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Chapter 16

And the next thing I kneas being releasedI guess I shouldn’t have been surprisedthat they were releasing me, I mean They’d completed every test under the sun that they could conceivably do on est part was that, wellI’d passed them allAnd these were mainly physical tests Let’s just say that I’ve never performed well in tests of my physical endurance I’ve never exactly aced PE I’ve always been the last person chosen for teams in volleyball and basketball I’ve always made a point to play outfield in softball, so that in the unlikely event a ball ever did coet out of the way I was crafty about co or swi I’ve just never liked physical exertion I prefer reading Or playing video gamesSo naturally some of the results from my tests astonished even me I mean, I was required to run on a treadht – and I could actually do iteven after having been in a coma for over a month! In my old body, I wouldn’t have lastedI’d have hyperventilated, or worseNikki Howard, however, had kept her body in superb condition It wasn’t actually hard to see why, since fattening foods upset her sto processed see me to radically alter my former diet of chips and sweets in favour of healthy stuff I wouldn’t have touched before in a etables Which ue found deliciousI knoas kind of depressed about it tooThe thing was, Nikki could run, swim, even ju to feel tiredWhat’s s For the first tiot what they h I felt GOOD after exercising Finally, I got itabout the whole exercise-being-fun thingToo bad I’d had to get a whole new body before I did soOnce I’d passed all the tests Dr Holconed o homebut that I would of course need to come in for more tests froh I’d been unconscious during oodbye to me on my way outonly I had to leave down the service elevator of course, because once Nikki’s publicist, Kelly – who had arrived to pick nment, a photo op with Robert Stark hiht have amnesia, but she was fine! Just fine! – had issued her press release about Nikki Howard’s amnesia, the front lobby to the hospital had been ja the placeI shook hands with Dr Holcoins and the rest of the doctors and nurses and orderlies who had cared for edCosabella a little in the process, then laughing about itI stopped laughing when it cah Because they were not taking the whole letting-their-baby-go-even-though-they-had-no-choice-in-the- well In fact, they had already insisted on issuing me a Stark-brand cellphone, on which I was to check in with thefrom the look on Mom’s face)They weren’t the only ones orried I’d never lived away from them – except for a feeeks each summer, when Frida and I had worked as counsellors at sleep-away ca to put on a brave face about it, but I was basically terrified – and also the tiniest bit angry I know they hadn’t had any choice and all, but really A supermodel? For Stark Enterprises?Frida I wasn’t so worried aboutShe and I had already shared a ‘specials to leave‘God,’ she’d said ‘I can’t believe you had Nikki Howard’s entire closet to choose froot on is what you picked Those Skechers are so pathetic If you wear the to die of e by her tone, because I was already so worried about everything else ‘No one knows I’m even related to you any ive h as it is, I don’t need you ragging on ain,’ Frida had ed, ‘about how you don’t kno to handle it because you’re so beautiful now’‘What I don’t kno to handle,’ I’d said, through gritted teeth, ‘is the fact that’‘I didn’t just try out for cheerleading,’ Frida had bragged ‘I o into a coma for aDead (only not literally, like me)? Her assimilation was almost complete! She was just one spray-tan away!‘No,’ I’d said, refusing to look at her ‘You’re just saying that to get a rise out of me I don’t believe you ’‘Believe it,’ Frida had informed me ‘Just because you hate our school and have zero school spirit, E up there as Nikki Howard is going to intimidate me Because it’s done I’m on the squad ’‘Frida ’ I hadn’t kno to explain it to herespecially since Mom had already tried soiswell, it’s evil ’‘Cheerleading is a SPORT, Em,’ Frida had shot back ‘If I wanted to try out for the basketball tea me a hard time?’‘Well,’ I’d admitted, ‘no Because you don’t have to wear a skirt and HALTER TOP when you play it ’‘Look, I have news for you, Em ’ Frida had lookedis so to try for my whole life I was really lucky to make the teameven if it’s only JV – and I don’t intend to let you or Moirls on the squadI know they only let ood spotter and I can hold upor even that great a cartwheel But I’ championships this year And then both you and Mos so much pleasure to so many people Especially me ’I’d just stared at her Until she’d added, ‘And if I’ns Nikki Howard’s contracted for, and that you’re going to be doing now, you’re going to be wearing a lot less than a halter top – hello, Victoria’s Secret model And you can walk in there and tell the art director how sexist his ad cairl to replace you So you better get over yourself ’At which point she’d turned on her heel and stalked fro her?’ Dad had wanted to knowBut I hadn’t told his to worry about than Frida – who had lately more than proved she could take care of herself – just then I wasmy new life as Nikki Howard on the outside, and Euidelines of course, as to just hoas supposed to accomplish this Dr Holcombe and his team were scientists, not social workers, and they had no idea what to tellNikki Howard Their job was over: I was aliveGranted, I was living someone else’s life But what I did with that life, apparently, was up to meand Stark EnterprisesStill, I was really, really hoping that I wouldn’t screw it up forin front of Mom, Dad and Frida noiped the nervous sweat offexcellent for this – and said aardly, ‘Well So I’ll coht off ’ The truth was, I didn’t want to coht for dinner with ht there, watching I figured Stark Enterprises knew enough about my personal businessBut Mom didn’t catch on I probably should have just told my parents about Nikki??

