Massie

Massie's birthday had been the best day of her life in awhile. She woke up to eighteen balloons scattered around her room, a $100 gift card to Sephora, text messages from Landon about how much he loved her even though they were fighting, cards from TPC in her locker, a birthday lunch at her favorite restaurant, etc. It was everything she loved and wanted. She couldn't have asked for more except maybe a day off from work.

She pulled up to Johanna's house and sighed. She was pretty sure Johanna had forgotten her birthday from now and the other day when she told her. Massie got out her car and walked into the mansion. She stopped in the foyer when she realized she forgot to bring Johanna the papers she requested from the country club. She silently crossed her heart and hoped her job wasn't on the line.

Massie went to the greenroom nestled in the shed outside. Johanna like to spend an hour and a half inside smelling all the plants because it "rejuvenated" her. She opened the door and saw Johanna perched on a water fountain in the middle. She had a silk robe on and had her head tilted to the sunlight. "Massie, you're late," she snapped, not opening her eyes. "Do you have the files?"

Massie swallowed nervously and said, "No."

Johanna's eyes popped open and she replied. "You're a bad assistant. If it weren't for your connection to Kendra, I would've fired you last week for double booking me for my hair and nail appointment. It's okay because I knew you wouldn't have them and sent Ana out for them."

Massie bit her tongue in annoyance. "It's my birthday today, I'm so sorry," she apologized.

Johanna stood up and went over to examine the petals of a tulip. "I don't care if it's your birthday. There should be no excuses. You're getting on my last nerve," she snapped, "Now, if you excuse me I have to do things for myself that you should be doing! That means you're going to miss out on your pay! Dismissed."

Massie's nostrils flared and she left the greenroom. Why did Johanna have to be such a raging bitch? But whatever, it was her birthday she couldn't care less. She walked back into the house, debating on starting her homework or leaving when she saw Kendall in the foyer.

"Happy birthday!" he exclaimed, giving her a kiss on the cheek. "I have a gift for you upstairs in my room."

Massie gave him a shy smirk. "Thanks," she said and wiped her cheek off to indicate she didn't like Kendall doing that. She hadn't talked to him since the other day. "Can't you bring the gift down here?" she asked.

Kendall frowned and said, "I'm sorry Massie for the other day. I wasn't trying to be shady or anything. But, can you just forgive me?"

Massie shrugged but Kendall tugged her upstairs. He took her into his room where the blinds were shut with only a sliver of light coming out. "What's this?" she questioned him. "Where's the present?"

Kendall closed the door and walked over to Massie. He pulled her closer by her hips and without any indication he started to kiss her. Massie tensed up when she felt his lock grip tighter on her waist. She didn't know what to do and hoped it would make him stop and kissed him back.

Kendall grabbed her ass but Massie quickly pulled away before it could escalate. "NO." she firmly told him.

Kendall made an annoyed sound and pulled her back to him. "Yes. Come on! That boyfriend of yours doesn't have to know!" he snapped.

"You know what I'm leaving!" Massie exclaimed and hurriedly walked to the door. Kendall quickly blocked her path and reached out for her with an evil smirk on his face. Massie froze for a second when his hands wrapped around her waist but she quickly kneed him in his balls. He fell down with a groan and Massie made a run for it.

"Get back here!" Kendall called. "Fucking bitch!" he screamed, picking himself up and grabbing at his jeans.

Massie's heart thudded as she ran down the stairs two at a time, nearly smacking into Johanna and Ana who were busy talking about a party for a gala.

"Johanna!" Massie breathlessly said when she reached the end of the steps.

"What are you doing?" Johanna snapped sharply and studied her with a judgmental glare. "You could've knocked over this statue!" she pointed at an Italian marble head bust. "This is expensive, and I'll be damned if I let the help ruin it. Now, what's going on?!"

Massie gained her composure and looked behind her where Kendall was walking down the stairs. "Ask your son!" she exclaimed. "I think he was trying to have sex with me!"

Kendall lingered behind Massie on the steps and put his hand on her back. Massie squirmed away and shot him a disgusted look. "She's lying," Kendall said innocently. "She was trying to have sex with me mom."

Massie stared back at him in disbelief. Of course, he would lie!

