"The freaks are getting out of hand," Benny said as she brushed her blond hair out of her eyes. She, Jena, Jessica, and Claire had ditched 8th period and were now sitting in the food court at the mall.

"I totally agree," Jessica said, playing with her frozen yogurt. Like Benny and Jena, she was dressed in Sergio Valente jeans and an off-the-shoulder Guess sweatshirt. Claire, on the other hand, was dressed in a Gloria Vanderbilt denim skirt and a white oxford blouse from Polo. It was as if a memo had gone out but she hadn't gotten it.

"Well ladies, it's up to us to teach them a lesson."

"A lesson?" Jessica parroted Benny.

"Yep. Andie Walsh is dating Blane; Jake Ryan is dating that Samantha Baker. These freaks have to be put in their places. I suggest we start with that girl who walked down the hall naked this morning."

"Allison," Claire said involuntarily, immediately wishing she hadn't.

"You know her," Jessica asked incredulously, turning to face Claire.

"Not really, we had detention together."

Jessica turned back to her yogurt satisfied. However, Claire couldn't help noticing a curious look flash across Benny's face though the other girl said nothing.

"Anyway," Jena said as she took a cigarette out of her bag. "We need to teach 'Allison' a lesson. Any ideas?"

A sense of foreboding suddenly came over Claire. She knew Allison wasn't a bad person. In fact, she really liked her. But she knew trying to tell that to Benny and Jena was like trying to convince her friends that Kmart was just as good as Neiman Marcus. In any case, if she said anything, she'd just end up a target along with Allison.

"Claire?" Benny asked her pointedly.

"Uhhh … I can't think of anything," she said shrugging.

"Well," Jessica began. "This girl is clearly a whore. We could spread rumors about her, get people talking."

"Maybe," Benny said thoughtfully. "To bad, we don't know anyone who could give us the inside track on this bitch. Someone who knows who she likes."

Claire's heart pounded against her chest as if desperate to get out. While her body sat paralyzed with fear, her mind raced. Did Benny know something or did she just have an amazingly freaky sixth sense?

"Yeah, then we could do some Carrie type shit to her," Jena said as she lit her cigarette.

Benny drove her black BMW up the circular drive and parked it in front of the Jenns' six bedroom Colonial house. The humiliation Hardy Jenns had recently suffered at the hands of that bitch Amanda Jones had been criminal. Of course, he'd deserved it for dating a girl from the wrong side of the tracks; he was still one of them. To make matters worse, that loser Keith Nelson and his dirty friend Watts had played a hand in it. Disgusting. But at least the rejects had enough loyalty to stick together.

Benny rang the doorbell. A few minutes later, the Jenns' Jamaican housekeeper Marguerite opened the door.

"Yes?"

"Is Hardy home?"

"Yes, he is. Come in," Marguerite said stepping aside to let Benny enter. The Jenns' foyer was expansive. The cathedral ceiling was at least ten feet tall with a skylight in the ceiling. Marguerite walked to an intercom system and pushed a button. "Hardy," the woman said. "You have a guest. What's your name, sweetheart?" Marguerite asked, a warm smile on her face.

"Benny."

"A miss Benny is here to see you."

"I'll be right down."

"Let me show you to the sitting room." Marguerite led Benny to a large room off the foyer, a room with plush white carpeting and cream colored walls, large bay windows, and furnished in brown leather.

After Benny sat down, Marguerite left the room closing the door behind her. A few minutes later, it opened and Hardy walked into the room. He was tall, blond, and solidly built, his face characterized by a sneer though his did not compare with that of Benny's boyfriend Steff.

"Benny Hanson, to what do I owe this pleasure?"

"I can't stop by and visit a friend?" Benny asked coquettishly.

"I know you Benny," Hardy said walking over to the sofa and sitting down next to her. "What do you want?" he asked as he casually ran his finger along the inside of Benny's thigh.

Adrenaline shot through her. A part of her wanted to rip off his clothes and do him right there on the couch. But to do so, would be to give up her advantage and she couldn't do that. She'd learned a long time ago that sex could be used as a weapon.

Benny purred.

Hardy took a deep breath, leaning towards her. His hand moved from her thigh to her collarbone. Benny sat still as he used his index finger to trace a line down the center of her chest between her breasts.

"Does Steff know you're here?" he asked, his voice low, guttural.

"Honey, I don't tell Steff everything; I'm my own woman."

Hardy gave her a knowing smile. Then his face went blank and he sat up straight. "No more games, Benny. What do you want?"

"Don't be like that," she said turning to face him and dropping her tanned arms on his shoulder, caressing his neck. "But since you asked, I need something, something that'll make someone talk."

"Talk?"

"Yeah, something that will relax someone, make them willing to answer some questions."

"And why do you need something like that? Steff cheating on you?" he asked as he pushed her arms away.

In a frenzy, she popped up like a top and slapped Hardy squarely across the face. "I don't care how you treated that whore Amanda Jones, but I'll be damned if you treat me that way."

"Get the fuck out of here," Hardy said rising. Benny could see his body shaking with anger. She needed Hardy's help. The last thing she'd meant to do to him was piss him off by bringing up the girl who'd recently dumped him.

"Look baby," she said softly, taking a cautious step toward him. "I didn't mean anything by that," she said as she ran her hand along his chest stopping at his waist. Though she could see that Hardy was still wired, Benny could tell she'd gotten his attention.

Slowly, her hand continued its downward trek finally stopping at his genitals. "About that drug baby …."

"Okay ladies, let's toast to being young, rich, and popular," Benny said as she lifted her glass of champagne into the air.

"Let's get this party started," Jena said as she turned on the stereo. David Bowie's 'Let's Dance' suddenly filling the room.

"Drink up Claire," Benny said to the red-haired girl. Truthfully, she didn't like Claire Standish, but she was a richie so she tolerated her. Besides, Claire was so easy to manipulate, going along with everything the group did. So she'd been intrigued when Claire hadn't seemed to want to help bring down this Allison chick. She knew she was hiding something. Well, within the next half hour, the white stuff Hardy had given her would work its magic.

Benny made her way across the room to stand next to Jena at the stereo.

"Well?" Jena asked.

"Give it time. If anyone knows where to get the good stuff, Hardy does."

"I hope you know what you're doing?"

"You don't trust me?" Benny asked, turning to face Jena.

"Of course, I do. I just don't want to have to explain anything to the police should Claire overdose."

"Don't worry; I know what I'm doing."

She was finding it increasingly difficult to focus. What's wrong with me, Claire wondered. It's not as if I've never had champagne before. She felt both tired and relaxed at the same time. All she wanted to do was go to sleep in Benny's pink bed in her pink and white room. Suddenly Claire lost her balance. With her arms outstretched, she righted herself, carefully making her way over to the bed.

"Are you okay Claire?" Benny asked standing over her.

"I … I," Claire said falling back onto the bed.

"Claire. Earth to Claire," Jena said.

Though they were standing next to her, they sounded so far away. It was as if they were talking to her through a tunnel.

"Tell us about Allison."

"Allison?" she asked groggily.

"Yeah, that girl from detention."

"She's okay," Claire said. Try as she might, she couldn't think clearly. And Benny's voice was just so hypnotic, lulling her to sleep.

"Does she like anyone?" Jena asked softly.

"Mmmmm," Claire moaned softly, trying to fight the urge to talk. She knew telling Benny and Jena anything was dangerous. But she couldn't seem to stop herself. "She likes Andy."

"Andy?"

"Andrew Clark."

The next minute Claire Standish blacked out but not before noticing the huge smiles on Benny and Jena's faces.