{"id":959,"date":"2012-04-17T10:11:32","date_gmt":"2012-04-17T17:11:32","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/?p=959"},"modified":"2013-10-01T16:54:54","modified_gmt":"2013-10-01T23:54:54","slug":"season-6-episode-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/?p=959","title":{"rendered":"Season 6, Episode 1"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Willow let her hand trail lazily through the cool water, sun patterns dancing across her lightly closed eyelids. The frantic sounds of the late afternoon traffic barely traveled up to the roof deck of Mia\u2019s parent\u2019s modern penthouse apartment, which was located in a particularly swanky area of central Singapore.<\/p>\n

The last few weeks had been a total blur and Willow was glad to have some time to do nothing but sleep, eat and lie by the pool. Once the girls had decided to leave Melbourne, there had been no messing around. Within a week they had packed up their house and Ana had handed it over to an agent to rent out. They got tickets, told their respective families and friends, and were on the next jet plane out of there.<\/p>\n

Because Mia hadn\u2019t been back to visit her family for many years, her parents invited the three girls to come and stay with them for a few days to break up the trip. They had been in Singapore a week now, and every time the girls brought up the notion of leaving soon, Mia\u2019s parents would say \u201cJust another day or so. We haven\u2019t shown you such and such yet.\u201d Ana and Willow hadn\u2019t put up a fuss. Lying by the pool and drinking cocktails certainly wasn\u2019t a horrible way to spend a bit of time, but Willow was beginning to wonder if they would spend the next year living in the guest wing until they had exhausted every sightseeing opportunity Singapore had to offer.<\/p>\n

And then, of course, there was the added difficulty of Dan.<\/p>\n

The sound of footsteps padding around the edge of the pool distracted Willow from her thoughts and she opened her eyes to see Ana, a loosely knotted sarong thrown over her bikini. In her hands she held two tall glasses, stuffed full of fresh mint, lime wedges, gin and tonic, beads of perspiration running down their sides.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s cocktail o\u2019clock\u201d said Ana grinning.<\/p>\n

Willow paddled her blow up air mattress to the edge of the pool and took a glass, resting it in the built in cup-holder.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere\u2019s Mia?\u201d said Ana. \u201cI haven\u2019t seen her all day.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOut with Dan.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAgain?\u201d Ana said. \u201cThat\u2019s, what, the seventh date in a week?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEighth,\u201d said Willow. \u201cBut who\u2019s counting?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t like him,\u201d Ana said. \u201cI get the feeling he\u2019s got a hidden agenda or something, you know what I mean?\u201d<\/p>\n

Willow did know.<\/p>\n

Dan had turned up – a little too conveniently – at Mia\u2019s parents house the day the girls arrived. Mia had been immediately tongue tied, explaining to the girls later that he was a family friend who had been a year ahead of her at school. She\u2019d always had a crush on him, she told them, but he\u2019d never even known she existed.<\/p>\n

Looked like something had changed since those days.<\/p>\n

Dan was charming and polite and got along well – too well – with Mia\u2019s parents. He said and did all the right things; wore the right clothes, drank the right whiskey, went to the right clubs, but he was\u2026 boring. For some reason though, Mia stubbornly refused to acknowledge that very simple fact, and instead was doing all kinds of crazy things to impress him: wearing dresses, working on her tan and complaining about the humidity making her hair frizzy.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe\u2019s gone all weird,\u201d Ana said, taking a long sip of her gin and tonic. \u201cYesterday she asked me which fake tan would be best with her skin tone.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d exclaimed Willow, horrified.<\/p>\n

\u201cNext thing we know she\u2019ll be getting Mani-Pedis in complimentary shades of fuchsia,\u201d Ana continued.<\/p>\n

\u201cNo way. Mia so isn\u2019t that<\/em> type of person.\u201d At least, she never used to be, Willow thought.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know,\u201d said Ana, \u201cI\u2019ve seen these changes in people before and\u2026\u201d She trailed off suddenly as the door to the roof deck opened.<\/p>\n

\u201cHi,\u201d Mia said. She looked dazzling in a white low cut halter dress, her bobbed hair sitting perfectly. In her left hand she held a beautiful royal blue leather handbag that she definitely didn\u2019t have earlier.<\/p>\n

\u201cIs that a new Marc Jacobs?\u201d Ana said, gasping<\/p>\n

\u201cYeah, Dan just bought it for me,\u201d Mia said. \u201cWant to look at it? Although, don\u2019t get chlorine on it. It might damage the leather.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia held it towards Ana, who, instead of taking the bag, grabbed her wrist. She looked down towards Mia\u2019s feet that were daintily clad in a pair of gold sandals.<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew it!\u201d she said, pointing accusingly at Mia\u2019s toes. \u201cMani-Pedi!\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia looked embarrassed. \u201cDan gave me a voucher for a day spa\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI wonder what\u2019s next?\u201d Ana said, a tad more nastily than she meant to. \u201cBoob job voucher?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cIs it so impossible for you to just be happy for me?\u201d Mia snapped. \u201cHe\u2019s the first guy who seems to actually give a shit about me<\/em> and what I<\/em> want.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana snorted. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t care about what you want!\u201d she exclaimed. \u201cHe cares about turning you into a trophy girlfriend and keeping your parents happy. Can\u2019t you see that?\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia looked as though she\u2019d been slapped, but quickly regained her composure. \u201cI hardly think that you should be the one dolling out relationship advice,\u201d she said cooly. \u201cNow if you\u2019ll excuse me, I have to get ready for dinner. Dan\u2019s picking me up in three hours and taking me to Au Jardin<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\n