"He's lying! He was overstepping my boundaries!" she yelled. Massie looked over to Ana who just looked down at the waxed floors and said nothing. Massie's heart deflated as she realized she was alone in this.

"Hmph," Johanna gripped the stair handle and turned her nose in the air. "Looks like you're a liar, May-sie," Johanna snapped. "You're just a whore who was upset Kendall didn't sleep with." She said, not having a care in the world.

Massie felt as if someone had slapped her as she stood there with her mouth opened. She was the whore, when Kendall was trying to come onto her? How did that logic work?

Johanna waved Kendall away who gave Massie a squeeze on her ass. "Don't fucking touch me!" Massie yelled as he disappeared back up the stairs. Kendall just snickered and gave her a sleazy smile.

"You're fired!" Johanna boomed. "How dare you put lies on my family?"

"I'm not!" she cried, wondering why Johanna wouldn't believe her. "He tried to!" In a last-minute attempt, Massie looked over at Ana to at least chime in and say she believed Massie.

Ana just said, "She's definitely lying."

Johanna started to turn red as she marched towards the door. She picked up Massie's purse next to the mat, opened the door, and threw it out. "GET OUT!" Johanna screamed. "NOW!"

Massie's mouth went dry as she quickly walked to the door. Johanna roughly grabbed her arm and pushed her out the house. Massie almost fell down but gained her balance. She didn't say anything except grab her stuff and run to her car. She didn't look back even as Johanna followed her out to call her a variety of insults.

She just got into her car and tried not to cry too much on her way home.

How had the best day of her life turn into a shitty one?

Alicia

"You can sleep in the guest room, the sheets are washed and everything," Dylan told Alicia as they walked into a room that was cold and dark and smelt like potpourri.

"Thanks," Alicia replied, turning on the light and walking to the double sized bed in the middle of room. "Seriously thank you so much." She dumped her weeks' worth of clothes onto the comforter. "I appreciate it so much for letting me stay at your house."

Dylan shrugged, "I know we're not friends, but we used to be some time ago. And when I saw you reach out to The Pretty Committee about your situation I jumped to help you because I knew TPC's parents wouldn't allow it and I knew how it felt like to be treated like shit by a parent." She gave Alicia a sad smile.

Alicia nodded, then furrowed her eyebrows. "I thought you said you were grounded, so I'm kind of surprised I'm at your house right now."

Dylan closed her eyes and sighed. "Yeah, I am, but with my mom and Ferragamo they could care less. They don't care what I do. They say I'm grounded but that's just their attempt at shitty parenting." She explained. "They'll forget all about by next week because they're too busy planning for weddings and baby showers."

Alicia didn't say anything and just nodded. She wondered what Dylan's life was like now. It just showed how out of touch they had been with each other.

She watched as Dylan started for the door but she couldn't let her leave. "Wait!" she yelled out. Dylan turned around with a confused glance on her face.

"Can we talk?" Alicia asked. Graduation was coming up and she wanted to at least leave on good terms with someone, even if it meant apologizing for all her wrongdoings.

Dylan paused for a second, then closed the door and sat down on the bed. Alicia plopped down on the other side and swallowed.

"So, what?" Dylan asked, looking nervously around the room.

Alicia swallowed again and said, "Can I just come clean to you and vice versa?" she asked. Dylan nodded hesitantly.

"Well," Alicia started. "I want to start off by saying how sorry I am. Last year, I was a total bitch to you. I just felt like shit when the blame was put on me for the way TPC's popularity declined. It was all on me and you never took the other part. I was hurt and confused because you were my best friend at the time, then that quickly changed."

"I feel like you just wanted to impress Massie all over again and you didn't care about me," Alicia continued. "Then me being kicked out, really made me angry so I started to hate you. I sent you those texts because it was just me projecting onto you, I needed to let my thoughts out on something or someone. I saw how vulnerable and confused you were, so I did it. Then, I joined the A-team and Massie let me back into TPC, it felt like everything was fine, but it wasn't."

"I was trying so hard to get revenge on not only you, but the other girls and you see where that got me. But I just want to say I'm truly sorry for all the hurt and pain I caused you. I know everything I said led you to being depressed and your eating disorder, so I absolutely have no right to forgiveness."

