The Westchester Mall
Saturday
2:45 PM
Massie Block held up the heather grey Chloe dress to her petite frame and tilted her head to the left. She knew the dress would look amazing on her, but was it too much for the thanksgiving charity event? Tiffany's laughter jolted her out of her one-on-one staring contest. Massie turned her head to see Tiffany and Alicia dancing with two silk scarves while Dylan and Hannah threw chunky cocktail rings at them. Massie let a small smile fall onto her face as she watched her new friends.
Ever since Jennifer had been expelled and never heard from again, the pretty committee and icandy had become almost like sisters. Massie never thought she'd find more GLU's, but she had. It was more shocking then Spencer and Heidi Pratt's one year anniversary.
Alicia started wiggling her hips and right as she stuck her butt out, she accidently knocked over a mannequin that made a huge crashing sound that silenced the entire store. The store clerks looked over in horror as the other shoppers gave them dirty looks. Massie's eyes widened as everyone stared at her and not in a good way. Massie dropped the gorgeous dress and grabbed Alicia's wrist and ran out of the professionally decorated store with the other girls in tow. As soon as they got out they started laughing at the surprised look on Alicia's face.
"Ehmagawd, Alicia I can't believe you did that!" Massie managed between howls.
"I know! I hope they don't call security," Alicia giggled back.
Massie's eyes widened as she looked at the other girls around her, "Let's get out of here!" The girls took off at a quick pace down the mall and ducked into Coach before anyone could see them. When they finally stopped giggling the girls started looking around.
"Ohhh I heard these clutched are totally in this fall!" Hannah squealed with delight as Claire ran over to look with her.
Massie linked arms with Alicia and Katie as she took off toward the hobo bags in the back.
"Massie, has Derrick texted you back yet?" Alicia asked as she eyed up a silk scarf.
"Yeah, he said the guys don't have plans tomorrow."
"Okay perfect!" Alicia said as she clapped her hands. Massie smiled at her beta. She was surprised that Alicia hadn't gotten jealous when the girls of icandy had started attending Starbucks runs and weekly shopping trips. The other girls hadn't said anything either but Massie just assumed that they were having too much fun. Ever since icandy had joined them, the girls felt freer than ever before. Massie was acting less lyrca as icandy invaded on their sacred traditions.
Alicia was attending yoga sessions on Sunday mornings since Tiffany and Alexis were exercise junkies as well as dancing in Alicia's dance studio during the week. Dylan and Kristen had bonded with Katie and Hannah over cheesy movies and their love of food. Claire now went shopping at TJ Max with Hannah and Alexis because they were only the girls that were willing to buy clearance items. Massie had fallen in love with all of the girls over their shopping trips and nightly skype-athon sessions with the crushes.
Everything seemed to be going so well with the girls and the crushes, Massie hated to think it might not last. Between nine girls it was destiny that some drama would pop up but she hoped that things would stay just like they were now. Massie shook the thoughts out of her head as she reapplied her very cherry Glossip Girl lip gloss and walked over to Alicia and Tiffany who were buying matching key chains.
Derrick's House
Sunday
4:35 PM
Claire Lyons let out a laugh as Cam tried to feed her a Hershey's chocolate almond brownie. Claire felt her heart flutter in her chest as she stared back into her crush's one green and one blue eye. Finally, Cam got the chewy brownie into Claire's mouth and Claire laughed and covered her mouth as she chewed. She was surprised at how much fun she was having at Derrick's movie party.
The pretty committee and had gotten ready at Massie's house earlier that morning and Claire could tell that she was nervous about seeing Derrick. Massie had changed thirteen times before finally settling on dark wash skinny jeans, a ruffled top, and a shrunken cardigan. Claire was wearing a pair of hand me down jeans and an old navy t shirt. Claire pulled her t shirt down over her jeans as she looked around at her best friends that looked that they had just stepped off of a Teen Vogue photo shoot. She tried not to feel insecure but it was hard.
