A/N: Sorry about the wait, but my personal life has been ultra cray right now. This chap isnt my fave, but its definitely necessary for plot development. To everyone who is hating on the ten review rule, I dont really give an eff. It takes two seconds to tell me your thoughts, not like you have to go out of your way to post a two word review. If you dont like it, keep it pushing. Im trying to incorporate a few of your ideas in the next chapter, so sit tight honey buns, the drama is almost here!
Claire's favorite class of the day was fifth period photography with Miss Evans. Upon first glance at her schedule, Dylan had promptly announced that photography class was for "potheads and the socially challenged" followed by a daring smirk and a smug "I guess we know which one you are." However, Claire quickly discovered that she was in fact, not the only one enrolled in the class. Cam Fisher usually sat at the lab table behind her, dully scrolling through his newsfeed and jostling the kid beside him, whenever he came across something amusing. So far, Claire hadn't had much interaction with the boys who seemed to hover around Massie and her friends. Three days ago when she'd finished the girls challenge and made it to the cafeteria just in time for lunch, the boys had cheered approvingly and Plovert had actually congratulated her with a rough slap on the back.
They, it seemed, didn't mind her presence, or at least didn't care enough to give it any extra thought. When Cam did the unthinkable Friday afternoon and sat next to her in class, Claire knew things were finally looking up. Out of everyone in the group, she thought Cam was the friendliest. Always bright-eyed and exuberant his buoyant personality seemed to have a positive effect on everyone he came in contact with, even the dour faced Massie. When he slid onto the stool beside her, Claire could already feel the corners of her mouth lift in a disbelieving smile.
His unruly black hair looked even more disheveled than usual, as if he'd just rolled out of bed and he was dressed like a character from Happy Days, in his wrinkled white t-shirt, worn black leather jacket, torn black skinnies, and motorcycle boots. He tossed his books onto the black lab desk with a loud thud and promptly pulled out his cell to perform his daily instagram ritual.
The boy he usually sat beside, Dempsey Solomon, shot Came a strange look on his way into class, but stayed silent as he sat at the table behind them.
It was something, Claire realized, that even the boys managed to escape the scrutiny of their peers. When Miss Evan finally announced the days project, editing the pictures they'd taken the day before on Adobe, it was then that Cam turned to acknowledge her. There were deep purple rings around his blue and green eyes, like he hadn't gotten any sleep last night, and his usually peachy, even complexion was tinged gray.
"Hey Mouse, I got something for you." Unfortunately, the nickname 'Little Mouse' had stuck around and the group had been calling her that all week. It was better than the 'trailer trash' she'd her Denise Hinson whisper yesterday in the girl's restroom.
Cam slid a thick, fancy looking cream-colored envelope across the table to her, and raised a thick black eyebrow, challenging her to accept it. She did, and with nimble fingers tore the paper apart to get to the card inside. It was an invitation.
You have been formally invited to the residence of Miss Massie Elizabeth Block
Tonight at 7:00pm sharp
Cam whistled in disbelief beside her. "Wowza. Mass doesn't usually hand out the invitations this early in. You must have done something right." He considered those words for a second, and then shrugged carelessly "Or wrong. To be honest, it could go either way with her."
"What is this? A party or something?"
"It's a sleepover. An annual sleepover. Every Friday all the girls meet up at Massie's to discuss god-knows-what about god-knows-who." He shuddered "I secretly think they're plotting world domination."
"And Massie invited me? Me? She hates me."
Cam shrugged "She doesn't hate you and your prospecting. She doesn't really have much choice; I mean you haven't fucked it up yet. Those are the rules." He drummed his hands on the table. "I don't really get exactly how it works, but Dyl told me once that the only way for a prospect to be terminated, was if they did it themselves or something."
"Did it themselves? Like voluntarily quit?" She squeaked, "Who would do that"
Cam leveled her with an annoyed look "Not everyone wants to put up with constant harassment from a group of pretty, mean girls Claire. Some people can actually make friends the old fashioned way, they don't need to work their way in. " That shut her up quickly. They didn't talk for the rest of the period.
The Blocks estate was not as massive as the Rivera's, but it was equally luxurious. Half dozen high-end cars lined the cobblestone circle drive, and when she approached the door to ring the bell, a tired looking maid opened it before she could even raise her hand.
"In the back." She grunted, gesturing to the winding stone path that ducked behind the side of the house, before swiftly closing the front door again. Claire waved goodbye to her mother and marched away.
This could all just be a horrible prank. They're probably all waiting to just pelt me with slushies, or pig's blood, or red paint or something.
They weren't.
Instead Massie, Dylan, Alicia, and Kristen sat giggling in the steam of the Blocks Jacuzzi happily sipping from what looked like margarita glasses and blasting music from Robin Thickes latest album.
"Claire!" Alicia leapt up in excitement the second she spotted her new friend. Climbing out of the bubbling, steaming spray, the older girl speed walked (which was actually a rather even paced saunter) over. Claire noted, in blatant envy, that even in her simple white bikini, the Spanish girls body looked completely amazing. "I'm so glad you're here." She tossed her wet arms around Claire's shoulders and pulled the shorter girl into a tight embrace. "Be cool." She whispered frantically, her hot peppermint breath blowing into Claire's ear.
