A/N: Hey guys! I'm back with another new story... I know, I know. I promise this one will be worth it! I don't want to give too much of the plot away, you'll learn the basics in this chapter. I wanted to write a grown!up PC story alongside phonies and my other stories, because I'm tiring of grade-school drama. There's so much more territory to cover when the one is in their 20s and richer than most European countries. Give it a chance? I promise it won't disappoint :)
-Bridget
1 – "Bound"
San Diego, California
The Icon Building; Loft #6
23 May – Monday
7:58 A.M.
Massie Block curled into a small ball with her blanket in her fists, attempting to block the sunlight from her eyes. It was no use; the eggshell blue down comforter was practically transparent in the streaming sunlight. Her toes pointed, her arms stretched above her head and she released the blanket back to it's rightful place: Massie was finally awake.
Yawning, Massie rolled out of bed and padded over to the large bay windows that made up the west-facing wall of her room. With the heel of her palm, she slid open the slider and stepped out onto the veranda. Familiar sights and sounds assaulted her; the rhythmic crash and fall of the surf breaking on the beach, bits and pieces of her downstairs neighbor's phone conversation, the gentle rumble of cars passing on the street below, and the wind whistling through the fronds of palm trees a few feet away from where she stood.
After a few minutes of gazing bleary-eyed into the ocean a building away, Massie turned back inside. Her room was large and airy, decorated in blues and reds. A pale tan and red-striped looped rug covered the majority of the pine flooring. Two furry white beanbags held court around a glass coffee table sat before a majestic electric fireplace. In the top-right corner was a gigantic flat screen television, placed just so that it was visible from anywhere in the room. Massie walked between the beanbags and her California king bed to reach the wooden door on the opposite side of the room.
She grasped the iron door handle and pushed. The lightwood door gave way to her expansive pale grey and white marble bathroom. Massie passed the double sinks, the pass through into the walk-in closet and the stone-footed tub on her way to the glass walk-in shower. She shed clothing as she went, first her squirrel-print Jonathan Adler boxers, then her oversized white sleep-shirt, and finally her underwear.
As soon as she stepped out of the shower, refreshed, she heard the characteristic ping-ping of a waiting text. Drying her body as she went, Massie padded back into her room to retrieve her black iPhone.
Sofie: turn on tv now
Sofie: you won't believe it
Sofie: channel 6? NBC?
Sofie Castner was Massie's Finnish roommate. She had legs that stretched for miles, a shiny mop of platinum blonde hair and an affect that matched Massie's in both mannerisms and wit.
Massie: ok
Massie: why?
Shaking her head, Massie hurried into her walk in closet, sliding on a fresh pair of plaid boxer shorts and a fluffy robe. She wrapped her hair in a pale green towel and slid on Ugg house slippers. What did her roommate want to show her? Was Sofie's latest commercial airing already? Sofie was currently away in Finland, working on a commercial project for Bavarian Motor Works (BMW). Her father owned a large stock in the company, evidenced by the three BMWs that Sofie kept parked at the building's parking structure.
Sofie: just turn it on
Massie: I'm getting there
Sofie: fine, it's Claire Lyons
Sofie: that girl u told me about?
Sofie: she's on the Today Show
Sofie: thought u might be interested
Massie stopped in her tracks, curiously reading the four text messages. So, Claire Lyons on the Today Show, huh? She hadn't seen the name in years, or at least liked to tell herself that. It would certainly be worth turning on the TV now.
Massie: ok, turning on now, thanks
The thin brunette plopped down on the brown leather couch situated in the middle of the shared living space in the two-bedroom loft. Shivering against the cool leather, she pulled a black cashmere throw onto her long legs as she scrambled for the remote. Luck would have it; the TV was already set to channel six.
A smiley blonde reporter with saucer-like chocolate brown eyes filled the screen, talking animatedly with what appeared to be a rainstorm behind her.
"Back to the studio with Kathy and Hoda!" she said with finality, and the screen flipped back to a desk with two bar stools occupied by two reporters behind it. In the background, Massie caught glimpses of tourists jockeying to be seen through the windows, mouthing "Hi Mom" and waving animatedly. Massie was struck with a certain longing for Manhattan – she truly did miss traipsing down 5th Avenue making fun of the hordes of tourists stopping the flow of foot-traffic to take pictures of every single skyscraper.
"Thanks Jessie!" The darker-skinned of the duo said as she turned to face the camera. "Next we have a special treat: Claire Lyons, socialite known and renowned for her charity work in Rwanda is here to talk with us about her new novel, Clique High. Here she comes!"
