I know, this chapter took forever to finish! Hope you enjoy it, it's our longest yet! Review please!
FAIRMONT HOTEL VANCOUVER
12:20 P.M.
GRIFFIN'S RESTERAUNT
Massie's lips hung in a French Vanilla flavoured 'o' as she witnessed His greatest mistake gracelessly bulldoze her way through the huge French doors and weave through the sea of glossy brown tables and miffed eaters, two shopping bags under her arms.
The piano music that rolled softly through the restaurant immediately ceased, and all eyes glued to Olivia, her new blonde extensions flashing as she whipped her head around, trying to steer herself in the right direction.
Finally, to pull her blunt entrance to a smashing finish, she collided head-on with a waitress who happened to be holding a tray with a pitcher of bright red punch. Olivia the human bulldozer plastered her face into the waitress's stomach, sending the tall, redheaded woman's tray catapulting onto the white, silk tablecloth of Massie, Claire and Alicia's table.
Massie and Alicia sprung backward in their chairs just in time, letting the red liquid torrent over Claire, soaking her to the skin. Her white Wetseal tank top was completely drenched. Claire waved her arms in the air, her mouth gaping.
"Um, Kuh-laire, you may want to put your hands back down." Alicia smirked and pointed to Claire's now transparent shirt. Her beige bra was completely visible.
Claire screamed and folded her arms tightly across her chest. She stood up so fast her chair fell over backwards. The crash echoed and dragged on through the silence. Claire fled from the restaurant as fast as her red and white Pumas would allow.
Massie glanced around, "Hello people, nothing to see here, finish your meals please!"
Everyone gradually turned back to their breakfast and continued their conversations as if nothing had happened. The pianist tapped the keys a couple times and then started up once more.
Massie pursed her lips and flicked her head around to face Olivia. "Ah-livia!" she whisper-shrieked.
Olivia's smiled innocently, "Hey Massie, Alicia."
"Sit down!" Massie hissed, and stabbed the air above the seat beside her with her lip gloss tube.
Olivia hesitantly glanced back and forth from Massie to Alicia. Alicia cocked her head to the side repeatedly, signaling for Olivia to sit. Olivia offered them a sheepish grin and dropped her bags on Claire's empty seat and snuggled in beside them.
"Ehmagawd!" Alicia pointed at Olivia's shopping bags. "Where's the nearest Gucci and Louis Vuitton?"
"Here, in my hotel," Olivia answered shortly.
Massie's mouth dropped again. "Um, did you just your hotel? We're staying here too." She pulled her lips together and turned up her nose, as if it didn't bother her. Inside, she was screaming.
"Yeah!" the blonde beamed. "Seeeriousleee! What are the chances that you'd be here? Isn't it just like, ah-mazing?"
Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Massie reminded herself silently.
Massie and Alicia sent invisible hate rays careening towards Olivia, who was helping herself to the remnants of Claire's meal. On the outside, Massie had a tight smile frozen to her face. "Great…" she managed, through her clenched teeth.
Alicia snatched Massie's hand underneath the table and squeezed. Massie squeezed back. Hard.
"Are the guys here?" Olivia said without hesitation.
"They're upstairs," Alicia said.
Massie pinched Alicia's thigh, throwing her a glare from the corner of her eyes. Remind me to talk to you later, it said sharply.
Olivia leapt up. "I'd better go to my room! I mean like, seriously, I am soooo psyched that we're here… together!"
"It's a dream come true." Massie's Chanel no. 19 was fading quickly as beads of sweat lined her forehead like a Dior beaded cocktail dress.
Olivia squealed a girlish "toodles" and clambered out of the restaurant. The waitresses parted as she walked past, like if they got within a foot too close to her they would get a horrible disease.
"What did you do that for?" Massie barked at once, wafting Olivia's overdose of Viva la Juicy perfume away from her atmosphere.
Alicia pulled her Marc Jacobs compact mirror out of her purse and grabbed a tube of liquid, cherry red Dior lip gloss. "What do you mean?" she hurriedly applied the gloss to her lips and puckered for an invisible audience. She towed the mirror around her face, looking for anything unwanted.
"You just told her where our boyfriends are! What was that all about?"
"Oh." Alicia ran her fingers through her silky black mane. "The boys aren't upstairs. They're all down at the beach playing soccer." She snapped her mirror shut and slipped it into her Ricky bag.
Massie grinned widely.
Alicia stared blankly at Massie. "What?"
"That was ah-mazing quick thinking!" Massie smirked. Just then, a giddy expression struck on Massie's face. "Ehmagawd! Gossip points!"
"What? What?" Alicia asked.
"I wasn't supposed to tell anyone, but…" She dropped her voice to a whisper. "Kemp is totally crushing on Kristen."
"What!" Alicia's red lips dropped open. "But what about Dune? Is she crushing back?"
"I don't know. They haven't hung out very much lately," Massie shrugged. She tossed her hair over her shoulder. "That's nawt the point. Besides, I already told her Dune is done! —Except, he might be a better choice than Kemp."
"Point." Alicia raised her 'point' finger and smirked. "Now, we'd better get down to the beach before Faux-livia gets there first!"
"She'll probably get lost on her way from the bathroom toilet to the sink," Massie giggled and exchanged a high-five with her dark-haired friend..
***
Claire shrugged into her light blue Garage tank top and flicked her blonde ponytail over her shoulder. She had on a fuscia-and-purple Michael Kors bikini (borrowed from Massie's side of the closet) and slipped her toes into her navy blue flip-flops.
She applied a cast-off coat of Strawberry Sherbet Glossip Girl and then a quick whisk of waterproof mascara. If she was swimming, she didn't want black marks streaming down her face. Claire pulled black-and-blue Roxy board shorts up her pale-need-to-get-in-the-sun-more legs and hurried out the door of their hotel room.
VANCOUVER
12:50 P.M.
THE BEACH
Sand was flying up from the boy's feet in little spurts, as they whirled in and out of each other to get possession of the ball. Their goals were made up of a tower of towels and flip-flops. Plovert quickly snatched the ball away from Cam and whacked a pass to Derrington. Derrington glanced at the ball distractedly and let it roll past him.
"Dude!" Plovert snapped. "What are you doing?"
"Ah-ha!" Josh leapt up, like a tiger pouncing for his prey, and kicked the ball straight between Plovert's legs into the goal. "Oh yeah!" he bounced around and exchanged laughing high-fives with Cam.
"What are you doing, man?" Plovert demanded of Derrington.
"Oh," Derrington muttered. "…sorry."
"We're behind by 7 points!" Plovert punched his arm. "Seriously, man."
Derrington lifted up his phone and jiggled it in his hands. "I got some texts from Massie. They're about you telling her funny jokes on the airplane."
"Huh? I didn't say any jokes," Plovert said. "I was asleep most of the time."
"I saw you guys all laughing," Derrington mentioned.
"Yeah, Massie made a 90210 joke." Plovert patted Derrington's shoulder. "I'm sure she was just trying to make you jealous."
"Huh?" Derrington raised his eyebrows. "What do you mean?"
