Mill Ridge Preparatory Academy

Westbrook, Connecticut

Sunday, September 2

10:59 A.M.

Dylan Marvil rested her pant-clad bottom on the seat of her mother's limo while she flipped through the pages of the Mill Ridge Preparatory Academy brochure one final time. After she had gotten over the initial shock of boarding school, she had mustered up the courage to actually look at the MRPA brochure, which included page after page of glossy photos of the gorgeous Connecticut campus.

She was dressed to kill in Miu Miu jeans, a pink Splendid tee and a black Marc Jacobs blazer. On her size 6 feet were the newest Juicy Couture flats, the ones that had just been shown in their Fashion Week show.

Just as she looked out the window to observe the Mill Ridge campus, her iPhone started singing the Estelle song "American Boy".

Take me on a trip I'd like to go some day.
Take me to New York, I'd love to see LA.
I really want to, come kick it with you.
You'll be my American Boy, American Boy.

She let the chorus play once, then hit the Accept button on the call; it was from the one and only Massie Block.

"GOOD LUCK DYL!" four voices shouted through the speaker. Their voices resounded through the long limousine.

"Aww, you guys!" she smiled as if the four girls could see her, even though they were back in Westchester, New York, and she was at her new school in Connecticut.

"Hey, Dylan," Massie's voice filled the car, filling Dylan with a calmness and peace of mind that only her alpha could instill in her. "We just wanted to call you and wish you good luck at your new school! Here's Leesh…"

"DYLAN!" Alicia Rivera screeched. "I miss you so much already and you have to tell us everything about Miss Bitch!" Miss Bitch was the nickname the Pretty Committee had given Mill Ridge after they found out that Dylan was going. "Remember all the stories about the EWs in Connecticut so you can give us a good laugh!"

Then Dylan could tell that it was Claire Lyons' turn, because she heard a thump, then an "Oops!" and some fumbling around before a meek voice said, "Dyl?"

Dylan laughed and knowingly said, "Yeah, I'm still here."

"Okay, well I just wanted to say good luck and don't make too many new friends! Love you! Don't worry about your weight too much or we'll come to Connecticut and getcha!" Dylan rolled her eyes at Claire's lame attempt at a joke, but still felt some appreciation towards the girl. She was always sincere and never played games.

Finally, Kristen Gregory got on the phone. "Dylan, I hope you have a lot of fun at your new school, but never forget your best friends! We love you!"

There were some mumbled words, but after a few seconds, Dylan heard another ear-piercing yell:

"WE LOVE YOU DYLAN MARVIL!"

And that was when Dylan knew that these were her true friends, her soul mates, the girls that she would never let go of.