The Block Estate
Saturday, 2:15 p.m.
Massie carefully screwed the top onto her Essie Midnight Cami nail polish. The somber dark blue reflected her mood perfectly. It had been three days since her parents had told her that they had lost a lot of money, and she had not taken the news well. She had been cooped up in her room ever since, and had even called off her Friday night sleepover. She had claimed bad sushi, but the truth was she just couldn't face the prospect of spending a night with her rich friends and having to cover up being poor.
Massie had long since decided she would never tell the PC she was poor. None of them, except for Kristen, had ever had to even think about what it would be like if they couldn't spend thousands of dollars on clothes and blowouts every other day. If they ever found out that she would have to shop at T. J. Maxx from now on, they would ditch her faster than last season's Louis Vuitton handbag.
The only one who would understand, Massie thought with a pang, was Claire, but since they had agreed on a truce, they hadn't spoken since. Though she would never admit it, Massie was scared of texting her, because she was afraid that Claire didn't want to be friends anymore, that she'd Lycra-ed her right out of her life, and Massie missed her much more than she was prepared to admit. Claire, on the other hand, seemed perfectly fine. Massie glanced out of her window and saw Claire having a snowball fight with Layme – no! Layne – face pink from the cold.
Suddenly, Massie's iPhone buzzed with a new text. She picked it up, and with a jolt, saw that it was from Landon. She smoothed her black and white Trina Turk dress, before clicking read.
Landon: Wanna hang out dog park 2nite? Bark misses Bean
Massie sighed. While it was adorable times ten that Landon wanted to see her, seeing her crush meant she needed a new outfit which, she reminded herself, she couldn't afford. She sadly typed:
Massie: Can't Dinner w/ parents.
As if she knew what was going on, Bean sighed dejectedly from the end of Massie's bed, where she was curled into a warm, furry ball. "I'm sorry Bean," Massie explained, scratching behind Beans's ears, "But I don't have a new outfit. Anyways, you wouldn't want to see bark without new clothes either, would you? And I know how much you wanted those Burberry ankle-boots from Bark Jacobs."
Just then, her phone buzzed again.
Landon: Tomorrow then? At 4 p.m.?
Bean lifted her head hopefully, and fixed her moist eyes on Massie. Before she could reply, however, her phone vibrated again:
Alicia: Wanna go shopping tomorrow? New Spring line BCBG and Ralph Lauren. K and D r coming.
Massie shuddered at the thought of going shopping without credit cards or cash. She quickly made up her mind, then fired off two texts, first to Alicia, then Landon.
Massie: Sorry, can't. I have a date with Landon
Massie: OK, see you then Bean can't wait
"Well Bean, looks like we have a date" Massie smiled, watching Bean running tight circles around her legs, yapping happily.
As Massie opened the door to her walk-in closet, to look for a suitable outfit, she couldn't deny to herself that despite everything, she was looking forward to seeing her crush.