Ivana's Chateux
10:50 p.m.
Monday, September 8
Massie stepped past the seniors that littered the dancefloor. She noticed how there were no cliques of girls like her and the Pretty Committee. That was probably because each girl was talking to another boy. She was only consoled by the fact that she and her friends were hands down the hottest girls at the party - and that had not gone unnoticed by the senior boys who eyed them as they weaved by.
"Mass, where are we going?" Alicia asked as soon as they had stopped to look around.
"I dunno but- Wait. Where's Kuh-laire?" Massie looked around for her blonde haired friend who had already disappeared. "What the fuck!"
"What? She was right next to me a second ago," Kristen said. It was just then Massie noticed Carey weaving by towards the bar.
"Carey!" she called, fast walking to catch up with him.
"Oh hey... Massie, right?" he said, running a hand through his hair. His cheeks looked flushed, and Massie noticed that his eyes were a peculiar shade of grey-blue.
"Yep," she said, flashing him a flirty smile. "Hey, have you seen Claire around?"
"Yeah, she's in the V.I.P. section around back with Vana and them."
"So, why aren't you with them?" Massie asked, batting her eyes.
"Oh, I came for a drink. Care to join me?" he offered, an irresistable smirk on his face.
"I'd love to, but I really need to talk to Claire right now. Thanks though," she said placing her hand on his arm before proceeding to the back of the room, pushing angrily past seniors. They all shot her an annoyed look, while she replied with by scowling back at them.
She found Claire amongst Ivana and her friends, laughing and flirting with Troy. It was a Massie-like scenario, starring Claire. She felt bile rising in the back of her throat as she grew more annoying with her so called bff. This wasn't the time to get mad at Claire - she would do that after the party was over. Massie Block would channel her inner alpha and act like nothing was wrong. Massie approached the group and took a place between Claire and Ivana, a confident smile plastered on her face as the rest of the Pretty Committee stood around awkwardly. Massie surveyed the Senior Pretty Commitee quickly yet carefully, noting each of their attire. They were all wearing black dresses and dramatic black eyeshadow that faded off into individual colours - they looked as if they had stepped off the catwalk, as usual.
Jacqui was wearing a Dolce and Gabbana open back sheath dress that hugged her curves, her hair looking like fire against the black. Hanna had actually brushed her hair, sporting a loose but elegant side bun and had opted for similarly serious Marc Jacobs strapless dress with a large bow around the waist. Katy's shoulder length hair was out, making her look older than she had appeared at school. She sported a one shoulder sequinned top by Chloe with black skinny jeans. Massie remembered the top because Alicia had wanted it - but couldn't afford it at the time. She was sure Ivana had bought the top for Katy. Hailey, like Alicia, was wearing Ralph Lauren but Hailey's dress had a dramatically different effect. The black tunic dress had a plunging v-neck that lead into a silver band that accentuated her hips before continuing down. Last but not least, was Ivana. Massie immediately recognized the Valentino dress she was wearing - she had saw it on the cover of Vogue. Ivana proudly revealed cleavage and most of her back. She could never imagine wearing a dress like that. How could she be so missing? Black was totally in style for this fall. It was like the fashion industry was playing a prank on Massie. She hay-ted the goth look they were all sporting - but after seeing the Senior Pretty Committee, she regretted not wearing black herself. Claire fit in with her black and white dress though.
"Glad you could make it Block, I was certain it was past your bedtime," Ivana said, twirling one of the ringlets that fell down her face. The Senior Pretty Committee, the boys and Claire cracked up at the joke. Ivana's eyes shimmered with MAC eyeshadow 'White Frost.' Her eyes shone like a million facets on a diamond, stirring up envy and admiration in Massie. She laughed along, trying to be a good sport.
"Yeah well, Kuh-laire saved me all the work of looking for you," she said, handing Claire a smile. Her eyes were saying something else though. They trasmitted silent anger from the brunette to the blonde. Claire lowered her eyes and took another sip from a glass.
"Well now we can get the party started!" Hanna squeeled, wrapping her arm around a random senior boy, waving her a bottle of champagne in her free hand.
"Uhm, Mass? Are we allowed to be drinking?" Alicia whispered quickly as a round of glasses were being passed around. Massie glanced over at Claire who already had a half empty glass in her hand.
"Does it matter? If Kuh-laire can do it, I sure as hell will," she muttered back fiercely, smiling with appreciation when she received a glass. The bottle popped open, and TSPC let out a whoop of excitement.
"I'd like to propose a toast," Hanna began, a comical expression on her face. Ivana started to chuckle at her friend. "To new, illegal friends! Here, here!" They all clinked glasses and laughed at the toast.
