I kinda wanna hug you all right now! i love you all for reviewing! And sorry if this doesn't make sense. As i post this, it's 3:48am. And i had exams all last week and i'm one of those girls who cram last minute. I'm functioning on about five or six hours of sleep since last Wednesday...
Ps, threequel...? what do you guys think?
"I hate you!" Olivia shrieks.
"I don't really give a shit, Olivia," Dylan says coldly. "We're done with your theatrics and shit."
"I never want to speak to any of you again!" She wipes her blue eyes angrily. "I wish we were never friends!"
"Oh, cry me a river," Claire rolls her eyes, sounding exasparated.
"Rot in hell," Olivia spits and slams the door to the bathrooms.
Nikki –who just walked in- stares at all of us with wide eyes. "Did I miss something?"
"None of your business," Claire snaps.
"Why don't you go hang out with Olivia?" I ask coldly. "You're both sluts, I'm sure you'll get alone fine."
Nikki sashays into the washroom after Olivia. Yes, she was taking the bait! After the door shuts, I share a wink with Dylan and Claire. Our plan would work! I'm positive!
The only downside is having to act like I hate Olivia. She's the sweetest girl on the face of the earth, I swear. But if it takes TBN –That Bitch Nikki- down, then I'll do it.
Laughter errupts from the bathroom –evil, snarky 'I'm making fun of you' laughter. I've mastered the laugh in my many years of being an alpha.
I remind myself Olivia's supposed to be a bitch towards us, but it still doesn't really make me feel better.
Nikki and Olivia come out of the washroom, giggling and arm-in-arm. They stop and look at us for a second before errupting into hysterical giggles. I pinch my palm. I kind of regret doing this plan...but we've got to ruin Nikki.
A glance at Claire shows she's feeling uneasy too. But Dylan just cocks an eyebrow towards the two girls and gives them a withering glance before turning her back on them. Even if it means fake-fighting with Olivia, we have to take Nikki down.
During freetime that night, instead of going on a hike, Nikki and Derrick stay in our cabin, along with Josh, Danny, Todd –Claire's brother who's a year older than us- and Cam Fisher. Add the four of them to our tension and secret-filled cabin and you've got a recipe for complete and utter awkwardness.
Olivia and Nikki are sitting on Nikki's bed since Olivia refuses to go near Claire, even though the two share a bed. Josh is sitting awfully close to Nikki, all the while staring down Olivia's low-cut shirt.
Claire's sitting on her bed, painting her toenails and pretending not to notice how Josh is ignoring her. Danny's beside her, trying to strike up a conversation. She ignores his every word. Dylan and Todd are playing poker below me and I'm sitting on my bed with Derrick. It would be fine if Cam wasn't on the other side of me. I don't even know the guy! Last year I'd barely seen him!
Derrick seems to be annoyed that Cam's there too, since he keeps clearing his throat and glaring at Cam. Finally, he just says, "Fisher, why don't you go play poker with Dylan and Todd?"
Cam looks slightly wounded that we don't want him around, but he relectuntly goes over to join their game. "Finally," Derrick mutters, wrapping his arm around my shoulder. "I wanted to apologize for this afternoon."
"Good," I murmur and snuggle closer into him. "So you see how awful she is? I mean she stole Olivia from us and you know how close we are."
"Uh, no," Derrick unwraps his arms from my waist. "I was apologizing for the way I just left. Nikki's not in the wrong here."
"Derrick," I say. "You don't know how awful she is to me!"
"No," he replies. "But I do know how awful you and your friends are to her! She doesn't know anyone here, Massie! And she's thrust into a cabin full of this camp's most intimidating girls! You of all people should know what that's like!"
"But she keeps throwing herself at you! You're my boyfriend, of course I'm going to be upset that you keep flirting!"