Tears were rolling down Dylan's face and she wiped them away. "Alicia, what you did was so wrong but I forgive you," she sniffed. "Because I definitely have a hand in this. I didn't take the blame when Massie came back because like you said I wanted to impress her and put the blame all on you. But, I was the one who ushered you into the bet, I should've taken responsibility and been like, "Oh hey, Massie, most of this is my fault", but I didn't. We were all bitches at the time, but I let her treat you like shit to save my own ass."

"But the stuff you said was pretty hurtful because it's stuff that constantly went through my mind. I couldn't believe you would do that. But Alicia, you didn't kickstart my eating disorder, it was something I dealt with on and off, as for the depression, it didn't start until I lost everything last year. Now that that's done I just wish for us to move on."

Alicia wiped her own tears, then grabbed Dylan's hands. "I don't expect us to go back to being best friends but can we just start over?" she asked.

Dylan wiped her face with her shoulder and smiled. "Sure, let's just agree to have each other's back." She told her. "Don't be afraid to call or text me now." Dylan said.

Alicia laughed and said, "Same here. If you want to rant away or something you know I'm here."

Dylan pulled Alicia into a hug and smiled. "In that case, can I rant to you about this Cole and Kristen situation?" she asked.

Alicia broke away from the hug and said, "Yeah. I think it's best to hear all viewpoints before launching into this."

Dylan opened her mouth to start telling her the story when Alicia's phone rung.

Alicia held up her finger to give her a minute and picked it up. It was a number she didn't know but it was someone from Westchester. She frowned and accepted the call. "Hello?" she said. A phlegmy voice filled the phone and said, "Aw, Alicia Rivera." It was Principal Burns.

Alicia's eyes went wide and she stared at Dylan who looked equally as shocked when she heard Burn's voice. "Uh, yes?" Alicia said.

Burns took a drink of something and said, "I have very good news for you."

Alicia's palms went sweaty in excitement, this is just what she needed.

"An anonymous donor has paid over $20,000 to BOCD in agreement for your graduation. We accepted, and you'll be able to graduate." Burns told her. "Now—"

Alicia didn't need to hear anymore and hung up. "Did you hear?" she screamed at Dylan and jumped on top of the bed. "I'll be able to graduate!" Dylan screamed with her and the girls both celebrated by dancing on top of the bed.

Alicia had no idea who would do that but she guessed that things did get better.

Claire

It started to rain when Claire pulled up to Tati's house—a two story red brick house. Claire jumped out her car and ran to Tati's porch. She rung the doorbell and stared at the brown EVERYONE IS WELCOME doormat while waiting.

She was kind of shocked Tati invited her to her house to sleep over when they barely talked since that kiss last week. Claire had no idea how she felt, but thankfully Tati broke the awkward barrier.

The door opened and Tati stood there in a red tank top and short shorts. Claire blushed and looked down to keep herself from staring too hard. "Hey," Tati said, then opened the door for Claire to come in. Claire walked inside the foyer and looked around. A small table was pushed against the navy walls of the entrance with pictures of Tati's family. Claire recognized Tati's mother, a thin woman with brown eyes and dark skin, because she had picked up Tati one day last week.

Claire looked at the living room on the left side and an office on the right. She looked past the hallway onto the kitchen that looked more modern than the rest of the house. "You're really observant," Tati remarked, then laughed. "It's okay because so am I." She touched Claire lightly on the shoulder and a spark jolted throughout Claire's body.

Claire blushed and said, "Haha, yeah."

Tati motioned for Claire to follow her up the stairs. When they reached the top, they passed an opening with a pool table and walked into Tati's room. It was a small room with a full sized bed pushed against a wall with a black and white tapestry. A desk, bookcase, and vanity took up one side of the room. Two, black papsan chairs and a fuzzy white ottoman were placed in front of a plasma tv atop a dresser. "Nice room," Claire nodded and sat on Tati's bed.

"Thanks," Tati said. She went over to her desk and changed the rap song she was listening to an r&b song. "Don't mind the mess." She said. Claire looked around in confusion and saw nothing but cleanliness. Tati shut her door and added, "Also, I apologize if I look like a mess. I finished taking out my braids and drying my hair when you called." She patted her bouncy curls.

