"There is no one better. You have to do it."

"No."

"You're so great at it, right? What's the issue?"

I scoffed at my best friend. "We've already met. He would know who I was right as I introduced myself."

"That's the beauty of makeup and costumes, isn't it? Why can't you take a case? You want it done so badly and no one is up to your standards or available, so what's left? The only solution is that you take the case," Cecilia argued.

"I can't do it. I'm not going to discuss it anymore," I settled.

"Jane already told Preston that he would be meeting with whoever she picked tomorrow. She didn't tell him her name or what she looked like. Now it's our job to create her. It's been a week Charles and we've got no one to fill the spot. What are we going to do?"

I sighed and covered my face with my hands. I had been swamped all week with this assignment and trying to keep up with everyone else and their cases. Then there were the two newbies that needed to be watched over. There wasn't enough time for everything especially not for me to deal with a case. I didn't need any more stress.

"We have to do something," Cecilia pointed out. "Why don't you fill in then?"

"Fill in?"

"Yeah, it's our only option. We'll make you up so well that no one would be able to recognize you then you just go on this one initial meeting. We'll pick someone else to take your place later. We can easily give someone else the same makeover as you."

"What about the voice?" I asked. "If we switched up the girls, then we may act and sound different."

Cecilia waved the thought away. "We can blame it on being sick or something. Please Charlie? You have to do it. Besides, who better to not fall in love with a guy like that than you?"

"I don't know Cece," I mumbled unsure. "I can't-"

"Yes you can," she argued quickly. "There's no one better."

I stared at Cecilia not liking what she was implying at all. I shook my head quickly and kept a firm expression on my face. I was not going to be tricked into this.

"We don't even have a persona," I said. "How do we know that I can do it?"

Cecilia pursed her lips. "Well, she should be overweight with no care for make-up or hair style. She's got to act pretty unladylike. That's it, isn't it? All we need is a name."

I thought back to when I went out to lunch with Ollie. He had said something about me meeting with some old ladies.

"Margret," I decided. "Or Maggie for short."

"Great," Cecilia agreed. "Now you've created her. Now you can be her!"

"No!"

"Charlie, you have to. There is no one else available. Do it for just this one date! It won't be that hard for you if you're as amazing as you say."

I glared at her for a moment.

"Anyway," Cecilia moved on. "We'll get Patricia and Lauren in here to work on your makeup and costume. Charlie, there is no one who is better for this. Did you see yourself at the mall? You and him together is a spit of fire and he has to put up with you because of this bet. What's the harm in at least trying it?"

"The harm is wasting my time," I answered easily. "Why don't we just put off the case until later? We can deal with it after one of the girls has gone through the proper training and-"

"Charlotte Lynn Clemons," Cecilia began using my full name. I narrowed my eyes at her for even daring such a risk. "You are doing it and that's final. We can't stall and we can't give this assignment up. If you decide not to take the case yourself after the first meeting with Preston then we'll find someone else. For now, we just need you to fill in. It's the least you can do!"

She had never spoken to me that way. She left no room for argument and turned on her heel to leave my office. I sunk back into my plush rolling chair and sighed. I ran my hands through my blond hair. This could not seriously be happening.

Patricia and Lauren came into my office a few minutes later. They had all their gear with them as they were ready to get to work. Lauren was a fashion major and Patricia had taken many courses in stage makeup. They were one of the many teams we had that was focused solely on creating our girls into new people.

"We need to add pounds onto you," Lauren mumbled to herself.

"And some blemishes," Patricia added.

I stood up and backed away from them. "I will not be turned into Maggie. This is not happening to me. I haven't had a case since my freshman year in college. I can't take on a case now. I've got so much stuff to do."

"Relax," Patricia whispered calmly. "Just sit down and let us do our work. You can freak out about all this tomorrow."

That night they somehow transformed me into something entirely different. We put off most of the work until the following night when I would be unwillingly put into action. I was standing before a full length mirror and admiring my new form.

It was truly amazing the work our revamping teams could do. I couldn't even find myself in my reflection.

"Are you in there Charlie?" Cecilia asked jokingly as she entered the room.