By now, everyone is listening but pretending not to. Dylan, Todd and Cam keep peeking over their hands of cards. I notice Olivia is pretending to read a magazine, but her ears are perked up in our direction. Everyone else keep casually glancing our way, then quickly looking the other way.
I place my hand on Derrick's arm and say in a much quieter voice, "Derrick, can we talk about this later? In private?"
"You know what Massie," Derrick doesn't meet my gaze. "I don't think there'll be a later..."
Tears spring to my eyes, and even though I will them to go back with all my might, they don't. They blur my vision before dropping, one by one, down my cheeks, leaving hot, damp streaks. "Are you...breaking up with me?" my voice is somewhat choked and small.
"Yeah," Derrick jumps down from my bed. "I am. I'm sorry, Massie," he says, although he doesn't really sound it.
Then he leaves, and immediately, Josh, Cam, Danny and Todd follow him out. Todd lingers by the door. "'Bye, Olivia," he says, then ducks out. She ignores him, since it's not Danny.
In seconds, Claire and Dylan are on my bed, rubbing my back and comforting me. Well, trying to, since I can't be comforted right now.
Soon, it's lights out. Claire and Dylan each give my hand a squeeze before climbing into their own beds. I snuggle into my comforter, silent tears dampening my pillow. After I start to drift off, I quickly notice something and am wide awake. Olivia didn't even look at me after Derrick broke up with me. Not once. Even though we're 'fighting' she would have at least shot me a sympathetic glance...right?
"Wake up!" Claire whispers. "Massie! Wake up!"
"What time is it?" I mumble. My tounge feels heavy in my mouth and my eyes are swollen.
"Four-fifty-one," she glances at the clock on the wall. "We're going to talk. Just the four of us."
I throw my covers off and pad as quietly as I can to the backdoor of the cabin, where Claire and I quietly slip out. Dylan and Olivia are already standing out there, wearing their Uggs and sweaters. It's actually so cold at night and in the mornings.
"I'm sorry about D, Massie," Olivia says as soon as I'm out and gives me a big hug. "But hey, now all of us are single, except Claire! Unless you have something you wanna tell us?" she raises an eyebrow coyly at Dylan.
We all sit down on the steps. "Me? Oh, uh, nope. Single as can be."
"You and Derrick never...uh, banged, did you?" Claire mumbles.
"Way to phrase it," Dylan snickers.
"No," I shake my head.
"Have you and Josh?" Dylan asks Claire.
Olivia is instantly interested in her nails. Claire looks down at the grass. "Uh, no, me and Josh haven't. What about you, Livs?" she changes the subject.
"Have I had sex with Josh?" Olivia's eyes widen.
Claire laughs. "No! Have you had sex, period."
"No, uh, I haven't. Have you, Dylan?"
Dylan shakes her head. "No guy, no sex," she lies and shrugs.
Then it's silent. And not that good silence, either. This is that awkward as hell silence where you just sit there, playing with your sleeve, waiting for someone to break the tension. This isn't how we are. There's usually not a second that goes by without us giggling over something.
The silence goes on for another six minutes before Claire says, "So have you found out where Nikki keeps her diary?"
Olivia shakes her head. "Guys, I don't think we should do this to her. She's not that bad. She's actually really nice! And so funny! And did you know her family has a house in Paris? She stays there during the summer usually."
I stare at her. "Not that bad?" I repeat, stunned. "Really nice? Olivia, she made Derrick dump me!"
"Actually, Mass," she says. "Your envy made Derrick break up with you. He even said so."
I stand up, glaring at her. "I can't believe you, Olivia! You've spoken to Nikki for what –nine hours? And now you're taking her side in everything! And you're blaming me for Derrick's breakup with me?"
"I'm not blaming you," she says calmly. "Although, if you weren't so...mean, then I think you and Derrick would still be together."
"I didn't ask for your damn opinion," I spit, instantly angry.
Olivia stands up an appraises me coolly. "Whatever, Massie."
