"It's physically impossible for him to not remember."
"Really, Kris?"
"I'm just saying!" The dirty blonde exclaimed, throwing her french-manicured hands up in the air before resting her left hand on her Nike Pro black legging covered thigh.
Her royal blue Nike crewneck sweatshirt had the sleeves cuffed, and on her feet were a pair of stark white Converse. All the girls had slept over Massie's estate the night of the engagement party for this very reason - to recap the night, gossip, and have a bonding sleepover like they always used to.
"Do you always have to be so pessimistic?" Alicia questioned in an honest tone of voice before chomping down on her whole wheat toast.
Alicia wore a long sleeve burgundy and white Ralph Lauren top with a cowl neck, a Patagonia beige sherpa vest over top and a pair of True Religion mid rise medium wash jeans cuffed at the ankles with her brown leather Gucci mules. Her long, silky black hair was tied up in a ponytail, bits and pieces sticking out and it looked like she hadn't fixed it from sleeping in it the night before.
"I'm just being realistic!"
"Have you spoken to him at all?" Her maid of honor turned her attention towards Massie as her staff left the kitchen so the girls could have their privacy.
"Not since I woke up. He's still asleep at his apartment I assume, his location said he was there. I'm waiting for him to text me. When we saw his mom and his step father later that night, everything was fine. Like, after that conversation, everything was fine. He cried...like, a lot. It was like old Tristan was back last night. His mother even brought up his grandmother's pearls for me to wear at the photoshoot later this month."
Massie had changed out of her pajamas after her morning shower and into a pair of black Splendid jogger sweatpants, a white Burberry plaid print-trimmed cropped sweatshirt and Gucci baby pink slides. Her hair was wrapped in a top knot, secured loosely by a Lululemon scrunchy.
"Too bad their son is such a fucking monster," Dylan snarked before digging into the plate of powdered sugar dusted french toast and fresh fruit Massie's new chef had prepared for the girls.
Dylan had pulled on a Free People white tunic sweater with a deep cowl neck, a pair of black ripped J Brand skinny jeans and pink and black Arlotta Pom Pom slides.
"Mm, tell Carly she makes an amazing french toast."
"Anyway," Massie muttered before spooning her fresh yogurt and berries in her bowl. "I feel...bad for him, if what he was telling me was true. Maybe he really doesn't remember? I just don't understand how that's possible. Is it like a bipolar disorder or something? Because we've had conversations about it after, his behavior, and he was totally nasty and ruthless to me about it."
"I've been doing research into it," Alicia pipped up, reaching over and grabbing her iPad pro. She flipped open the case, and after a few taps, pulled up her research. "Disassociation is apparently pretty common when the behavior you do is pretty fucked up. He could be disassociating himself from those behaviors, so when he'd be doing them, he'd essentially black out. So when it would be brought up in conversation after, he kind of blacks out again, so how he reacts isn't in his control."
"It's not that studied, though." Kristen reminded all the girls at the table before taking a sip from her orange juice glass. "Plus, it's hard to prove to anyone. Regardless, if he is disassociating, he's still a flight risk and has got to go."
"I mean, it's given he has to go. I can't worry about him doing it to my kids in five years." Massie spoke sternly, even a little too calmly for the situation at hand. "Tell me more, though."
"So, disassociation is a registered mental illness, but it's not heavily researched because it's hard to prove. It's literally gaps in your brain, gaps in your memory. It's like memory loss, but based more on specific people or specific actions. Typically it's found more in military members and people with severe trauma, but who knows what's going on in his brain, ya know?"
"Is it curable?"
Massie wasn't going to sit here and lie. She did have a little glimmer of hope that maybe somehow she could help him work through this nightmare and they could find their happiness, their forever. But, she knew she couldn't trust someone like him for a future she wanted.
"Not really. Medication and therapy, but it's not like depression, it's not something you work through, it's something you just try to minimize. You said this started happening after his dad died, right?"
"Yeah."
"So, that must've been a traumatic enough event for him and it made him spiral. We just have to figure out the connection between his father and you, what correlates you two that makes it happen to only you."
The brunette alpha nodded her head, taking in this wealth of information. She appreciated that her friends cared enough to do the research and look into these things for her, because everyone knew she had more than enough on her plate to even think about it. Massie felt stuck, but she knew she was slowly finding her way out and back to her own happiness and sanity.
"I thought Derrick was going to go out of his fucking skull last night." Dylan supplied through a mouthful of french toast, white powder tracing her pink lips..
"Why were you holding him down?"