"It's cool," Claire replied. She really wanted to tell Tati she looked really beautiful but didn't want to come off as creepy.

Tati turned on her tv that was broadcasting Mean Girls and flopped down next to Claire. She sat super close to the point they could almost kiss. "My mom's not here, I hope that's okay." Tati said.

Claire would've been lying when she said her heart catapulted at the thought of them being alone. "Uh yeah, it's fine." She shrugged trying to play it cool when she was truthfully dying on the inside.

"So, about the party," Tati started. Claire got anxious when she thought she was going to mention the kiss but she didn't. "Your ex is pretty crazy." Tati said instead. "Honestly, he needs to go to jail."

"Yeah," Claire sighed. "But I don't want you involved in this. I can't risk you getting hurt. I care about you." She blurted out at the end. Tati blinked at her and Claire couldn't help but blush.

"Um," Tati looked down. "Sorry for bringing it up." She apologized quickly.

Claire didn't mean to but she placed her hand on Tati's thighs. "No, it's fine." She said. "I just don't want you involve in that. It's in the past and we should move on from that. I like hanging with you because you just make me forget everything."

Tati's eyes started to shine. "Really?" she tilted her head.

Claire nodded. "You've been so nice and caring to me. I just feel calm with you." She explained. "I've been thinking about drugs sometimes too, because sometimes it gets hard. I would never go back. But it's just nice to know someone who feels the same."

Tati nodded and looked deep into Claire's eyes. "I get that, I really do," she gave a half smile. "And you know I'm always here." She grasped Claire's hands into hers and they both stared at each other.

Tati broke eye contact about six seconds later and looked to her window. "Uh, anyway," she said, her hands still tangled with Claire's. "What do you wanna do now?"

Claire looked at their hands locked together and sighed. "Honestly," she said, her voice trembling. "I just want to forget everything going around me right now. I'd just rather chill with you instead—"

Tati pressed her lips to Claire completely catching her off guard. She looked up in shock. "I, I, I.." Claire stuttered. "We haven't even talked about the kiss."

Tati pulled away and unlocked her hands from Claire's. "Claire," she said her name with the voice of an angel, "I think we both know we have feelings for each other. But I understand if you don't want—" It was Claire's turn to catch her off guard as she reached over to give her a kiss.

"You're right, I have feelings for you," Claire admitted.

Tati sighed in what sounded like a relief and smiled, "Great, now let's forget." She pushed Claire down on the bed and didn't hesitate to kiss her. To Claire, Tati's lips were so soft and tasted like cherry. She moved her lips in time with Tati's and started to moan when things went from slow to fast.

Claire could feel the intensity in her dripping down below. She had dreamt this fantasy a thousand times but never thought it would come true. She moaned when Tati gave her a neck kiss. "Everything feels so good with you," Claire breathed out. Tati whipped off her tight tank top and Claire couldn't help but stare at her chest.

"It'll feel better soon." Tati told her.

Claire raised her arms over her head for Tati to take her shirt off. She tried her hardest to not scream at the thrill that went through her when she felt Tati's breath on her. Claire tugged her shorts off and threw them aside. Tati barely touched her below and Claire moaned. "Um, sorry," she apologized.

"It's okay," Tati laughed, completely naked now. "Um, I see you were waiting for this."

Claire blushed when she realized she was probably like a waterfall right now. "It's okay though," Tati told her and before Claire knew it she was in heaven.

She couldn't stop herself from shaking until she was pushed over to edge. When she let go, she felt more relieved than ever. She laid there while Tati came over to join her. They rested for a few minutes, before Claire said, "My turn," and pulled Tati towards her.

After an hour and a half, they both stopped and laid there feeling devoid of any energy. Claire snuggled under the sheets next to Tati, both of their bodies pressed against one another. "Did you forget?" Tati asked her, still struggling to catch her breath after what they did. "Yeah," Claire smiled at the ceiling. "Yeah, Tati I did." She said, sighing with pleasure.

Tati reached over to play with Claire's hair and said, "You can call me Tatiana, now."