Disclaimer:: I don't own The Clique! (even though I wish I did)

Massie didn't know what was more shocking: the fact that Alicia was standing in front of her or the fact that Alicia was actually hiding in bushes. Her best friend (or ex-best friend because she had Claire now) was dressed from head to toe in Ralph Lauren and her outfit didn't exactly match where she was or what she was doing. In fact, she looked dressed for a club or even a photo shoot! Definitely not sneaking around in an apple-picking farm.

What is she doing here? Massie asked herself, analyzing her friend. After her father had phoned a couple of nights ago, she had been skeptical about her friend. And this appearance just made her more suspicious.

Alicia looked just as surprised. She quickly stepped out of her hiding place, looking mortified. Was it because she was found or because Massie saw her like this? Who knew.

"What are you doing here?" they both said at the same time. Looking at each other, the two girls broke out in giggles.

"You go," they said again in unison which caused even more laughter. The tension was broken and replaced by reunion and hugs.

Even Massie was still wary of Alicia, she was truly happy by their encounter. She hadn't seen her friend for a couple of weeks and was dying to hear the latest gossip from home.

"How are things back at home? Any changes?" she asked a wide grin on her face.

Alicia shrugged. "Not really. Same old, same old. They're building a new mall if that counts for anything."

"That's good to hear. Hopefully this time there will be actual good stores."

The old mall was a disaster. Sure there were some stores but most of them were little tourist places that sold nothing but souvenirs. Massie had had to order all her designer clothing from the internet. That was one good thing about Westchester; the mall had everything thing she needed.

"Yeah, I hear it's supposed to be really cool. I can't wait for it to open!" Alicia said happily. She shared her passion for shopping.


While Massie and Alicia were chatting away, Derrick was hiding in the shadows of a dark alleyway. A gun in his hands, he looked around cautiously before slipping behind the doorway of a room. There were two people whispering urgently; it looked there was some illegal smuggling going around.

Derrick pressed his ear against the wall, trying to grasp some words of the conversation. His father hadn't given this mission; he had just seen some suspicious figures walking around and decided to follow them. Looks like his hunch hadn't been wrong.

"What…..caught….police…." the man in the dark hood asked with a slight concern in his voice.

The other man nodded reassuringly. Derrick was able to make out some of his facial features because he was facing toward the doorway, but only the most distinct. What struck him was that he looked queerly like Massie's cousin Cam. The way he quirked his head when he was thinking, his posture, they were all the same.

No, Derrick told himself firmly. There is no way Massie's cousin would be involved with things like this.

Craning his head, he tried to hear more of the conversation.

"…..just….Chicago…..Commander Block…spies…trust….."

The man in the hood seemed to relax. It appeared to Derrick that this wasn't an illegal deal, more like a meeting of some sort. Now to figure out what kind of meeting it was….


Massie jumped onto her bed, completely spent. After her talk with Alicia, she found Claire again and continued to look after the children. She didn't tell her about the encounter with Alicia and Claire hadn't asked. The rest of the trip passed by without any trouble and soon it was time to go.

"Finally! I can take that long wanted and needed shower!" Massie said in a sing-song voice that caused Claire to collaspe in giggles.

They had grabbed something to eat on the way back so all that was needed to do was to take a shower and go to sleep.

"Well today was fun. See ya' tomorrow morning then," Claire said, obviously yearning her shower too.

Massie gave her sister and best friend a soft smile and nod, glad that she was part of a family again.

Sorry it was so short...I wrote during the plane ride to China. There might not be an update for a while.

Hope you enjoy it!

Bella.