"He was going to chase after Tristan when he brought Massie outside!"
"Oh god!" The brunette whimpered, shaking her head and nervously twisting her platinum pear shaped engagement ring on her finger. "That's the other issue!"
"What's the issue with Derrick, exactly? Now I'm lost."
"Uh, everything?! It's all fine and good that we're rekindling everything, but I'm engaged, he's sure as hell got a lot of making up and ass kissing to do after everything him and I have been through I'd be an idiot to just let him walk into my life again without at least fighting for me, and he's going to go fucking ballistic the more he sits and watches Tristan and I play nicely."
"Who's playing nicely?" Josh's voice rang through the kitchen as he came waltzing through the entryway of the Block Estate, two to-go coffee cup trays from Espresso Expresso fully stocked in hand. He wore a Polo Ralph Lauren burgundy button down, with a pair of Allsaints khaki colored chinos and Comme Des Garcons slip on sneakers in white. At least he was put together, but then again, him and Alicia were always put together.
"Not me if you don't give me my non fat latte!"
"C'mon Mass, we were doing so well!"
"Maybe, if you promise I'm god mother."
"Anyways," Josh segwayed, distributing cups to the proper girls and pressing a kiss to Alicia's forehead after placing a tea down in front of her.
"HEY!"
"I have three sisters, Massie. I can't promise anything until I'm standing in that delivery room."
"Fine, be like that!" The brunette scoffed, before taking a long sip of her piping hot latte and welcoming the burn on her tongue.
"Oh no, did someone tell Massie she isn't godmother?" Derrick's head popped out from around the corner of the hallway.
"Seriously? Is Kemp coming too?"
"Who do you think brought me?" Kemp chuckled as he and Derrick entered the kitchen, Kemp going to stand behind Kristen and taking a clean fork began to pick food off of her plate. Massie raised an eyebrow, as did Dylan and Alicia. Kristen fought off the blush rising up her neck, shaking her head and swatting his fork away as he stole a chunk of her french toast.
"Who even let you all into my home?"
"Your mother loves me, excuse yourself. I'm her pride and joy, beside you she always says she wishes she had me as a child and that I would make the perfect son. I offered adoption papers but William scares me a little too much. I can't speak for these other hoodlums, however." Chris scoffed, brushing invisible dust off of his Frank and Ellen blue and green striped open flannel he was wearing over his white J Crew sweater and Diesel dark wash jeans. His brown leather sperrys brought the rest of his preppy ensemble together.
"Kendra loves me!" Kemp bragged as Kristen allowed him to take more off of her plate. Massie was so going to question her once all the boys dispersed. For now, though, Massie was judging Kemp's choice in fashion. He was dressed in a long sleeve navy and white Adidas tee shirt with the trifold on the front, a pair of medium wash Armani skinny jeans and a white pair of Gucci sneakers with the three stripes going down the side.
"Kendra is indifferent towards me, but we are working out our differences slowly. Flowers help, I've learned that." Derrick admitted slyly. His faded J Crew navy crew neck sweater hugged his biceps tightly, and the black quilted Barbour Gilet vest he wore over it added some texture and warmth to his outfit.
He managed to still look comfortable in his Superdry heather gray joggers with his soccer number stitched on the pockets, and navy new balance sneakers in classic Derrington style. Scanning the table, his bright brown eyes settled on an untouched plate of scrambled eggs and cheddar cheese which he began to dig into using one of the clean gold forks scattered on the cherry wooden table. Not before giving Massie a pointed look, that consisted half of 'all you're eating is yogurt?' with concern mixed with a little bit of 'you're getting too thin again.' That, he'd surely be addressing later.
"You brought my mother flowers?"
"Calla Lilies, if we want to get specific."
"Awwwwww," Alicia and Kristen coo'd over their drinks.
"Ass kisser," Dylan smirked behind her latte, throwing her curly red hair up into a messy bun and letting it bop around on top of her head. She looked up at Chris, pushing his fork away as he tried to steal some of her cantaloupe pieces. "Get your own!"
"But yours just tastes that much better!" Chris complained, sneaking in another piece of fruit.
Derrick decided to make his way over to where Massie was standing, leaning down and pressing a kiss to her cheek. Massie fought off the instant flush collecting on her cheeks. It had been over four years since they'd kissed. Even the slightest bit of affection from him was enough to drive her mad, or to drag him into her bedroom upstairs. Even the maid's chambers down the hall would've done at this point if they didn't have such attentive company watching their every move. She gave him a warm smile and rested her hand on his right cheek, to that he turned his head and kissed the inside palm of her hand before taking his coffee Josh conveniently placed beside hers and taking a long sip before whining.
