School had gone smoothly if Skye could say so herself. She loved and embraced the rigor of her classes and enjoyed being back in the spotlight after being gone for so many months. She had missed the elegance of her old school and the people she'd left behind, namely Josh Hotz. She had learned that Alicia and Josh had broken up, which was perfect. Skye had always been fond of Josh, both as a good friend and a lover. He was gorgeous, first off, and not a walking stereotype. But she knew Alicia still liked him. She could tell by the way Alicia glared at her in their Political Science class. Skye headed down one of the main hallways towards the Junior and Senior dining hall. Students stopped to envy gush over her dress and welcome her back. Maybe getting back on top would be a piece of cake.
The dining hall at Bellaire was unlike any dining hall in the country. State of the art Chefs dedicated their lives to creating signature and often over-the-top dishes, considering their large paychecks. Shrimp Calamari and Filet mignon were always among the items in the lunchroom and it was all paid for by tuition. The low-lit dining room was filled with square tables made of mahogany wood and a buffet style lunch, separated into categories. Seafood, meat, breads, salad bar, dessert, low-carbs, vegetables, etc. Skye made a beeline for one of the tables near the center where Olivia was sitting with Kori Gedman and Allie-Rose Singer. Kori was the second best soccer player, behind Kristen Gregory of course. She had light brown waves, which was usually pulled back into a ponytail, and her fashion sense was average at best. She wore a black tank top with black and white checkerboard short shorts. Not horrible, but not the best. Allie-Rose Singer was definitely Elite material, but she was new money and her family was way too flashy for Westchester. She had long black waves and teal colored eyes that were her pride and glory. She was one of the tallest girls in school and she had a great fashion sense. She was clad in a berry colored Armani fitted wrap shirt, dark wash True Religion skinny jeans and black Prada bumps. Casual, yet perfect.
"Hey," Skye greeted her new friends half-heartedly. She reminded herself to give Kori a makeover as soon as possible. The girl refused to do anything with her hair, which could be gorgeous if properly cared for. "Any gossip?"
"Claire and Cam are together," Allie-Rose informed them all. "Olivia dated him briefly while you were gone but it fizzled out." Olivia snorted and tossed a blond tendril over her shoulder before focusing on her egg rolls.
"I was too good for him anyway," She said. Skye glanced towards where the boys were sitting. Ever since Alicia and Josh's breakup, the boys were separate from the girls. Perfect.
"You still like Josh Hotz?" Kori wondered, following Skye's gaze to the boys' table. "I thought you were over him." Skye shrugged and turned back around. Kori was slumped over her chicken spinach salad. Skye made another mental note to advise Kori on her bad posture. How could such a good soccer player have such horrible form? Olivia glanced over at the boy's table curiously, her navy blue eyes narrowed slightly. Olivia and Josh had dated for a month while Skye was gone and clearly Olivia would never be over it.
"Not really," Skye lied, glancing away from Allie-Rose's doubtful gaze on her face. "He's cute though."
"I think Cam's cuter," Allie-Rose said dreamily. "Too bad I'm taller than him and everyone knows Cam hates tall girls." Skye rolled her eyes at her "Friend" and turned back to her water bottle. She was too high strung to eat, especially since everyone in the café was practically staring at her. And not because of her outfit. Olivia must've noticed it to because she looked up from her Chinese food and rolled her eyes.
"You'd think you're some sort of celebrity or something," Olivia grumbled enviously. "Seriously, what's everyone staring at?" Skye refused to give Olivia the satisfaction and instead glanced at where Massie and her clique were seated. Dylan Marvil, as usual, had the most food on her plate. A gourmet bacon cheeseburger sat atop her plate along with sweet potato fries and a diet Pepsi. Massie was smiling at some joke Dylan was telling her while tapping her nails on the wooden table, a tell-tale sign of frustration. Alicia was whispering with Claire while Claire alternated between listening to her and focusing on her coconut shrimp. Kristen was pouring over her Honors Arabic book and popping low-fat soy nuts in her mouth between pages. Even doing separate things, they still seemed like a unit.
