BLOCK ESTATE
OUTDOOR POOL
10:36 AM
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Claire posed in a modest celery-colored Prada bikini that she'd borrowed from Massie. "9.5," the Alpha proclaimed.

"9.6" "9.3" "9.3."

"Put your hair up in a messy bun," Massie instructed before moving on to Dylan. "9.4." The redhead was wearing a purple Versace one-piece, with metallic silver loops and swirls. "Not your best color, but other than that, beautiful."

"9.7" "9.2" "9.4."

"You're up," she told Kristen, who had just come out of the bathroom. She had on a navy blue Chanel suit. "That looks better on you than I thought it would," approved Massie with a smile. "9.8."

"9.8." "9.5." "9.5."

"Thanks." Kristen blushed and joined Massie, leaving only Alicia and the Alpha. Massie's Beta was dressed in a burgundy Ralph Lauren bikini, which popped against her tan skin. Matching studs were in her ears, and the Dior sunglasses on her head were to die for. So were white Prada flip-flops with the tell-tale silver logo.

"Perfect 10!" Massie squealed, jumping a few inches into the air. "I love it! You have to wear that if we ever have a pool party."

Alicia took a step back. "Thanks," she replied cooly. "But I only ever wear an outfit once."

Massie raised her eyebrows and snapped, "Rate me." She stepped in front of the girls and turned around to face them, wearing a chocolate-colored Victoria's Secret two-piece. It was surprisingly modest: yes, string, but it didn't reveal anything it wasn't supposed to.

"9.7," said Alicia thoughtfully, then nodded affirmatively in agreement with herself.

"9.8." 9.8." 9.9."

Massie spun around with a flourish and called, "Let's go!" Flipping her hair back, she sprinted across the artificial sand and dove in smoothly. She was ready for some fun in the sun.

BLOCK ESTATE
OUTDOOR POOL
10:43 AM
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Dylan flopped around clumsily, spraying Kristen and Claire with water. Massie and Alicia were floating on inner tubes at the edge of the pool, gossiping.

She tilted her face up to the sun, smiling. This was the life.

BLOCK ESTATE
DRIVEWAY
11:49 AM
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Patiently, Massie waited with Claire for all her friends to be picked up. Then she turned to her neighbor. "Back to the pool?" she asked with a knowing smirk.

"You betcha." Claire had covered herself with a black see-through wrap from Nordstrom, while Massie had on a white DKNY sundress. With their skirts streaming behind them, they raced each other around the house to the back and jumped in. They spent the rest of the day there, only coming in for dinner.

BLOCK ESTATE
GUESTHOUSE
11:10 PM
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Claire had forgotten just how easily she burned. Even though she'd lathered herself in Coppertone, the SPF hadn't been high enough, and she was as red as a lobster. Carefully, she rolled over, in an effort not to rub her skin against the polyester sheets. Biting her lip so as not to start crying, she snuck out of bed and into the bathroom she shared with her brother. She adjusted the shower nozzle until a light spray flowed out. Then she stepped into the freezing shower.

"Omigod, it'scoldit'scoldit'scold," she stuttered, wrapping her arms around herself and jumping up and down. Just as she got used to the temperature, there was a knock on the bathroom door. Then it swung open. How had she forgotten to lock it?

"Claire?" came the kind voice of Judi Lyons. "What's going on?"

Claire covered herself with her hands and pulled the shower curtain closer to her. She couldn't admit to her mother that she'd gotten sunburnt. Judi, who'd had Melanoma as a young adult, always made sure Claire was wearing sunblock. She'd kill her daughter if she knew.

She examined her body. She was burnt all over, to a crisp. There was no way she could keep Judi from finding out. She snatched a towel from the hook next to her, turned off the water, and mumbled, "I'm really sunburnt." She batted her eyelashes and used her baby voice.

Judi couldn't seem to decide whether she should run over and comfort her poor little baby, or scold her. She settled for halfway. After gathering Claire in a quick hug, she said, "How could you do this? You know how susceptible you are to skin cancer."

Claire hung her head, water dripping from the ends of her hair onto the tile. "I know." Then she brushed against the rough concrete of the sink counter and couldn't resist crying out.

Judi's eyes widened. "Come on, honey." She grabbed her daughter's arm and pulled her out of the bathroom. "We're going to the hospital."

PINEWOOD APARTMENTS
KRISTEN'S ROOM
11:21 PM
SEPTEMBER 27, 2012

Normally, Kristen wasn't allowed to keep her cell phone in her room when she went to bed, but her mother had forgotten about it tonight and Kristen wasn't about to remind her. But when she was awoken a little before midnight by a text from Massie, she regretted it.

MASSIEKUR: Kris!
SEXYSPORTSBABE: What do u want? -_-
MASSIEKUR: Kuh-laire just left the house in the middle of the night in Judi's car and they went roaring away at the speed of light. Do u hav any idea what could possibly b going on?
SEXYSPORTSBABE: No, i don't. U live there, remember? Not me.
MASSIEKUR: :/
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Look, i'm glad u care about her, but i'm sure it's nothing.

As she drifted back off to sleep, Kristen couldn't help dreaming about cars rattling into the distance and friends in trouble... she had a horrible night's sleep.