"Why does my coffee have lipstick on it and taste like diet everything?"
"Why are you drinking my non fat latte?"
"It's a half sweet, non fat caramel macchiato, Massie."
"I know, because I ordered it."
"I figured because it tastes like shit."
"It's probably what half my body weight consists of at this point, don't hate."
"Where's mine?"
"Probably this one." She rolled her amber eyes before handing him the other piping hot cup that smelled of strong maple pecan and wrinkled her nose. "God, how can you drink that? It's like five hundred calories of whipped cream and artificial flavoring!"
"Don't you worry, princess, I'll run it all off later."
"Can I just say I'm glad to have you guys back?" Dylan interrupted their spat.
"Speak for yourself!" Chris yelled as he came in through the back door, his own coffee in his hand before grabbing a piece of toast off Dylan's plate and beginning to munch. Chris had thrown on an olive green Theory double layered henley, with a navy Theory bomber jacket unzipped which definitely supplied no warmth, black J Brand slim fit straight leg jeans and Vince leather slip-on sneakers in a matching navy.
"Like, truly. It's like an old friend just came back into our lives and brought us back together. I love it, I feel like we've been reborn again." The redhead prophesied happily, finally feeling at peace again with her friend group.
"Point! I agree, fully. I have a whole new awakening in my heart. I feel so much happier now, we're all together, I mean we're going through with some absolutely batshit scheming, but like...it feels like old times."
"Aww, Leesh, you have such a way with words."
"Thanks Kemp!"
"They really tickle my heart."
"You mean your penis?" Chris challenged with a raised brow, which got him a fist to the shoulder. "Oww, Hotz with the anger management!"
"Well, now that we're all together in one room," Alicia started which made everyone else in the room groan.
"We know you're pregnant."
"THIS WAS SUPPOSED TO BE MY MOMENT!"
"You were vomiting all night."
"STILL, CAN I GET A LITTLE ENTHUSIASM?"
"Shit, she's loud," Kemp murmured as he took one of the free bar chairs at the Block's marble topped island and scooted it over to the massive dining room table.
"We are all very happy for you, Leesh!" Massie exclaimed, standing up and squealing. "You're having a baby!"
"I'm having a baby!"
The room filled with congratulations for the couple. Alicia started explaining some of her fears that her baby would grow up alone ("So one of you bitches need to get knocked up fast,") and Josh told the guys how long they'd really been trying for. Kemp almost fainted at the thought of having another human to look after, but Kristen reassured everyone in the room that it's, like, super easy.
A knock on the front door silenced the kitchen. Everyone exchanged nervous glances, because no one was sure how to react if Tristan was here already. None of them besides Alicia and Josh had really been up close and private with him, and the thought was already making Dylan's stomach turn, Derrick's fists ball up, Kristen's armpits start to sweat and Kemp bounce on the balls of his feet in excitement.
With a "here goes nothing", Massie left the room and made her way to the entryway, Alicia following suit as the rest stood by the entrance to the kitchen in case they were needed (but mainly because they were super nosey). Massie thought it was strange considering Tristan hadn't called her since he woke up, but hey, maybe he just wanted to come straight over after last night.
Rolling her shoulders back and taking one last look in the mirror in the entryway, she pursed her lips before pulling open the heavy mahogany double doors and almost vomited at the sight in front of her.
"What the hell are you doing here?"
"I came to say congratulations."
"Thanks, you can leave now."
"I heard there was a sleepover I wasn't invited to."
"You sort of revoked that invitation when you pulled your stunt at Alicia's wedding."
"Mass, you know how badly I feel about that."
"No, I don't, and I probably never will. I also don't really care, though."
"Don't be like this."
"Who's at the door, Massie?" Alicia called out in confusion, having stayed a few steps back to give her and Tristan privacy.
As she came up to the door and was face to face with Claire Lyons, all color from Claire's face disappeared and Alicia's face turned brick red. At the party last night, Claire Lyons was a mere fly on the wall, as she should have been. Partygoers were shocked she was invited, and even more surprised she actually accepted the invitation after everything that happened at the Hotz' wedding. His parents wouldn't even make eye contact with her last night.
"Why do you think you have a right to be here?" Alicia asked calmly, resting a hand on her hip and the other moving to twirl the ends of her hair that was in her ponytail.
"When are you going to give up this whole bullying episode, Alicia? We're adults now, we aren't in high school, middle school, no one's bigger than the other. You aren't more important, I'm not afraid of you."