"Illegal?" Dylan questioned, sniffing the champagne before sipping it. Massie rolled her eyes at her 'immature' friend, though she would like to know why they were illegal. Sam and his unknown, but unbelievably hot friends began snickering.
"Uh, it means that you're jailbait. We can't touch you.. yet, that is," Sam said with a cocky smile. His friends began cracking up and nudging him in the side.
"Sam! You're such a perv," Katy said, slapping his arm.
"You love it," Sam replied, grabbing her hand and pulling her closer, sending her into a round of hysterics.
Massie and TPC had never drank before, she was certain of it. Once, she had a less than a mouthful of her mother's red wine, but that didn't really count. It was nothing like this before. She felt herself easing, the world around her slightly fuzzy, but bubbly at the same time. She loved the feeling. Massie embraced it as it made her feel as if her alpha status had doubled - her confidence soaring through the roof.
"So is this another one of Claire Lyons' games to get in with the in crowd?" Massie whispered, rearranging herself so that she was facing forward.
"A game to fit in? What are you talking about?" Confusion wrinkled Claire's perfectly smooth face. Did she really not know what she meant? Maybe the peroxide from her blonde highlights had gotten to her.
"You're off the hook for tonight, but don't think that your space with the Pretty Committee or Vana is safe anymore," Massie said lowering her voice, a small, pretty smile tinkling about her flawlessly glossed lips. Claire rolled her eyes dramatically before taking another swig of the bubbly drink.
"Massie, we're in high school now. Don't you think it's time you get over your envy issues with me and grow up? I think so," Claire replied, raising her eyebrows in a condescending manner. "That's what I thought." She walked off, leaving Massie glaring into her retreating blonde hair.
"What's wrong with blondie?" Sam drawled from Katy's neck. Massie glanced nervously at how pubicly intimate the two were being. Were they even together?
"Dunno, prolly had too much to drink. Lightweight," Massie said with a quick shrug of the shoulders.
"Oh poo! Looks like you're out of luck tonight Troy," Hanna said, fake pouting while pouring more champagne into her glass.
"We simply can't do that to Troy. He's too nice a boy to be left alone tonight, don't you agree Block?" Vana cooed sweetly. Massie noticed that she had ditched her champagne glass for a mixture of Red Bull and vodka. Massie glanced over at Troy who was already looking at her with hungry eyes. No freaking way.
"I could ask Alicia to go and find Claire," Massie said, widening her eyes innocently. She had already caught on to what Ivana had really meant about favors, and she hated the idea of it already. She couldn't really find a way to get out of it, she had no excuse. Once again, Dempsey had taken off on some volunteer program halfway around the world for the first term (It was Peru this year), and she was left unofficially single.
Dempsey and Massie had spent the whole summer together at his beach house in Malibu - sneaking out late on various adventures. She recalled the instance where they had snuck out to star gaze, and Dempsey had thrown sand all over her favorite Trina Turk beach dress.
"Solomon, you must have a death wish getting all this sand on me," she said, brushing sand out of her hair, simultaneously glaring at the gorgeous boy sitting next to her.
"Is that a threat Block?" he said, feigning fear. Massie nodded, balling up her hand with sand. Dempsey had taken off towards the sea, flinging his shirt off in the process.
"Dempsey! What do you think you're doing?" she hissed, half running towards him.
"Come and get me," he said, splashing into the water. Massie slipped off her dress, revealing a black and white Manolo Blahnik bandeau bikini without hesitation, trailing into the water after her boyfriend. They had spent the next half an hour kissing in the salty water until both their lips were blue and chapped.
"Looks like Licia's busy if you ask me," Hailey said, holding Jacqui's hand and swaying to the music. Massie glanced over to see Alicia talking animatedly with a senior boy who had been lingering around the group within the V.I.P area.
"Well Block, go keep Troy company. And I know you know exactly what I mean," Ivana said, a dangerous smile flitting about her 'artist' blood red stained lips.
"Bu-"
"Block, don't 'but' me. Butts are for shitting, and trust me - you don't want to know the shitstorm I'll unleash on you," Ivana said, taking a sip of her Red Bull.
Massie swallowed and walked over to Troy who smirked slightly. Is this how other people felt when Massie manipulated them? It was one thing, to be the manipulator - the Gippetto behind things. It was another thing to be the manipulated - the Pinnochio. And Massie knew that she didn't like being the Pinnochio.
A/N: Sorry for taking so long. You know how things are sometimes. I still have another abandoned HP fanfic that I intend to finish, even if it means throwing off readers. I'll try to update more regularly, but it's hard to when my friends are arguing and throwing food at each other. It throws off someone's creative mojo. Reviews are always appreciated, and a special thanks to those who have commented beforee.
