Saks Fifth Avenue

The Westchester Mall

Wednesday, September 1

3:30 p.m.

"It's not fair. I actually tried being nice this time. But all I got is being stuck with this ah-noying wannabe," Verity fumed inside her head.

The foursome had decided to go straight to clothing stores instead of gossiping at Pinkberry first because of the awkward tension between them. Gwen wanted to get to know Kaitlin better so the two of them (who Verity suspected were the richer of the foursome) went to Michael Kors together. And now she was stuck with the annoying blonde who was super babyish, had absolutely no fashion sense, and was harder to ditch than tan lines.

Verity felt a tap on her shoulder. "Hey." Speak of the devil.

She whirled around and snarled, "What?"

Baby Blonde (As Verity decided to nickname her) seemed a little taken back. "Sheesh, no need to be angry. I was just going to ask if you wanted a spritz of the sample perfume," Baby Blonde said, holding out a bottle in Verity's face.

"Eww! Get that thing away from me!" Verity shrieked, "I have my own, thanks. And unlike you, I prefer to nawt to smell like cheap synthetic cotton candy."

Ripple frowned. She didn't get why this girl had to overreact and act like perfume under $50 was worse than the LBR-who-sat-behind-you's garlic breath stuck in your hair. Ripple rolled her eyes even though she knew that the girl was still glaring at her. What did Gwen even see in someone so middle class with such a big attitude?

"You know what? Why don't you go to some kiddie apparel like Crazy 8 and leave me alone to shop in peace?" the girl said, exasperated.

"Well, why don't you leave me and Gwen alone and shop in Chanel by yourself? You may have the attitude and maybe even the budget, but at least I have friends!" Ripple shouted back. The words were out before she could think what was coming out. Ripple expected the girl to be shocked that such a hotshot like herself was disliked. But no. The girl looked completely calm, other than the fact that her eyes did flare, not of anger but of excitement, and she even smirked a little.

Verity was impressed. She would never have guessed that such a brat would be able to come up with a comeback like that. This was getting fun. This girl had way better comebacks than the brunette. It had been so long since she actually had a good verbal battle. Her next attack was launched. "Friends? As in plural? I thought you only had one! Wait I got it. You're also counting imaginary ones, am I right?"

Okay, so this girl wasn't completely a wannabe who would break down after one insult. In fact, she looked hungry for it. Ripple, just didn't get why. And in all the comebacks, the girl kept her cool while Ripple was shouting. But anyway, she was getting ticked off big time.

"How 'bout you? Let's see if you even have one imaginary friend! I bet even they can't stand you!"

"Sorry, girly, do you mean that you can't stand me? Don't worry, I can't stand you either,"

Finally Ripple couldn't take it anymore. "Why don't you go away and never come back?"

She expected the other girl to just fire back, but this time, the girl just glare at her then finally turned on her heels and walked out the door. But even as she left, the glare that the girl gave her was imprinted in her head. There was something hidden in it, even if it only revealed itself for a second. She could detect pain and hurt, possibly of an old wound.