Plovert snickered. "Maybe that's why." He lifted his arm and pointed his finger towards the blonde, stumbling through the sand towards them.
"Olivia?" Derrington gasped, and Cam nearly fell on his face. His cheeks immediately burst into a deep shade of fuscia. He sidestepped towards the ocean, and then dove headfirst into the surf.
Plovert snickered, waved at Olivia, and then charged after Cam. Josh followed suit, leaving Derrington on his own.
"Um, hi," Derrington muttered awkwardly, as Olivia staggered up to him.
"Ehmagawd!" Olivia beamed. "Derry! What are you doing here?" She slapped his arm playfully.
"Um, I'm staying at the hotel." He pointed.
"Ehmagawd so am I!"
"R-really?" Derrington stammered.
"Yeah, I tried to go upstairs, but I got lost. I guess Alicia and Massie forgot to tell me how to get there," she mentioned.
"Where is Massie?" Derrington wondered.
Olivia shrugged, "How should I know?"
Ice-cold hands on Olivia's bare shoulders made her eyes bulge and she stumbled forwards, attempting to run from the source of the surprise. Fumbling in the deep sand, she tripped and plunged headfirst into the shallow water. She flicked her head up, screaming through clenched teeth, eyes wide, fists clenched.
"WHO," she bellowed, "THE HELL DID THAT?"
"Olivia," Alicia gasped, running forwards, she and Massie exchanging invisible high-fives, "What happened?"
"I don't know, something scared me!"
"Looks like it scared your pet ferret too," Massie trotted into Olivia's place beside Derrington while snicker-pointing to Olivia's half on, half off blonde hair extensions.
Olivia flushed deeply.
"Hey, Block," Derrington grinned at his girlfriend.
She dazzled back at him with her Crest Whitestrips commercial worthy smile.
"Now I have to go change," Olivia moaned. She stomped out of the waves and back towards the hotel, her pink tank top and shorts drenched.
Once she was out of earshot, Massie and Alicia burst into a round of raucous laughter and the boys clambered out of the ocean and ran towards them, salty water dripping off their bare chests.
Alicia casually took a few steps to stand next to Josh.
"Where's Claire?" Cam asked Massie.
"I dunno," Massie shrugged, "But good morning to you to."
"Dude," Plovert yelled, kicking the soccer ball from under Derrington's foot. "Let's get back to our game!"
He and Cam raced off, furiously kicking at each other's feet. Josh smiled sweetly at Alicia before running off, at which Alicia returned with a seductive raise of her perfect eyebrows.
Derrington lingered behind though, fingering his phone, which was still clenched in his hand. "Um, Massie?"
"Yeah?" Massie raised her yellow Bvlgari sunglasses from her eyes, so as to appear friendly and open instead of aloof and superior.
Derrington side-glanced at Alicia who took the hint and backed away from the two, looking like she was acting against her better judgment.
"Um, I just wanted to tell you that I'm sorry we couldn't sit beside each other on the airplane," Derrington blurted out over the sounds of Chris Plovert's yells of "That's not fair!"
Massie's insides soared. He really did care. "Aw, it's ok," she flashed him another dazzling smile.
"And er, I wanted to ask you," Derrington opened his phone and clicked a few buttons.
"What are all these texts about Chris about?"
"Huh?" Massie lightly crinkled her nose and leaned over to see the screen. "I didn't send you any texts about Chris," she lied.
Derrington looked confused. "They're from your cell," he pointed out.
"I swear!" Massie held up the palm not hanging onto her plum colored Balenciaga bag to show her innocence. "It may have been Alicia, she was playing around with my phone."
"Why would—" Derrington began but was interrupted by Plovert.
"Dude, get your butt over here!" he bellowed, before tumbling face first into the sand.
Everyone laughed as he leapt to his feet, spitting sand out of his mouth.
"I need to go help him," Derrington snickered. "Catch ya later!"
"Bye," Massie giggled, making intense eye contact with him.
He turned and ran back to the soccer game as Massie prevented herself from melting into the sand at the sight of his warm, brown eyes.
***
"Claire!" Alicia jumped up and waved her hands in the air to alert Claire of their claimed spot on the beach. An eighteen-karat white gold Gucci ring sparkled on her index finger.
Claire navigated her way through blankets of tanning females to Alicia and Massie's huge purple and lime green Jen Risom beach blanket, stripping off her tank top on the way.
"I've been looking for you two everywhere!" she exclaimed, ignoring the whistles from a group of rowdy boys standing nearby.
"We figured you'd find us eventually," Massie drawled sleepily from underneath her enormous sunglasses. Their bright yellow frames matched her yellow Victoria's Secret bikini perfectly.
"I like your suit," Alicia commented, nodding towards Claire's borrowed Michael Kors.
"Thanks," Massie answered for Claire, "It's mine."
"Given," Alicia nodded then sank back down beside Massie to properly soak up the rays.
"Claire, there's another blanket in my bag," Massie lazily pointed to her Balenciaga. "And some sunscreen."
"Thanks." Claire rummaged through Massie's bag, pulling out the red Calvin Klein and a bottle of Banana Boat spray-on sunscreen.
As Massie and Alicia sipped at their ice-cold lemonades, Claire spritzed herself all over then flopped down on the beach blanket.
Silently, Massie handed her a pair of green Missoni shades.
"Thanks," Claire accepted them and slid the heavy frames over her eyes. She turned away from the same group of boys that had whistled at her who were now studying Alicia's C-cups snuggled under her tight silver Ralph Lauren bikini. Alicia's beautiful Proenza Schouler sandals lay forgotten a few feet away from her feet.
Claire didn't understand how Massie could lie under the sun's dangerous rays for so long without getting bored. She herself was fidgeting all over the place.
She reached out a hand and toyed with the gold YSL handbag charms (includes a tiny bottle of Elle perfume and pink gloss) that swung from the zipper on Massie's plum Balenciaga.
"If you're bored Kuh-laire," said Massie without even looking at her, "Why don't you read a magazine?" She snapped her fingers at Alicia who immediately tossed Claire the most recent Teen Vogue.
Claire flipped the magazine open to a random page then gasped loudly. "Did you guys read this yet?"
"Sorta," said Alicia.
"I only looked at the pictures," Massie admitted. "Why?"
"Because," Claire looked up from the magazine in excitement. "Guess who's vacationing right here, in Vancouver, and staying at this very hotel, starting tomorrow evening?"
Massie jerked upright. Alicia immediately followed like a shadow. Both girls lowered their sunglasses. "Who?" Massie demanded, attempting to snatch the magazine from Claire's greasy hands.
Claire jumped up, tightening her hold on the magazine and took a few steps back, away from Massie's reaching point. "Guess!" she teased, waving the magazine over her head.
Massie growled and charged at Claire.
"Whoa, easy tiger!" Clare laughed.
Alicia, refusing to run, stood with an awkward smile plastered on her face as she watched Massie chase Claire in circles. It was as though she was wearing a bronze floor sweeping strapless Nina Ricci dress and every movement she made in it would rip it to bits.
