Thanks for all the reviews, I love you all! Well not ALL of you. Thanks so much for your review, .GLITTERXGURL. Now, I'm just going to tell you one thing: I'm not like Maddie. She's all calm and nice to her bitchy reviewer, but I'm not. I will tell you what I think of you. The rest of my lovely reviews can skip this.
I think that you, .GLITTERXGURL, are a jealous bitch. If you weren't jealous of my writing you wouldn't be bashing it. Unless you have a real problem with me –not something stupid like the fact that I get more reviews then you- in that case you may PM me to tell me so. I also think you're a coward –man it up and actually log in. I know you're anonymous because you don't want me to block you or tell on you or whatever. So go be a bitchskankhoe somewhere else. And leave my friends alone, they're better authors then you will ever be.
Sorry to the rest of you because this is such long AN. So I made an extra long chapter, again, just for you :)
Massie went home sick. Immediately after Massie arrive home, Kendra came to see how her daughter was. The school had phone right in the middle of her Pilates class.
"Aw, sweetie you look pale," Kendra sympathized when she entered Massie's room. She placed a hand on her daughter's forehead. "Oh, you're kind of warm. I'll get Inez to send up some gingerale for your stomach and a cool cloth for your head, okay? But I have to go now. Your father and I are going to an opera later," she blew Massie a kiss. "Bye!"
And then Massie was alone, just the way she wanted it. She was pretty warm, thanks to the drizzly rain outside. And the weak, feverish feeling in her body didn't improve anything.
Claire was right: Massie had absolutely no friends. Who was she going to hang out with tomorrow? She reached for her new iPhone (William had bought her it after Massie told him an slightly altered version of what happened to her old one –she was walking down the stairs and it slid out of her hand and tumbled down until it smashed on the marble floor), and checked for texts. Zero Messages.
Massie must have fallen asleep because when she woke up, it was quarter to four. She reached for her iPhone out of habit, and was surprised to see three new messages.
"Oh my god! Do people actually want to be my friends again? What if it's Claire?" Massie didn't care that she sounded like a complete loser. Right now, she actually was one.
They were all from Olivia.
(Sent 2:14 pm) Massie where are u? ur not in science and I chose u to be my partner yesterday!!
(Sent 3:00 pm) Claire said u probably went home cuz u can't handle any pressure. I wanted to know if u wanted a ride home cuz I wanna hit the mall and pick up some fall clothes –this rain is freezing!
(Sent 3:30 pm) Ok Massie I really want u to come shopping with me! I feel like we haven't hung out in forever! I can come pick u up from home if u want? Or are u actually sick?!?
Massie considered going shopping with Olivia. It would grant her a friend, and she did miss her. Besides, retail therapy always helped improve her mood. She was about to fire off a text to Olivia when another text appeared in her inbox.
(Sent 3:53 pm) Massie Idon't care if Ur sick or not, I'm coming to get u. be ready k?
Massie sent her a text, promising she'd be waiting outside.
After changing from her boring school clothes into a pair of skinny jeans and a navy Ralph Lauren blazer, she rooted through her closet for the perfect bag. She decided to go classic with a cream quilted Chanel tote. She checked herself out in the mirror. The outfit wasn't all depressed, and it showed that Massie was fine without having any friends.
She was just walking down the stairs when a car horn honked twice. She ran down the remaining stairs –pausing briefly to leave instructions with Inez to tell her parents that she was feeling better and out with Olivia- and threw open the door with a genuine smile on her face.
"Get in, loser, we're going shopping!" Olivia honked again from her light blue Prius.
Massie giggled at the Mean Girls reference –it was her favorite movie. She ran toward the car, hoping not to get too wet from the pouring rain.
"I didn't know you drove," Massie said, shutting the door.
"I just started," Olivia said, backing out of the Block's driveway. "Mom got me a car right after I passed my driver's test –which was only last month, incase you were wondering- probably hoping I'd use it to run over Dylan and Merri-Lee Marvil."
Massie giggled but sadness washed over her. "Please do."
"I heard about what happened," Olivia's pout was sympathetic. "But that's Dylan for ya."
"It was more Claire, I think," Massie said. She saw Olivia's blue eyes flicker, and remembered that Claire and Olivia were somewhat friends. "But who knows, right? Dylan could have been egging her on," Massie most certainly did not want to be on Olivia's bad side again –it was lonely.
"Sounds like something Dylan would do," Olivia muttered.
"So…what'd I miss in science?" Massie asked.
"Umm not much," Olivia tilted her head to the left, causing a waterfall of platinum blonde waves to tumble down her shoulder.
"Find a partner?" Massie smiled.
"Yes, I had to work with Layne Abeley because her freaking partner was sick too. Thanks, Mass," Olivia faux-glared at her, trying not to take her eyes off the road. "And you didn't tell me Layne had become such a…" she paused, searching for the word.
"Scary, emo, women's right lover, alternate rock chick, pink extensions wearing, black chipped nailed psycho?" Massie said helpfully.
"That's definitely her," Olivia laughed. "Seriously, though, the whole time we were working she kept texting. So I casually leaned over to see who she was texting and she was like 'help, crazy blonde girl sitting beside me is my partner today!!!!' like she had the nerve to say I was crazy, when she's the one with hot pink bangs and ripped skirts!"
Massie giggled. "So where do you want to go shopping?"
"Anywhere. But I want to try that new coffee bistro thingy for dinner. That okay with you?" Olivia pulled into the parking lot of The Westchester.
"Sure," Massie climbed out of the car. "Ugh, I hate this rain!"
"I know! It makes my hair so frizzy!" Olivia scowled up at the sky and fast walked toward the doors.
Massie quickly followed her. "So…can I ask you something?"
