The Great Lawn
Briarwood-Octavian Day School
9:38 A.M.
FEBRUARY 22, 2009
The Pretty Committee took their seats in a circle underneath the oak tree, allowing Massie Block to be the one to lean against the tree. She was half smiling and glancing at Alicia, who was glancing at a teary-eyed Claire. Kristen was too busy searching through the crowds on the Great Lawn for Dempsey, and Dylan was staring at her iPhone in wonder.
Two LBR 8th grade girls stared at them for a moment, and then walked past them as if they were the ones who ruled the school. Alicia and Massie rolled their eyes at their pathetic attempt and tried not to pay attention to them.
"Did you hear?" One of them asked, walking a bit slower so the PC could hear. Massie sent a signal to her friends to pretend not to notice them, so they all leaned more forward in the circle and started giggling.
The other girl glanced at the PC, and then back at her LBR friend. "What's up, Anne?"
The girl now known as Anne leaned closer to her other friend, but still talked loud. "I heard that Massie had sex with Derrick lots of times, and even begged him to have sex with her just last night!"
"What!? Really!?" Anne's friends bulgy brown eyes widened and her jaw dropped. She glanced at Massie, and then back at her friend. Massie widened her eyes and gasped, but bit her lip, finding it hard to control her anger. Where did this rumor come from!?
Alicia placed her hand on Massie and gave it a squeeze, and then whispered, "They're probably just trying to get you to talk to them. It's not a real spreading rumor, Mass."
Massie tried to relax by Alicia's soothing words, but it still was difficult. Kristen glanced at Dylan, and Dylan glanced at Claire, but Claire was ignoring everything around her.
"It isn't her first, either," Anne giggled. "She's had it with so many guys around Westchester that she may have some kind of disease now!"
"WHAT!?" Massie screeched, standing up and balling her hands into fists. Anne and her friend glanced at Massie, giggled, and then scurried off before the alpha exploded. Kristen, Dylan, and Alicia quickly jumped to her side, but Claire stayed seated, staring at a fallen leaf for comfort.
"Ignore them, Mass," Alicia said, crossing her arms across her C cups. "They're just jealous that you're prettier than them."
"They're so wrong, Massie," Dylan said, shaking her head. "You never did any of that."
"Seriously," Kristen chimed in. "Just ignore them."
"I can't ignore them if my reputation is on the line, guys!" Massie threaded her fingers through her chestnut locks, and them sighed heavily. "This can NAWT go around BOCD! We need to find those girls and destroy them before it's too late."
"Done," Alicia nodded, and then scanned the thinning crowds.
"Done," Kristen said.
"Done," Dylan smiled.
All girls stared at Claire, who was still staring at a leaf. She glanced up at them, and then back at the leaf, sighing lightly.
"AND DONE!" Massie finished, slamming her Jimmy Choo brown leather ankle boots right in front of Claire, and then storming off. "You're annoying me, Kuh-laire!"
All the other girls followed right behind her, staring and giggling at Claire, who was close to tears. She could never forgive Massie for what she made her do. Never.
"Maybe it was Claire who started the rumor," Dylan said, walking slowly so she can whisper in Kristen's ear. Kristen responded with wide eyes and then an eye roll. "Whaaat?"
"I doubt it," Kristen tugged at her blonde ponytail as she scurried to keep up with Massie's anger speed-walking. "Kuh-laire wouldn't do something so evil. It's too evil; even for her." She pulled her Math books up to her chest, thinking back at the time when Dempsey had touched it. Her heart fluttered with happiness.
Dylan shrugged, and then stared back ahead. She was going to get to the bottom of this no matter how long it took. Maybe if she solved the mystery before Massie, Massie would accept her crush with Derrington. And maybe she could be the new Beta. Dylan glanced at Alicia, who had her moisturized hand on Massie's slouchy sweater covered shoulder. She was whispering something to the alpha, causing a half smile to erupt on her lips.
"Alicia," Massie said, keeping her narrowed amber eyes ahead. "You're a good gossip catcher; get to the bottom of who's spreading this, alright?" She inhaled sharply, trying to prevent from exploding. If she exploded that wouldn't be alpha at awl. Losing cool=LBR.