"Hey Cam, did you hear that ADD is having their tryouts this spring?" Derrick called across the living room from the chair he and Massie were cuddled in.
"Yeah dude, I'm hoping to get on the junior varsity team," Cam replied. Claire squinted her eyes as she looked up at him, completely forgetting about her outfit insecurity.
"Really? You think all of you guys will get on JV?" Claire questioned as her stomach tightened. She loved Cam but she was hoping that they could do more school activities together since they would finally be going to school in the same building. She knew Cam was dedicated to soccer but she was hoping to join art club or photography club with him.
"Yeah we already talked to coach and he said that with lots of practice this fall, we should be able to make the JV team," Cam said excitedly.
"I heard that all of JV gets personalized jackets and soccer balls!" Josh exclaimed.
"Ohhh yeah!" Kemp cried out as he slapped Chris's hand. Dylan and Kristen giggled as their crushes got excited over something as silly as jackets. Claire smiled but she could tell that the smile hadn't reached her eyes. She tried telling herself that high school was really far away but she couldn't stop hoping that things would be different. That she and Cam could be closer. Claire sighed as she turned back to the now childish movie playing on the HD flat screen television as she tried to ignore the soccer conversation.
Derrick's House
Sunday
5:45 PM
Alicia Rivera tiptoed down the Harrington's hallway with Massie trailing behind her. Both girls had wide eyes and smiles playing on their lips as they lingered outside of the kitchen. Derrick, Cam, and Josh had gone to get snacks thirty minutes ago and the girls were sick of waiting. Claire had chosen to stay back with Kristen and Dylan. Icandy was having a yoga lesson at Tiffany's house with Matt and Jake.
Alicia peeked around the corner so she could see Derrick and Josh but Cam was looking in the fridge and out of sight.
"Let me read Katie's text!" Derrick was whisper-shouting at Josh.
"No, dude! She said not to tell you!" Josh hissed back.
Alicia turned her head and looked at Massie with curious raised eyebrows. Massie shrugged to show that she had no idea what they were talking about.
"But I really want to know! I can't hang around her without knowing if she likes me," Derrick said back hastily.
They were obviously trying to keep quiet. Alicia looked at Massie's face which was, to be honest, not very pretty. Her mouth was hung open and a spit bubble was dangerously trying to make its way out and down her chin. Her eyes were wide but more in a horror movie way instead of a Twiggy fashion icon way. Her face was turning red and she hadn't moved a single face muscle in over ten seconds.
Alicia's heart ached for her alpha as she reached out and grabbed her hand and squeezed it once. That seemed to shock Massie out of her trance as she finally blinked and shifted her weight to her other foot. Instead of looking like a horror movie, she just looked pissed. Josh's voice startled both of them as they jumped when he responded to Derrick.
"Fine, she said that she thinks you're cute," Josh said sarcastically.
"Let me see," Derrick said. The girls heard the scuffling of feet and the squeak of a chair being pushed. There was silence for about five seconds and then they heard Derrick's voice.
"I told you! Did I not tell you she liked me?" Derrick accused Josh.
Alicia saw Massie trying told hold back the tears that were crowding her perfect amber eyes.
"Yeah but you have Massie. Why does it matter?" Josh said.
"Dude, you have Alicia, the hottest girl in school, and you were begging me to text Hannah the other night," Derrick countered.
Alicia felt her stomach bottom out as she clutched her abs with the hand that wasn't holding Massie's. She felt an instant rush of sweat to her pits and she wished she would have double applied her Sercret deodorant that morning. How could Josh do this to her! She devoted herself to him and he was out there trying to text other girls! What about all the late night text-athons? What about the Skype sessions?
Alicia felt her hand being squeezed by Massie and she turned to look at her friend. Even though they were upset they knew that they would always have each other. She was the hottest girl in school and she could always find a hotter HART.
"Guys, come on. You both have amazing girlfriends and you should just leave those other girls alone. Just because they're single doesn't mean you should be flirting with them. Alicia and Massie would be so mad if they found out." Cam said finally.
