London, England

Friday early evening traffic doing its thing, workers stepping out of offices, ready to embrace the weekend, teenage girls getting ready for sleepovers, nights out in clubs and bars aroundtown and parents relieved to have a night off to wine and dine each other while disgruntled teens with less than stellar social lives to their counterparts babysit little children in front of the CITV channel.
Victoria Montgomery had other things to worry about. Alex was picking her up in half an
hour and she still hadn’t done her makeup yet. Curse the tubes! She smoothed her silk green
dress and examined how it and her silver heels complemented her red hair. She didn’t often
get a chance to dress up, and the outfit had been a guilty splurge after her tax rebate came
through, in the vain hope she would have somewhere to actually wear it. Now was that
chance. She and Alex had been dating for three years, and she was sure he was going to
propose tonight....or at least suggest moving in together. They had been going so well for
such a long time that Tori couldn’t think why else he would be so secretive about the place he was taking her to tonight. She sat at her dressing table and looked around. She imagined
herself as Catherine Morland before her official entry into Bath, wondering about how her
night would go and whether any eligible men would wish to speak to her. She had a tendency to switch to Jane Austen character mode when she was nervous, worried or excited. And
tonight was all three. She picked up her mascara and proceeded to do her lashes, butterflies
tumbling in her stomach.
Alex looked so good in his slate gray suit, and she pinched herself internally as they got into
his black BMV M5. Every time they went out, she felt like a princess, and the car was a
suitable carriage for one. She hadn’t grown up with much wealth or glamour, and she always adored the way decadence and class was represented-not always in a good way- in Austen’s
novels. Tori knew the difference between trashy “class” and classy class, and Alex was
definitely the latter.
“You ok there, honey?” Alex looked over at her questioningly
“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine, I am just.....” Tori didn’t want to show her naivety at the successes
Alex’s hard work as an architect had brought him, but she wanted to know how proud of him she was. After all, she was dating one of London’s brightest new stars.
“I’m just really happy to be here” she whispered finally, deciding that would be a healthy
compromise between naive and worldly. She still couldn’t quite believe that Alex had chosen
to date her, two years above her at university and the hallowed lacrosse captain, and that
wonderment hadn’t quite shaken itself off yet. Pull it together, Tori, she thought to herself,
soon you’ll be Mrs Tori Holmes to be, and then you’ll be like a true Austen character.
“Good...I’m glad. Let’s get a move on.” Alex manoeuvred the car into the evening traffic, and to her new life as a betrothed.
L’Aventure was one of the hottest new restaurants in London’s West End, and Tori felt
amazed as she stepped out of the car, while Alex handed the keys over to the valet. Red and
gold decor spoke of hidden treasures, and the secluded tables gave an air of romance and
mystery. It was definitely the place to be wined, dined and romanced. It could not have been
more perfect.
“So...baby.....I’ve been thinking about some things.....” Alex looked at her, his green eyes
intense and probing.
“Yes, Alex?” she intoned breathlessly. Her heart pumped erratically in her chest. Now the
moment of truth had arrived, she didn’t know how she would react, what she would say.
“I think it’s time we made some changes in our relationship. I am moving on up, and I need a pretty little thing in my life permanently to be by my side every step of the way. Someone
that, when the magazines and sponsors come knocking at my door, I won’t be ashamed to let her answer. I’m talking drop dead gorgeous, knock them out, and hit them for six kind of hot.
And I think I’m happy to say I have definitely found her....” Alex let his voice trail off,
looking at her questioningly for her reaction.
Tori couldn’t see her face, but if she could, she imagined she never looked happier. The man of her dreams had just described her as being the ultimate woman. His model good looks, fine body and quick fire wit and intellect found her, plain old Tori Montgomery from Islington, North London, perfect.
“I’m so glad that you are ready to take that next step Alex, and I think the changes are going
to do so well for us.” Tori chirped, almost bouncing inside. I may actually wet myself in
excitement, she thought.
“Tori....I would like you to meet Danielle”
“Danielle? Alex, I don’t understand.”
“Danielle, my new girlfriend. She’s why I brought you here tonight, to tell you that we are
serious, and I am ready to make a go at a real relationship. I mean you and me? It was never
going to work....I need someone who knows the hard nails of what a relationship is like, and
is ok with me eyeing up the ladies and knowing it doesn’t mean anything, and you....well
you’re the girl next door, like my best friend. It was never going to work out between us, and I thought the least you would deserve before we parted was a dinner out to say thanks for all
the good times and being a super good friend to me. I really appreciate it.”
Tori felt as if her whole world was about to collapse. She looked around, and everything had changed. The red was now the blood seeping from her broken heart, and the gold embroidery was the price of love, able to be bought and sold like any other commodity on the planet. She thought they were in love, soul mates, going to get married and grow old together. Why else would he have stayed with her so long? Who was this Danielle? How long had it been going on? So many questions whirled in her head, and her brain was about to follow her heart and give out. All she could manage however was a sob as she noticed a blond, curvaceous woman saunter up to Tori and give him a kiss and a suggestive stroke on the arm before looking at Tori coolly.
“You must be.....Tori.” a husky voice emerged from the woman and Tori could not bear the
realisation that she hadn’t, wasn’t, and could never be woman enough for Alexander Holmes.
She quietly got up from her chair, and half ran out of the restaurant, confused glances and
whispers following her to the door. Through her tears, she looked back to see if Alex was
even going to come after her, or make sure she got home ok, but all she saw was a manicured hand stroke his muscular chest as her now ex boyfriend and his new woman engaged in a passionate kiss. With that, Tori stepped out into the cool breeze of the evening and headed to the bus stop, tears rolling down her cheeks and making little stains on her green silk dress.

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Author guidance for This story

Around 25 chapters long, Skin Deep is going to be in the present 3rd person narrative, based in London and New York. Three best friends find life changes when one of them jets off to NYC to take part in an international modelling competition. I am writing this story in the hope that, someday, it becomes a book (or e-book) to read on the train, on the beach, in the bathtub or curled up in bed with a cup of cocoa and cookies.

updated Mar 14 by writeratheart31