June 25, 2008

Guess what!! I'm in a generous mood, and haven't got anything better to do at this time...so here's Chapter 14...

--MC

THE WESTCHESTER MALL

STARBUCKS

Saturday, September 1st

4:52 pm

Claire sucked down her hot chocolate as the rest of the Pretty Committee, including Vanessa, compared their days' purchases.

The girls had slept in until eleven that morning after staying up until one in the morning gossiping and messing with all the new body products and makeup that Massie had recently stocked the wet section of the spa with. Then they had had brunch at Massie's house and headed for the Westchester Mall, where everyone except Claire had literally shopped till they dropped, weighed down by their many bags and in desperate need of a latte. Even Kristen had spent two hundred dollars that day. Claire, on the other hand, had bought one pair of Keds for twenty bucks.

When Massie, Dylan, Kristen, Alicia, and Vanessa were finally done with their analysis of their purchases and with their drinks, they all hoisted their bags and headed for the Range Rover. Isaac had to help them stuff everything in the trunk.

One by one, Isaac dropped them off at their homes. Finally, he took Massie and Claire back to the Block Estate.

When Claire entered the guesthouse, she kicked her shoes off and announced, "I'm home!"

"Hey," her father greeted her from where he was sitting on the couch, staring at the television. "How was shopping?"

"Oh, you know," Claire said jokingly. "Shop-ish."

Jay laughed. "Did you get anything good?"

Holding up her shopping bag, Claire replied, "Just a new pair of Keds. My old ones are kind of falling apart."

Jay turned back to the TV, nodding. Claire was about to head up to her bedroom when her dad stopped her again. "Wait a minute, Layne called. She wants you to call her back."

"Oh, okay." Claire set her bag on the stairs and went into the kitchen, where the phone was. She had, once again, forgotten to charge her cell phone. It was lying battery-less in her pocket.

Claire dialed Layne's number from memory and waited for her to pick up. "Layne?"

"Claire!" Layne sounded extremely enthusiastic. "I won three free movie tickets to Last Stand!"

"Awesome!" Claire exclaimed. "How?"

"I entered this sweepstakes contest a few weeks ago with this thing on my cereal box."

Claire laughed; that seemed exactly like something Layne would do.

"So, you wanna come to the movie with me?" Layne asked.

"Sure!"

"Do you know anyone else who'd want to come? I've got three tickets."

"Um…" Claire thought for a moment. "How about Vanessa?"

"Vanessa Boyd?" Layne's tone of voice was skeptical.

"Yeah," Claire replied.

"But isn't she, like, Massie's new BFF?"

"Kind of," Claire said. "But she's really nice. And she's new here. Being friends with Massie isn't going to make her feel completely at home." Claire didn't know if this was actually true, and she knew Layne would keep Vanessa's secret, but she had told Vanessa she wouldn't tell and she was not going to tell.

"Fine," Layne agreed. "You'd better call her, right?"

"Yeah."

"'Kay, Chris will be around to pick you up in ten, alright?"

"Sounds good."

"Bye, then."

"Bye." Claire heard Layne hang up her phone and pressed the end call button. Then she looked up Vanessa's number and dialed it.

Somehow she had a good feeling about going to the movies with Layne and Vanessa.

Now here's the peremptory thanks for reading and please review! hee hee...

--MC