?s computer But the truth is they’re both so untech savvy, they’d probably think spyware is so you eat with‘Friday for sure, no excuses,’ Mo on tiptoe to kiss my cheek She’d never had to stand on tiptoe to kissDuck House on Mott Street That was always your favourite ’I rolledon his Blackberry Interesting that he didn’t carry a Stark-brand handheld personal organizer‘Maybe,’ I said ‘I’ll call you ’ But not on this Stark-brand cellphone I wouldn’t‘Friday,’ Dad said, giving runt in protest as she was squashed ‘You heard your et there,’ Mo with my jacket ‘I wish you had a war from home ’‘Mom,’ I said‘Surely Nikki has war at the slim jacket I’d plucked fro warmer to wear tomorrow ’‘Mom,’ I said‘It’s November,’ Mom said ‘Here, take my scarf at least ’She wrapped her scarf around my neck‘Mohtly enough to strangle ain when I get there, I don’t need—’‘Don’t forget to call,’ Moo as suddenly as if she’d had to force herselfBoth Cosabella and I felt a little bruised by the tiot to Frida, to whom I said aardly, ‘So See you in school to otten permission to start there wheneverto be toave one another wary pats on the back – although hers was more on my waist because she was so much shorter than I was – and then I turned around, barely able to see due to the sudden tears in my eyes I think it was the scarf that did itThat’s when a red-headed woreen skirt suit, with one of those headsets in her ears, stepped forward and, escorted by two ar ot her,’ into the mouthpiece ‘We’re on our way ETA to Stark Corporate, fifteen uards stabbed the B button for basement, and then, as the elevator doors slid shut on the tearfully sreen skirt suit turned toin a very fake way, ‘Nikki, darling ’ She s better I was so worried! Oh, right, I forgot, you don’t re ’ She held out her hand to shake ht my oould be crushed ‘I’, honey?’I blinked at her Did she really not know, or was this a put-on for the security guards? Did Stark Enterprises not tell her? I mean, that I wasn’t really Nikki Howard?But Kelly didn’t even wait for a response from me Instead, she whipped a Blackberry fro buttons on it so quickly her thuive you a little breathing roo co, I really do – but there are a few people I haven’t been able to put off COSMO wants you for its January cover and won’t take no for an answer I’old, since they want to do a piece on you too But I’ot requests for both covers and pieces froue, Elle and People – well, we can scratch People, I don’t knoho they think you are, an Aht? You and Larry, dishing the dirt? I’ to hock It’s a co offers from three publishers for a book deala ro-my-identitywhatever you want, they don’t care They’ll hire a ghostwriter, all you have to do is let them slap your photo on the cover –’The elevator doors slid open and, takingink-black stretch lione two feet before half a dozen paparazzi leaped out froan to snap pictures oftelephoto lenses so close they would have jabbed ht, guys, let the ladies through,’ hadn’t shoved the carOnce ere safely inside the cool leather interior of the limo, and the door had been shut behind us and the car was on its way, Kelly went on, as if she hadn’t even been interrupted, ‘Anyway, all of this is great news If we can time the release of the book so it coincides with the release of the new clothing and beauty lines – sister, you can’t PAY for that kind of publicity And they’ll be paying US! Oh, and of course all the usual places want you: thenews shows and Ellen and Oprah and The View and so on I’ to have to do one of theainst the seat opposite her, completely stunned by the incident that had just taken place, Cosabella clutched to ainst mine I didn’t knohich had shocked me more – the paparazzi, what Kelly had just said, or the fact that Brandon Stark was sitting across fro about so, if the curl of his lip was any indication‘Um,’ I said tentatively ‘Hi?’He looked pointedly away Kelly, meanwhile, continued her rapid-fire speech, which I could barely follow In her eboy that perfectly fraether as any wo in her hts, and the heels of her patent-leather pumps had to be four inches at least I had no idea how she walked, let alone how she’d run froraphers back there‘I’ll adraphic,’ Kelly went on ‘But it can’t hurt Nêmcová did it after that whole tsunami business, if that’s hoant tonews Are you ready for this? Sports Illustrated called ’I could tell by the way she’d said it that I was supposed to react somehow But I didn’t knohat to say I hate Sports Illustrated It’s all aboutwell, sports‘That’s great,’ I said Wow This ht ‘Right?’‘Nikki!’ Kelly looked as if she was about to throw her Blackberry at et you SI Well, they finally called And they want you For the next swimsuit issue Could you DIE?’She accompanied the word DIE with a shove to my shoulder I slumped over on to the seat What I really wanted to say was, ‘Actually, yeah I could die In fact, I already did ’But what I said instead was, ‘Wow That’s great Thanks ’Kelly looked at me for a full second Then she went, ‘You could summon up a little bit more excitement for me, couldn’t you? Just a little bit? It’s SI, honey There’s a chance you could end up on the cover In fact, I know you will I can feel it in h ’Brandon slaerator door and sank back into his seat, looking churlish‘So?’ Kelly looked at me expectantly ‘Aren’t you excited?’‘I’h the truth was, all I felt was a growing dread ‘SoI’ suit?’‘A bathing suit ’ Kelly laughed ‘God, you really do have amnesia It’s called a swimsuit, honey OK? And, oh my God, what have you done to your nails?’She seized both ernails Or I guess I should say Nikki Howard’s fingernails, which I’d bitten down aluess I bit them a little,’ I said in a small voice‘A little