"School is gonna kick my ass this year," Olivia Ryan was complaining when Skye turned back around in her seat. "My mom made me sign up for Honors Calculus and the hardest Roman Mythology class ever."
"That doesn't even sound hard," Allie Rose contradicted. "I'm taking AP Italian, AP Scandinavian Folklore and Honors Combinatorics and Optimization. My mom advised me to take an extra math class too, so I opted for General Topology." Allie-Rose sat back smugly as Kori and Olivia gaped at her in amazement. Parents in Westchester who admitted their children into private schools didn't care what they did, as long as they succeeded and made them look good. Kori shook her head firmly.
"I took Latin and Linear Algebra," She admitted. "My parents aren't as crazy about grades as they are about boys."
"I bet you can't get Josh to go out with you again," Olivia challenged, totally changing the subject. She had a habit of doing that whenever a topic particularly bored her. She smirked at Skye as she twirled a lock of blond hair around her finger. Skye rolled her eyes at Olivia's taunt. It was rumored that Olivia never lost a bet.
"Alicia still likes him," Skye reminded them. "I'd be a bitch to go after him."
"Yeah, like you weren't a bitch when you went out with him in the first place," Olivia snorted. "It's too late to play innocent, Hamilton." Skye flushed and looked away while Kori snickered under her breath at Olivia's comeback. Skye was pissed, but she knew Olivia was right. Why pretend to be an angel now?
"I kinda like Derrick," Skye admitted in a low tone. "But he's with Massie and that would mean social suicide. She'd destroy me."
"Weren't you alpha before her?" Allie-Rose snapped impatiently. "Then what the hell are you talking about? You act like you're so scared of her. You just let her take your alpha status away from you." Skye gritted her teeth together. She hated it when people assumed Massie took her status away while she stood by absently, because it simply wasn't true. Skye had fought tooth and nail, but Massie was a strong counterpart and Skye had underestimated her power over St. Bellaire Academy.
"I didn't let her," Skye said angrily, folding her arms across her chest. "So stop saying that."
"Well, it was way too easy for her," Olivia pressed, her navy blue eyes narrowed. "You may be attractive to most, but these people are looking at you simply because you dared to come back after falling so hard when Massie overtook you. Don't mistake notoriety for popularity, honey." With those biting words, Olivia grabbed her food and abruptly left the table. She sauntered towards where Livvy Collins and Alexandria Reynolds were sitting, leaving Skye alone with Allie Rose and Kori.
"Don't take it so hard," Kori said, almost as if she cared. "Just prove you're the best again."
"How?" Skye snapped, on edge. "I don't have an army behind me like she does." Kori shrugged.
"I said prove it, I didn't say how to prove it," She answered, turning towards her food.
Skye glanced back over to where all her former friends were seated, seemingly much happier without her in the picture. Alicia, the girl she was once closest to, seemed pre-occupied with being best friends with Claire Lyons, whom Skye had never cared for. Either Skye could make amends or she could destroy them just like Massie had done to her. And she had no idea what she was going to do.
.
.
.
"My place?" Massie asked her friends as they all waited in the large entryway for Dylan to get out of Zoology. Alicia flipped her long black hair, an exhausted look in her eyes. School, even the first day, had been draining for all of them. Bellaire wasn't called one of the best schools in the country for no reason. Kristen stuffed her history book in her black Prada Messenger bag and shrugged.
"My mom's gonna want me home," She said in a bored tone. "Plus, I have a mandatory soccer meeting after school in like five minutes. And Dylan's apparently hanging with her older sisters today. I'll just see you guys later." Kristen hooked her bag up on her shoulder and headed towards one of the meeting rooms off the main entryway. Massie rolled her amber eyes and turned towards Claire and Alicia.
"What about you guys?" She asked.