"Livs, what's up?" Claire crinkles her eyebrows. "Why're you acting like this? It's so un-Olivia!"
"Nikki's just helped me realize a few things. Hanging out with you has always put me behind, since you three are always in the spotlight. And I'm just...Olivia the Nobody."
"You're not a nobody!" Claire protests. But...she kind of is. Not to say that in a mean way, but she's never as into things as the rest of us, and she's not as glamourous and she's so into spirituality and stuff that no one ever takes her serious.
"Well I always feel that way compared to you guys."
"Livs, can we help that?" I say. "We don't try to put you behind us or anything!"
"I dunno, maybe I should just hang with Nikki for a while," she mumbles.
"Olivia!" Dylan flicks her thin arm. "Nikki's a bigger attention whore than ME! You think you'll get more attention hanging around her?"
"It's not like we wouldn't be friends. I can be both your friends," she murmurs, looking down as if she even knows that's not true.
"You can't," Claire says firmly. "The slut stole Derrick from Mass and I'm pretty sure she has a thing for Josh."
"Well I want to be friends with all of you," Olivia puts her hands on her tiny waist. "And Nikki's being a better friend than you are right now; she said it was okay that I wanted to be friends with all of you. That's all she wanted, was to be your friend."
"Bull," Dylan dismisses it with a wave of her slender hand. "Olivia. Just choose us. We've been friends since forever, and now your choosing some girl you've known for like seven hours?"
"At the moment," she says quietly. "Yes. You guys...you're just all so perfect and I'm not. I still love you and all, but I think it would be better for all of us if I stuck to hanging out with Nikki." Then she walks up the stairs, shuts the screendoor quietly and disappears.
"Did Olivia...did she just break up with us?" Dylan looks stunned.
Claire's blue eyes fill slightly with tears. "H-how can she just do that?" she stutters and sniffles.
"I've been dumped twice in one day," I say sadly. "I think that's a new record."
"You know what this means though?" Dylan takes a deep breath and wipes her eyes.
Claire and I exchange a look, then I say, "That bitch Nikki definitely needs to go down."
We're lying on the beach during GS –we being Claire, Dylan and me-, when I hear an all too familiar sound. The sound of Nikki's cackle of a laugh. Claire obviously hears it to, because she shoots an annoyed glance in the direction it came from.
Nikki and Olivia are dragging a paddle boat through the sand towards the lake. Paddle boating? Seriously? I hope Nikki falls overboard and drowns.
"Let's pray there's a tsunami and that bitch dies or something," Claire says, as if reading my mind.
"DERRICK!" I hear Nikki giggle-shriek. "GET OVER HERE!"
In seconds, Derrick and Danny Robbins are beside Nikki and Olivia, laughing over whatever they're saying. I can't believe how quickly Olivia seemed to get over us. As much as I don't want to admit it, I miss her.
"Do you think you could talk Landon into kicking Nikki out of camp?" Claire asks Dylan.
"Uh, why would you ask me that?" Dylan stammers. "You know Landon too!"
"What's your deal?" Claire laughs. "I asked you 'cause you got Alicia kicked out last year. Chill!"
Dylan lets out a relieved breath. Jeez, these secrets are tearing us apart! An uneasy feeling forms in the pit of my stomach. I hate secrets. I'm so afraid that one of these days I'll slip up and say something.
Secrets. Ohmigod! How could I have forgotten? Nikki had been in the bathroom when Claire told me about her and Danny! And now that Nikki and Olivia were getting closer, would Nikki tell Olivia? That would ruin our friendship forever...and that's just the thing Nikki would want.
"Claire, I need to talk to you," I jump off my towel and shoot her a meaningful look.
"Comin'," she stretches and yawns, then starts to follow me.
"Where are you going?" Dylan glares at us suspiciously.
"Pee," I answer, shrugging nonchalantly. "And I need to ask Claire something about Todd, you know, now that I'm...single." I mutter the last part, my heart breaking.