Claire and Massie were turning heads now. One woman, wearing the most elegant gold Vera Wang tassel necklace that looked very out of place on the beach, actually snapped their picture with her digital camera.
The two girls fell on top of the lime-and-purple beach blanket at Alicia's pedicured feet in a giggling, panting, and squirming heap.
"E-nuff already," Alicia snapped, her arms folded across her chest. "Just tell us who it is."
"Ok," Claire untangled herself from Massie's limbs and shook her blonde ponytail. "Ready for this?"
"Yes!" Massie and Alicia shouted loudly.
Claire pretended to check her pink Birks watch, "Oh, look at the time, I gotta go!" With a playful kick of sand in Massie's direction, Claire raced off leaving behind, not the magazine, but the scent of Calvin Klein's Euphoria, which could not tell Alicia and Massie which celebrity would be staying in their hotel.
"Kuh-laire!" Massie and Alicia screeched in unison as they watched Claire cross the border between the beach and the grass park. Claire stopped and looked over her shoulder, waving the magazine tauntingly. Her expression clearly challenged the two girls to follow her.
Massie reached for her Manolo Blahnik python sandals. They'd be much easier to run in then flip flops. She glanced beside her at Alicia tugging on her purple Stella McCartney for Adidas cover up.
"Um, are you coming too, Leesh?"
"Of course," Alicia knelt down to jam her own sandals onto her feet.
"You know we'll have to run right?" Massie folded up the blankets and stuffed them into her bag. She hoisted the bulging bag onto her shoulder after a failed attempt to zip it back up.
Alicia swung her Ralph Lauren Ricky tote over her own shoulder, "I know." She started sauntering towards the grass.
Massie eyed her, "I'm not waiting for you, you know?"
Alicia stopped to think about it. "How 'bout I just stay here then?" she asked sweetly, already kicking her sandals off.
"Good idea." Massie tossed Alicia her Balenciaga and charged after Claire.
Massie crossed the grassy borderline and looked around for Claire. She wasn't anywhere in sight. Maybe she went back to the hotel Massie thought to herself, gently nibbling her Pixel Pink Lancôme bottom lip. Her keen eye detected a whirl of motion a little ways above her head. Tilting her head up, she caught of glimpse of Claire's navy blue flip flop before it hit her smack in the face.
Massie screeched and spat bits of sand out of her mouth, her hands frantically wiping at her face where the flip flop had touched her.
"KUH-LAIRE!" she yelled as the girl jumped down from the tree with only one flip flop on.
"Sorry!" Claire giggled.
"Did you do that on purpose?" Massie demanded.
"No!" Claire shook her head innocently. "Eet whaz ah com-plete and total acid-ant!"
Massie stared at her, "What kind of accent is that?" she asked, bemused.
Claire shrugged, "Dunno, don't care."
Massie held out her palm and Claire looked down at it.
"What?"
Massie wiggled her fingers.
"What?" Claire repeated.
"I don't remember pressing the repeat button," Massie said. "Hand over my magazine!"
"I thought it was Alicia's?" Claire stalled, a grin spreading across her face.
"Does it matter either way?" Massie snapped. "Hurry up, I'm dying to know!"
Claire slapped the magazine into Massie's waiting palm.
"Sasha, Sara, and Michael Freement!" Claire squealed loudly.
Massie's Fred Leighton Facchini ruby, diamond, white-enamel and gold cuff practically leaped off her skinny wrist in fright as Massie let out a high-pitched scream one hundred times louder then Mary Murphy's.
"No way no way no way!" Massie grabbed Claire's shoulders, the magazine slipped through her trembling fingers and landed in the dry grass. Passerbys looked over at them disapprovingly.
"Yes way!" Claire yelped.
"NO. WAY!" Massie bobbed up and down on her toes. "You mean the Freement triplets, who are ranked at the top of all the best actresses slash best musicians lists of 2008 slash 2009?"
"YES!" Claire jumped up in the air with giddiness.
"And they're coming to stay at our hotel?" Massie didn't even bother trying to close her gaping mouth.
"Yes!"
"EHMAGAWD!" Massie screamed. "Quick! We have to tell Alicia!"Her mind was already looking over numerous outfits to wear to the meeting of the blonde powerhouse trio.
In her head, she imagined giving each of them a gushing I'm-so-glad-to-meet-you handshake and getting invited by them to party at an exclusive night club while Alicia and Claire were left behind weeping with disappointment.
Sara, the edgy diva-actress with a serious attitude, would finger Massie's glossy brown blowout and declare that she would be switching from her signature blonde to brunette.
Sasha, with her soft voice, ballerina like movement, and gentle features, would stare at Massie with awe the whole car ride down, too polite and nervous to question her.
And finally, Michael, the hot singer who managed to finally knock the Jonas Brothers off center stage. And about time too. He'd fall in love with her and together they would own the world and walk down the red carpet hand in hand. Millions of girls would envy-hate Massie all over the world and she wouldn't care one bit. She'd have all the major designers falling at her feet, throwing overly expensive gowns at her for free. Surprisingly, Derrington didn't occur in her thoughts once.
"There you guys are!" Massie was interrupted from her reverie by Alicia's anxious voice.
"I've been waiting for forever." Alicia stomped her foot in the sand, emitting a smoky puff into the air.
"Guess who's staying at our hotel?" Claire trilled.
"Who, who?" Alicia rocked back and forth on her feet excitedly. "Where's my magazine?" she asked, glancing at Claire's empty hands.
Distracted, Claire looked at Massie then back at her hands. "Oops, sorry, we kinda dropped it. But anyways—"
"SASHA, SARA, AND MICHAEL FREEMENT!" Massie bellowed, interrupting Claire mid-sentence.
Alicia's RL Ricky tote and glass of lemonade fell to the sand, the sticky liquid spilling over her bare feet but she didn't seem to notice. Her sunglasses fell down her nose and she whipped them off and chucked them behind her.
"No way," she said in a steady voice, re-composing herself. "No freaking way."
"WAY!" Massie and Claire screamed.
"EHMAGAWDDDDDDDDDD!!!!!!!" Alicia kicked the plastic lemonade cup away from her feet and raced towards Massie and Claire.
The three of them fell into a deep group hug and bounced energetically up and down, shrieking.
The entire beach fell silent and turned their heads towards the three giddy girls who did not have a care in the world for them.
The soccer boys jogged over to them, kicking their ball over the heads of sun tanning people and snickering at the yells they received.
"What's going on?" Josh panted, being the first to approach the girls closely followed by Cam and Derrington. Plovert lagged several feet behind.
"Sara—" Massie started.
"Sasha—" Claire added.
"And Michael Freement are coming to stay at our hotel tomorrow!" Alicia finished triumphantly.
"No way man!" Cam's eyes popped out of his sockets. "Michael is like, the best musician ever!"
"Are you serious?" Josh asked, shocked.
Alicia bobbed her head of silky hair up and down as fast as a hummingbird flapped its wings.
"Whoa," Derrington murmured. "The Freement trio."
"Dude, this is unbelievable!" Chris Plovert crowed.
Massie squeaked happily with pure joy.