"Mom wants me to meet her for dinner at La Bleu, the French restaurant she owns downtown," Claire said. "So no."
"I'll come," Alicia offered. "Dance doesn't start till six. We have like three hours of downtime." Massie nodded as the three girls headed out the front door together. Claire headed towards her white and gold Range Rover while Massie and Alicia headed towards Massie's silver Bentley. Alicia owned a red Audi that was parked beside Massie's car.
"I'll drive to your house so I don't have to come back to school," Alicia said. "I'll see you there." Massie waved as she climbed into her car, her eyes strained. She was stressed and all her friends had decided to ditch her. Plus, Derrick Harrington was practically ignoring her, as if he didn't really care for her anymore. It was frustrating and it wasn't how she envisioned school that year. As she drove out of the school parking lot, she caught sight of Skye's baby blue Porsche sitting at the far right end of the parking lot. Josh Hotz, Cameron Fisher, and Derrick Harrington were sitting inside, laughing and joking. Massie's blood boiled as she stepped on the gas and hurried out of the parking lot. So that was why Derrick was so distant. He was enthralled with Skye fucking Hamilton.
The Block estate wasn't located far from the school, and in a matter of four and a half minutes, she pulled through security and down the mile long driveway. The grey and white stone mansion was large, the third largest estate in the state, falling behind Alicia's tan stone mansion and Claire's white French-inspired castle. Massie glanced in her rear view mirror and caught sight of Alicia pulling in behind her. Massie climbed out of her car and took a deep breath to calm her nerves as Alicia walked up beside her.
"Have you heard from the guys?" Massie asked tightly, her eyes narrowed. Alicia blinked at the question and shook her head slowly.
"No," She admitted. "And Josh totally looked the other way when I waved towards him in the hallway. I wonder what his issue is." Massie rolled her eyes at Alicia's ignorance.
"It's because of Skye, Leesh," She hissed. "I saw all of them packed in Skye's car in the parking lot. She's stealing them away from us. What a bitch!" Alicia sighed and shook her head.
"I should've known she wasn't going to try to make anything right," Alicia said, disappointment evident in her voice as they walked into Massie's estate. "I-"
"Massie darling! And Alicia! How are you dear?" Kendra Block waltzed into the room, a peaceful smile on her botoxed face. Massie grimaced while Alicia smiled beautifully and hugged Kendra.
"Hey, Mrs. Block," she answered easily. She had a way with adults. "How are you? You look great." Kendra smiled and smoothed her eggshell Trina Turk tunic which was paired with dark wash Anna Sui jeans.
"Why thank you Alicia," She responded, glancing towards her daughter. "Well how was school?"
"Ridiculously hard," Massie answered, rolling her eyes. "Bellaire is going overboard this year. As if we're some kind of college." Kendra smiled.
"It's a good opportunity dear," She preened, fussing with her daughter's curls. "Your father and I are so proud that you're attending the best private school in the city, just like I did." Massie rolled her eyes when her mother wasn't looking and pulled Alicia upstairs.
"We're going upstairs," Massie yelled. "See you at dinner." Kendra nodded and headed outdoors to oversee the gardening being done around the estate.
"Your mother is so nice," Alicia joked, poking Massie in the ribs.
"Yeah, because you're here," Massie groaned. "She likes you more than she likes me." Massie opened the door to her bedroom, which was decorated in purple and white. "Now, we need to decide how to handle the situation with Skye. She's almost popular again."
"Only with the boys," Alicia corrected her, picking up Massie's copy of People's magazine. "All the girls at Bellaire talk about her behind her back." Massie glared out of her window. That wasn't the least bit comforting to her at all.
"We could go to Josh, Cam, and Derrick and tell them shit about her to get them to turn on her," Alicia suggested.
"It wouldn't be believable coming from any of us," Massie snapped. "We have to get someone somewhat innocent to tell them. They'd think we're just jealous because I'm with Derrick and Josh is your ex. We have to plan this right." Alicia sighed and sat atop Massie's purple velvet chaise positioned near one of her bay windows. She ran her fingers through her long hair and shrugged her shoulders.
