Westchester, NY
The Westchester Mall – Food Court
Saturday, October 7th
1:33 PM
"Wait, why are they here?" Massie asked, squinting at the Briarwood boys. They were sitting two tables away from the Pretty Committee in the food court at the mall, scarfing down pizzas and hot dogs.
"No idea." Alicia stared at Kemp.
"Ugh, I am suh-o over Derrick. I mean, doesn't he get that I'm with Dempsey now?" Massie rolled her eyes.
"Speaking of Dempsey, I think the plan is working!" squealed Chelsea, flipping her conditioned hair. Earlier that morning, Massie had taken her to Frederic Fekkai, the Bliss, and Bendel's. The others could hardly believe it. Was Chelsea Massie's new BFF?
"I gained two pounds after I ate that corn dog this morning!" whined Dylan, pinching at her arm-fat.
"You ate a corn dog for breakfast?" Kristen said, wrinkling her nose.
"I ate it after breakfast, ding-dong," Dylan snapped.
Kristen rolled her eyes. "Should we go shop?" she asked, looking at Massie. "I need new jeans. It's getting way colder."
"Duh." Massie pushed her chair back and juggled her shopping bags skillfully. But before the girls could leave the food court, the Briarwood boys were on their way over.
Kemp's arms went around Alicia's. Alicia slapped them away and glared at him, hoping no one had noticed. "Hey, Josh," she cooed.
"Hey." Josh stared at the floor.
"Hey Block! We were just on our way out, too." Derrick threw an arm around Massie's shoulder. She shrugged him off. "How about that bet?"
"You lost it, loser," Massie snapped. Derrick grinned.
"Guess I'll have to be your sex-slave for a week. I don't mind."
"Ugh! You're disgusting." Massie shoved Derrick away from her.
Chelsea scooted her chair back slowly and edged closer to Cam. "Hey, I'm Chelsea," she giggled.
"I'm Cam." Cam smiled politely.
Chelsea hair-flipped and touched the arm of his leather jacket. "Ooh, soft," she purred.
"Come awn!" Massie snapped, grabbing her friends and marching them out of the food court. Derrick wiggled his fingers at her as she walked away.
Alicia nonchalantly handed Kemp a napkin. "Can you throw this away for me?" she whispered into his ear, leaving a faint whiff of Angel perfume. As Alicia hurried off with her friends, Kemp opened the napkin.
WOMEN'S BATHROOM. 5 MINUTES.
Westchester, NYThe Westchester Mall – Women's Bathroom
Saturday, October 7th
1:45 PM
"See you later," Kemp said, spanking Alicia on the butt on his way out. She giggled as the door slammed shut. Alicia always felt great after hooking up with Kemp. But when she got Josh to swear he'd never look at Aly Parker again, Kemp would be out the window.
Alicia craned her neck to apply concealer over the hickeys. Her cell phone buzzed to the tune of When I Grow Up.
It was a text from Massie: HEY! WHERE R U?! FASHION EMERGENCY AT GIUSEPPE.
Alicia typed back, SRRY. WAS AT CHANEL GETTING NEW PURSE. B RITE THER! Alicia snapped her phone shut and hurried out. Giuseppe was just five stores down. She pushed open the glass door, spotting the PC trying on the shoes in the latest collection.
"Ehmagawd Leesh! I can't decide on these…" Massie held up a pair of leopard-print flats, "Or these!" She flaunted white 2-inch platforms.
"Get the platforms, ay-sap," Alicia nodded.
"Perf." Massie tossed aside the flats carelessly. "Where's your new purse?"
"Umm…I decided not to get it in the end," Alicia lied. "It was way too expensive." She hurried over to the shelf to inspect a pair of glossy black slides that were duh-licious. Chelsea appeared next to her, carrying three shopping bags.
"Heya Leesh," Chelsea chirped. "How's Kemp?"
Alicia's arms crawled with goosebumps. "What?"
"Oh, come awn, I know all about your little tryst. I heard it outside the women's bathroom. That's so classy, A."
Alicia looked around, just in case someone might hear them. Dylan and Kristen were admiring a pair of suede boots. A saleswoman was showing Claire nude-colored flats. And Massie was up at the register, flashing her AmEx for the platforms. Alicia turned back to Chelsea.
"What do you want from me?" Her voice shook.
"I want you to help me get with Cam Fisher," Chelsea shot back.
"Kuh-laire's ex?" Alicia whispered. "But why?"
"Because I want to rub it in her face, for reasons I can't tell you. Also, he's such a hottie." Chelsea winked. "You know what I mean? Or have you already slept with him?"
Alicia clenched her fists. "You are such a b – "
"Yes?" Chelsea asked, batting her lashes.