I glared at her as much as I could through my silicon mask. My cheeks had become fuller and even my face appeared a bit wider. My body shape had been changed with a use of baggy clothes and parts of a fat suit. It took me a while to walk evenly with all the new weight and to get used to the change in my face. Smiling and opening my mouth wasn't difficult but it felt very different.

My hair had been changed to with the use of a simple wig. I had on a bowl cut brunette hair cut now and it was quite a change from my normal shoulder length blond hair.

My eyes did not change from their normal dark blue color but I did get to wear a pair of clear glasses.

"I can eat with this stuff on right?" I asked. "I can only open my mouth so much."

"Eating is fine," Lauren said. "Be careful though because you don't want to get too messy. I wouldn't want you to wipe off any makeup."

"Yeah and you need to watch the outfit. That suit isn't very tight on you and I would hate for you to misplace any extra parts," Patricia added.

It took me twenty minutes to get the whole ensemble on and then another ten minutes to make everything flow together and look…natural.

"It looks like you ate Charlie," Cecilia said trying her best not to laugh.

I still had curves but I definitely had unwanted ones. There was quite a bit of added fluff to my shape. My 5'5" was still the same and had a feeling I wouldn't be wearing heals with all this added weight anytime soon.

"I don't like this," I mumbled. It felt like I had a fat lip and five extra pounds hanging off of my cheeks. Then, of course, there was the additional twenty pounds hugging tight to my body. I had barely moved from my seat and already felt myself beginning to sweat in this outfit. This was not going to work.

"We're not getting away with this."

"Not with that attitude," Cecilia agreed. "Now come on Maggie, you've got a date to get to."

o0o0o

Diner's Delight was the destination of the evening. It was a very unromantic place for a first date not that I expected much. Preston was being forced to do this and therefore didn't have to go all out to impress me. Although I kind of suspected that he might have taken more care in choosing the place. He just seemed like the type of guy.

Cecilia dropped me off and told me to call her should Preston not be gentlemanly enough to offer me a ride back home.

I straightened myself out the best I could and strutted into the diner. I made sure not to look around and kept my lips as pursed as I could. It was a bit difficult with all the added padding but I made it work.

Preston was just easy to spot as the first time I saw him. He was sitting in a booth by a window and staring out into the parking lot. He didn't seem nervous or angry or anything really. He just seemed content to be sitting there.

I took a deep breath and thought that it was either now or never. I hesitantly approached him ignoring the waitress trying to show me to my own table.

"Mr. Gilmore," I greeted dropping my voice down one octave, just in case.

Preston thankfully wasn't wearing his stupid sunglasses on his face. They were tucked in neatly to the collar of his shirt. His hair was in its same natural style and his admittedly amazing golden eyes seemed to study me. His expression was quick to show disgust before he smoothed out his features.

"You must be a friend of Jane's?" he guessed politely.

I took the opposite seat in the booth to face him. I nodded and thrust out my hand.

"I'm Margret," I introduced trying not to cringe at the thought. "I go by Maggie though."

Preston gave me a small smile as he returned my handshake. We both noticed the extra jiggle of my arm.

"Jane told me so much about you," I began.

And cue the awkward phase of the relationship. Step one.

Preston took a long sip of his drink before choosing his next words carefully. "Only good things I hope."

"She said that you don't go for girls…like me," I accused quietly. Preston shrugged but didn't deny the fact.

"I go for whoever falls in line. It's not often I go out of my way to meet someone. You should feel special."

"Should I?"

"You should. Any girl here would be lucky to have me," he replied smugly.

I frowned. His ego was much bigger than my newly developed dress size. "Well then it's a shame that none of them are in the same boat as me. I guess I'm lucky to have such a great friend like Jane to hook me up."

Preston grumbled and avoided my gaze. I was losing his interest and quick. Though knowing the bet, it wasn't my job to keep up the conversation.

"So what are you studying in college?" I asked in a lame attempt at conversation.

"Psychology," he answered monotone. "And yourself?"

"Nothing as exciting as that," I assured mimicking his tone.

The waitress came over and took one look at me before giggling like an idiot. She was a young girl who probably went to college with us. She seemed rather plain but her personality shined through immediately as fake. I narrowed my eyes at her as she attempted to take my drink order.

"Pull it together Tamera," Preston commanded nicely.