FAIRMONT HOTEL
4:18 P.M.
MASSIE, CLAIRE, AND ALICIA'S HOTEL ROOM
"Ugh!" Massie balled up her delicate Hermès silk camisole and chucked it over her right shoulder.
A sharp bark alerted her that she'd thrown the cami over bean's head, who had just arrived a few short hours ago.
"Oops, sorry Bean," she apologized. "Seriously, I have nuh-thing to wear to meet the Freement trio." She gestured to the sea of crinkled tops and shorts covering the whole room like a light layer of icing on a cake.
Bean whimpered to show her understanding.
There was a gentle 'click' and with a pump of the door handle, Claire and Alicia both entered the room.
Claire clicked the door shut and gaped at the mess Massie had made of their room.
"I don't have anything to wear," Massie explained, her voice starting to whine.
Claire frowned and poked her head in the closet. "Why don't you just wear this?" she asked, fingering a vintage Giorgio Armani strapless beaded taupe satin dress. "It's beautiful."
"Don't be silly Kuh-laire," Massie rolled her eyes and kicked the closet door in her fury.
"Ok, what about that?" Claire reached for a silky green chiffon Marc by Marc Jacobs dress.
"Thanks for your "help" Kuh-laire," Massie finger-quoted. "But why don't you leave the outfit deciding to me?"
She turned her attention to Alicia, who was pulling tissue paper out of our of her Gucci shopping bags.
"Are those from the gift stores down by the lobby?" she asked.
"Uh huh," Alicia nodded.
Massie glanced at Claire, who was also carrying a shopping bag. "What did you buy Claire?"
"Only flip flops," Claire confessed, pulling out the brown shoes covered with dark browns Gs. "I didn't want Alicia to waste too much money on me."
"No problem," Alicia waved her hand casually. "Check these out Mass." She lifted out a pair of satin G-covered gloves.
Massie raised an eyebrow. "And when exactly do you plan on wearing those?" she questioned.
Alicia shrugged again.
Massie turned back to her closet whacked at several empty wooden hangers. They bashed into each other and clacked dully. "This is so frustrating!" she whined and stomped her bare foot.
Claire smiled at her sympathetically. Alicia didn't seem to be listening.
Jamming her tall, brown Stuart Weitzman pumps onto her feet, Massie staggered unsteadily to the door, clinging to the handle before catching her balance.
"I'm going down to check out the gift shops," she called over her shoulder, grabbing her blue Alexander McQueen wrist clutch from a table and whamming the door open. She click-clacked towards the elevator and whacked at the down button.
When they'd first arrived at the hotel, Alicia had been complaining about the elevator buttons, claiming that the buttons in Spain contained live seahorses and were as big as a crystal ball. Massie refused to believe her.
While waiting for the elevator to open its' doors, she twisted her Cartier tiger ring quickly around her index finger, leaving a scorching red mark.
With a light 'ding!' the silver doors slid apart and Massie glided into the empty elevator. With a push of the silver button, the elevator doors closed and Massie found herself plummeting downwards towards the main floor. The falling sensation ended after several seconds and with another 'ding!' and a flash of red light, the silver doors slid open to reveal the shining lobby. Massie elegantly stepped out onto the brown carpet, acknowledging the curious glance from a girl in silver Kenneth Cole flats curled up on one of the hotel's Anthropologie armchairs. She sauntered confidently past groups of chattering people and into Louis Vuitton without a backward glance.
"Ehmagawd!" she whisper-squealed, her eyes resting on a pair of metallic gold open-toe wedges resting on a white shelf. The whole open-toe thing was more of Alicia's Spanish-don't style but since this was Louis Vuitton…
She quickly grabbed the shoes off the shelf.
Her eyes lingered on Louis's new line of footwear hungrily, snatching a pair of tangerine and fuchsia satin slingbacks up as well.
***
Knock knock. Claire lifted her head at the sound of banging on wood. Alicia lazily held her Revlon—Cherries in the Snow—colored nails in front of her face and examined them.
"Could you get the door please Claire?" she asked sweetly, without looking over.
Not bothering to answer, Claire hoisted herself off the floor, where she'd been looking over Massie's reject clothing, and over to the door. She twisted the handle and pulled open the door. In front of her stood a black-haired, one-blue-eye-and-one-green-eyed beauty, practically dripping with Drakkar Noir.
"Cam!" even though she'd just seen him half an hour ago, Claire was still ecstatic at the sight of him.
Cam sniffed at Claire's hair. "Claire! You smell great."
"Thanks!" Claire beamed, grateful for a moment that she'd accidentally knocked over Massie's glass bottle of Coach Legacy. The shattered remnants of the bottle now lay in the bottom of the garbage can along with a large wad of Legacy-scented tissues.
"What brings you here Fisher?" Alicia asked, clearly not liking being ignored.
"Not you, obviously," Cam joked, grinning at Alicia's playful scowl.
"Did the closet explode?" he asked, looking at the clothes thrown all over the room.
"More like Massie exploded," Alicia giggled, flashing her bright red nails as she moved her fingers to cover her Hot Number Lancôme glossed lips.
"So this is what her heart contains," Cam raised his eyebrows. "I'll bet Derrek'll be upset to discover that she doesn't find him worthy enough for a place in her heart."
Both Alicia and Claire laughed.
"We're going to the indoor pool for a swim," Cam continued. "Wanna come?"
"Another swim?" Alicia asked.
Cam grinned and nodded. "Us guys need to stay active."
"Why the indoor pool when there's a beach fifteen minutes away?" Claire gestured vaguely out the window.
"Nah, too far. And we were just there half an hour ago."
"Count me out." Alicia, uninterested in the conversation, leaned back into her pillow and started flipping through another magazine. "Chlorine is bad for my hair."
"I'm coming!" Claire said eagerly. "I'll meet you in the lobby."
"Kay, peace." Cam lifted his hand then left the room, closing the door behind him.
"Do you think Massie'll mind if I wear this?" Claire asked, picking up a Jessica Simpson red and white striped onepiece.
"Puh-lese!" Alicia rolled her eyes over the top of her magazine. "She'd much rather you wear her suits instead of your ugly Targets."
"Hey!" Claire protested, grabbing the bathing suit and heading for the bathroom. "You know perfectly well that Massie threw out the only Target bathing suit I brought just this morning."
"It was worth losing that," Alicia scoffed. "She gave you a fifty dollars for a five dollar suit."
"Thirty," Claire confirmed, snapping the bathroom door behind her.
Ten minutes later, Claire padded down the stairs (the elevator was too full) in her new Gucci flip flops, Massie's Jessica onepiece, Massie's red plastic rectangular Dior sunglasses, and Alicia's white Diesel shorts. Alicia had instructed her to put on some Calvin Klein plum berry lipstick as well, as protection against the chlorine-filled water.
"What took you so long?" Cam asked, pretending to be annoyed as she raced towards him.
"Sorry," Claire gasped, panting slightly. She glanced around. "Where'll the rest of the guys?"
"They got tired of waiting," Cam shrugged then grabbed her hand and pulled her towards the door. "Why did you bring sunglasses?"