?’ The next thing I knew, Kelly had flung my hands back into my lap and put her headpiece back on ‘Yes, Doreen? Hi, it’s Kelly We’re going to need soency nail tips Yes, I know it’s last minute, but what am I supposed to do, I just saw them Hideous No, I know she’s never had probleareat See you then, hon ’Kelly hung up, then looked atyourself, Nik,’ she said toyourself ’Inexplicably, , over FINGERNAILS‘I’m sorry,’ I said ‘I’ht I was going to a photo shoot What doto take part in a photo shoot with Mr Stark,’ Kelly said sharply ‘For a profile Vanity Fair is doing on hi, vibrant Stark – so of course he wants you in the shoot You and Brandon, of course ’Brandon’s scowl had, if anything, only deepened at the sight ofI really couldn’t I don’t cry II’, I’d never once criedexcept about Christopher Not over the loss of my former body Not over the loss of my former life Not even over the loss of my former selfBecause up until that moment, I hadn’t felt as if I’d lost my for at ernails, however, to make me realize how very, very lost ernails of course Part of it hat had happened just before the fingernail abuse The whole thing where I’d had to say goodbye to s with my sister – why hadn’t I just been ? In retrospect, it wasn’t that big a deal Maybe cheerleading is a sport They have gymnastics in the Olympics after all – and then I’d coraphers, all screa their cauy who couldn’t have beenI did and said rong This photo shoot was going to be a disaster I could already tell‘I can’t do this,’ I said, trying to hold backObviously I couldn’t do thatAnd I definitely couldn’t do this, what Kelly wantedSo me if I knehat a Manolo tip was And I realized I didn’t I had no idea Modelling, easy? How could I have been so arrogant? Why hadn’t I read Frida’s issues of COSMOgirl! more carefully?‘I – I don’t remember how to do this!’ I wailed‘Well, you’d better damned well remember how,’ Kelly said in a hard voice ‘Because your future is riding on it Not to mention mineand about thirty hting technicians and personal assistants, all of who whoever they’re bringing in to cater You’d better get over whatever it is you’re going through,on it We’ve been plenty patient this past h whatever it is you’ve been going through, but it’s tiet back to work Brandon, I told you, you leave that Red Bull alone You kno you get ’‘We’re here,’ Brandon said, pointing out of the‘And we’ve got company ’Kelly turned her head to look out of theThen she swore, and turned on her Stark-brand headpiece‘Yeah, Rico?’ she barked ‘Get security outside 520 Madison We’ve got protestors Again ’I had no idea what she and Brandon were talking about The truth was, I didn’t really care I was still trying to absorb what Kelly had just told me I’d had no idea so many people depended on Nikki Howard for their livelihood Sure, I’d known it was important to Stark Enterprises that she continue as the Face of StarkBut I hadn’t even begun to comprehend just what that entailedUntil nowTwo million dollars? That was how much they’d paid forto think they’d gotten off cheap Then Kelly was saying, ‘Go Go, go, go, go,’ and she was shoving me out of the liuard, as trying to shield athered in front of the entrance to the massive Madison Avenue skyscraper we’d just pulled up in front of‘Hey,’ I heard someone scream ‘it’s her!’A second later, my shoulder was seized and I was spun around to face a won on a stick that said, Stark Enterprises Kills!‘It’s NIKKI HOWARD!’ the woues and a beret – blehistle, and all the other protestors surged towards er‘How do you justify being the public face of an organization that is putting the small-business owner out of work?’ aa baby in a stroller yelled, ‘You’re what’s wrong with Aht this was a little harsh, and not just because I wasn’t who they thought I was Well, technicallyBut I didn’t get a chance to tell theto clutchhis elbow as a battering rareen-marble lobby, where ere joined a few seconds later by Brandon Stark and Kelly Foster-Fielding‘Good Lord,’ Kelly said, brushing herself off like a cat thats fur has been ruffled ‘They get worse every day ’‘Good to see you, Miss Howard,’ the burly security guard who’d shielded me from the protesters’ wrath said with a nod to me ‘Been a while ’I sotten in my shock over what had just happened ‘Th-thanks’‘Martin,’ he said to rin ‘You really did lose your memory, just like they said on the news!’I was about to assure hih chit-chat, people, we’re running late as it is Let’s go ’And then I was being dragged towards an elevator And I realized I was about to meet Mr Robert Stark hi or tanted to say to him