"Sure," Olivia looked at her out of the corner of her eye. "What?"
"Are you and Alicia like, BFF now or something?"
"She's my friend, Massie," Olivia said quietly. "I know you don't like her, but she's my friend. I didn't like Dylan and you remained friends with her."
"Look how that turned out," Massie said under her breath.
"So, yes, I am friends with her. But I'm also friends with you."
Massie nodded. As she entered the mall, the warm smell of Cinnabon wafted toward her nose. "Can we get cinnamon buns?" she asked, inhaling deeply.
Olivia giggled. "Sure. Let's go into Nordstrom's first."
As the pair walked in the direction of Nordstrom's, their Ugg boots scraping softly against the floor, Derrick stood in Future Shop, watching them go by.
His heart tugged when he saw Massie, smiling and giggling with Olivia at something. He knew he had broken her heart today, but he also broke his. He liked Massie a lot, but something in him told him to stay with Alicia.
He wanted to catch up with them, watch them shop for a few hours, get something to eat and then go home and watch movies; the way things used to be. But he knew it would be a mistake.
"Derry!" Alicia's nasal voice sounded from the iPod section. "Come help me choose which color to get!"
Derrick slowly looked away from the window and walked to Alicia. "I dunno, just choose one," he mumbled, suddenly feeling drained from all the happened today.
"But I want your opinion," she batted her lashes at him. But it was a useless trick; he wasn't even looking at her. She fingered the latest iPods delicately.
"Pink or something. Olivia has green and I have black. Hurry and choose one, okay? I'm tired and kinda want to get home."
Alicia told the store manager beside her to ring up a pink Nano and pouted at Derrick. "So I guess you're not in the mood to come over?"
"Not today, sorry. I'm just really tired."
"Okay," she sighed dramatically. "You'll have to make it up to me with dinner and a movie tomorrow though," she grinned.
"Leesh, we've started school. I have homework, tests, and projects already. I don't have time for y- for a lot of dates," he caught himself. He almost said 'I don't have time for you'.
As they exited the Apple store, Derrick couldn't help but scan the area, looking for Olivia's platinum waves or Massie's long, dark locks.
"I'm leaving," Alicia said, sad that her boyfriend wasn't paying attention to her. "Talk to you later," she kissed Derrick's cheek, leaving a pinky gloss mark.
He rubbed at it with his hand. "See ya," he half-smiled. "I'll text you later or something."
Alicia nodded and walked, sadly, out of the Westchester. But Derrick didn't watch her. He pulled out his phone and texted Olivia, asking where she was. He needed a ride home, since he had gotten a ride here with Alicia, but he didn't want to make Massie feel uncomfortable.
Across the Westchester, in Ralph Lauren, were Massie and Olivia.
"Massie!" Olivia rapped her knuckles on Massie's change room door. "Derrick's at the mall," she said softly. "He wants to come hang out with us."
Massie froze in her dressing room, pausing while she pulled on her shirt. "Um, yeah, that's cool. Totally fine."
"You sure? I can tell him to hitch hike home."
"Nah, it's still raining. Seriously, Olivia, its fine. Thank you, though," Massie pulled on the rest of her shirt.
When she exited the change room, she saw Olivia, glaring furiously at her brother with her intense blue eyes, and Derrick sitting dejectedly on a bench.
"I'm ready to go eat or something," she said, interrupting their little spat. "If you guys want."
"Sure, let's go. There's nothing I want here, anyways," Olivia said, pulling Derrick off the bench. "D, you eating with us?"
Derrick glanced briefly at Massie before looking back at Olivia. "Um, if it's okay with you? I'm pretty hungry."
Olivia, too, glanced at Massie. "Sure…it'll be fine."
Massie shut her eyes, mentally glaring at God for doing all of this to her. "Let's go, I'm starving."
The three walked out of Ralph Lauren and toward Café Au Lait, the new coffee shop/café/bistro.
"For three?" Asked the young hostess, when they walked in.
"Yup," Olivia grinned.
The hostess led through tables to the back of the shop. The lights were dimmer here, and Massie couldn't help wishing she had a boyfriend to bring here.
"A server will be right with you," She smiled, then flitted off in search of her next customer.
Seconds later, and very short, very gay man appeared.
"Hullo, I am Paul and I will be serving you today," he said, handing out three menus. "Our house specials today are the clam chowder and cheese scone, on for seven dollars and fifty-seven cents. If that's not a deal, I don't know what is!"
"Um, thanks," Olivia said, clearly creeped out by Paul. "We'll call you over when we're ready to order."
"Oh, of course," Paul took a step away from Olivia and one toward Derrick.
Derrick glanced up at him, fully aware of how close he was standing. Looking away, he browsed the menu items.
"So…date night, huh?" Paul asked, nudging Derrick. "Two girls and one simply yummy boy."
Massie, Olivia and Derrick all blushed. "He's my brother, actually," Olivia giggled.
"Tsk," Paul clicked his tongue sympathetically. "Third wheel is horrible, sweetheart. But your brother is very kind, letting you tag along on his date."
Massie blushed even darker –if that was possible- and mumbled that Derrick wasn't her boyfriend.
"Well if none of you want him, I just might have to take him for myself," Paul winked at Derrick, who was in the middle of taking a sip of his water. He choked on it, spitting it out in front of him.
"Its fine, we're no longer hungry…" Olivia said, scooping up her Balenciga. "Thanks, though."
"Come again, darlings!" Paul called as the trio hurried out of the café. "Especially you," he winked again at Derrick.
Once they were out at Olivia's Prius, Massie and Olivia in the front and Derrick crammed in the back with Olivia's purchases.
"Remind me never to come shopping with you again," was all he said.