When The Light Falls - Book 3, N. Y. [good beach reads TXT] 📗

was finished and sat down with the gang.

 

Rikki was done eating by the time I sat down and Marybella nearly had her food gone off her plate.

 

 

I ate as fast as I could between our conversations.

 

Jacob only had a few things on his plate, so he was the first to finsh.

 

 

''I'm actually pretty worried if the other magazine companies are in high competitive right now.'' Rikki says.

 

''Yep, I bet their polishing their pens and laminating their notes.'' Marybella says.

 

 

I couldn't help but laugh a little.

 

I hope the stakes for this year's competition isn't too competitive.

 

 

Suddenly, something draws my eyes away from my plate.

 

And everyone else does the same too.

 

 

There I was, stuffing my mouth with the last waffle on my fork, when a group of highly attractive people came in.

 

All dressed nice and dashing.

 

 

For a second, I felt dumb compared to them.

 

They had eyes that could stare into the back of your mind.

 

I was frozen in shock by their attractive appeal.

 

 

Hot bodies and big brains. They were sure here for the Magazine Face Off's.

 

 

I watch as the groups manifest their bodies pastus. They glare and shoot looks.

 

I could tell they weren't nice at all.

 

Sure they were all smiles when they entered the room, but when they layed eyes on us, it was a cat fight beginning.

 

 

Some didn't give looks at all. Some just walked past.

 

They were like a big 8 pack wolf gang in the room. Ready for their leader to pounce on anyone, if they dare.

 

 

I snapped back to reality when Jacob shakes my arms.

 

I swallow what's left of my waffle and sit back appalled.

 

''Who are they?'' I managed to say.

 

''That's the crew from LIMIT magazine. I heard they have a killer writer.'' Rikki says.

 

 

I give her a look.

 

''Not to say you aren't a killer writer.'' she rephrases

 

 

''It's okay, I know what you mean.'' I said.

 

Marybella scowls at them. ''Ugh, they're like cheap copies of us, but better looking and single.''

 

She hugs onto Mark as I look back at them.

 

 

Sure they were well dressed and may have a few people look like they went on a botox spree, but they are nothing compared to the FARELLE gang.

 

 

''Come on, we have to get to the orientation meeting before we sign up at the Annual Magazine Face Off.'' Rikki says pulling us from our trance.

 

 

She gets up, then Mark and Marybella follow.

 

She reaches over to grab my attention, but my eyes are still on them.

 

 

There was just something about them that caught my attention and froze my brain for a second.

 

They were better than us.

 

And I didn't like competition.

 

 

Jacob leans in to whisper in my ear. ''Let's go.''

 

 

I'm brought back with the sound of his voice.

 

He slowly grabs me by my elbow helping me get up from the table.

 

I blink a few times, eyeing Jacob to reassure I was back after my hallucinating trance.

 

 

My eyes felt more awake now. Even just staring at those beautiful people, made the bags under my eyes look like I hadn't slept for days.

 

 

 

Jacob leads me outside through a doorway, just behind the table we sat at.

 

We all exit onto a large porch and patio.

 

The beach from earlier which we couldn't see at night yesterday, was in full saturating colors.

 

 

A beautiful turquoise blue water laid straight up ahead. People were swimming and bathing in the the sun on the beach.

 

Then, i'm drawn from my thoughts to Lauren's voice.

 

 

''Hello my lovelies, good morning from Brazil!!'' she says.

 

''Morning Lauren, nice to see you in a upbeat mood.'' I replied.

 

''Well I do keep myself young darling, and besides we need to get to orientation. It's starts in 7 minutes, go!!'' she says getting serious. 

 

 

She motions her hands for us to go ahead of her, as she leads us forward.

 

We all walk to a designated large conference room, located 1 minute from the breakfast hall outside the hotel.

 

We walk into the cool rushing air from the hot weather outside.