"Given," Alicia smile-nodded, immediately on the job. She drew a check point in the air with her index finger. Dylan felt her early-morning mocha with strawberry waffles crawling back up her throat. Why Alicia Rivers was made the Beta? Dylan would never know.
"Where are we going now?" Alicia asked, flicking her dark glossy ponytail. She widened her chocolate brown eyes innocently as if to seem not too pushy.
"To the bathroom for a quick touch up," Massie lightly touched her rosy cheeks. "I need to check to make sure the colors in my cheeks aren't fading."
"Umm, Massie," Kristen called from behind the small cluster. "I kind of need to get to class early. I can't be late again or else my Mom will kill me." She tightened her grip on her books and bit her glossy bottom lip.
"Opposite of yes," Massie snapped. "We have a job to do, Kristen, and that's catching this rumor maker." She whipped her head again, her amber eyes boring into Kristen's face. It felt as if her alpha grip was weakening on the girls; like running across wooden floors in oil slicked stilettos.
"But how will touching up on blush help us with this rumor spreading?" Kristen squeaked, a bead of sweat forming on her upper lip. She attempted to keep Massie's heated stare, but she gave up when Massie eyebrows twitched in annoyance.
"Point," Alicia lifted her point finger, but quickly put it down when Massie's glare traveled to her blemish free face.
"Poooointttt," Dlyan burped, feeling out of the conversation. All the girls giggled but Massie, who clenched her fists into balls and swung one at Dylan's arm.
"Owww!" Dylan whimpered, and then giggled. Massie cracked a smile.
"Hey, Dylan!" A boy voice called from behind the PC huddle. All the girls turned around and caught Derrick Harrington running towards them with a bag of marshmallows and pretzels. His shaggy hair was ah-dorably disheveled and his chocolate brown eyes twinkled with joy. Massie resisted the urge to spritz-claim him all over again.
"O-Oh, ummm, hey Derrick," Dylan giggle-muttered, glancing over at the PC to see their reactions. Alicia was swinging her black ponytail side to side, trying nawt to care, Kristen was glancing down at her Math book, obviously recovering from Massie's anger-bark, and Massie was staring at Dylan and Derrick with a clenched jaw.
"Wanna play soccer with us during lunch?" Derrick asked, swinging the bag of snacks by his waist. Dylan widened her emerald green eyes, wanting to accept the offer, but afraid of her alpha's wrath.
"Ummmm…." Dylan giggled. "I, uh, c-"
"No," Massie said, crossing her arms. "We have Pretty Committee business to do."
"Point," Alicia raised a finger, and then lowered it again. Dylan lowered her gaze, admitting defeat.
"Oh, really?" Derrick asked, smirking. Massie didn't like that glint behind his brown eyes; it told her he was getting ready to whip out a comeback and kick it in her glossy lips like a soccer ball.
"Yes," Massie smirked back, crossing her arms. "Really." Both stared each other down, glancing over the features of their faces before meeting gazes again. Alicia, Dylan, and Kristen stepped back, sensing a throw down about to happen.
"Last time I checked this was the Pretty Committee, not the Massie Committee," Derrick crossed his arms back. "What makes you the one to tell them what to do?"
Alicia opened her mouth to say "Point," but restrained herself, afraid of being in the smack down.
"Uhhh, guys?" Kristen muttered. "I'm going to be late for-"
Massie raised her hand, signaling for immediate silence. It was granted, but she kept her narrowed amber eyes on Derrick, thinking up a smart remark.
"Um, Derrick, are you a referee?" Massie kept a straight face while the PC took one more step back.
"No," Derrick said, rolling his chocolate eyes as if he was over her childish games.
"Then what makes you call the shots?" Massie raised her hand for a high five, but all she got was a wimpy one from Alicia and a small snort from Derrick. She glanced over at the PC, wondering why they didn't follow her up with a holler or a giggle.
"I should be saying that to you, Assie," Derrick said, mocking Massie's cool and collected tone. "If Dylan wants to hang out with me then she should say so, not you."
"Fine," Massie put her hands on her hips, and spun on her Jimmy Choo heels towards Dylan. She lowered her ear to her shoulder, widened her amber eyes, and half smiled. "Dylan, do you want to hang out with Derrick?"
