Westchester, NY

Alicia Rivera's Limo

Monday, September 18

7:45 AM

Alicia was extremely surprised. Nawt because her Friday plan with Massie hadn't worked. Of course Massie would trick them into coming back. She was surprised because today Dylan and Kristen came to her house and sat in her limo as if nothing had changed.

"Where's Kuh-laire?" Alicia asked them.

Kristen glanced around the limo. "She's with Massie."

"Oh," Alicia said. She turned away from Dylan and Kristen. Why was Kuh-laire still with Massie? It must have been because she was afraid of her. Alicia heard that Massie had thrown away Claire's blue puffy jacket. Alicia knew how much that jacket meant to her, even though she had wanted to do the same thing as Massie. But who would be friends with someone who deliberately threw something that was special to a person?

"Yeah, she's so afraid of Massie. She's totally convinced that Massie's gonna come out on top," Dylan snorted. "C'mon Alicia. Don't walk like an LBR! Walk like you still own the school. An alpha never backs down. Even when she has totally been beat, she re-creates an empire. And you have us now."

"I need Kuh-laire," Alicia huffed. "She's one of those meek types."

"Hey," Kristen whispered. "What's Massie gonna say when she's us together?"

"She's gonna wonder what she did so wrong to turn you guys away from her," Alicia sighed and glared at the girls. "I know that's what I thought. She'll probably cry herself to sleep the rest of the week and then on Monday she's gonna stick up high and try to steal the spot away from me again. But this time it won't happen. Because you'll guys will be loyal." Alicia glared at both of them and they put their heads down, eternally ashamed.

Just then, Alicia's limo pulled up to the drive... at the same time as Massie's Range Rover. Massie glared at her from her tinted windows and the only way Alicia knew that was because she was glaring through the tint. Alicia's limo had no tinting in it and suddenly, she felt crummy, as if she wasn't worth anything. She was crumbling inside but on the outside, she kept her alpha glare. But then a little buzz indicated that she had a text message.

Massie: This isn't over Leesh. Tell the girls they're out.

Alicia's throat was blocked. This was what she wanted but the rage behind Massie's message made her feel light-headed.

"Who was that?" Dylan asked her, leaning over her shoulder. Alicia tapped the Home button so the mesage couldn't be seen.

"No one important." Alicia smiled weakly and lied through her teeth because, of course, Massie was very important. To Dylan, to Kuh-risten, and to her.

Westchester, NY

Massie Block's Range Rover

Monday, September 18

7:48 AM

Massie Block hated losing. After all the work to intimidate Kristen and Dylan into ditching Alicia, they ditched her for Alicia.

"Give me Alicia's number," Massie snapped. She had never texted Alicia (she didn't include the time she didn't know who she was).

"Ok," Claire said, biting on her new manicure. Massie snapped her hand and Claire mumbled the number.

Massie quickly typed in "this isn't over Leesh. Tell the girls they're out". She looked out and saw Alicia swallowing. Good, that meant she was kind of scared.

Claire: Massie, what R we 2 do?

Massie: ummm...nm. YET.

Claire: But now we're LBRs. IDW2 b an LBR.

Massie: U hav 2 make sacrifices 2 b at the top.

Claire: If I ditched U, wld U b mad?

Massie glanced up at Claire in surprise. "Of course I would!" Massie hissed. She grabbed Claire's wrist and twisted it. Claire gasped in surprise. "Look, Kuh-laire, usually I don't act like this but my alpha-ness is in danger!"

"You're an alpha though," Claire said in surprise.

"We have to find some way to make sure that I still look like an alpha. Kuh-laire, lemme do your makeup. You look like a zero," Massie snapped.

Claire sighed and scooted closer to Massie. Her clothes were fine but her naked face was just too much. Massie applied to coats of Revlon mascara on her face, then some M.A.C foundation. She applied some liquid eyeliner and then swiped lip gloss across Claire's Chapsticked lips.

"Thanks," Claire said, beaming. She glowed from within now.

"Here," Massie said, dusting some gold powder on Claire's bare arms and collarbone. She did the same for herself.

"Alicia may have the numbers but as long as we act like we're alphas, people will believe us. Be ready for the girls to intimidate us into quitting."

"OK," Claire said. She gulped. "But Massie, I want to be treated like an equal."

"What?" Massie looked genuinely confused.

"I want to be treated like a person who has your respect," Claire whispered.

"Whatever," Massie said. "Whatever makes you happy."

Claire smiled but Massie knew that it was a faux smile, a fake. Claire knew that she would never get Massie's respect.

Massie wanted to bite her nails. Since Kuh-laire obviously knew this, Massie was wondering how long it would be before Claire revolted.