JAMES' MERCEDES

FRONT OF VERONA ESTATE

Monday, November 3rd

7:03

Amanda looked out the one way window and said, "Wylet is coming. Look presentable."

Her job as Beta was to make sure everyone was in line. She loved the mornings because it meant she was in charge for roughly 20 minutes and the power was exhilarating.

Mattie and Hattie began checking for flyaway hairs, makeup smudges, and latté stains. Wylet would go psycho on their designer covered asses if they didn't look great the first day back from Halloween. They'd have people coming up to them and praising them on their fabulous party, and no way was Amanda looking any less great than she usually does.

The door to the car opened slowly and a blue boot and purple leggings slid in.

"Heyyyyy Wylet," they all chorused.

"'Sup girls!" Wylet leaned over to give each girl a big hug.

"What are we doing today after school," Hattie questioned, handing Wylet her mocha latté with whipped cream.

"The mall," Wylet said firmly.

"Cool," Mattie commented. "There's this purse from Gucci I've been meaning to get…"

Wylet snorted. "Like you need another purse! What are you up to now? Like, 123?"

"124," Mattie declared proudly. She held up a purple Jimmy Choo tote bag. "Just got this on Saturday."

"You went shopping without me?" Wylet glared at Mattie causing her to flush.

"No way! My aunt from Colorado flew in and gave it to me as a present. Hattie has a green one."

Wylet turned to me. "Are you O.K Mandy? You haven't said much."

"Yeah, I'm fine! Totally great," Amanda assured her. The truth was, I wasn't. Someone had been texting me stalkerish things from a restricted number I tried to take it to ATT, but they couldn't track back the number.

She gave me a weird look. "If you're sure…"

Amanda nodded. "Of course! By the way, cute outfit." Amanda was jealous of how effortlessly chic Wylet made everything look. She looked great whether it was waking up from bed or coming back from a wild bat mitzvah. Her neon outfit was sure to get second and third glances of envy. Everyone's eye would be drawn to Wylet as always.

-oOo-

After that we went back to gabbing about boys, makeup, and other girls. We usually discussed who was cool and who was not. We'd been looking for a new member but no one seemed good enough.

"What about Becca Miller? She looks so much better without her braces," I suggested.

"Ugh. That reject? No way. Last week, I went to the mall and I saw her totally buying the same Juicy bracelet as me. She's probably going to tell people we're friends now," Wylet replied, waving her away.

"You went shopping last week? But we didn't go last week," Amanda pointed out as she tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

Wylet stared her dead in the eye. "So? Is there a problem." Without waiting for Amanda to reply, she said, "I didn't think so. Anyway, is anyone writing this down? I want to have a record of who we said was and wasn't worthy."

Mattie quickly reached into her purple Coach alex quilted tote bag and pulled out a silver gel pen and a Juicy Couture notebook. "Regina Hollenler?"

"She's a possibility Wy. She's smart, popular, and she talks to all the boys since her brother, you know, Tyler, is on the hockey team," Amanda persuaded her.

"And she is our friend…" Wylet thought for a moment. "Put her on the list Mattie."

"How about-," Hattie started to say. She was cut off because Jacque announced that we had arrived at school.

"Merci Jacque," Amanda thanked him. She checked the mirror above her head one more time and re-glossed her lips.

Jacque nodded and got out the car to let them out.

Wylet emerged from the car first, her glossy jet-black hair blowing in the wind with perfect timing.

Amanda exited next with Hattie and Mattie right behind her. They stood around Wylet, who was in the front and center.

To Alphas Inc., the concrete walk to the school was like a runway. So they put on their best model blank stares and strutted their stuff, their hair blowing in the breeze.