The Clique Chapter Four

Massie was crying. And laughing. "May is so ridiculous! I can't believe her! She was like "I'll get you next time!" It's like she's some kind of psychotic villain from a really cheesy movie."

"Ah-greed!" Alicia said, taking a long sip of Fiji water.

"What if she really does try to get revenge? I mean, what if she turns out like Nina and steals our guys away from us?" Claire asked.

"Kuh-laire, you know we wouldn't let that happen," Kristen said, smiling.

"What is that ah-mazing song?" Alicia asked.

"It's 'Ain't No Other Man,' Christina Aguilera's new song," Massie said, holding out her gold iPod.

"Ah-dore it! I think you should put it on your blog," Dylan offered.

"Dylan, that is such a good idea. Also, that wraparound tube top is ridiculously slimming!" Massie said and smiled.

Dylan smiled and looked down at her skirt. "Do you think this burnt orange suede clashes with my hair?"

"No, it looks ah-mazing on you!" Alicia said.

The sixth period bell rang. The girls said their goodbyes and headed off to class. Massie had French, and so did Alicia.

Alicia was perfect looking. And Massie was secretly envious. Today she was wearing an electric blue halter and a short black peasant skirt. Bright, blue sequined flats completed her look. Her tiny pearl studs looked gorgeous against her dark skin.

"What's up?" Alicia asked when she noticed Massie looking.

"I have to make sure we both look flawless so we can battle with May," Massie felt like she was going to vomit when she said the perky girl's name.

Alicia's brown eyes lit up. She pushed open the classroom door and gave Massie a smile and a thumbs-up.

May was sitting at her desk, looking at her very light, very metallic pink nails. She had her white blazer on and tears in her eyes. Massie almost felt bad for her, but she didn't. May noticed the sudden smell of Chanel No. 9 and Angel perfume and looked up. She wiped the tears from her eyes and glared at Massie. Then she pointed at Alicia. "Y-you boyfriend stealing SLUT!" Then she burst into hysterical sobs.

Claire rubbed May's back. "The Pretty Committee is actually very nice, but you're mean to them," she said to the sobbing, pretty girl next to her.

"No I'm not! They're jealous!" she said, and started crying again. She wiped some tears from her eyes. "Claire, I'll make you a deal," she said, widening her beautiful blue green eyes, "I'll give you a blazer that you can keep if you help me get even with Alicia."

"Well, I'm still mad at her for almost kissing Cam, so… I guess I will," Claire said.

"Thanks, Claire, you're a great friend," May said and hugged her. Her eyes flashed. "I have to get to French. Ciao!"

May strode into the French room with a grin on her face. Massie and Alicia were text messaging some people.

"Oh, Ms. Delveaux, Massie and Alicia are text messaging people during a lesson!" May said, as if she was so appalled that anyone would ever do such a thing. She put on an innocent smile. "They have no respect for the French language!"

Ms. Delveaux was the most mean, strict teacher in the school. She glared at the two girls and said one word that brought back memories: "Detention!"

Massie couldn't believe what was happening. She was in detention! And it was because of the new girl!

"It's like déjà vu!" Alicia gasped. She slapped her flats against the bottom of her foot in a nervous manner.

"Think calm thoughts!" Massie snapped, "Our mothers won't find out because it's only one detention. We'll just have to act innocent around May."

"I don't know, Mass. I have a feeling that she's up to something," Alicia said.

"We need to go to the mall," Massie said, massaging her temples.

"Agreed," Alicia nodded.

"Shut up! You will look at me the whole time," the detention teacher said.

Massie almost wanted to giggle, but she stifled herself. The last thing she needed was to get in trouble while she was already in detention. So, she sat there, staring, for forty-five straight minutes.

Claire was nervous one of her friends would catch her talking to May. But then again, she could always lie to them. She watched May's pale hands give her an ah-dorable fuchsia crushed velvet blazer. "Thanks, May, it so pretty," Claire said.

"Oh, your soooooo welcome, Claire!" May said sweetly.

"I have to go to my eighth period class, so I'll talk to you later," Claire said and hurried off to algebra.

Kristen looked at her perfectly manicured nails and sighed. She knew she was the smartest girl in the Pretty Committee, but class had never been this boring. Massie and Claire sat exactly next to each other, but Kristen was two rows away. And because her parents were only a middle-class family, she couldn't always be text messaging her friends. Her dad wasn't strict at all, but her mother was another story. She wanted Kristen to look "polished" and never wanted her to show skin. So today, she wore a black halter under her sea foam colored Juicy Couture hoodie. Her mother had never found out, and she never would. She reached for her cell phone anyway. She secretly had another after school job. Actually, she had two. She still worked at the mall in the Nordstroms store and she also worked at McDonalds. But Massie could never know that she worked with greasy food that contained as many calories as a weeks worth of Dylan's yummy Weight Watchers microwavable meals. A flash of color caught her attention. It was Massie's new gold Dolce & Gabana Motorola Razr. A shiny pink flash startled her again. It was Claire's pink Razr. They were texting people. Kristen pulled out her on silver Razr and sent Massie a message.