"Thank you for inviting me Massie." Claire said gracefully, waving to the brunette, who just sent her a cool nod in response and sipped from her drink. Her eyes were narrow, and tense, but just like in at the school she still managed to make Claire feel absolutely incompetent.
"Can we puh-lease get out of here now? My fingers are staring to prune and I don't want my hair to be frizzy when I face-time Kemp later." Kristen whined, hoisting herself out of the hot water and fanning her flushed pink face. She snapped the thick navy blue strap on her halter bikini "The chlorine levels in here are completely out of whack Mass, you should tell Frank to check on that. He's totally going dry out my skin."
"When you get a pool boy, you can tell him how to do his job."
Kristen, stuck her tongue childishly, and pulled her hair up into a more secure bun "Bitch."
"Is that any way to speak to your betters?"
Dylan wrung out her thick red hair, spraying warm salty water all over the pavement. Unlike the other girls, she was covered completely in a very conservative black one-piece. Next to Kristen's taunt soccer abs, Massie's lithe, thin form, and Alicia's toned tan stomach, the wider girl was obviously a little insecure. Though she was by no means over-weight, the few extra pounds were a definite sore spot for the other girl. She readily agreed with Kristen's statement. "I need to wash my hair before the chlorine sets in." The usual playful attitude she had as school had been replaced by a sour, down trodden expression.
"Whatever you want to do Mass." Alicia looped her arm through Claire's and pulled her close. "Are we still going out tonight."?
Massie shook her head and slowly climbed out of the hot tub. "I don't want Jenna Dawson to think she can throw parties without running it by me first." She wrapped a fluffy white towel around her bikini-covered body, and without another word marched into the cabana, the other girls trailed behind her like sad puppies.
"I call showering first!" Dylan skipped past them and slammed the bathroom door. The others laughed. Alicia shimmied out of her bathing suit and into an oversized men's button down and let her hair out of its high bun to float gently around her shoulders.
"Ten minutes Dylan!" Massie called through the door, hardly raising her naturally soft voice. Kristen hooked her iPod up to a near by dock and lowered the volume until Adele softly crooned in the background
Dylan came out the bathroom toweling off her thick, wet hair in a billowing cloud of steam. She was wearing a pair of silk men's boxer shorts and a loose v-neck tee. "I'm thinking Thai food tonight. Mass, yay or nay?"
"Nay." Massie didn't look up from her cell phone "Inez is bringing something over now. I told her about your new diet. . . unless you've already called it quits."
"No, that's fine with me." Dylan said quietly and fiddled with her damp hair "Leesh will you braid my hair?"
"Sure." Alicia expertly twisted the others hair around her nimble fingers "Who wants to swap stories?"
Claire sat on the edge of the plush leather couch and dropped her overnight bag to the side while girls chatted amongst themselves. Kristen expertly stretched out in a downward facing dog position to her left and spoke into her chest. Despite what appeared to be a close friendship, the girls, mainly Dylan, were all obviously on edge. If Massie's control was tight at school, the iron grip here was inescapable. It was like a thick, dark cloud hung over the group, sucking every ounce of cheerfulness out of the room.
"No fair! I've been busy all week, with soccer and classes and activities. Kemp and I barely even get to text, let alone go out."
"I told you student government was social suicide Kris." Massie smirked at her athletic friend "so I take it you have nothing to offer." The blond girl just glared and gracefully shifted into a sun salutation pose.
"Leesh?"
"Mama Hotz officially gave me my own guest room." Alicia's radiant smile lit up her whole face. "She wants me to sleep over at least three days a week. They don't like me being alone."
"Isn't it a little weird for you to be practically living at your boyfriends house? I mean, how do you sleep together with his parents always around." Kristen questioned curiously.
"No one cares." Alicia shrugged "As long as I'm there, I'm not at home by myself."
"How about you Mass. What's happening with you and Big D?" Dylan questioned nosily sucking down a mouthful of chilled Evian. She arched a slender eyebrow in question.
"Never refer to him as Big D again." Massie said stonily. "That's your nickname, in case you've forgotten."
"Why don't we ask Mouse?" Kristen piped up, diverting Massie's glare away from Dylan, and to where Claire sat quietly, still perched in her seat. Kristen shrugged a little in apology, when Claire's blue eyes widened.
"Has anyone caught your eye in particular Claire?" Alicia plopped down on the cushion next to her, resting her delicate chin on her fist.
"Do tell." Kristen urged arching her back until it popped, and lowering herself into a steady back bend.
At Alicia's insistent nod, Claire forced herself to speak. "Well. . . there is one boy I think is kind of cute."
"Who is it?" Now even Dylan was looking at her with interest and Massie was still facing the opposite direction but Claire could tell she was listening.
". . .Landon Crane?"
Her hesitant words were met with the deepest, most unpleasant silence she'd ever endured.