Dylan widened her eyes, as if surprised at the question. Was it a trick question? Or was Massie being for real? Because her blank expression gave away nothing but fake kindness. She felt her upper lip barf-sweat, along with her palm.
Alicia and Kristen glanced at Derrick, and then Dylan, and then their alpha, half glad that they weren't in Dylan's position. Massie slowly raised her hand, revealing a shifting charm bracelet, reminding Dylan of their boyfast.
Dylan stared at the charms on the charm bracelet hitting together, her green eyes blurring with anger tears. What gave Massie the chance to reveal that to "protect" their boyfast? She was obviously all over Dempsey like an LBR is all over alphas! She clenched her fists and sighed angrily. Alicia and Kristen took one more step back.
"Yes, Derrick, I would love to play soccer with you," Dylan said, stilling gazing into Massie's amber eyes. Massie kept her gaze on Dylan, but slowly lowered her charm bracelet covered wrist. She could nawt believe Dylan just broke the boyfast swear. Beta's were always supposed to follow their alpha, no matter what! She felt herself trip in the oil slicked stiletto's, falling on her butt with a loud scream. There was a number one rule to being an alpha: if you lost your grip over your friends, then your reign as alpha was over.
"Great," Derrick smirked. He walked past Massie, wrapping an arm over Dylan's shoulders. "I got you something, too." Alicia shifted uncomfortably in her heels, gazing over at Kristen with wide eyes. Kristen gazed right back, her blue eyes glassy.
"What is it?" Dylan asked, half smiling. But, she couldn't smile all the way knowing she just betrayed Massie's trust. She just went against the alpha for a boy, the biggest sin in the book of cliques.
Massie crossed her arms, squinting hatefully at the couple. "I guess you guys are perfect for each other."
"And why is that?" Dylan squeaked, her whole body shaking from fear. Derrick raised an eyebrow, his chocolate eyes glimmering with victory.
"You're both immature, and on your way to being obese," Massie nodded. "The perfect Food Channel couple." She held her hand out towards Dylan and wiggled her French Manicured fingers.
"Whaat?" Dylan asked, suddenly becoming nervous. The weight of Derrick's arm on her shoulders suddenly felt heavier as the time passed. Alicia gasped from behind, realizing what Massie wanted. She leaned over and muttered something in Kristen's ear, who immediately gasped after hearing her.
"You're PC charm bracelet, puh-lease," Massie said with an eye roll, as if it were obvious from the start. "You're obviously too into boys than to hang out with us; alphas."
Derrick snorted on Dylan's behalf, as if not caring, but to Dylan it was a four inch heel to the face. She was just kicked out of the Pretty Committee! Dylan Marvil!
"W-Wait, Massie, can't we just discuss this over Chai Latte's?" Dylan asked, her voice quivering. Massie quickly responded with a head shake from side to side. She wiggled her fingers again, looking as if she were becoming annoyed. She needed a response and quick, before she lost it. Dylan was actually choosing Derrick over her!
RIIIINNNNGGGGGGGGG!
Dylan ignored the tardy bell, staring deep into Massie's amber eyes. "Well, fine! Have fun breaking your own PC boyfast rule with Dempsey!"
"Boyfast?" Derrick asked, raising an eyebrow in confusion. "What's that?" Dylan raised her palm, signaling for silence. Derrick immediately obeyed.
"Puh-lease, Ew-lan," Massie crossed her arms. "You have no proof at awlll." Kristen glanced nervously at the thinning hallway crowds, knowing it were her cue to run to class, but didn't want to get on Massie's bad side. Alicia crossed her arms, luh-ving the PC fight.
"I awnestly have no proof?" Dylan raised an eyebrow while taking off her PC boyfast bracelet. "During Kristen's sleepover you obviously got all dressed up because you knew Dempsey was coming! You never get that dressed up for a sleepover! Face it; you're going against your own rule, and you're going to lose the whole PC because of it!"
Before Massie could open her glossy mouth to reply, Dylan pushed Derrick's arm off her shoulder, tossed the charm bracelet in front of her ex-alphas Jimmy Choo heels, and stormed off. Her heels clacked loudly and confidently against the marble floors, pushing more adrenaline into her veins.