"Huh?" Claire was confused, then remembered they were headed for the doors of the indoor pool. "Oh, right!" she smacked her forward, accidentally knocking the Diors down her nose. "I'm so stupid. I dunno why I brought these." She yanked the red lenses off her face.
***
"Ah-licia!" Massie sang, bursting through the door of their room with difficulty.
"Hey Mass," Alicia drawled, putting down her magazine.
Massie looked around. "Where's Claire? And why does the room reek of Legacy?"
"She broke your perfume bottle. And she's gone swimming with the boys at the indoor pool," Alicia responded immediately.
Massie shrugged off her bags and let them tumble to the floor like an avalanche of silver Tiffany bangles.
"I've got some gossip," Massie declared, sitting down on her own bed across from Alicia.
"For how much?"
"One hundred."
"Spill," Alicia ordered.
"Sasha, Sarah, and Michael Freement are nawt just coming here for some rest and relaxation," Massie whispered, as if someone might be eavesdropping outside their door.
"All three of them, all three, are going to be making a new summer blockbuster right here and will be looking for people to audition in just three days!"
"Ehmagawd!" Alicia shouted, leaping up from her bed. Her magazine slid to the floor.
"Even Michael? Who isn't really an actor?"
"Yes!" Massie stood up too so Alicia couldn't look down at her like last summer's stinky heels.
"We have to audition!" Alicia exclaimed, clasping her hands together.
"I know!" Massie beamed.
"How did you find out?"
"I overheard the hotel manager and Louis Vuitton store clerk whispering about it. Louis is supporting the movie. Supposedly it's supposed to be all hush hush."
"You naughty little eavesdropper," Alicia teased.
"And proud of it," Massie beamed.
***
"Ahhhhh!" Claire screamed as Plovert jumped off the diving board and landed with a smash right beside Claire. She tread-watered backward and bumped into a girl in a nylon/lycra Roxy bikini. "Oops, sorry!" She apologized. Roxy bikini swam away with an annoyed huff.
"So rude, people these days." Cam shook his head, his soggy hair flipped back and forth with each shake like Massie's white, airy bedroom curtains back home blowing in the wind.
"Cannonball!" Josh exploded into the water a few meters away from them. Claire screamed again as a gaggle of water enclosed her.
Claire sputtered, little tidbits of water escaping her mouth. She saw her mother and Kendra Block waving frantically at her, both of them holding gift bags from Louis Vuitton. How did Kendra get Judi into Louis? Oh well, no one was complaining. She waved back, and then admired the light tan on her arm she'd already gotten her first day here.
"OHEMGEE!" a high-pitched scream echoed around the room. Most of the pool inhabitants lifted their heads to rest on Olivia, wearing a Missoni weaved dress, giant purple Dylan's Candy Bar bear earrings dangling off her ears. "Hi guys!"
The blonde raced towards the poolside in her camouflage Juicy Couture sneakers, which went surprisingly well with the dress. She ripped off the sneakers then leapt into the water, dress included. The dress rose up around her in mid-air, the boys who were underneath her looked up, delighted.
Once Olivia surfaced, her dress floated upwards as well, fully revealing her hot pink undies.
"Um, Olivia," Claire giggled, "Did you check your mailbox today?"
"Ohemgee!" Olivia squealed, as if noticing for the first time. "I'm wet, I'm wet!"
"Well what do you know," Cam rolled his eyes. "This is a pool in case you haven't noticed."
"Full of water," Derrington added with a smirk.
Plovert took in a deep gulp of air and dived under the water.
"Ew!" Claire giggled, aiming a kick at his bare backside. She missed and hit Olivia instead.
"OWIE!" Olivia screeched, hunching over, arms wrapped around herself as she struggled to get out of the water. "I can barely move!"
"Well, you're wearing an un-waterproof dress Olivia," Josh pointed out.
Olivia pouted. "I knew I should have worn my Purple Diane von Furstenberg Poplin Wrap Dress," she declared.
"That isn't waterproof either," Claire informed her. "Why not try…" she pretended to think hard. "I know! A bathing suit!"
"Great idea!" Olivia's eyes widened. "I'll try that, thanks!"
She dragged her way out of the pool, picked up her sneakers, and ran off. "Bye guys!"
"Wow," said Derrington slowly, shaking his head.
Plovert was hanging onto the edge of the pool, watching Olivia's perky butt swing back and forth as she ran, the dress's material skin tight and dripping with water.
"What is wrong with her?" asked Josh. "She gets stupider and stupider every day. Think she's got some mental issues?"
"Totally," everyone agreed.
***
Massie turned a 360 slowly, letting Alicia absorb her outfit in properly.
"What d'ya think?" she asked, proudly placing her hands on the hips of her dark William Rast jean shorts and skinny black Burberry Possum crocodile belt.
"I luh-ve the shorts with the black MaxMara platforms," Alicia gushed. "I rate you…a nine point two."
Massie dropped her hands. "Nothing short of a nine point five can do," she insisted. She let her yellow monogram LV bowling bag slip off her bare shoulder and looked down at the pale, shimmery blue Gucci halter blouse that she had tucked into her shorts.
"Ugh!" Massie kicked the bowling bag across the floor where it collided into the wall. She whipped her belt off and whacked it against the soft carpet.
"Whoa, easy there!" Alicia leapt backwards out of Belt woman's reach.
With a final whack Massie let the belt drop to the floor where it lay limply, like a dead snake.
She closed her eyes and took a deep, calming breath.
Normally Massie would never share her outfit crisis with her friends, they all expected that she had absolutely no trouble picking her clothes. But she was only human after all.
She opened her eyes and exhaled. "What are you wearing?" she asked Alicia.
"These metallic dark violet Paul Hardy leggings and this teal silk Banana Republic tunic." Alicia pulled the clothes out of her metallic Fendi Selleria satchel and laid them across the bed.
There was a sudden knock on the door. "Come in!" Massie chirped as happily as she could.
"Hi girls, I heard some funny noises and was wondering—" Kendra stopped short as she took in the state of the room. "What happened here?"
"Guess who's coming to the hotel tomorrow evening?" Massie said.
"Who?"
"THE FREEMENT TRIO!" Massie and Alicia shouted together.
"Really?" Kendra Clinique Red-y to Wear lipstick-colored lips formed a round circle.
"Yes!" Alicia waved Teen Vogue at Kendra.
"That's wonderful!" Kendra beamed through her bright red lips. "They couldn't have chosen a better time."
"I know!" Massie grinned.
"It's almost time for dinner," Kendra glanced at her gold Gucci watch, freshly bought from the gift shop. "Meet you at Griffins in twenty?"
"Give us thirty," Massie suggested.
Kendra nodded and left the room, completely forgetting the reason she came in the first place.
***
Massie wore the rejected outfit down to dinner, belt, bag, and platforms included. It might not have been worthy of the Freement Trio but it was certainly good enough for dinner.
Griffins had dimmed the lights and set flickering candles on every table. The sweet scent of them was so strong she could barely smell her own Ralph Lauren Notorious.
