RIVERA MANSION
BACKYARD
7:32 PM
SEPTEMBER 24, 2012
"Welcome," Alicia greeted each guest graciously, taking in their Dolce&Gabbana, Donna Karan (even though their asses weren't fat), Prada, Gucci, and Burberry designer dresses. "You look ah-mazing." All she had to do was add a big, fake, blinding white smile and she was set. She was going through her ritual monotonically by the time you-know-who arrived.
"Hi, welco- What the fuck? What are you doing here? Who invited you?" She looked around. "Kuh-laire!"
The white-blonde-haired girl was at her side in a second. Even though she didn't have enough money to afford designer clothes all the time, she, along with her mother and her grandmother, had splurged for a rosy pink Juicy Couture dress with a high-low hem and a floppy bow. A giant metallic silver purse of her mother's and matching Georgina Goodman heels rocked the party mood. So did a coordinating headband, which was perched perfectly on her head, holding back her straggly bangs. A tiny bit of eyeliner and pale-pink shadow added color to her eyes. Sugar Doughnut Glossip Girl that she'd stolen from Massie's bag plumped her lips. "What?" Even though she looked like a total Alicia-wannabe, she was downright hostile.
"Take a chill pill, Kuh-laire. I just wanted to know if you invited Massie to our party."
"No." Claire looked at Massie as though she was some slug on the bottom of her shoe. "Why are you here?"
"Look, Kuh-laire," Massie snapped, "My family was nice enough to take yours in, and I graciously agreed." This was not strictly true, (she had had no say in the matter whatsoever) but she could milk it for what it was worth. "I think you could be nice enough to let me join your party." Massie Block's blackmailing skills were beyond impressive. She raised her voice. "And if you're not going to, I will make sure I tell your mom how ungracious and bratty you are."
Claire's eyebrows shot up. She knew her mom didn't appreciate a tattletale, but she also wouldn't agree with Claire's desicion to diss Massie, no matter how mean she was. "Fine," she said with a sickly-sweet tone and smile. "Come on." She waved her inside and closed the gate.
Massie waited for Claire to do or say something, but she didn't. She just gestured around the area, then disappeared, leaving Massie to her own devices. This was not what she had expected. This was one of those If She Was Alpha moments. If she was Alpha, everyone would be flocking around, gravitating towards her to compliment the brand-new Nicole Miller dress, and inviting her places. But unlike her fantasy, Massie stood all alone.
RIVERA MANSION
BACKYARD
8:09 PM
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
When Claire felt the first droplet of water on her head, she beelined for Alicia. "It's raining," she hissed, as it began to pour.
"No shit, Sherlock," replied Alicia as she climbed onto the table, clapping her hands for attention. "Excuse me!" she hollered at the top of her lungs, trying to make herself heard over the blasting music. Finally, the DJ noticed her and spun a dial, adjusting the volume. Everything got quiet as girls turned to stare at Alicia. "Since it's raining, the party will continue inside at the pool. If you didn't bring your own, there are bathing suits for everyone. Yours to keep!" The crowd cheered and stampeded toward the sliding doors.
Alicia triumphed. She was a success.
RIVERA MANSION
INDOOR POOL
8:13 PM
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
Claire watched the party with stunned eyes. Girls were jumping into the pool, leaping out, flipping, giggling, and drinking, maybe not alcohol but Shirley Temples and sparkling pink lemonade. Snacks were littered on all four corner tables. She'd never seen anything like this, except on TV when her parents were gone. And she'd never ever been part of it.
She scanned the room for Massie, making sure she checked ever crack and crevice. Then she edged toward Alicia. "Leesh?" No reply. "Leesh?" No reply. "Alicia!" she yelled.
She glanced around, putting up a hand to halt the conversation she was having with a (in Claire's opinion) slutty blonde. She had peircing blue eyes, unlike Claire's kind ones, and a perfect little nose. "Aren't you supposed to be hosting with me? Go mingle!"
Claire hadn't known she was supposed to. "I was," she fibbed. "But I came to tell you that I can't find Massie anywhere."
"She's somewhere," Alicia dismissed her. "Stop obsessing."
Then she turned away. And once again, Claire is left to play the humble hero.
PINEWOOD APARTMENTS
DRIVEWAY
8:15 PM
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
Dylan knocked loudly on Kristen's apartment door. Her friend flung it open, looking livid. "What the hell took you so long?" she demanded.
"My sister had to be dropped off somewhere in Connecticut at 7:30. I'm sorry!"
"You better be." Kristen slapped the door shut behind her. "Let's go."
"Is your mom here, sweetheart?" asked Merri-Lee. "You might want to tell her you're leaving."
"No, she's not here." Kristen looked nervous. "She knows I'm going to the party."
"If you say so."
They took the elevator to the lobby and ran toward the limo, where Lloyd sat at attention in the driver's seat.
"Let's go!"
And they did.
RIVERA MANSION
INDOOR POOL
8:27 PM
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
Dylan dropped the heavy copper knocker against the door multiple times, then pounded the doorbell. She didn't appreciate standing out in the rain. Her hair frizzed like nobody's business, and it had taken her stylit, Marc, three hours to do her hair for the party.
"Hola?" a young Spanish woman with a strained expression said questioningly.
Dylan gathered everything she'd learned in fifth-grade Spanish. "¿Dónde es la fiesta?" she tried.
"Las chicas están abajo en la zona de la piscina. Puedes seguirme." Dylan understood none of it. Since the woman turned away but didn't close the door, Dylan and Kristen figured that they were supposed to go with her. So they trailed the woman downstairs and arrived at the pool. Although Kristen spent ten seconds staring at the scene, open-mouthed, Dylan grabbed a bathing suit from the pile of Ralph Lauren bikinis, turned away to change, and was about to dive in when Alicia apprehended her.
"Where were you guys?" she snapped, not sounding angry so much as annoyed. "I wanted to rub you guys in Massie's face."
"Sorry, Ryan and Jaime had somewhere to be," apoligized Dylan.
"So your sisters are more important than you?" said Alicia. "That's not right."
"I know," sighed Dylan, then changed the subject. "But we're so glad to be here. Come on, Kris!" Then they power-walked away. Alicia shook her head, then went back to her conversation with Olivia Ryan.
RIVERA MANSION
ALICIA'S ROOM
8:30 PM
SEPTEMBER 12, 2012
After a quick glance around the party to make sure no one was watching her, Massie had slipped away and tiptoed up the steps to Alicia's room. She'd never been to the mansion, so she guessed, but it wasn't hard to find her ex-friend's room. "A-ha!" she whispered as she pushed open the door.
She didn't waste any time taking the room in. She ran to Alicia's bureau, but realized quickly that she probably had her phone with her. So she searched for anything else, something personal, and easy to blackmail her with. Because Massie wanted to be in Alicia's group. And she wanted to be Alpha. And she didn't want to be told no.
And then she found just the thing.