sive perfume in the world and Dr. Markham-Collins's favorite. Mine too, Liz thought.

Liz shoved her school uniform in her backpack and grabbed a cab down to the restaurant. She would have to check her things at the door.

The bar at Khmer was packed with people and looked like a Vietnamese village. The tables were covered with grass umbrellas, and hidden lights gave an unearthly glow to the walls.The noise was overwhelming.The crowd was older. Much older.

Pulling her shawl a little bit tighter around her

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shoulders, Liz forced her way through the crowd of people until she saw the others.

"I.D.?" a bouncer asked in a gruff voice.

Liz thought quickly. "I'm with Cameron Warner and Princess von Fallschirm," she said.

"Hey!" The guy gave her a big grin. "Any friend of Cam's and Mimi's gets right in. They're over there." He pointed to the bar where Adrienne, Cameron, Mimi, Graydon, Brian, and Parker sat with their drinks.

Brian saw her first. "Hey, Liz! You look great!"

"Thanks, Bri!" Liz gave Adrienne a hug and took in her outfit. It was very cool--a sexy, off-the-shoulder D&G top and a slim pair of Armani pants. Adrienne looked amazing, but something seemed wrong about the outfit. Then Liz realized what the problem was: Adrienne looked as if she were wearing a Cameron costume instead of her own clothes.

Cameron and Mimi waved to her, and Liz air-kissed them and then turned her attention to Parker.

"Hi," she said, "I'm Liz." She deliberately kept her voice soft so that Parker would have to lean closer to hear her and would get a little whiff of her perfume in the process. If there was anything Liz knew she did well, it was flirting without looking like she was flirting.

"I remember you," Parker said, smiling lazily at her."I met you at Cam's last week."

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"Oh, that's right!" Liz said, pretending she had forgot- ten. "How are you?"

"Better, now that you're here. I was asking Cam about you. I was hoping we could get together sometime soon."

Liz was stunned. Could it be this easy? He's really inter- ested! Unsure of what to say, Liz gave him what she hoped was a mysterious smile.

"Okay, all of you, let's go downstairs! My other friends are at the table already," Cameron shouted above the din of the crowd. She carried her martini glass high over her head and stopped periodically so that people could take her picture.

Descending the staircase into Khmer's main dining room, Liz was amazed. Though the restaurant looked small from the street, there was a huge dining room belowground, complete with a soundproof lounge where people could dance.The room was full of a much older crowd, mostly in their twenties and thirties, and Liz was feeling a little out of place. Mimi and Cameron seemed to know everybody. Brian held Adrienne's hand and seemed surprisingly at home.

"Everyone," Cameron said, when they reached their table, "this is Bandar, and his friend Achim. Then we have Bibi, Kylie, and Tonia. Guys, this is everyone." She moved into the only logical place for her at the table: the head.

Parker came up behind Liz and, lightly touching her

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shoulders, steered her to a seat, which he pulled out for her, and then gently sat her down. He took the seat next to her."I've been looking forward to this," he said softly."I wanted to get to know you better." He smiled at her.