"It's so pretty," Claire breathed in Massie's ear. Alicia nodded in agreement.
"Kuh-laire," Massie snapped. "Your chlorine smell is ruining my nose."
"Sorry," Claire apologized. "I didn't have time for a shower."
She rubbed her palms against the sides of her yellow stretch cotton Billabong shorts.
"Aren't you glad I made you wear heels?" Massie asked Claire. "See? Everyone else is wearing them."
"And nobody is wearing flip flops," Alicia said to her own leather Jil Sanders.
Claire looked down at her Stella McCartney wood platforms. "They're really hard to walk in though."
"Deal with it," Massie hissed as they neared the table where Kendra and Judi were waiting along with Isaac, the Ploverts, and Josh's dad. Cam, Derrington, Josh, and Chris hadn't arrived yet.
"Hi everyone," the three girls chorused, elegantly taking their seats at the huge table seated for thirteen.
"Hey girls," everyone responded. "How was your day, ladies?" Isaac asked. "I'm surprised I didn't have to chauffeur today."
"Actually," Massie put in quickly. "Can we just drop by a few shops after dinner?"
Kendra frowned, "Why didn't you girls do that in the morning?"
"We didn't need to yet. Please? Really fast? We'll only take about an hour."
"Mass?" Claire nudged Massie's bare arm. "Why can't we just go tomorrow? I wanted to go down to the beach after dinner."
"Again?" Alicia wrinkled her nose at Claire. "You've gone swimming like, ten times today."
"Not to swim, I just want to walk around and enjoy the scenery. It's so pretty here," Claire sighed.
Massie rolled her eyes. "You go take your walk, me and Alicia will go shop." She turned to look her mother in the eye. "Ok?"
Kendra shrugged, "Only if Isaac is okay with it."
Isaac reluctantly nodded.
"Great!" Massie beamed happily just as Derrington, Cam, Josh, and Chris entered the restaurant.
The waiter set down a tall glass of sparkling cold water in front of her, Claire, and Alicia.
Massie gave him a curt half-nod to show her thanks. She lifted the glass to her lips and sipped, leaving behind a GG Tangerine Dream-colored lip print.
FAIRMONT HOTEL
2:36 P.M.
MASSIE, CLAIRE, AND ALICIA'S HOTEL ROOM
"Ehmagawd!" Massie paced back and forth, waving her hands frantically.
"Calm down Massie!" Alicia assured her.
"They are arriving in approximately four hours and I still haven't figured out what to wear yet!" Massie groaned.
"Mass, you like amazing in anything," Claire rolled her eyes. "So chill."
Not used to taking orders from Claire, Massie didn't.
"This is so embarrassing," she wailed. "I didn't pack anything for this occasion, I left everything at home, and Isaac wouldn't let us shop for more than an hour last night. Then mom insisted we go down to the beach instead of figuring out what to wear and—"
"Isn't there a limit to how many suitcases you bring?" Alicia interrupted Massie's rambling.
Massie pretended she didn't hear her. "And then everything in the gift shops are either too fancy or too—"
"Just ignore her," Claire said to Alicia, who nodded.
"Room cleaning," a bored, tired voice sounded through the door.
"No thanks!" Claire yelled back.
Alicia giggled.
Sighing, Massie grabbed her purple Derek Lam bathrobe. "I need a calming bubble bath," she declared.
"Well, while you do that, we'll just go…do something outside," Alicia called to Massie as she stepped over sad piles of un-wearable Theorys, Topshops, and Organics.
Claire stuffed her feet into Massie's lime green Banana Republic flip flops—that were lying unwanted beside the door—and quickly tread after Alicia's surprisingly brisk pace.
"Wanna go grab the guys?" Claire suggested.
Alicia shook her head no.
"Why not?" Claire persisted.
"Let's find Olivia instead." Alicia's warm, brown eyes sparkled with mischief, the exact same shade as Claire's brown Roxy Love hoodie.
Alicia flounced into the empty elevator in her black strapless taffeta dance dress.
"I love your dress—where'd you get it?" asked Claire.
Alicia looked from one side to the other even though there weren't any other people in the elevator.
"I got it at Dillard's," she whispered. "Don't tell Massie, kay? I'm saying it's from Spain."
"Oh, ok." Claire nodded agreeably. "Why are you telling me?"
"Cause you never care what brand our clothes are and you won't dare tell her," Alicia responded threateningly.
Claire grinned sheepishly.
The elevator 'dinged!' softly and the girls exited.
"In Spain, the hotel that I was being a towel girl for had the most magnificent elevators. The button was a huge glass ball containing two live seahorses and the walls were also glass with live fish in them. It was like stepping into an aquarium when you went inside," Alicia boasted proudly.
"Oh yeah? Is that the hotel that you said you'd never step foot in again even if someone paid you?" Claire remembered.
Alicia ignored her and flipped her hair. "I think Olivia's room is down there." She pointed her finger down the hall.
They stopped in front of room 202 and Alicia quickly finger-tossed her hair over her shoulder then confidently rapped three times on the door.
Claire adjusted the bottom of her hoodie and tried to copy the way model-like way that Alicia stood in.
The door swung open and Olivia's brother poked his head out. "I ain't buying nothin',"
he slurred.
"Ew, are you drunk?" Alicia snapped impatiently. "Where's Olivia?"
"Beach. And no I am not drunk Ah-licia," he snapped back. "Why do you want her? I thought you guys weren't friends anymore."
"Someone was saying that she tripped and died in a hole," Alicia shrugged. "We just wanted to see if it was true."
Olivia's brother snorted. "Who said that? Cameron Fisher?"
"Given."
"Wish it were true ladies, but it's not. Cam and his buds are just mad at me because I refused to let them use my skateboard ramp last month. We've pretty much never spoken another word since."
"How come?" Claire asked, one eyebrow raised.
"They completely ruined it when school started."
"Oh, boo hoo," Alicia fake-rubbed her eyes, being careful not to smudge her mascara.
"Get lost," he snarled, and then slammed the door shut.
"Well isn't he friendly?" Claire said sarcastically.
"He's not usually like that."
"How do you know?"
"Remember at the start of the school year? I used to hang out with Olivia and them a lot," Alicia said shamefully.
"Oh yeah. How could you? How did you survive?"
Alicia raised a palm to Claire's feet as they headed back for the elevator. "Talk to the booty cause the hands off duty."
They found Olivia twenty minutes later, sun tanning by herself on the beach. She was stretched out on a lounge chair in a tiny, skimpy black strapless bikini, a pair of large silver sunglasses over her eyes. A flock of boys snickered and admired her from a few meters away. She seemed oblivious by their laughter and pointing.
"These guys are retarded," Alicia snarled. She flipped her hair again and strolled over to Olivia. "C'mon Kuh-laire."
"Coming."
"Hey Livs," Alicia cooed, sauntering up next to Olivia. Claire followed her footsteps.
"Hi," Olivia lowered her sunglasses and crossed her tanned ankles.
Alicia took one look at her feet then leapt backwards, as if in fright, and uttered a tiny screech.
"What?" Olivia and Claire both asked.