"I mean…you're, um, you're in good hands. I'll help you with Cam."
"Good. Because if you didn't, you'd be regretting it for the rest of your life. After all, my rumors are known to be especially deadly."
"What? Deadly? Like – OMG, the rumor about Less-a being pregnant? And Aly and Josh?!" A small cry escaped Alicia's throat.
"Oops, you weren't supposed to find about that. Oh well!" Chelsea smirked. "Anyway, have a nice day. And those slides would like ah-mazing on you." She glided away, and the lights in Giuseppe seemed to dim a little.
Westchester, NY
Galwaugh Farms
Saturday, October 7th
2:03 PM
Skye decided that she was in love with Chris Abeley.
Here's how it happened: Skye was at Blockbuster, renting The Notebook for the sixth time since September. She knew the guy at the counter personally. His name was Chuck and he was working at Blockbuster to pay for college. He had horn-rimmed glasses, spiky brown hair, and a dainty Adam's apple.
Anyway, just as Skye grabbed the DVD with Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling kissing in the rain, someone stepped up and grabbed it too. And it was Chris Abeley.
Skye was stunned. She almost had a heart attack, right there in her frog-printed pajama shorts and black flip-flops. "Oh…sorry," she said as Chris nodded a quick thanks and disappeared with the DVD under his arm.
Chris Abeley liked The Notebook.
It was a little quick, I mean, after the whole thing with Derrick. But Skye figured that to take her mind off it, she could stalk Chris a little.
A little was the equivalent to a lot.
Skye had convinced her mother to sign her up for Galwaugh Farms a while ago, but when the resident "nobody wants him" horse Fatty threw her off his back, Mrs. Brookfield had quickly pulled Skye out of riding lessons. Skye didn't mind. She stayed in bed for two weeks without a single injury anywhere, eating ice cream and watching cheesy daytime soaps.
But now Skye wanted to get back into Galwaugh. But she couldn't say it was for a boy. Please. Mrs. Brookfield needed a good explanation for everything. So Skye said it was because horses were life and she was going to become a horse-trainer in a circus when she grew up.
It was a dumb lie, but Mrs. Brookfield bought it. And now, as the thought of Chris crying as Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling broke up with each other, Skye brushed Jimmy Choo's coat with a dandy brush. Her snuck peeks at Chris in the stall across from hers, talking quietly to Trixie.
He's so kind. And caring. Ohemgee.
Skye mounted Jimmy Choo and trotted him outside to the riding ring. Today, she was a new person. Today, she was in love.
Westchester, NY
The Westchester Mall – Intermix
Saturday, October 7th
2:15 PM
Jackie rubbed her hands together as she entered Intermix. "Disturbia" blasted from the speakers, and eager shoppers hurried back and forth around racks, checking out the latest fashions. The smell of raspberries floated in the air. Jackie headed over to a glossy rack of clothes. She flipped through the blouses and tops hastily until she found what she had been looking for: a Juicy Couture cashmere sweater that she had been stalking for weeks.
Out of the corner of her eye, Jackie noticed the Pretty Committee staring at her. She blushed. Was her hair messy? Her nose running? Oh my God, was there a mustard stain on her butt? Jackie quickly headed to the register and paid for the sweater. She whirled around and started to head out the door. Massie suddenly slid in front of her and threw an arm around Jackie's shoulder as if they were best pals.
"Sooo, what's up, J?" Massie cooed. "You getting any good business on your streetcorner?"
Jackie's face heated up. She said nothing and stepped up to the doorway of Intermix.
A loud ringing noise filled the store. The skinny Indian girl working at the register hurried over. "What's going on?"
Massie was empty-handed. "It's her. I saw her slip something in!"
"Miss…" The clerk glared at Jackie and held out her hand.
"I swear, I paid for that sweater!" Jackie protested, although she handed over her shopping bag. The clerk dug around in it until she pulled out an expensive-looking pair of True Religions.
"Miss, this still has the security tag on it." The clerk glared at Jackie. "Were you trying to steal?"
Jackie glanced over the clerk's shoulder. The Pretty Committee stood near the trench coats, glossy lips curled into devious smiles. Massie had declared war.
Westchester, NY
The Marvil Estate – Dylan's Room
Saturday, October 7th
3:47 PM
Dylan sighed as she threw five shopping bags onto the fuzzy carpet of her room. She was pooped. And hungry. Dylan studied her face in the mirror. Her cheeks were too puffy. Her eyes were all squished and tiny. She tried to see past all that by going downstairs into the kitchen and exploring the shiny silver refrigerator. Leftovers from Merri-Lee's dinner party last night sat there, tempting her.
Dylan didn't throw up. I mean, she did, a couple times, but that was it. That was all. But now she was regretting the spaghetti bolognese she had eaten at the mall. Dylan figured that if she was going to throw up, (which she wasn't) she might as well do it on a full stomach.