"When are you going to stop being such a sociopath? Oh wait, that's impossible. When you're a born psycho, you can't change."
"This doesn't involve you, Alicia. You can go now. Massie and I were talking."
"You can't dismiss her, Kuh-laire. It's my home."
"Oh, we're back to that again?"
"What's going on here?" Josh asked, stepping forward once he saw Alicia's warning signs of a possible meltdown or freakout on the rise. Her body language was totally screwed up, tense and angry and she kept stomping her feet with every word that left her plump lips.
"She was just leaving."
"No I wasn't. You can't bully me like you used to, Alicia."
"Claire, why are you here?" Derrick questioned suspiciously as he moved to the front door, peering outside the entryway in hopes of seeing Cam Fisher with her.
Derrick didn't understand what Cam saw in Crazy Claire. After her stunt at Alicia's wedding, she sealed her fate with the group, but no one would ever hold that against Cam. They all loved him, but his one fatal flaw was for seeing something in Claire no one else did. He was surprised Cam didn't come by this morning, but he had told Derrick at the party last night that he and Tristan had gotten into it and wasn't sure how happy Massie would be with him about it.
"Cam's at a meeting. I came to apologize and attempt a fresh start, but the real question is why are you here? Where's Tristan? I'm sure he wouldn't be a fan of whatever is going on here."
It was then that Dylan, Kemp, Kristen and Chris were put on high alert with Claire. She was asking way too many questions to be polite, or for anyone to 'just clear the air'. Claire was here to spy, by who or for what reason, no one knew, but the four knew they needed to end this conversation now before things got out of hand.
"Derrick was my ride home. We slept over, Dylan and Chris can only fit two in her stupid little convertible since she brought me here yesterday and it'll be a cold day in hell before I ask Kemp Hurley for a ride home. Alicia and Josh have an appointment to get to, and Massie has plans. I'm not sure exactly why you feel like you deserve any explanation or answer to your questions, but there you have it."
The sporty blonde spoke up, raising an eyebrow in an 'I dare you to disagree' way towards Claire, something she perfected from Massie, before grabbing hold of the double doors. Massie and Alicia were actually too stunned to react, and Dylan let Kristen take the reins for this rare occasion because she knew this was built up tension waiting to be released.
"Now, if you want to interrogate your ex friends some more whom in fact you cut yourself off with your own scissors, send us a Google Invite and we can schedule it better. But for now, we all have plans and places to be. Kisses."
Kristen let the solid wood double doors slam shut in Claire's face, her blonde bangs blowing in the wind the last thing any of them saw before the doors closed with a bang. The group was silent for a minute, half stunned because Claire actually thought showing her face at Massie Block's Estate would go any other way, half stunned because of the way Kristen handled it.
Claire was d-o-n-e with being embarrassed by these...these...these ingrates. Standing there in the cold in her Wildfox White sweatshirt, matching Wildfox flared black Tennis Pants and Adidas Deerupt net lace up sneakers, she always felt inferior compared to them in all aspects of the word.
They were all standing there basically berating her in loungewear much cuter than hers, barely any makeup on, yet they always managed to look better or be five steps ahead of her. She thought after high school those days would be over, but boy was she wrong.
Stomping down The Block's stone stairs and down the long exquisitely paved driveway, Claire climbed into Cam's white Lincoln MKS and slammed her hands against the leather-covered steering wheel in frustration. How was it fair that every time she tried to step up, they always knocked her down?
It had been this way since grade school, and Claire Lyons was so fucking sick of it. Seeing their snobby faces as they slammed the door in her face - well, Kristen slammed the door in her face - reiterated the fact that she would never be like them, and she didn't know why she bothered trying. Why did she want so badly to be part of The Clique, anyway?
It was always so...infectious. It spread like the flu, or H1N1 on the New York City Subway. She longed for their tight knit friendship, their closeness, the love they all shared. She rejoiced in the fact that they all splintered off in college, and it was evident at Alicia's wedding and what a mess the lead up to it was that things would never be the same, so what the hell brought them all back together so quickly?
Claire's brisk blue eyes settled on Derrick's all blacked out BMW x6, and her thin blonde eyebrows furrowed together in confusion. But what the fuck was Derrick Harrington doing at Massie Block's house?
Immediately dialing Cam as she pulled out of the driveway, she rolled her eyes when it went straight to voicemail and hit her steering wheel in anger.
"Call me back," she barked into the car's built in speaker before pressing the end call button on the steering wheel and peeling out into the street.