This chapter is more just explaining the little "problem". I promise that the next chapter will explain more about it. I'll be aiming for at least 3000 - 4000 words for the third chapter, so look forward to that! I hope you enjoy it!


Cassidy

I trail off.

My friends stare at me eagerly and slightly irritably.

"I heard my mom talking to your mom, Emma, about this secret trip that they were planning - it was to take us all to. . .Vancouver!"

My face breaks into a smile, and they all gasp.

"Pretty good, huh?" I ask, smiling.

"Yeah, that was a pretty good facade you put up," Emma admits.

I grin.

I lean towards Megan. "And. . .Gigi invited Wolfgang to join us. He'll be staying at a different hotel than us, but he'll be there."

Megan gasps. "Really?"

"Really," I promise, grinning wider.

Megan glances at Jess and Emma meaningfully, and I wonder what is going on.

Becca clearly catches on too, and Megan nods almost imperceptibly, most likely promising to explain later when they are alone.

"Why do I feel like I'm out of the loop here?" I say boldly.

Megan sighs. "Fine. I guess I'll tell you all. I've been doodling some different designs, because I was thinking about the fashion show we had a few years ago. The one to save Half-Moon Farm. But they aren't very good yet, because I'm still tweaking them."

I grin at her, giving her a thumbs up. "That's great!"

"But I don't want people to know - except for you guys of course. I especially didn't want Gigi or Wolfgang to know, and now he'll be conveniently showing up with us to Vancouver!"

I wince. "Oh, yeah. . .about that. . .I'm really sorry."

"No, no." She shakes her head. "It's not your fault at all. It can't be so hard to hide from them, can it?"

"No, I guess it isn't," Becca agrees.

"Okay guys, now we need to get packing," Megan says firmly. "In fact, I need more silk articles of clothing. We definitely need to go shopping."

Becca nods, but I crinkle my nose in disgust.

"I think we're good, personally," I object.

Megan ignores me. "We should probably go that new mall. Ashley told me that they have some pretty good clothing stores there."

"Why?" I gripe. "Fine, but I'm not going."

"Oh yes you are, Cassidy," Megan says, gripping my arm.

Man, that girl has some strong muscles when she's serious.

"Emma, you definitely need a scarf, because Vancouver's pretty chilly. . .most likely cashmere and violet. . .and Jess, well, we'll find you something," Megan lists, ticking off her fingers.

I close my eyes, trying to mentally prepare myself as Megan drags me out the door.

When we arrive there, it's bustling with activity, and people are streaming past us, so we have to fight the current while managing to stay together.

Finally we slip into one of the new boutiques, Constellation, and we breathe a sigh of relief, free at last.

Megan roams around, pulling me to the female's section. She brushes through several racks, when all of a sudden she comes to a complete stop.

"Oh my god!" she exclaims, thrilled. "They have Bix here! I love her designs! Ashley was so not kidding when she said they had good stuff here."

Her voice attracts Becca, who shows up in a flash. "Bix? Let me see! Omigosh, it's true! This dress is mind-blowing!"

"I know right!" Megan agrees. "They even have some other designers that I've heard Gigi mention before. Like Cher Renee and Della Schouler! Oh my god. . .and Alicia Gabanna! You know, I must have at least 5 handbags from her!"

I sigh and quietly slip away. Luckily, Megan and Becca don't notice me, still immersed in the "amazing" clothes. There is a bench outside Constellation, and I sit down with a sigh of relief.


Megan

There's an entire rack set aside specifically for Bix, and Becca and I can't get enough of it. We both keep on gasping, until I notice something's up. I don't hear any complaining. . .

I spin around, and sure enough, Cassidy isn't there. I roll my eyes.

"Well, you should've expected it," Becca comments. I sigh.

"It doesn't matter. Do you know where Emma is? And Jess?" I say, standing on my toes to see above the racks.

"Well, I think I saw them near the shoe section, but that was awhile ago," Becca muses. I pat the Iris blue shawl one last time, and then we go off in search of Emma and Jess.