Derrick smirked proudly at a shocked Massie, and then jogged to catch up with Dylan's model walk while whistling a happy tune. Kristen lowered her gaze while Alicia twirled her glossy ponytail around her fingers.
Massie couldn't believe what just happened: Dylan broke the boyfast rule by going with her ex-boyfriend, and just told her off in front of her friends like she was an alpha. What was going awn? Was Massie Block really losing her touch? First Claire denying the last "done" and now Dylan parading off?
"I really need to go, Massie," Kristen said, eyeing her baby blue G-shock watch. "I'll catch you later, okay?" She quickly ran off before Massie could lecture her nawt to go and to stay with the PC in its weakened state. Alicia watched her go, and then looked back at Massie.
"I'm still here, Mass," Alicia put her hands on her hips. "We can so totally make Dylan wish she never left our side." She smirked, making an attempt to cheer her alpha up.
"No need," Massie said, raising a palm. "I can do all of that." She quickly re-glossed with her cotton candy Glossip Girl, dying for her alpha battery to recharge. Once it did, she let out a gentle sigh. "Let's just get to class for now; we need to find the rumor maker before its too late.
"Given," Alicia sighed happily, and then walked along side her alpha, feeling more in power. At least her life wasn't crashing down for once; besides the problem with not being able to be with Josh for the time being.
The Café
Briarwood-Octavian Day School
11:35 P.M.
FEBRUARY 22, 2009
"So that's why you should join Da Crew," Derrick finished explaining to Dylan Marvil as they sat at Table 7. Dylan eyed everybody at the table, feeling like an LBR. But, what other choice did she have? Without Massie she was nothing. She had the only alpha clique in all of OCD.
"Sure; okay," Dylan said, forcing a smile. She assumed boy-girl cliques didn't work, but she would just have to test it out.
"Why herrr?" Olivia asked as she studied her French Manicure. "Last time I checked she was tainted with PC." Dylan stuck her tongue out at Duh-livia, and then rolled her eyes. Kemp and Plovert snickered, and then made pig noises. Dylan shot them a glare, silencing their barnyard sound affects.
"She's cool now," Derrick said, wrapping an arm around her thin shoulders. "The PC can no longer taint her here." Olivia nodded, accepting that as an answer.
"So," Strawberry said, fluffing her dull pink hair. "What's the gossip in the PC right now?"
"Yeah; what, what?" Kori asked, smiling expectantly. Dylan kept her glossy mouth shut, refusing to let them know even though she was no longer in the PC. It was better to let them wait it out, anyway.
"Guess what, guys?" Josh asked, smiling.
"Hm?" Derrick asked, raising an eyebrow as his Ralph Lauren-loving friend.
"There's a rumor going around that Massie's an ex-Playboy slut," Josh said, snickering. He eyed Table 18, and then snickered again.
"Tell me something I don't know," Derrick snorted. Kemp and Plovert high-fived him with a loud chuckle.
"Do you guys know who started it?" Dylan asked, raising an eyebrow. Maybe if she figured it out before Massie, she could rub it in the alphas blemish free face until she snapped and lost her cool. But, all she got were blank expressions and lazy shrugs.
"No one knows where it started," Kori explained. "All we know is that it's spreading faster than Swine Flu."
"Swine Flu is still around?" Olivia widened her navy blue eyes. "EhmaGawd, I better hide somewhere!" The table openly laughed at her stupidity.
"Anyway," Strawberry said after a good giggle. "I think the rumors are true. Have you seen what she wears lately?" All the girls at the table slowly turned around to catch a glimpse of Massie's outfit. It was a slouchy sweater with denim shorts and tights. They all nodded, as if understanding the rumor completely now.
"Yeah; the rumors must be true," Derrick smirked. "Like that joke I made this week. Gold."
"Totally!" Plovert laughed. "That was waaay better than Assie's jokes!"
Kemp snickered behind his palm while Josh tuned them out by texting Alicia. Dylan put her forehead against her water bottle, getting a headache from hearing Massie's name way too much. Couldn't everybody just talk about something else for once?
