Back in Maryland, and at an indoor mall, several of Annie's old acquaintances were fuming over their new ill-found luck. They couldn't stand the fact that they didn't have someone to dote on them anymore. As much as they wanted to use each other, they knew it wouldn't work. If they tried to find someone else, it wouldn't work, either. Annie was conditioned to be used by them. Something changed, and they all hated it. Now we can't get ahold of anyone! What can we do?

"Oh! I saw these cute shoes in the window just now! Fifty bucks! That's it! Oh, Annie! Come back and get them for meeee!" a curvy, brown-haired girl with pretty brown eyes whimpered.

"Shut up, Ellenore!" a petite blond with light blue eyes sniffed. "None of their numbers work. I'm sure her dad even changed his number, but he never gave his number out."

"It just doesn't make any sense," a dazzling, slender red-head with deep green eyes thought. "When I called Josh, he said that he was married. That they were all married!"

"So, they just went to the Caribbean and got married? That's weird," the blond blinked. "I mean, Carol, what happened when you talked to Josh? Other than him saying that he didn't date trash."

"Shut up!" she snapped and pouted. "I am not trash!"

"I never said you were!" the blond argued.

"Bethany, just stop," Ellenore sighed. "We need a new plan of action here! Call Anna-Marie and Maria. Sarah, too. We all need to get together and figure something out."

"Ugh! Fine!" Carol grumbled and sent out the text messages. They had a few hours to kill, since many of them were in salons getting hair and nails done. They decided to browse various websites about the latest fashion designs and gossip on the latest trends in style to pass the time. The first one to arrive was Sarah. She was a slight, spunky, short-haired girl with round, brown eyes and a very cute smile with dimples. Her brown hair was tinged with blond and spiked up randomly in a retro style. She sat with them and seemed just as bummed out as the others.

Ten minutes later, Maria showed up. She was a girl with Hispanic roots with long, curly black hair and beautiful, chocolate brown eyes. Her face was slender and gentle with a deep tan, but she had a rather nasty disposition from being spoiled for her looks. Her figure was a touch robust, but she balanced herself out perfectly with a lot of dancing. She was flaunting her newly painted nails that were red with gold flecks in the paint. She frowned at the others and scoffed, "Oh, come on! We don't need Annie!"

"Who got you the top you're wearing?" Bethany smirked.

"She gave it to me as a gift," Maria said with a frown and straightened the dark blue silk top.

"After you begged. And you told her mother that you never asked for anything. Such a liar! Then you called back and got schooled by her father and the others! What luck you have, huh?" Carol grinned. At the glare she got back, she sniffed at her. We all got spoiled by Annie. It was when Anna-Marie showed up that they all cringed with jealousy. Only Annie rivaled the Oriental beauty. Her hair was extremely long, jet-black, and done up in a bun with sparkling pins. Her slanted brown eyes even seemed to sparkle with a form of hidden delight. Her form was lithe and slender with an exotic smile and a slightly upturned nose. She was the most spoiled out of the lot of them. She was also the most clever. When she sat down, she was already thinking about everything.

"Annie never said no to a competition," the Oriental beauty mused in a sultry tone. "Did she?"

"Not that I know of," Bethany frowned.

"Carol," Anna-Marie asked in her silken voice. "where did Annie say she was going?"

"The Caribbean. Josh said he got married, too," she frowned.

"Did he? Wow," Anna-Marie was actually caught by surprise at that. "But, they all got married? How does that happen?! Hmm..."

"We can't call anyone. I mean...we should be happy! Annie can't steal the spotlight from us anymore! Right?" Sarah asked. "Yeah, we won't get any more stuff..."

"Don't remind us!" Maria growled.

"It's just not fair!" Ellenore mumbled.

"I have an idea," Anna-Marie grinned softly.

"Oh?" Bethany asked.

"I can see if my parents can influence the board to host a pageant in the Caribbean. Mainly, my Mother. She may take to the idea," she started. At the small beams of intrigue given now, she continued. "My parents do have a few roots somewhere. If Annie is still out there, she would have to show up. Her mother would insist. If there is any of that showmanship left, she should definitely appear."