Eventually, I catch a glimpse of a plum-colored sweater, and dash off in that direction. Sure enough, we find Emma pulling Jess along to the skirts section.

"Hey guys!" I call to them. They stop, and turn around in my direction.

"So, find anything good?" Jess asks.

I nod excitedly. "Yup, there were some Bix designs, which were amazing, of course."

"I found some stylish rain boots that I think are appropriate for Vancouver's weather. The designer tag said Mira Dihn. Do you know her?" Emma questions me cautiously.

My brow is furrowed. "I think so. . .I mean, I'm pretty sure that Gigi mentioned her once. Can I see the boots?"

Emma leads me away to boots section, and she hands me them. I'm still closely examining the boots when we get back.

"I like this style too. Good choice, but—" I start, but are interrupted by Emma's phone ringing. She reaches into her pocket, giving me an apologetic look, and looks at the number.

"Oh!" she says, startled. "It's my mom. Let me see what she wants."

She comes back a few minutes later. "My mom told us to come home and go to our house for a book club meeting."

"Oh my god!" I say, face palming myself. "I forgot that today was book club day."

"Let me go find Cassidy first," Emma says, checking her watch. "We'd better be quick."

She hurries off, and I gasp, suddenly remembering something.

"Guys!" I say quietly. "Mrs. Hawthorne will probably be telling us about the Vancouver trip, so we all have to act surprised."

"Oh yeah," Jess says. "It's easy. Keep it natural, that's all."

"Of course you would know, given how many plays you've been in," Becca teases, smirking.

Jess swats her shoulder. "I'm serious though, guys. Just keep it natural and you'll be fine."

Emma returns a moment later, an indignant Cassidy trailing after her.

I stare at her, arms crossed and foot tapping on the floor. "Cassidy? Where were you?" I say sternly.

She shrugs. "You know, places. For instance, outside of this store."

I sigh, exasperated, and Emma giggles.

"We need to act surprised though," Emma says after a moment, serious again.

"I know!" Cassidy huffs. "I know the deal."

Emma glances at her watch again. "Well, then we'd better get going. My mom was nagging me over the phone."

I hold out the boots. "Emma?"

She shakes her head. "I don't think I want them."

I shrug, set them back, and then we troop out the door.

There were no good scarves there. . .so now Emma doesn't have anything. . .What does Jess need?

Emma's house is only a few blocks away, so we arrive there quickly.

When we enter the house, all the moms are staring at us, most definitely not smiling.

"Girls?" Mrs. Hawthorne says severely in her librarian voice. "Where were you guys?"

We all shrug sheepishly. "At the new mall."

"Well then," Gigi says brightly after a moment. "Let's go sit down and enjoy the lemon-cranberry scones, shall we?"

"Girls," Mrs. Sloane-Kinkaid says, enthusiasm lighting up her eyes. "We are going on a very special trip this year!"

"Somewhere we've all never been to before - I checked very thoroughly," Mrs. Wong added.

"We're going to Vancouver!" Mrs. Delaney cried out.

Cassidy, Jess, Emma, Becca, and I all stare at each other, silent for a moment.

"Really?" Jess says incredulously, saving the day.

"Really!" her mother replies avidly.

"That's so cool!" Cassidy adds eagerly, although she sounds a little unsure and awkward.

"So," Gigi says briskly. "You girls need to get packing."

"Yes," Mrs. Wong jumps in. "Do you guys have enough jackets and sweaters and scarves and boots and-"

"Yes, Mom!" I say before she can say anything else. "We went to the mall right before this, remember?"

She nods. "Okay, but I still made a list, so make sure you girls check off each item."

I roll my eyes at Becca, and she discreetly covers her laugh.

It's time to get packing!

"Oh, and girls," Mrs. Hawthorne adds just before we all disperse. "Just a quick little fun fact: Did you know that one of Vancouver's nicknames is Rain City?"


Review!

Again, thanks to my beta, Brittfiction (Britt).