And out came Claire Lyons. Her pale blonde hair was no longer long and wavy like it used to be, but cropped to her shoulders and flat-ironed stick straight. Her bright blue eyes were outlined with a layer of kohl and her full lips were expertly filled in with a blue-based red. All together, Massie couldn't deny the girl looked good. The four, or was it five years since Massie had seen her had done her well.
"Hello, hello!" Claire crowed, kissing the two reporters on their cheeks. She appeared to be having a small problem balancing in her Louboutins, but Claire covered it well. "How are you dears?"
Massie wrinkled her nose at the blonde's demeanor. It was her innate reaction when new money tried to act like old money. Claire sounded like Massie's mother. And what on earth was the girl doing wearing Louboutins on national television? Did she want to be labeled a snob and go the way of Gwyneth Paltrow?
"Very good, very good!" Kathy, the blonde reporter, grinned. She directed Claire to the armchair next to the desk. "We have so much to ask you, dear. So, so much."
Claire giggled and threw her hair back. It was a silly gesture, because Claire had little hair to throw. "Ask away!"
"Well, miss Claire Lyons is here to talk about her novel, let's not forget about that." Hoda chastised, laughing. Massie considered grabbing a trashcan incase she threw up from the love fest unfolding before her eyes. Claire had always had a way with those older than her. It infuriated Massie.
"Oh yes, the book!" Claire said grandly. "Yes, my first novel hit bookstore shelves yesterday, in fact!"
Massie's ears perked. Claire, a writer? She would have never seen that coming.
Kathy rested her elbows on the table, leaning close to Claire; "So I hear that Clique High is a true story disguised as fiction. Does this rumor ring true?"
Claire dramatically paused before glancing down and responding, "It mirrors my own experiences with… bullying, yes."
"Oh really?" The two hosts cooed in tandem.
"Yes, I had some experiences when I was younger that is common to what many teenage girls experience all across America. Experiences no one should have to face."
Kathy and Hoda nodded.
"In fact, I hope that this will lead to a series of seminars on bullying where I can speak of my High School experiences."
Massie sat with her amber eyes fixated on the screen, eyebrows raised. Claire Lyons? Getting bullied? That was an interesting joke if Massie had ever heard one.
"Would you like to read a few passages, Claire?" Hoda handed the blonde a copy of what Massie assumed was the novel – a hardback completely encased in pink with green lettering. Massie scrunched her nose in distaste at the color combination. "I'm sure mothers across the nation would love to have their daughters hear what you have to say."
"I would love to," Claire grinned, accepting the novel. She flipped her hair again, coughed twice, and opened the novel near the beginning.
"Caty Longwillow stepped carefully across the countless, rough but not too rough, shiny but not too shiny, stones in the driveway. Several steps away, Maisie Flock was exiting her house with three girls in tow. Caty would later learn that these girls' names were Kaitlynn Gregman, Alissa Riverbrook, and Devon Marvik." Claire read in a deliberate, theatrical tone, lingering on every single word.
Massie nearly leaped up from the couch. What?! She rewound the segment back five times, but every time Claire said the same names.
"What the fuck?" Massie announced to her empty apartment. "What the fuck does Claire think she's doing?" She had a good hunch at where this novel was heading. Maisie Flock? Could Claire get anymore obvious? Kaitlynn Gregman? Alissa Riverbrook? Devon Marvik?
Claire paused and flipped to a page near the end of the novel.
"Maisie cowered in the corner as the Sophomore class president sat the Homecoming Princess Crown on the top of Caty's head. Behind her stood the rest of her court, Kaitlynn, Alissa and Devon. They had finally seen Maisie for the cruel, miserable and broken girl she was. They would never…" Claire giggled and paused, "I don't want to give away the entire ending!"
"Powerful!" Kathy said. At the same time, Hoda smiled brightly and nodded her approval.
"Thank you so much," Claire simpered, turning her head towards the Camera. For a moment, it looked and felt just like Claire was looking through the glass straight at Massie. Massie held the gaze, even though she realized Claire couldn't know she was watching.
Based on a true story? True story my ass, Massie contemplated. So this was what Claire was up to now. Still twisting the truth and using everything she could to her advantage. Massie grit her teeth and let out a frustrated growl. It would take an idiot to not know Claire's novel was about Massie, given the knowledge of their history.
Massie's butt buzzed.
