Okay, so yes this chapter is shorter. The reason is that the past two chapters have had two days on them. Today is just one day. I will try to make them longer, but they won't be as long as the others. A few might be, we'll just see. I hope you enjoy and I love your reviews, thank you so much. Enjoy! :)

Summary: "Christmas is supposed to be a chance for your one wish right? Sometimes it's just like those kids at the hospital - you don't get your wish no matter how hard you want to." A Massington Holiday Story. Rated T just in case.

Disclaimer: I do not own the Clique series or anything in the books, it all belongs to Lisi Harrison. Brand names belong to their respective owners and the centerpieces mentioned belong to their respective owners too.


Posted: December 3, 2010

Westchester, NY

Westchester High School

December 3, 2010

11:17 a.m.

The most interesting class I have taken this semester has to be Art. While most of the times I am truly convinced she's insane, Ms. Trace can be somewhat helpful.

To say I was surprised when she walked in a large Cat in the Hat plush doll, would be lying. She held the toy high above her head, gathering our attention. "This will be our next little assignment. It won't be a big grade, just a fun little thing.

Just because it won't be a big grade, you still have to put effort into it. Now, for this assignment, you will be drawing a series of pictures to symbolize a popular recognizable character.

It's sort of how if you draw an apple, a plus sign, a picture of pie, and a plus sign. Apple pie. You want the person looking at this to add up all the pictures and be able to recognize the character.

So for cat in the hat you'd definitely have his hat in there, maybe the gloved hands, his face. Use your imagination and have fun with it." Ms. Trace set down the plush doll and went towards her computer, where she would most likely stay for the rest of the class.

"What are you going to do?" Olivia asked me, as she randomly sketched out lines in her sketch book. "I think I might do Herbie. You know the car?"

I gave a laugh. "Yeah I know what you mean. I don't know what I'm going to do. Maybe...Mickey Mouse?"

Olivia gave me a sour look and shook her head vigorously. "No! You have to be somewhat original! Mickey Mouse is so typical."

I shook my head at her. "Okay then..."

"Sleeping Beauty?" It was my turn to make a sour face.

"I've got it! Frosty the Snowman!" I gave myself a pat on the back for that one. Olivia gave a blinding smile and nodded her head in agreement.

"That's brilliant!"

"Wait. I might want to do Goofy instead." I told her a conflicted look on my face and inwardly grinned at Olivia's flaring eyes.

"Ohmigod! Shut up!"

-O-

"So does a cat go Meow, or Merow?" I asked the lunch table, popping a grape in my mouth. The delicious taste swam through my mouth and I smiled, content.

"Meow! Are you high or something! Of course it's Meow!" Olivia gave me a look and chomped on a piece of beef, dunking it in teriyaki sauce.

I pulled my face into a disgusted look and mumbled. "It's like we can't survive one day without a suspicious meat product."

"No, it's Merow." Griffin told this to Olivia seriously, taking a swig of his soda. I couldn't help but laugh as Griffin said Merow.

Olivia slammed her hands down on the table and playfully glared at Griffin. "Uh, no Griffin. A cat goes Meow, not Merow! You can ask anyone, and they'll tell you a cat goes Meow! I bet even a three year old knows that."

Griffin raised an eyebrow and turned to Layne. "Does a cat go Meow or Merow?"

"Merow."

"No! He's already poisoned your mind!" Olivia outraged, turned to her left, and asked someone I didn't know the name of - rather the face of - if a cat went Meow or Merow. "Meow."

"Ha!" Olivia gave a triumphant look in Griffin's direction and folded her arms in front of her chest, satisfied.

"It's tied now genius." Griffin rolled his eyes at her and scanned the cafeteria. "Want to make this more interesting?"

Olivia raised a perfect eyebrow and couldn't hide the look of interest that crossed her face. "How do you propose we do that?"

Griffin obviously found the answer to the question, when his eyes brightened in excitement. "Go to Table 18 and ask them if a cat says Meow or Merow. If more say Merow, you'll have to...ask Kemp Hurley out on a date-"

"Hey! You'd do that to me, sentence me to go on a date with that, that pervert!" Olivia shrieked, but changed her emotions so quickly it was kind of creepy. "Okay, but if I win, then you'll have to confess your undying love for me over the PA system at lunch tomorrow."

"Fine, fine." Griffin waved her off with a confident smile. Olivia stood up and walked confidently over to Table 18. "Look away. If they see you having any sort of interest in their direction, they'll attack."

"Let's not get carried away here. It'll go to their heads definitely. Oh, she's coming back!" I told him staring at my fork, watching out of the corner of my eye as Olivia sat back down.

"Six Meow, Four Merow! Ha ha! Get ready for tomorrow Hastings! You'll be talked about until you graduate!" Olivia gave a cackle that scarily resembled Claire's.

Griffin shook his head in amusement at her. "Yeah. Okay, I'll remember that."

-O-

"Today has been quiet." I told Griffin narrowing my eyes, as I watched our Gym class from my corner. "Too quiet. I'm starting to get suspicious."

