Chapter 2

Lorreline Academy Parking Lot (3:15pm)

"God! Could Charles be any more late?" Clarissa asked, stomping her foot. She pulled out her new Motorola RAZR phone that was studded with genuine Swavorski crystals. As she angrily punched in the numbers to her driver's phone, she saw a black Hummer limo drive into the gate to the school. "Finally," Clarissa muttered, clicking her phone shut. "Let's go, guys. The mall is waiting."

All four of the girls piled into the limo after it pulled up in front of them. They settled into the black leather seats and Kelly switched on the widescreen TV that was mounted in the back of the car.

"Charles! Take us to the mall. And next time, don't be late." Clarissa demanded.

"Yes, Miss Mason. Sorry," he replied.

Once at the mall, Felicia declared that she had been asked to the upcoming Winter Formal.

"Omigod!" Sage shrieked, "You so didn't tell me! Who!"

Kelly jumped up and down, her ponytail bobbing crazily, "When!"

"We're going dress shopping!" Clarissa declared, calmly.

Felicia giggled happily. "Tucker Bentler asked me today in math class! And I completely agree, Clarissa. I need a dress!"

Clarissa rolled her eyes and sighed. Of course Felicia agreed with her. Everyone always agreed with her. Felicia wasn't supposed to get a date before her though. Clarissa was supposed to be the role model, wasn't she?

All four of the girls chose a dress to purchase during their long afternoon at the mall. Felicia, with her strawberry blond hair and green eyes decided that she was definitely a summer color palette and bought a cream halter dress made of silk from Saks Fifth Avenue, and a pair of cream colored kitten heels. Clarissa chose an elegant purple dress that was strapless and that ended in a short bubble skirt. Kelly and Sage both bought dresses from Chanel.

After their shopping expedition Clarissa asked Charles to drop off all the girls at her sprawling estate. All four girls piled into the elevator inside the foyer that would take them up to the third floor, where Clarissa's room was located.

The Mason Estate(6:34 pm)

They stepped into the room, which looked like something from a fairy tale. The walls were decorated with majestic sapphire colored velvet which took the place of wallpaper and blocked out noise from the outside. Her large canopy bed sat regally in a corner of the room, and the deep violet silk covers showed off the fact that the room was fit for a princess.

All the girls threw their messenger bags (backpacks were so out) on the expensive Persian rug lying in the middle of the room.

"OK guys, so what are we doing for our annual winter break trip this year?" Clarissa asked, "I was sort of thinking about a ski trip in Aspen."

"Ooo! That'd be awesome!" Kelly exclaimed, nodding enthusiastically.

"Yeah, I bet we'd meet tons of hot guys in a ski lodge!" Sage said, laughing. "That's a great idea!"

The three girls looked at Felicia, wondering why she hadn't given her input on the idea yet. She was usually the first to voice her opinions.

"Umm, actually, I don't think I'm going with you guys this year," she said awkwardly. She quickly looked to Clarissa to see what her reaction was.

Clarissa raised a perfectly manicured eyebrow skeptically. "Why not?"

"Well actually, I got accepted to that study abroad program that I wanted to do over winter break in London."

"NO WAY!"

"Congrats!"

"I'm so proud of you, Felicia!"

The Study in London program had been all Felicia talked about for months. Now that she was finally accepted, the girls could obsess over what she was going to wear and what she was going to bring. For the rest of the night, they laughed about potential London hotties and researched the current fads going on in London. But in the back of her mind, Clarissa was afraid. Things were changing and she didn't like it.