Alicia pointed to Olivia's legs. "You have sun cancer," she hissed. "It's contagious, I don't want to catch it!"
Alicia backed up some more. Claire cracked up silently and quickly covered her mouth with her palm, pretending to cough.
"Oh no!" Alicia slapped Claire on the back, making her really cough. "Ah-livia! Look what you've done! Now you've gone and given Claire your cancer!"
Olivia looked terrified. She jerked off the sunglasses and sat up straight. "Sun cancer? Oh no! What'll I do now?" she stared at her legs.
Alicia frowned. "I think the best thing to do is to stay away from everyone. Everyone. Including your family and us. Oh, and don't even try to talk. Every time you open your mouth germs will fly out and get all over whoever you're talking to."
"I need a doctor!" Olivia shrieked.
"Shush!" Claire put a finger to her lips. "No talking allowed."
"I'll get you a doctor," Alicia promised. "For now, just stay out of the sun and out of the public. I'll find you once we get a hold of a doctor. Remember though, no talking!"
Olivia nodded twice, and then ran off towards the forest.
When it became apparent that she wouldn't turn back and look at them, Claire and Alicia burst into hysterics.
"She's so stupid," Claire gasped out, practically choking with laughter.
Alicia responded with another wave of giggles.
The group of boys examined them from afar.
***
"Ehmagawd, I can't eat," Massie hissed in Claire's ear, pushing her plate five centimeters away from her.
"Why not?" Claire muttered back through tight lips.
The atmosphere of Griffins restaurant was buzzing with anticipation and excitement. The Freement twins were expected to arrive shortly in an hour. Massie was obviously starting to feel a bit of pressure. Funny, she didn't act like this when we met Abby Boyd and Hadley Durk, Claire thought to herself.
"How do you expect me to eat while knowing that you're going to watch Sasha, Sara, and Michael Freement get out of their limo while you're holding that gross zebra printed bag?" Massie snarled angrily. "Where'd you get it anyway?"
"Rue21," Claire replied indignantly.
"Poo21," Massie responded curtly. "Lose it."
"No!" Claire protested, hugging the bag to her chest. "I like it, and it cost me twenty dollars."
"You like it? It's disgusting!" Massie poked at Alicia's abs. "Right Leesh?"
"What?" Alicia looked up from her dinner.
"Isn't Claire's bag wild?" Massie asked.
"Point. It looks alive. Claire, tell me you did nawt just slay a living creature. That's disgusting. I can't look at it anymore."
"Fine. I won't use it if it bothers you so much," Claire snapped. "I'll give it to Layne."
"Give it to the trash can," Massie insisted.
"No."
"For forty dollars."
"No deal."
"Fifty?"
"Not worth losing this thing," Claire petted her bag affectionately.
"Sixty and that's my final offer," Massie yanked out three twenty dollar bills from her red LV wallet. She snatched the zebra bag away from Claire, replacing it with the crisp bills.
Then she personally marched across the room and deposited the bag in a trashcan.
The rest of the dinner went by peacefully, the mothers being the only ones to talk and to engrossed in their conversation to include the girls. The boys, Mr. Plovert, Mr. Hotz, and Isaac had all finished their meals.
Alicia snickered softly into her fist. "Mrs. Block?" she addressed Massie's mother. "May we be excused? None of us are very hungry."
She tapped Claire's exposed thigh underneath the table. Claire tapped back to show that she would play along.
"Oh course girls," Kendra said quickly, not liking being interrupted.
Alicia and Claire sprung up and pushed their chairs in politely. They power walked over to Massie who had noticed them getting up and was waiting for them by the doorway.
"Quickly," Massie clapped her hands twice. "We need to go get changed."
"I'm already changed," Claire pointed out.
Massie examined the orange hard-core leather Bebe boots, black knee-high Abbey Dawn by Avril Lavigne shorts, and white ruffle blouse with a waist tie.
"That top H&M?"
Claire nodded.
"Lose it." Massie pointed to the trashcan where she'd dumped the zebra bag.
"How do you not like H&M?" Claire asked. "Rihanna loves it."
"Kuh-laire, do I look like Rihanna to you?"
"You wish," Claire answered cheekily.
"Oh no you didn't!" Alicia chuckled with glee.
Claire prepared herself for a torrent of insults, hurting more then standing in a hailstorm without Rihanna's umbrella.
Massie turned to face Claire, a pleasant yet teasing sort of smile on her face.
"Kuh-laire?"
"This is just going to be a waste of time Mass," Claire wanted to say, but instead she folded her arms across her chest. "Yeah?"
"Wear a feathered hat and you'd resemble Puss in boots, whiskers and all."
Alicia guffawed.
Claire scanned Massie's dinner outfit—pink, sky blue, and lavender leather Marc Jacobs platforms, DKNY jean shorts, a white Hermes tank top, and a puffy metallic black Lacoste vest with a fur-lined hood. She looked like a model, as usual.
"Wear shorts that don't resemble underwear and you'll rid your legs of those ghastly goose bumps," Claire pointed out proudly.
Alicia giggled as Massie glanced down at her shorts.
"Kuh-laire, are you a parrot?"
"No, why?"
"Then why do you keep talking back at me?"
She and Alicia exchanged a high five.
"Can we just go?" Claire headed for the elevator.
Unsurprisingly, Massie and Alicia refused to follow. They lingered in the doorway a little longer.
"I'll meet y'all up in the room," Claire yelled over her shoulder.
Massie reached into her black Gucci evening bag and pulled out a single gold key on a gold key chain, 'Fairmont' engraved on it. She shook it a few times, reminding Claire that she was the keeper of the keys.
Sighing, Claire crossed her arms and tapped her foot.
Both Massie and Alicia turned around with a swish of their hair and walked off, smirking.
Claire refused to follow. They must be headed for the stairs, so she could go on ahead in the elevator and beat them there.
***
Claire jiggled the golden door handle hard. She'd been waiting for Massie and Alicia for at least five minutes. What was taking them so long? Maybe they hadn't gone up the stairs after all.
Alicia snickered into her palm as the door handle rattled once again.
"Shh!" Massie hissed.
They were inside their room, watching Claire's desperate attempts to enter while changing into their meeting-the-Freement-Trio outfits.
"How do I look?" Alicia whispered, twirling over to Massie's side.
"No peeking," Massie slapped her hand quietly over the paper.
"Rate me," Alicia demanded softly.
"Not yet."
"Why not?"
"We need Claire too," Massie flashed a beaming smile at her dark-haired friend as Claire started banging hopelessly on the door. "Let her in."
"You sure?"
"Positive." Massie shoved screwed the lid of bottle back on.
Alicia slowly walked over to the door and opened it.
"Ahhh!" Claire shrieked, surprised.
"Ahhh!" Alicia shrieked back, not at all surprised.
"How'd you guys get here before me?" Claire stepped in quickly and slammed the door shut.
"We ran," Alicia explained simply.
"You?" Claire looked astonished.
"I am capable of speed you know," Alicia rolled her eyes. "Gawd, how insulting Kuh-laire."