 

 

''Alright, if you're here for the Annual Magazine Face Off's, please take a seat.'' a voice said over a microphone.

 

''This is the orientation guys, pay attention and take notes.'' Lauren says.

 

 

She grabs a pad notebook and pen provided at the table near the entrance and disappears like always.

 

''As you can see, we have notebooks and pens ready for you in the back. Once you've grabbed 2 of those, make your way to the seats up front, filling up to the back. You have 1 minute.'' the voice says again finally appearing with a microphone in her hands.

 

 

I grabbed 1 pen and a notebook.

 

I head to my seat when the annoucer spoke again.

 

''I'd like I ask the guests or plus 1's here for the trip and the competition, to please be seated in the back, so that our competitors can listen to orientation. We need all our competitors up front so you can hear the clear rules.'' says the announcer.

 

 

I look at Jacob saddened.

 

He wasn't gonna sit next to me to calm my nerves.

 

 

''It's okay, you'll be fine.'' he says, then kissing my cheek.

 

I felt a little bit better.

 

 

''All Magazine Bosses, Managers, Editors, Workers and Interns please be seated.'' said our annoucer.

 

 

She wore a big fat smile with an shape her face.

 

She nears the podium, then leans on it.

 

 

Marybella finds a seat in a row behind me. While Rikki sits to my right. 

 

The doors close from the outside, letting the Brazil sunlight from outside fade.

 

The lights in the conference room were faded to light blue.

 

 

Massive heavy projection music plays. I cover my ears from the loud sound.

 

The annoucer cues for the music to stop.

 

She fixes her tie, looking into the crowd. Flashes her smile, making her forehead look awfully raised up to shape the face.

 

 

Me and Rikki silently giggle.

 

 

''Hello magazine employees, my name is Ms. Parfum.''

 

''You mean Perfume?!'' someone in the back yells.

 

 

Everyone in the crowd laughs. Even me and Rikki laugh.

 

''No, it's Parfum. It's french.'' he says.

 

''Sure it is.'' Rikki says loudly.

 

 

The crowd get's hyped up again.

 

I gently smack her on the arm. But I can't help but laugh, that was a good one.

 

The crowd's laugh dies down again.

 

 

''Enough of the funny horses and humour. Let's get down to real business. My name is Ms. Parfum, no funny jokes.'' she looks to the crowd afterwards.

 

''And I am here to talk as your competition mentor. As you can see this week the Annual Magazine Face Off's will continue.''

 

Everyone claps excidedly.

 

 

Then the doors suddenly open. The crew from earlier at breakfast, barge in with their masculine and hot bodies fanning the room.

 

They move from the door frame, letting in light from outside that blinds most of the people in their chair rows.

 

 

They all pass by our row, giving us the death stare. Moving to the first row where no one dares to sit.

 

They all sit down without hesitation of interuppting.

 

 

Ms. Parfum looks down at them, anticipating their late entrance. The room is quiet again as she looks into the crowd.

 

 

''Nice of you to join the orientation,....5 minutes late, LIMIT Magazine.'' she says.

 

''Sorry we're late. We were speaking with a sponser who made a deal with us.'' one brunette girl spoke.

 

 

She was at least 5'7''

 

Judging the way she sat in her chair, blocking most of Ms. Parfum's view from my sight.

 

She smiles and smirks at everyone, rubbing it in our faces.

 

 

I hated the girl already. I don't care if she's older or younger, depending on her clearly botoxed face.

 

The tension in the room went back to normal, as Ms. Parfum tries to speak again.

 

 

''We are all so happy to be here and tell you about the competitive side to leading your magazine company to fame. Now, most you may not recognize the Magazine companies in here, but let me introduce you all.''

 

 

The projector above switches from all white to all of the company's names listed.

 

At least a hundred from my view, but i'm exaggerating.

 

 

''First up for recognition in alphabatheical order, AUSSIE Magazine company from Australia. Stand up you guys.''

 

Everyone claps loudly cheering.