Sofie: damn
Massie rolled her eyes and set the phone aside. Damn was more than right.
"Okay, enough about that." Kathy bounced in her seat like a schoolgirl. "I hear you have a pending engagement with Cameron Jameston-Fisher?"
If Massie had been paying attention before, now she was absorbed in the screen. She slowly leaned forward, waiting for Claire's response.
Claire buried her face in her hands for a moment, feigning modesty. When she emerged, her face was red.
"Awh, Kathy, don't torture the girl."
"No, no it's alright…" Claire gave a nervous giggle. Massie narrowed her eyes, daring Claire to say it. Waiting for her to reveal the diamond on her ring finger. Her prize.
"Cam and I…" Claire dropped her sentence, turning to look out the window. Massie lifted herself in her seat, tucking her legs underneath her, never once taking her eyes off the television.
Massie waited for Claire to say they were engaged. If she did, it was all over. Massie could finally begin the process of truly getting over her unfulfilled high school relationship, instead of avoiding it by moving halfway across the nation for college.
"We're not engaged…yet," Claire stressed, giving the hosts a wink. They both squealed like fifty-year-old women should never squeal. Massie, with conflicting emotions, clicked off the TV. She had seen enough.
What had she learned? Claire had written a (bullshit) novel about Westchester, butchering the ex-Pretty Committee's names to feign privacy. What else had she written? Was Cam mentioned? (She mentally kicked herself for lingering on the subject). Massie sighed, realizing there was only one way to satisfy her burning curiosity. She had to go buy a copy.
Thirty minutes later, Massie was perched in an oceanfront Starbucks, opening the very first page of Clique High by Claire Stacy Lyons. Her chestnut hair was tied up in a knot on the top of her head, and she wore a simple black T-shirt dress and sandals. Even in her no-makeup state, Massie could tell the two guys beside her were checking her out. Even though both were attractive, Massie didn't pay them any attention as she tore through the book in a little less than 45 minutes.
She had always been a fast reader, and the way Clique High was written proved no challenges to her. The plot was simple, oh-so-simple. Catherine "Caty" Longwillow shows up to a high-powered New Jersey town and encounters a clique that calls itself "The A-list Hotties." Maisie hates the new girl on site and sets out to make her life hell. Caty, however, can do no wrong and rises to the top for her good looks (prettier than Maisie is noted several times). Maisie's boyfriend, Carter Chance, dumps her for Caty at one point.
Maisie goes on to lose the homecoming court vote, turns into a total bitch and drives all of her friends away and ends up leaving at the end of Sophomore year to boarding school at the end of the book without an apology to Caty. 'What an outrage', Caty's supporters cry, and they plan on getting revenge but angelic Caty stops them and lectures them on morals.
The plot was extremely basic and predictable, and very untrue at the same time. Based on Claire's experiences? Claire definitely needed to go into a psychological ward if this was what she remembered from High School.
Massie, upon reading the final chapter, stood up and dumped the pink-and-green monstrosity in the Starbucks trashcan with her empty Venti Passion-Tea. With many customers' eyes on her, she stalked out of the establishment and headed into the parking lot.
Massie unlocked her shiny black Audi RS5 and clambered behind the wheel. She rested her head on the leather seatback and took a deep breath. What next? Claire had misrepresented everything in her novel, and Massie was sure that she would somehow be affected by it. Even if no one else realized the novel was talking about her, it was a purposeful gibe on Claire's part. Hasn't she done enough? Massie thought. Ruined my life back in Westchester, was that not enough for her? Stole my boyfriend? My friends?
Gradually, an idea began to take shape in Massie's head. She reversed out of the parking lot and merged onto Sea Fiddler Lane, thinking all the way home. There was still time. There was still time.
As she pulled in to her designated spot, between Sofie's ice blue BMW i8 and her vivid red BMW M5, she came to a final conclusion.
Maybe it was about time she paid her dear parents a visit in Westchester.
A/N: So? What did you think? Do you like the plot? Have any ideas about where this should go? Want to request any pairings (no promises)? The review box is waiting below.
**Review Question: What is your favorite non-canon pairing for Clique? e.g. Massie/Josh, Claire/Derrick, Alicia/Cam etc.
Thanks for reading! Please, please, please feel free to drop me a review. Even a word or two would be nice! Any response is good response in my book.
-Bridget
PS: Look on my profile page soon for visualization of different things mentioned in Back in Black, e.g. cars, homes, characters!