"You two ran up the stairs in those?" Claire pointed to their teetering heels lying beside their beds.
"Ahb-viously," Massie rolled her eyes, choosing not to let slip that they took the shoes off before running.
"Wow," Claire looked impressed.
"E-nuff chit-chat," Massie clapped twice. "Get changed Kuh-laire."
Five minutes later, Claire was standing in the middle of the room under the professional gaze of Massie and Alicia, who were both sitting on the ends of their beds.
"I like the Gucci flip flops—well of course I do, why else would I buy them for you?—with the jean shorts. They show off your long legs, which have been dastardly improved by tanning." Alicia declared.
"It's not that cold out though," Massie pointed out. "You won't need to wear that jacket."
Claire shrugged out of her black patent leather Roots jacket, revealing a cute white tee shirt with a silver peace sign on it.
"I give you a seven point four," said Alicia. "But there's a lot missing. For starters, put on some perfume, you still smell like chlorine."
Massie grabbed Fancy, Jessica Simpson off her night table and spritzed it all over Claire.
"Paint your nails, I can barely see the dividing line between your nail and your skin. Wear a big chunky necklace and ring. Sweep on a touch more blush, remove the eyeliner and let me do your eyeshadow, it looks like a dog's been licking at it."
Claire blushed red and Massie laughed.
A smoky black BCBG ring on her index finger, silver heart chain Miss Sixty necklace, O.P.I. polish in We'll always have Paris all over her ten nails, rosier then rosy blush powdered on her cheek, and Alicia's help with her eyeshadow, Claire stood before them transformed from a seven point four to an eight point four.
"Your turn Alicia," Claire turned the stage over to her friend, leaving Massie to go last.
Alicia beamed through her Dior Fizzy Lemonade lip gloss and ballet-twirled her way to center stage. She placed her hands on her hips and struck her supermodel pose for the girls.
"Congrats, you are a nine point five," Massie said, trying to speed things up. "My turn," she started to stand up.
"Wait! Details please," Alicia complained.
Massie sat back down. "The leggings are slimming and show off your perfect dancer calves while the teal tunic is long enough to hide your butt and shows off all your best features. You kept things comfy-cool with the knee high silver boots—Guiseppe Zanetti is it?—and have volumized your hair to perfection. Makeup is good, simple teal hoop earrings keep things simple, nicely colored nails, nine point five. Kuh-laire?"
"I agree," Claire nodded. "And your new signature Ricky bag with it's wild print stands out. In a good way of course."
Alicia grinned and sat down on her bed. Massie leapt up and pranced in her not-yet-worn LV metallic gold open-toe wedges. "I'm wearing this chic black leather Adampluseve skirt and my metallic gold leopard print Guess? bikini that adds a flash of color to match my LVs underneath this snug and warm gray knit Calvin sweater, the top three buttons undone and the sleeves rolled up. Soaked in Chanel num. 5, gold metal Ray-ban aviators—which keep the gold theme—dazzling diamond drop earrings, pink rhinestone Tarina Tarantino ring, and carrying a turquoise satin Coach mini-satchel, just try and tell me I'm not a nine point nine," Massie grinned confidently
"You're not," Claire said. "Sorry."
"You're a nine point nine five!" Alicia cheered.
Massie smiled happily, tasting her Cherry-Tastic Glossip Girl. "Let's go girls."
They moved as one to join the crowd already gathering outside the hotel.
Massie marched at the front, Claire and Alicia on either side of her and slightly behind her to form a power triangle. Massie twirled a piece of hair that framed her face around her ringed finger, then patted her messy bun to make sure it was still in place.
"Walking to the chorus of Katy Perry's Hot n' Cold on the beat of eight. Ready? Ok. Five, six, sev-uhn, eight."
Massie pumped the front door open, "Cause you're hot then you're cold, You're yes then you're no," she sang silently in her head, pulling a black look over her face and pretending not to notice peoples eyes on her as if they were a stranded ship and she was a lighthouse beacon.
Right foot, left foot right foot. To her right, Claire was slightly behind. Massie casually tapped the outside of her right thigh to signal her to speed up. The answering flip flop flip flop sound was enough to tell her that Claire had gotten the message.
It was as if she was their master. The crowd slid apart like a bar of Ivory soap, revealing a rather squishy aisle for her up to the front. At least she wouldn't have to shove her way through as much and risk messing up her hair.
"Look!" a sudden, very excited voice shouted. Everyone's attention whipped away from Massie, Alicia, and Claire and onto the sleek black limo that was pulling up to the hotel doors. Two men in stuffy red Fairmont uniforms appeared out of nowhere, eager to help their celebrity guests. The crowd pushed their sunglasses up onto their hair and started snapping pictures, Claire and Alicia included. Massie didn't move an inch, not even to remove her aviators. She let Claire and Alicia take the pictures for her; hopefully the two would let her do the talking for them.
"Ehmagawsh!" Claire gasped, clicking away like a shutterbug.
Alicia squealed.
The limo stopped and two beefy bodyguards got out from the dark interior of the limo first. Then one blood red stiletto followed by an incredibly tanned and exposed leg, followed by the body of Sasha Freement.
There was instant chaos as the blond was followed by Sara, then Michael.
Bodies surged forward, pushing and shoving against Massie. One skinny elbow knocked Massie's aviators to the ground where they smashed into smithereens. Massie stepped on klutzy-elbow's foot hard in retaliation while pulling her backup pair of dark Prada shades from the side pocket of her bag. Instead of perching it on her nose she decided to stick them into her messy bun. The Freement trio waved to the crowd and beamed through incredibly white teeth. Their beauty made Edward Cullen look ugly.
Paper and pens were being shoved into their faces as the hotel staff tried to urge the crowd back. There was screaming, hyperventilating, brilliant flashes of light and hysterics.
"All right folks, back it up or I'll call the police!" A red faced man bellowed through a loudspeaker. The shiny nameplate on his chest flashed 'Stern Ricks - Manager'.
One eight of the crowd retreated. The rest surged forward like a tidal wave.
"MOVE BACK NOW!!!" Stern Ricks roared, his bear like growl magnified twenty times by the loudspeaker. The entire hotel staff was out front now, yelling at people and waving them away like pesky flies.
Eventually, they managed to have the ever-screaming crowd under control and the Freement Trio was safe from being trampled over.
"This way please," a smug-looking porter standing body-guard-like beside the manager led the Freements inside. The limo rushed away into the setting darkness.
Seeing her chance, Massie reached for her Tiffany charm bracelet and grasped the tiny gold flashlight charm. She'd recently purchased it, amazed at its ability to light up the sky with one tiny purple light. She casually aimed it at Michael's face as he walked by, almost within touching range, and flicked the miniscule on/off button on. The bright purple light lit up Michael's face and he turned. He met her eyes as Massie hurriedly dropped her wrist back down.
His spine-tingling, electric-blue eyed gaze was intense.
CURRENT STATE OF THE UNION
IN
The Freement Trio
Flashlights
Gift Shops
Tigers
OUT
Connor Foley and Abby Boyd
Starlights
Saks Fifth Avenue
Bears