Dylan glanced down the hall. Her mom was at a meeting with the executive producers of The Daily Grind until 6. She had plenty of time. She took out all the food in the refrigerator.
Cold, cheesy mashed potatoes, pecan pie, a mountain of sauteed scallops, slices of chicken marinated in wine, greasy vermicelli, three-bean chili, thick slices of pepperoni pizza. Dylan ate it quickly. She washed her hands, cleaned up the counter, and ran to the bathroom as if she were in a race. I'm not throwing up, just checking my reflection. That's all.
Dylan turned on the sink. She tried to think about her new purchases – a YSL peacoat, a Michael Kors sweater, an Alice + Olivia sundress…
How am I supposed to fit into all that now? I probably doubled in size after what I ate.
Dylan shut off the water. The marble toilet looked pretty tempting. And you know what they say about temptation.
Westchester, NY
The Plaza – Le Salsa
Saturday, October 7th
6:58 PM
The Plaza had just opened up near Alicia's house in Westchester. It consisted a huge movie theater, showing action flicks to foreign films. There was a PinkBerry, an M.A.C. store, a small Intermix, jewelry vendors, and hip restaurants filled with suit-wearing Hollywood agents.
The Plaza became a regular hangout for anyone who was anyone at Doyle. Meaning, the Pretty Committee. The New Pretty Committee with a new addition.
"Ehmagawd, this is taking suh-o lawh-ng!" complained Chelsea, pulling at the collar of her Lela Rose top. She glared at the tall, leggy blonde sitting at the table adjacent to theirs as if it were her fault. "Where's our food?"
"Be puh-atient, Chels," Dylan sighed, craning her neck to locate their waiter among the crowds of rich and famous people. "I'm sure they'll be – "
"Ehmagawd! Are those the boys?" Kristen turned around and waved at Cam, Josh, Derrick, Kemp, and Chris approaching their table. "Doesn't Kemp look suh-o hawt?"
Chelsea half-smiled at Alicia, who averted her eyes.
"Do you think Cam is here with anyone?" gasped Claire, looking at Alicia expectantly.
"He's alo – I mean, he's, um, here to see Chelsea." Alicia felt lower than poop. She looked down at her lap. The air inside Le Salsa was stuffy and hot. "Excuse me," she whispered, standing up. Her elbow collided into her Diet Coke, which spilled into Chelsea's lap. Alicia's face grew hot. "Sorry!"
"I'll see what's up," Kemp said, following Alicia out the door.
Once they were outside, Kemp grabbed Alicia, pressing her against him. "Let's go somewhere else," he said. "I want to be alone with you."
"Me too," Alicia whispered. Kemp was nothing but her rebound boy, but at least he helped take her mind off things. "The theater? Last row?"
"Let's do it out here. It's dangerous." Kemp wrapped an arm around Alicia's waist, kissing her neck. He pushed her against the brick wall.
"I like you dangerous." Alicia giggled and slipped her hands under Kemp's t-shirt as their lips met.
Suddenly, Alicia heard a tiny ding, and footsteps. She pulled away, her messy hair brushing the brick wall. Alicia squinted into the dark shadows bobbing around the store. "Massie?" she gasped.
Dylan gasped. Kristen glared. And Claire looked down at her feet.
Chelsea held up her cell phone and snapped a picture of Kemp and Alicia. "Looks like your little secret is out," she hissed.
Alicia straightened her skirt, which was wrinkled and hanging lopsided on her hips. "M – Massie! I can explain!"
"Explain? To Massie?! Why not me?" Kristen screamed. "You knew I liked Kemp!"
"Yeah, but…come awn, Kris. It's nawt like your relationships have exactly worked out," Alicia said, instantly regretting her words.
Kristen glared at Alicia. "I hate you! I never want to see you again!" She whirled around and stormed back into the restaurant.
"Alicia, how could you?" Josh asked. He just looked disappointed.
"It was because of that rumor! About you and Aly! But now I know that's not true, and I was hoping you'd take me back – "
"And why would I? You're screwing him!" Josh pointed at Kemp.
"Hey, man, she was the one who came onto me." Kemp held up his hands.
Alicia was too upset to care about what he had just said. Massie stepped up to her. She hadn't said anything for a full minute.
"You're out of the Pretty Committee, Leesh," Massie hissed. "For good."
AN: Whoa man. That's intense. Anywhooo. Who watched Gossip Girl two nights ago? OMG! Marcus and Catherine! Ew to the max. And I actually thought he was smexy.
This chapter is called 'Let's Make Love' starring Yves Montand, Frankie Vaughan, and the gorgeous Marilyn Monroe :D