KRISTEN: WHO R U TALKIN 2?

MASSIE: NO1 REALLY, JUST CLAIRE

CLAIRE: HEY! :-(

KRISTEN: CLASS IS SO BORING. HATE MONDAYS

MASSIE: AGREED

CLAIRE: YUP

Kristen put her cell phone away and reapplied some clear gloss. Then she picked up her pencil and continued copying the algebra problems on the board. There was 20 minutes left in the day, then she would have to go to work. Life really sucked for Kristen.

Massie tapped the toe of her boot against the pavement. Where were Alicia, Claire, Dylan and Kristen? She heard a voice and squinted. It was Alicia, talking on her new burnt orange-colored Motorola Pebl.

"Massie!" Alicia yelled, and started running, which was rare for her to do, a notorious slow walker.

"What?" Massie said, sounding impatient.

"I am now Josh Hotz's girlfriend!" Alicia screamed.

"No, you mean he is your boyfriend. A friend of mine is never someone's property," Massie said.

"Oh, right. Sorry, Mass. Anyway, can we go to the mall today?" Alicia asked.

"I dunno, I kind of just want to lie around because I am soooooo tired from destroying May. Maybe we can just hang out at my house and watch E! True Hollywood Stories for a while," Massie said, yawning.

"Gawd, how late did you stay up last night?" Dylan asked, approaching the girls, "you look exhausted."

"Maybe eleven. I know we always have to look our best, but I was really enjoying shopping online. Coach, Juicy Couture, and that vintage store sent me an e-mail with the link to their online website. I think I'll check it out tonight, actually," Massie said, explaining her drooping eyes and slightly slower pace.

"Wait a second! You told me in detention that we could go to the mall!" Alicia accused Massie with narrow eyes.

"You guys were in detention and didn't tell us?" Dylan demanded, releasing the chunk of hair she was examining for split ends.

"Whose fault was it?" Kristen asked.

"Who do you think?" Massie snapped.

"Oh." Kristen said, "May."

"Aiee, you are really moody today, aren't you, Massie," Claire said.

"Ugggggghhhhhhh, I'm just soooooo tired," Massie said, climbing into the Range Rover. She rested her head on the seat, so the four other girls were forced to get squished on the seat across from her.

"She is acting soooooo weird," Alicia grumbled.

"I heard that," Massie grumbled, "Don't make me toss you into the Reject Pile. I'm not scared to."

Alicia scowled and folded her arms across her chest. Dylan and Claire were sharing a bag of flaming hot Cheetos. Kristen was starting her homework. Alicia had nothing to do. She secretly wished Olivia was in the Pretty Committee. Then there would be someone to always compliment her, even when she messed up. It felt like the Pretty Committee was running out of fun. In fact, it seemed like everything was running out of fun. Her phone rang. "Hello?" Alicia answered.

"Hi, Alicia. Is Claire there?" It was May.

"She has her own cell phone, you know," Alicia replied.

"Oh. Can you give me her number?" May asked.

"Sure," Alicia replied sweetly, "it's 1-220-666-6666." It wasn't Claire's number. It was the phone number of an alleged teenager stalker. But then, Alicia realized something: May had asked for Kuh-laire! Why? Were they secretly friends? EHMYGAWD I have to tell Massie!

"Alicia!" Massie barked.

"Huh?"

"We're heeeeeeere," Massie said, sounding impatient.

"Oh, sorry. I'll call you laytah. Total PC," Alicia said.

Massie's eyes lit on fire. A Private Conversation! That could mean gossip that was very important to her social status! She couldn't wait to get home, put on some Juicy sweats, and gossip with her best friend. She might even have a piece of the Oreo cheesecake Inez had made the other day. It was definitely worth it.

"Kristen, we're here," Massie said.

Kristen looked up from her homework. "'Kay. Thanks, Mass. Later!"

Finally, the Range Rover pulled up in front of Dylan's house.

"Whose car is that?" Claire asked.

"Mr. Myner!" Dylan gasped.

"Ehmygawd that must be soooooo awkward!" Massie cried.

"I know, girls. It really pisses me off when they make out," Dylan said.

"That's disgusting!" Massie cried and nudged Dylan out of the car and slammed the door.

"I can't wait to get home," Massie said to Claire.

"Me too, Mass. It has been a long day."