like　a　buuuuutiffffful　mermaaaaid；？　Louis　told　Blair；　who　looked　back　at　him　in　the

gold…framed　salon　mirror　approvingly。　？Et　pour　ton　ami？？Louis　pointed　at　Vanessa　with　a　long；

skinny　finger？？vee　vill　make　mageek！　I　vill　return！？　Vanessa　looked　around。　The　spa　looked　like　a

European　palace；　its　dark　oak　floors　covered　with　Persian　carpets　and　walls　with　filigreed　gold

mirrors。　The　chair　she　sat　in　was　plush　burgundy　velvet。　She　crossed　her　legs　unfortably；

placing　her　hands　on　her　calves　to　hide　their　prickliness。　Light　streamed　in　through　the　giant

plate…glass　windows　at　the　front；　and　a　row　of　copper　sinks　and　shampoo　chairs　lined　the　far　wall。

The　salon　was　filled　with　tanned；　manicured；　designer…clad　ladies…who…lunch　types；　readingVogue

or　leaning　back　with　their　eyes　closed　as　stylists　pampered　them　with　head　massages。　Places　like

this　always　made　Vanessa　feel　like　she　had　three　heads？all　of　them　begging　for　a　makeover。　Blair；

of　course；　looked　right　at　home　as　she　sat　there；　a　stack　of　magazines　on　her　lap；　her　tanned　legs

crossed　high　on　her　thigh；　barking　orders　to　the　assistants　flitting　around　her。

？So　whathappened　？？　she　turned　to　Vanessa　as　soon　as　Louis　walked　away。

？I　just　need　to　look　more　like　a　girl。？　Vanessa　mumbled；　slouching　in　her　chair。

？Well；　obviously。？　Blair　wrinkled　her　perfect　little　nose　and　gestured　at　Vanessa？s　slumped　form

with　her　perfectly　pink　fingernails。　？Finally　you　realize　youare　a　girl。？　Vanessa　looked　in　the

mirror　at　her　sweaty　bald　head　and　dusty　black　boots。　Then　she　looked　over　at　Blair？s　pletely

feminine　form：　her　pink　toes　peeped　out　of　a　pair　of　light　aqua　espadrilles　and　gold　bracelets

tinkled　on　h