"Your so paranoid." Griffin mumbled. He stood against the wall, head tilting upwards, and eyes closed. "Maybe Massie Block just thinks she's the center of the universe."

"And maybe Griffin Hastings should get a haircut," He cracked an eye open at this and looked down at me. "but I don't think either sound that realistic."

"Your hilarious." He told me dryly, closing his eyes again.

"Yup, Yup." Coach Yollum blew her whistle and called us all to the middle of the gym.

"Today, we will be playing soccer." A collective groan went through the gathered students - minus those who played the game regularly. "Now, to make this fair I will be putting an equal number of boys and girls on each team. I'll make sure to not put more than one soccer player on each team."

She numbered all of us off and thank god I wasn't on Cam's team. Unfortunately, I did get stuck with Josh, and no Griffin. Luckily, these teams would only be for today.

"Team 2, Team 5 get out there! Five in pennies!" Coach Yollum yelled through the noise infested chaos.

I sat down on the uncomfortable bleachers and watched as Griffin's team played. While Griffin - and I for that matter - weren't the most athletic people out there, we did try.

A loud buzz rang through the gym, the game was over with Griffin's team losing by two points. "Team 3 and Team 4. Four in pennies!"

I gave a loud groan and reluctantly stood. Pinching the disgusting penny by the bottom of it, I raised the offending object slowly. "Disgusting..."

"Block! Pull it on and get out there!" Coach Yollum yelled from across the gym, making me turn bright red. I pulled the smelling penny over my head and started to breath through my mouth as I ran out on the gym floor.

I went straight for defense, because in any other position it's guaranteed that I will get yelled at by my team. The game started out well - our team scored seven points easily. Team four not to be outdone tried unwavering to get ahold of the ball again to avail.

Somehow Derrick just popped up on their team. He wasn't there one moment, then the next he's running through our players straight for the defense. My heart sped up, I told myself it was because I was nervous about facing off against him.

The other defender managed to kick the ball in my direction and I just kicked it with the intention to just get it away from me. Good news - it completely away from me. Bad news - I hit some girl in the head and she went down.

"Your not making anything easy on me this week are you?" Derrick walked up from behind me, eyes locked on the ball as it traveled on his team's side.

"Where did you come from?" I blurted and he raised an eyebrow, eyes never leaving the ball. "What I mean is, I know you weren't on that team at the beginning of the game."

"You okay?" he asked completely ignoring my question.

I gave him a look, but nodded my head. "Yeah I'm fine. Sorry I kinda fell to pieces in front of you like that. It just got to me you know, some little eight year old writing that - scared to death of tomorrow. I calmed down more when I got home. Maybe I was just too exhausted from crying, but I was able to at least form a few sentences."

He nodded and Coach Yollum blew her whistle. "Block! Harrington! Spread. Participate in the game!"

We nodded and walked in opposite directions of each other. The buzz filled the air once again and the last teams came out. That game went by real fast and Coach Yollum told us to get dressed.

"Does anyone really giggle?" I asked Griffin as we walked towards our corner.

He moved his mouth to the left, face thoughtful. "I don't think so. I've never heard anyone giggle. You?

"Strippers giggle." I told him point blank. He threw his head back and laughed. "Okay then."

The bell rang and I headed in the direction of Spanish. "Massie!"

"Your sure your fine?" Derrick asked when he caught up with me.

I gave him a confused look. "Yeah Derrick, I'm just fine."

"M'Kay." He nodded to himself, gave me a quick wave, and was gone in an instant.

I smiled to myself and turned the corner. "Yup, just fine."

-O-

"Okay, so I have decided on two centerpieces." I told Dylan pointing to the two I approved of. "The Lighted Pinecone Arrangement and the Candy Cane Bouquet. That work for you?"

Dylan nodded and gathered her papers, placing the two picked in a separate folder. "I'll look through the table cloths next, your mother already showed me the plates and silverware being used. Then from there I'll decide on other smaller decorations."

"Kay." I answered her and dismissing her all at once. It had become more awkward that I could've thought working together with my ex-friends. A mask fell over me when they came, it would only encourage them if they noticed how awkward it was for me.

"Alicia, how are the designs for the outfits coming along?" I asked passing by her on the way to the kitchen.

"I'm thinking of doing simple, elegant red long-sleeved shirts for the uniforms. Then maybe some nice black slacks with black shoes. I haven't started thinking of our outfits yet." She spoke around the two bobby pins in her mouth.

I nodded and continued on with a quick. "You might want to get around to it."

Grabbing a bottle of Evian, I watched as Kristen furiously punched in numbers on her calculator. She would bite her lip, shake her head, and the clicking would continue.

Time passed slower than I liked, but quick enough that I didn't go crazy with their presences. Soon they were gone with just the remnants of their perfume in the air, to prove they were ever there.


So, not the longest or best chapter ever, but I'm getting there. Tomorrow's chapter will be longer most likely. This chapter was more of a just get this and that out of the way kind of thing, but I mean I doubt something exciting happens everyday. Maybe. Possibly. If I made any mistakes tell me so I can correct them ASAP. Happy December 3rd! R&R.

-Layta Relient-Only