"If she's married, she could bring her husband," Maria grinned. "I talked to her brother-in-law. He sounded dreamy! I couldn't believe it!"

"He did?" Anna-Marie asked.

"Yes. He also said that his family was very rich. Come to think of it, I talked to Annie's husband, too! Even he sounded fantastic!" Maria blinked. "I mean...why can't I find a rich guy to love me?! That is so unfair!"

"Hmm..." the Oriental girl frowned. She felt outdone. If Annie snagged a rich man, I should be able to, as well. It was my right. "I'll talk to my parents tonight and let you all know what happens."

"Okay," Bethany nodded. "We would have to go up against each other, though."

"Nothing new," Ellenore shrugged.

"If we get to go to the Caribbean Islands, too, then I won't care," Sarah giggled.

"Same here," Carol nodded. "We should try and convince all of our parents. Get it in their heads now! Maybe just our moms."

"I was mildly grounded," Bethany pouted. "I sent off a text message with a piece of my mind."

"I did, too," Sarah shrugged. "We tried to get the better of Annie's mom. She sent the message back to my Mom. It didn't go like I planned."

"No one can get the better of her," Carol grinned.

"Tell me about it!" Ellenore winced.

"So, who's buying lunch?" Anna-Marie asked with a sly smile. "If I'm going to set up this trip for us, I need to keep up my strength..."

"I can do it," Carol sighed. "Small things, though. I only have a hundred on me."

"Sheesh! For all that, I'll buy something for myself," Maria bragged. As they bickered, Anna-Marie only leaned back and chuckled. She always got them to do what she wanted. It was in her blood to be as manipulative as possible. She was a bit worried that Annie was definitely gone, though. If she did get a husband, he would be difficult to snare for myself. Or would he? Whatever Annie had should go to me. Even her trophies. Then she frowned. Annie earned those fairly. Even Annie wouldn't touch a trophy won by another. But, everything else should be free spoils of war.

Another hour went by, and she was able to get home with a quick drive. She was in a luxury Mercedes-Benz and enjoyed every inch of the plush, steel-grey car. Of course, it was a rental, but what wasn't these days? She drove up to the small mansion she lived in and walked inside.

"Anna-Marie! There you are!" her mother gushed and kissed her cheek. Her mother was the main source of her Oriental beauty. Her family was well known for having stunning family members. "I was looking for you! I was thinking we could go into town for dinner."

"Mother, before we go anywhere, I wanted to talk to you. I want to go to another pageant. But, where I want to go, it doesn't exist yet," her daughter pouted with her lovely face. Her mother hated it when she pouted! She had to know what her daughter wanted to do.

"Oh, my dear! Where do you want to go?" she crooned with comfort.

"I thought it would be a beautiful pageant set up in the Caribbean! With the wind in my hair, and the crowds there..." the wily girl started to draw out the mental picture.

"Hmm. That is a long ways away," her mother frowned. "and it could be costly."

"But, Mother! It would be my dream!" she said with more pouting fits. "It is my dream!"

"All right! I'll call Elizabeth and see what her board can do. If it's out of their budget, then you can't say that I didn't try. If they like it, then funds would need to be raised," her mother sighed with defeat. "I'll make the call right now. It's still early in the day."

"I love you!" she said with a giggle. Her mother kissed her beautiful daughter's forehead and went to make the call. Anna-Marie smirked and went into her lavish room of Italian furnished teak wood and Victorian lace sheets and curtains. Her armoire was much like Annie's was, being overflowing with fake, glittery jewelry, cases of makeup, and wide mirrors set at every angle. "Oh, yes, Annie. I will see you again. You have my word. And your husband will belong to me..."

She gave a wicked grin and looked over at where her mother knocked on the door.

"The pageant council pounced on the idea! They were all having lunch and trying to figure out where to do the next one. We'll need to raise twenty thousand dollars, though. It will be the only way to do it. I tried to call Ashley, but her number is no longer working. I know she would help, too. What can I...oh! I know! I'll send her an email! I'm sure that didn't change!" her mother beamed. Her daughter watched her leave and grinned. Everything was coming together beautifully.