 

 

Smiles go around as the crew from the magazine stand up, waving as the crowd died down.

 

Ms. Parfum speaks again going down the list.

 

 

''Next up, ARRANGED Magazine company from Poland.'' she shouts, clapping along too.

 

Everyone gives their appluase as the cheering goes quiet.

 

 

''Next up, BANGCON Magazine company from South Korea.''

 

They stand up and we clap.

 

 

''Now next up, BREW VIEW Magaine company from Iceland.''

 

Everyone claps loudly, some hooting in the back.

 

Ms. Parfum quiets down the loudy crowd then reads the rest.

 

 

''Coming up next, we have BARREL Magazine company from Thailand.''

 

Everyone gives their round of applause as I sat there bored, still clapping.

 

 

How many hours before it's FARELLE's turn?

 

 

''Now we have, CAROL Magazine company from London.'' Ms. Parfum said.

 

Claps went around again, then Mr. Parfum silenced the crowd again.

 

 

''Now moving on from the letters D through E, and the companies who unfortunately couldn't be here this year.'' he says.

 

 

The crowd boo's go into full sound as she continues.

 

''But we have this coming year for the Annual Magazine Company Face Off's, FARELLE magazine company from New York!!''

 

Most of the interns in the back went wild, as we stood up waving to the fellow magazine company workers.

 

Cheers and hoots were loud as Ms. Parfum tried to die down the crowd.

 

 

''Up next we have, HALLSEY magazine company from Greece.''

 

 

As she goes down the list of magazine compaines, we get even more anticipated for it to end.

 

 

JAHKKOY Magazine Company

 

LIMIT Magazine Company

 

MOONLIT Magazine Company

 

REBIRTH Magazine Company

 

SALIOR Magazine Company

 

XPLOSIVE Magazine Company

 

ZOOMA Magazine Company

 

 

 

''Special thanks for all the companies that have joined us this year. I know there was a mishap last year. But not to worry, KARL magazine will be coming to announce their postition tomorrow.'' she finally announces.

 

Several people clapped.

 

 

I was one of the those few people.

 

 

KARL magazine coming tomorrow was gonna excite things up a bit.

 

I'm probably going to see Jeff and Ryan again.

 

 

''And now moving on, we have the mandatory notes needed to be taken by all workers. Including interns.'' Ms. Parfum says.

 

 

I look back to the interns. I see Walt and Eugene behind.

 

Kyle was sitting in the same row as Jacob.

 

I was a bit surprised he was here, and would show up to orientation.

 

 

''So continuing, for the writers. You get to go first, lucky you.'' Ms. Parfum says smilng to the crowd.

 

''First we'll need your major information, schools you have attended, and many more things we will cover.'' she says in a hurry.

 

 

I struggle to keep up on her words. Man Lauren maybe right about the whole finishing college thing.

 

This was going to be hard work and now we have to be serious.

 

 

I looked down, nervous at my bad writing.

 

I would have to write the notes again.

 

This wasn't going to be as easy as I thought.

 

Chapter Nine: Inferno Taste

  

 

''Come on it wasn't that bad.'' Rikki said persuading me.

 

''Really? I was too embarrassed to finish mine. That presenter was going really fast.'' I replied.

 

 

We all arrived at the white tent, set up for registration. Just miles from our hotel.

 

Marybella follows behind me scanning the place.

 

Jacob joins my side to comfort me, while I shudder at the sight of registration. 

 

 

''Don't worry, it wasn't that bad. Plus we have the rest of the day off to relax.'' he says to me.

 

 

I nod in response. Of course the rest of the day would be just fine.

 

''Trust me the bullet notes for the models weren't half as bad as the photographers.'' Rikki finally says.

 

 

Marybella turns around to face her.

 

''Hey it wasn't a bad lecture or conference, the only thing I had to do was sit still and look pretty.'' she says.

 

 

Rikki tries to fight