"Sorry Pres," Tamera mumbled in between giggles. "Looks like you're emptying your wallet tonight on this one. Did you give up on all the pretty girls? I'm sure you haven't gotten through all of them yet."

"No worries," Preston tried to recover. "I was planning on going Dutch."

I crossed my arms over my chest and huffed.

"Sorry though, what would you like to drink?" Tamera asked returning her attention to me.

"You know what," I began while standing from my seat. It wasn't without a struggle either as my enlarged stomach caught on the table and forced me back down. When I got to my feet though, I grabbed Preston's drink without a second thought and hurled it at Tamera. It soaked through her olive skinned face and brunette hair. Her makeup began to run as the soft drink dripped down her face. It was my second food fight encounter in the past week… and it felt great.

"I don't think I'm hungry anymore. Thanks though."

Tamera gasped out and looked down horrified at her employee shirt that was now soaked in a sticky drink. "You bitch!"

I gave her a small wave as she ran back to the kitchen of the diner.

Preston stood obviously alarmed at what had just happened.

"Thanks Preston," I told him. "But no thanks. I don't need to be made fun of on a date. It was very gentlemanly of you to stick up for me."

I grabbed my bag and turned away from him ready to stalk out of the diner and leave this disaster behind. I was able to take three steps outside the door and pull out my phone from my bag.

"Whoa, whoa! Easy there."

I hurriedly finished texting Cecilia to pick me up when I heard that awfully melodic voice. I whirled around and attempted to glare at Preston. He had followed me out of the diner to patch things up. How predictable.

"Don't listen to her," Preston went on. "You don't need to get so railed up. She's just jealous."

"Or angry that you're out with a fat cow and not a skinny bimbo. I bet she's just mad that you would pick someone like me over someone like her. Isn't that right?" I asked crossing my arms over my abnormally wide chest.

"Yes," Preston mumbled relieved. Then he realized what he had just agreed to. "What? No! Look, just ignore her. She's unimportant. I'm interested in getting to know you not worrying about stupid waitresses like her."

I huffed a bit before turning my head away from him. "Yes well I'm not interested in dating someone like you or even being seen with someone like you."

"Someone like me?"

"Yes," I stressed my point. "You don't care about actually getting to know me. I'm sure there is some ulterior motive here."

"Of course not," Preston lied smoothly. Oh, he was good. His voice didn't even quiver or waver in the slightest. I was impressed. He grabbed my shoulder and gave it a soft squeeze. I looked at him once again easily finding myself attracted to those mysterious eyes.

"Look, I will be the first to admit that I date the wrong type of girls. I go out with girls and use them. I know it's wrong but I just can't help it. Now with that out of the way, it's not what I want to have. I want a real relationship with real feelings and you may be just the person to do that with."

His words sounded nice but I wasn't convinced.

"Why someone like me then? I'm not the girl you go for?"

"That's exactly what I need. I need something different from the usual line of floozy girls. What do you say?"

I pursed my lips as much as I could with the added stuff on my face. "I need time to think. If you're really interested and you mean it, then let me know."

"Great," Preston said earnestly. I almost believed for a second that he was excited. "Can I get your number?"

I shook my head. "No. If you want it bad enough, then you'll find a way to see me again."

"You're kidding?"

"You're smart I assume," I said. "If you want it, then you have to earn it."

Luckily, Cecilia pulled up in a black car right next to the sidewalk where I was standing.

"Bye Preston," I said while walking over to open the car door. I made sure not to open it wide enough or Cecilia to be seen. "I can't wait to hear from you soon even though I really don't want to."

I climbed inside the car and then leaned out to close the door. Preston kept his eyes on me with an intense expression. I gave him a sarcastic grin and a small wave.

Just before slamming the door I heard, "You will."

I know I said I wouldn't update this weekend but surprise I guess. This chapter was already written which is why it's being uploaded. I WILL NOT be uploading Cupid Collections. I don't have time to sit down and write a whole new chapter for that.

Hopefully this chapter can hold you all over for the next week. It seems that Charlie has a way with food. :P

For those who care, my trip was tons of fun. I loved it though I lost my phone which was a bummer. I'm moving this week so I'll be super busy as usual. Hoping to go back to updating regularly next weekend.

Thanks for understanding and reading! Hope you enjoyed!

~GermanSam