Massie and Alicia gave each other thumbs up as Alicia's heart warmed for Claire's two eyed colored crush. Just then the girls heard the sound of the boys getting up and coming out of the kitchen. Alicia felt her heart quicken as she tip toe-ran down the hallway, dragging Massie behind her. Alicia saw Josh's Ralph Lauren flip flops and knew it was time.
"So that's why I don't buy cookies from Girl Scouts," Alicia said as she pretended to walk down the hall with Massie. She was fake smiling but she hoped that Josh wouldn't notice.
"Ehmagawd, you're so right. I had no idea it wasn't actually for charity," Massie said with a fake concerned voice. "Oh, hey guys! We were wondering what was taking so long."
"Hi. Did you guys just walk up here?" Josh said eyeing up the two girls who were staring back at him innocently.
"Yeah, like three seconds ago. Why?" Alicia asked staring down her crush.
"Just wondering. I got us some more snacks!" Josh said as he showed Massie the bowl of Doritos in his hands.
"Okay let's go back down stairs," Massie said as she turned on her Prada heels and headed back down the hallway.
Alicia followed her and never once turned around to look at Josh.
The Block Estate
Sunday
8:55 PM
"So he actually said that Katie was texting him?" Claire questioned.
"YES, CLAIRE! How many times do I have to say it?" Massie said with her head throbbing. She looked down at her bright pink manicure. She was trying not to cry, just like she had been all afternoon. Derrick hadn't admitted that he liked Katie but he seemed way more interested in her then Massie.
"I'm sorry, Massie. Maybe he was just wondering if she liked him. Maybe he knew it wouldn't change your relationship," Claire offered.
"You're right. He was probably just curious," Massie said as she dismissed the topic. She pressed the intercom button in her room and asked Inez to make her some chamomile tea. She was going to need the calming herbs tonight.
BOCD
Monday
12:25 PM
The pretty committee and icandy were all sitting around table eighteen eating and sharing lunches. Massie couldn't tell if she just looked extra gorgeous today or if the LBR's were just feeling super desperate because everyone in the café kept glancing over at table eighteen. Massie shouldn't have been surprised, but she was. Ever since icandy and the pretty committee had banded together and taken down Jennifer everyone in the school had looked up to them. They were the girls that had done something for the better of the school.
"Massie?" Jessica Hastings asked as she stood awkwardly behind Massie's chair, "I really like your bracelet. Where did you get it?"
"Thanks Jess, I got it at Chloe," Massie said with a smile.
"Oh, cool! What do you think you're doing for the French project?" She asked again nervously.
"I think I am going to write a guide to shopping in Paris. What about you?" Massie asked trying to be polite.
"I'm going to write a fictional story. Your idea sounds so awesome, though!" Jessica said grinning.
"Thank you," Massie said as she turned around to Alicia and started talking to her, signaling Jessica to go.
"Why did you talk to her?" Dylan said with a snort.
"Because, Dylan, I didn't want to be rude. What if I need her to translate French for me?" Massie shot back. She didn't really know why she was being so nice to the LBR's lately but they were loving her and she wasn't going to risk that going away.
"I think it was nice, Massie. Everyone totally looks up to you," Katie said with a smile. Massie smiled back at her and tried to make it look natural. She still was mad that Katie had texted Josh about how cute Derrick was. Derrick was her crush and Katie shouldn't even be thinking about him that way.
"So, this Saturday is the BOCD soccer game. Do you guys want to go?" Hannah asked.
Massie could see Alicia stiffen in her chair. Massie lifted her hand slightly from the table and flattened it, signaling Alicia to calm down. Alicia must have seen her movement because she settled back into the chair.
"Yeah, that sounds fun. Josh was telling me how he wanted me to come watch one of his soccer games sometime," Alicia said watching for Hannah's reaction.
Hannah just smiled back at Alicia and nodded. She obviously didn't know that Josh might like her. Massie sighed and leaned back in her chair. This week was going to be torture between watching Katie's every move and Alicia having a heart attack every time Hannah talked about the crushes.