Any criticism is encouraged but hopefully only constructive and creative!
*****
“Wow!” Lana Sprès (yes, the very same Lana Sprès who won several awards on her debut appearance at the VMAs, ended up on Perez Hilton’s gay-dar when she promptly resigned a coveted role as the girl-next-door type who ends up with the boy and mean girls’ respect on a tragically-cancelled summer series about up-and-coming models on the CW for a spot in the latest summer blockbuster, and somehow found to sing albums that brought parents’ worst nightmares to life with her persona of kid-friendly bows and sundresses and lyrics of triple-X experiences of which most fraternity boys can only dream) giggled as she stood in the center of what would be her dorm for the next few months. Because, really, who could have guessed Lana Sprès would not only be a closeted Water-ruler but would also become one of the first students of the inaugural class of Astral Academy?
“Impressed?”
“Very much so, Ms. Lewis,” Lana gushed at the school foundress. Shivers traveled down her thin arms, drawing out sun-kissed goosebumps. She turned to the thirty-seven (a girl in Lana’s field knew how to tell age mere feet away) woman and beamed, the patented “Sprès smirk” appearing so that all her laser-whitened teeth sparkled. “I can’t wait for that mailing list to go out! I’ve always wanted to meet others like me. I’d even hoped maybe at least one of my fellow celebs might be a STAR, but after I almost let the cat out of the bag to Bieber backstage at Saturday Night Live, I decided not to bother looking anymore.”
“That’s quite understandable, Lana,” Nadia Lewis said calmly to the sweet pop tart Water-ruler. It’d been nice to see her coming out of her shell over the past few years, even if that shell had kept her from discussing how “all’s fair in love, war, and three-ways” in an already-platinum single. “It’s nice you haven’t had to face any scandal over your condition or new living condition. I trust that you had a PR release a statement.”
“Oh, yes! Esther should announce in . . .” Lana checked a Cartier tank watch, truly trying not to scowl at a lackluster diamond. “Ester should announce in three hours that her favorite, most recent employer is taking a year-long hiatus to get back to her roots, learn a few things about herself in a classroom that isn’t a set piece from a syllabus that isn’t just a creased page from the TV show’s script, that king of thing. The bomb’s dropping at ten in the morning, central time.”
“Excellent,” Nadia continued as she checked her white iPhone.
Lana noted everything Nadia wore was white. In a pair of cream-colored slacks, an unsullied camisole-and-sweater set, and white pumps, Nadia looked ethereal. Her hair was even a shade of white blonde. Lana prayed it was a fashion statement that would end by Labor Day. She couldn’t bear to see such an amazing woman make such a cardinal sin of fashion by wearing white shoes after Labor Day!
“I hope you’ll like your roommate,” Nadia continued. “I picked this girl out for the delicate celebrity I know you can be.”
“Oh! And who might that be?” Lana asked.
“My niece,” Nadia said firmly. The cool, breezy tone in her voice was disappeared. It was almost as if someone entirely new were speaking to Lana. Not that Lana was afraid. It was a little exhilarating to be treated like a woman who needed a little force in her life as opposed to the cash cow teenager the film executives and album producers viewed her. “It will be a few days before she gets her letter, of course, but I can guarantee you she’ll be an interesting addition to our school family here.”
“I hope she’s up to the challenge. What’s her name?”
*****
Lana isn’t a major character, but I thought she’d be a nice way to introduce the story. Critique away! I love you all! 
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