She turned and stalked away from the pool, Marc Jacobs bag clutched tightly in her manicured fist.<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

A few hours later, Ana and Willow had moved to the outside deck that ran around the circumference of the apartment. They weren\u2019t hiding from Mia and her family per se<\/em>, but they knew no-one ever came out here, preferring to sit inside in the air conditioning. They were onto their fourth gin and tonic each as they formulated an escape plan. They heard the doorbell rang and Mia\u2019s father answered the intercom.<\/p>\n

\u201cDan, come in, come in,\u201d he said. \u201cMia\u2019s not quite ready yet.\u201d<\/p>\n

Minutes later the front door opened. \u201cI wondered if I might have a word with you before we leave for dinner,\u201d they heard Dan say. \u201cIn private.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOf course,\u201d Mia\u2019s father replied. \u201cCome into my study.\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana and Willow looked at each other, horrified. This did not sound good. Ana grabbed Willow\u2019s hand and dragged her around the balcony until they were outside the study, hidden behind the air conditioning unit. They both strained their ears to hear the muffled voices behind the door.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026makes perfect sense\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026a union like this would be best for both companies \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026 would position us at the top of the market\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

They moved a bit closer, hardly daring to breath.<\/p>\n

\u201c\u2026Mia and I should get married as soon as possible.\u201d<\/p>\n

They heard Mia\u2019s father laugh in delight. \u201cI can\u2019t think of anything we\u2019d love more than to have you as part of the family,\u201d Mia\u2019s father said. \u201cAnd it will get rid of all these silly ideas she has of gallivanting around the world with those other girls.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI knew there was something suss about him,\u201d Ana hissed.<\/p>\n

\u201cMia can\u2019t marry him!\u201d Willow whispered. \u201cHe doesn\u2019t love her.\u201d<\/p>\n

They heard the study door open and close, laughter ringing out through the halls as the two men congratulated themselves on a good decision. A few moments later, Mia came downstairs and she and Dan left.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to stop this,\u201d Ana said grimly.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe restaurant!\u201d Willow exclaimed. \u201cWe have to get the the restaurant before he proposes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWait!\u201d said Ana. \u201cThere\u2019s something we need to do first.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

The Maitre\u2019D hadn\u2019t let the two girls in the building without a reservation, so they were hidden outside behind a tree, peering in the huge glass windows, searching for their friend.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere they are.\u201d Ana pointed to a secluded table towards the back.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat are we going to do?\u201d Willow said. She\u2019d tried Mia\u2019s phone, but it was switched off.<\/p>\n

Just at that moment, Dan stood up and walked away from the table. Ana picked up a handful of fallen bark and tossed it at the window next to where Mia sat. Mia looked around startled, wondering what the noise was. Then she caught sight of two people outside, waving their arms like maniacs. She flushed an alarming shade of red, and stood up, quickly walking outside.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat on earth are you doing?\u201d she said. \u201cAre you trying to humiliate me?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo, listen,\u201d Ana said breathlessly. \u201cWe overheard Dan telling your Dad that he wanted to marry you because it would make good business sense. And your Dad wants you to accept because he thinks your life is silly and that Dan will talk some sense into you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDan wants to marry you so that his company will do better,\u201d Ana said, slower this time. \u201cHe already asked your Dad.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mia looked from one girl to the next, confused. \u201cHe\u2019s going to propose to me?\u201d<\/p>\n

Ana nodded. \u201cBut he\u2019s doing it for the wrong reasons.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cBut he wouldn\u2019t ask if he didn\u2019t actually want that\u201d Mia said in a small voice. \u201cPeople don\u2019t propose unless they really love the person, right?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cPeople get married for all kinds of wrong reasons,\u201d Ana said gently. \u201cBesides, would you really be happy with him? You\u2019d have all the fancy handbags and clothes and manicures you could ever want, but is that enough?\u201d<\/p>\n

They watched as Mia\u2019s face went through a range of emotions, until she finally dropped her head into her hands. \u201cOh, I\u2019ve been such an idiot,\u201d she sobbed. \u201cI just wanted someone to love me.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cLots of people love you,\u201d Ana said, wrapping her arms around her friend. She and Willow exchanged a glance. Where had that come from? \u201cAnd we love you more than anyone else.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI know,\u201d Mia said, wiping mascara over her face as she dried tears.<\/p>\n

\u201cCome on,\u201d said Willow. \u201cLets get out of here before you change your mind and end up saying yes.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhere shall we go?\u201d Mia said. \u201cI don\u2019t really want to go back to my parent\u2019s house.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnywhere we like,\u201d Ana said grinning. \u201cWe have a taxi waiting and our luggage in the back.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

They tore through the vibrant city, heading towards the airport.<\/p>\n

\u201cStop the car!\u201d Mia suddenly shouted.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat? Why?\u201d\u201cWe just went past a chemist.\u201d Mia said urgently. \u201cWe have to stop. I need nail polish remover. I need to get rid of this goddam Mani-Pedi.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Willow let her hand trail lazily through the cool water, sun patterns dancing across her lightly closed eyelids. The frantic sounds of the late afternoon traffic barely traveled up to the roof deck of Mia\u2019s parent\u2019s modern penthouse apartment, which was located in a particularly swanky area of central Singapore. The last few weeks had […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_s2mail":"yes"},"categories":[218],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/959"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=959"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/959\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1311,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/959\/revisions\/1311"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=959"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=959"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/ravenoustales.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=959"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}