"Who would we use?" She wondered. "Dylan? Everyone knows she dislikes Skye as much as you do. And Kristen's been MIA since your ball. She won't work."
"What about Layne Abeley?" Massie suggested excitedly, changing into a pair of dark wash skinny True Religions jeans and a berry colored Charlotte Ronson gingham top. She twisted her long brown hair up into a high ponytail and applied MAC berry lipgloss to her lips. A pair of deep pink Kate Spade pumps completed the look. "How do I look?"
"Perfect," Alicia laughed. "What're you even changing for? That dress looked great."
"I'm on a mission," Massie chuckled. "I can't be sneaky and devilish in a flowy dress. "Plus, Derrick loves me in jeans." Alicia frowned. "Now, pick an outfit from my closet. Your outfit doesn't say sneaky." Alicia rolled her eyes playfully and headed towards Massie's huge walk in closet. She chose a bright red Henley V-neck wrap shirt and black skinny Sevens. She combed her hair out and donned a pair of red Prada strappy heels. A gold diamond necklace completed the look.
"Perfect," Massie complimented. "Now, let's go visit Layne. We have some plotting to do."
.
.
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La Bleu restaurant was just one of the many five-star French places her mother owned, among many cafes, restaurants and bakeries. The chef of La Bleu was her mother's older sister, Genevieve, who was a fantastic chef. Claire smoothed her pale yellow YSL mini dress that was paired with bronze Christian Lacroix gladiator style sandals. Her pale blond curls were straightened perfectly and her gold and red makeup was flawless. Claire click clacked towards a private dining room away from the regular customers where her mother was most likely waiting. Evelyn Lyons was seated near the head of the table, her long blond hair pulled up in an updo and her grey eyes flashing excitedly. Her eggplant colored cocktail dress from Armani looked great against her petite frame along with her diamond encrusted Louis Vuitton heels. She rose to embrace her daughter cheerfully, a glass of red wine in her left hand.
"Hello Darling," She cooed, double kissing Claire's bronzed cheeks. "I have amazing news." The only time Evelyn spoke English was around Leona and outsiders. Jay knew French almost perfectly, and French was Claire's first language. Claire kissed her mother's cheeks and settled in a chair on the right side of her.
"What is it?" Claire wondered impatiently, glancing down at the screen of her phone. She was missing out on plans with Massie and Alicia and it was killing her that she wasn't apart of whatever the girls were doing.
"I'll announce it once Jay and Leona arrive," Evelyn answered coolly, taking a dainty sip of her wine and glancing towards the door like a giddy child. Claire rolled her large blue eyes as her step-father and step-sister entered the room. Leona Lyons looked amazing and suddenly, Claire felt jealous. Leona's black hair was perfectly curled and framed her pale face beautifully. Her black lace Mui Mui dress looked classy and elegant along with Prada lace ankle booties.
"Now can you tell us?" Claire demanded as her father and Leona sat. Evelyn let go of Jay's hand and smiled in her daughter's direction.
"I have been asked to produce a movie in NYC called "Notorious" She said excitedly. "And guess who they want as the female lead?" Claire blinked, bored out of her mind. Her mother had brought her here just to tell her about one of her stupid movie productions?
"Who, dear?" Jay encouraged, sensing the boredom radiating from Leona and Claire. Evelyn grinned widely and looked straight at her daughter.
"They want you to star in the movie, Clarice," Evelyn said clapping her hands together. "You're going to be a star!"
Claire gasped and glanced around the table in shock and disbelief. "Seriously?" She shrieked. "I'm gonna be in a movie?" Evelyn nodded happily.
"It's being filmed right here in New York and I already told them you'd love to do it!" Her mother exclaimed.
"I'd love to," Claire answered smugly, imagining what Skye would think of her now.