1: $2,500
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“It’s perfect!” Cassie exclaimed as she felt the fabric grace her fingertips.
Shopping in the Prada store was always Cassie’s escape. Every time something went wrong, and she had nowhere to turn to, Prada was always on her side. Of course there are other people, and things that keep Cassie grounded. The only people in the world that were brave enough to test this 5’6”, A-line cut brunette were people that had to be just like her. And those people go by the names of Ericka Daniels, Danielle Phillips, and Bridget Robison. Also know as Cassie’s best friends.
Cassie had moved to New York when she was eighteen. She started college at NYU straight after high school and then realized that it wasn’t what she wanted—what she needed. What she needed was Columbia University, the one college that could help her with her hopes of becoming a New York bestselling author. So she made the switch (after many long and boring conversations with her father). And here she stood today, fresh out of university and ready to take on the city.
“How much is this one?” Cassie asked holding up a spring Prada handbag. It was a black patent leather shoulder bag with shiny crocodile trim. It was the bag. The one bag that could and would be in Cassie’s life forever. It would be…her first Prada bag.
“This one is $2,500.” The store worker answered. Cassie’s jaw practically hit the floor when the number wrapped around her head. This was the It bag, how in the world could it be $2,500? Cassie shot a fake smile to the short frumpy brown haired girl and then set the bag down.
Without a word, Cassie clung her pathetic black tote under her arm and started to walk to the exit. She was so close to getting everything that she had ever wanted. The purse was literally in her hand, and then the price went through her mind, and everything was ruined.


“How much was it?!” Danielle shouted across the table, nearly spitting the remains of her drink in Cassie’s face.
Cassie and the girls were sitting inside of their favorite lunch spot, Tao. The girls were all sharing the events of the days so far and sipping on cocktails. All of the girls were coming from either work or shopping. Danielle was a publicist to the stars at a PR firm named HYPE. Bridget was, as of now, a stay at home student. She was still attending classes at NYU—where Cassie and she had met—and was waiting for word back from an art gallery in Brooklyn. Ericka, well Ericka was the typical New York City girl. She shopped 24/7, slept with who she could when she could, and never came to the table with boring stories. She was the It girl.
“It was 2,500.” Cassie whined. “I wanted the bag sooo bad. But it’s just ridiculous how much the price things.” She had to admit that she was shocked at the pricing. The truth was she could’ve bought the bag, but that was money she would be ‘barrowing’ from her family. And whenever she ‘barrowed’ something from her dad, her dad always came to collect, one way or another.
Cassie had went out on a limb once already in the past four years when she switched from NYU to Columbia. Columbia is the families’ school. Everyone went there and everyone was successful. But not Cassie. She didn’t want to be defined as one of the statistics of the Morgan tradition. She broke the rules and made her own. And since then she hasn’t gotten the same respect from her family. They think that she embarrassed the family name and shamed them all. Oh well, Cassie thought. If she couldn’t go to the college she wanted, then she wouldn’t have a family.
They quickly pretended to respect her choice and allowed her to go to Columbia. After all, she was the only child that her father had—and being Daddy’s Little Girl was just a bonus. But she was sure that daddy wouldn’t be happy to find a spike of $2,500 out of his bank account.
“Well doll, there is always next paycheck.” Ericka said in her usual it-will-be-okay voice. “You know there are so many labels better than Prada.” Cassie’s head quickly turned to her, along with the rest of the pack.
“Yeah?” Cassie said. “Like who?” All eyes continued to prod on Ericka as they all awaited an answer. Ericka looked back and forth between the three other girls, and then finally cracked a teethy smile.
“Yeah, your right.” She said. “Nothing is better than Prada.” The rest of the girls joined in on the laugher. They continued to talk while they waited for their food to arrive. Danielle brought up something about a new club that was opening and how the girls should all go and hang out.
“It’s the perfect place to meet a guy Cass,” Danielle said in a singsong tone.
“And what makes you think that I need a guy?” Cassie replied abrasively. The girls all invaded Cassie with a look similar to the one Ericka had just received.
Cassie knew that she needed a guy. It had been four years since her last real relationship. She had attempted Ericka’s ways of one night stands and random hookups, but that life wasn’t for her. She wanted a relationship—and honest, one man one woman relationship. The single men population in New York wasn’t as high as most people thought. It seemed that the more women moved to Manhattan, the fewer men were available.
Cassie had tried however. But after striking out multiple times (gay guys, married men, jailbait) she had just given up. The search had been over for three and a half years now, and she was fine with it. So what she wasn’t having sex on a regular basis? More room to work on her first novel, or piece for submission for a magazine. Who really needed a man at this point?
“Okay look,” Cassie started. “I know I have been single but that doesn’t mean that I need someone.” She looked down and started to unwrinkled an imaginary area of her white floral dress. “And if I ever decide that I want to be with someone, I will find someone.”
“Sounds to me that you are dried up and horny.” Ericka said. The group started to laugh and Cassie playfully shoved Ericka’s arm.
Just as the girls’ laughter ended, the waiter came and placed their orders down on the table. Everyone had ordered some form of salad with a meat in it: Cassie’s had shrimp, Ericka’s had grilled chicken, Danielle’s was an Asian chicken with mandarin oranges and some type of nuts, and Bridget’s was Caesar with crunchy chicken strips.
All of the girls started to eat their salads with minimum talking in between bits. The entire time, all Cassie could think about was the possibility of getting with a man. She was 25 now and it wouldn’t hurt to be with someone. Her looks were obviously there: brunette short hair, light brown eyes, pale skin, and dimples. Why wouldn’t anyone want to be with her?
Right?

Imprint

Publication Date: 10-16-2010

All Rights Reserved

Dedication:
Thank You So Much To Tina, You Have So Much To Do With All Of My Writing And I Am So Greatful For You Help. Love You