Just then Cam entered the Café with a dull gaze. The usual glint behind his different colored eyes was gone, and his black hair flew in every direction possible. Though, he still stunk of Big League Grape chew and Drakar Noir.
Table 7 and Claire from Table 18 glanced over at him, all with different expressions. Derrick quickly looked away, feeling heartbroken and mad at the same time. What was he doing back, anyway? Doesn't he know no one likes him anymore?
Cam quickly entered the lunch line, grabbing some bottled water and salad with fat free dressing. His attempts to ignore all the heavy stares were futile; he just had to look back. Some wore confused expressions; other's looked disgusted and/or angry. What did they want from him? Mostly all of them knew nothing about the story!
He lowered his gaze at his lunch tray, quickly leaving the cafeteria as quickly as he came. He had to get away; go somewhere but there. He couldn't stand school life anymore. Not even his own home felt safe from angry gazes and smart remarks.
Cam picked up his pace, wondering why he even came to school in the first place. If this was his constant fate, then what was the point? His vision blurred with tears, preventing him from seeing clearly, but he kept on walking. No one was in the hallways, anyway.
"Hey, Cam," A familiar voice called from a few feet ahead. Cam blinked back his hot tears and looked up, meeting a warm gaze. Dempsey.
"What?" Cam looked down at his tray again, anger filling up in his body.
"I helped you; aren't you happy?" Dempsey asked with a smile. He stepped towards Cam and placed a hand on his shoulder, but Cam was quick to squirm away.
"What do you mean?" Cam spat, glaring into his peer's army green eyes.
"Did you hear the rumor about Massie?" Dempsey smiled proudly. Cam studied Dempsey's face for a bit, confusion taking hold of his boiling anger. Cam was about to ask what he meant, but he quickly stopped himself, catching on to the conversation.
"You did that?" Cam asked, not knowing whether to be proud or freaked out. Dempsey put his fingers to his own lips, signaling for Cam to not tell anyone. "Why?"
"Because you hate Massie," Dempsey said, as if it were obvious. He rocked back and forth on his sneakers with a smirk. "And since Derrick lied about what had happened on the soccer field last week, he's next."
"What?" Cam raised an eyebrow. "Why are you doing this?"
"To get back at them for doing this to you," Dempsey nodded. "Just trying to be a good friend."
Or are you trying to get with me?
"Look, Dempsey," Cam sighed, as if he were a parent about to lecture his child. "I'm not gay; just leave me alone. I don't like Derrick, and I don't like you. Just back off, okay, man?"
"I know you don't like me," Dempsey nodded thoughtfully, also looking slightly offended. "I want to date Kristen now. I just wanted to help out."
Cam kept a confused gaze on Dempsey's face, not trusting him, but finally sighed with defeat. "Fine, okay, thanks." He quickly rushed past Dempsey, feeling awkward about talking to him. He doubted that was his only reason, but had no choice but to believe the kid for now.
"Hey, it's Alicia Rivera with the lunch time news!"
The café busted into cheers and clapping, Table 18 doing the most work. Dylan glanced over at the PC table, a lonely feeling in the pit of her stomach. Did she do something wrong? Did she choose the wrong clique? Anything named Da Crew must be LBR-infested, anyway.
"The nerd herd needs to start studying harder, because the big Mathalon is coming up Friday! We guys need you-meaning Kristen Gregory and Dempsey Holoman- to represent BOCD the best you can!"
Kristen stood up from Table 18 and punched the air, her blue eyes twinkling with joy. The cafeteria clapped loudly for her, until she sat back down.
"Also the Teen Vogue trend still seems to be IN! Let's thank Massie one more time for introducing us to it! Thanks, Mass!"
Massie stood up, waving to her cheering public. With a flip of her hair, she sat back down. Dylan's stomach sank. She seemed so happy and careless even without her.
"Don't forget the Soccer game coming up next week Thursday! We need to cheer our public on!"
Table 7 all stood up, with Derrick doing his signature butt wiggle.
"This was Alicia Rivera saying, I heart you!"
The whole cafeteria began to cheer, but Dylan restrained herself, refusing to clap for her ex-friend.