Dylan isn't convinced. "Are you sure?"
"Am I sure what?" I ask, growing more impatient by the second.
"Are you sure that's what you're going to talk to her about?" Dylan glares at me, making sure I know exactly what she's talking about.
"Yes," I snap, to annoyed and exasperated to care about how Dylan feels. "Can we go now? Or are you not done with your interrogation?"
Dylan glances at me coolly, before turning her head the other way. Whatever, I'd deal with her later. Right now, I needed to speak to Claire.
Once we're in the deserted bathrooms, Claire looks at me curiously. "What was that all about?"
"Uh, nothing," I reply, turning the taps on and off. "Listen—"
"And what is up with Dylan?" she continues. "She's acting so weird. As a matter of fact, you are too. What was the little spat with her about? Mass, you can tell me."
"Nothing," I repeat. "I just really needed to talk to you and you know Dylan, she always has to be the boss and know what's going on. I just got sick of it."
"I know, me too," Claire rolls her eyes. "Like, who made her the alpha? Seriously, she's always questioning me too on like everything," she sighs. "So what's up?"
"Nikki heard us."
"Heard us what?" Claire blinks.
"When you told me that thing," I look at her. "Nikki was in the washroom. Remember?"
Then it dawns in her. "Oh no! What if she tells Olivia? Oh god, Mass, what am I going to do? Shit, I'm going to puke!" she slams one of the stall doors and I can hear her heaving.
Poor C. "You know," I call out tentatively. "I think it would be a lot worse if Olivia heard it from Nikki. Maybe you should just tell her..."
Claire comes out of the stall and rinses out her mouth with water. "I need mouthwash," she mutters. "I can't tell Olivia. I just can't. And we're going to take Nikki down before she has a chance to tell Olivia, right?"
"If only we knew where that book was," I murmur. "Start paying very close attention to it."
Claire nods. We walk back out to the beach. "Sorry," Claire says to Dylan. "I ended up barfing, I think I ate something bad."
Dylan appraises us coolly. "So I always have to be the boss, huh? And I need to know what's going on?"
"Uh," Claire bites her lower lip. "You heard what we were saying?"
"I followed you there," she admits. So she didn't trust me. She honestly thought I was going to tell Claire about her and Landon. Wow.
"Did you hear anything else?" Claire asks.
"No," Dylan glares at us both. "I didn't feel like sticking around to hear me being insulted by my two best friends."
"Dylan—" I start.
"Oh and the reason I'm always the alpha?" she stands up and folds her towel, then glares at us both. "It's because both of you are too pathetic to be the alphas yourself."
"Dylan!" Claire glares at her. "That was rude! What's wrong with you?"
"Oh, you want to talk about rude? How about gossiping about your best friend. That's rude. Now if you'll excuse me, I have better people to spend my time with." She sashays down the beach.
"Did Dylan just ditch us?" Claire asks, her eyes wide.
"Are you kidding me?" I put my head in my hands. "Three breakups in one day. And how can Dylan just leave us?"
"Did she leave us for good?" Claire looks like she's about to cry. "Now I only have you and Josh," she sniffs.
I sit on the beach, stunned, for the rest of GS. Did that really just happen? Now it's just me and Claire. What is happening? Looks like instead of the best, this summer will be the worst of my life.
Dinner is so silent it's scary. Even Alicia's noticed it –she keeps glancing around the table, waiting for one of us to say something. But no one does.
Olivia knows something happened between Claire and me and Dylan. She had shot me a curious look but I had shot her an angry glare and ignored her. Nikki clears her throat. Everyone looks up from their lasagna and glares at her.
"It's my birthday tomorrow," she announces, earning a grin from Olivia. Does she honestly think I'm gonna get all excited and sing happy birthday to her?
"So? It's not special just 'cause your birthday's on July fourth." Claire asks with a raise of one arched eyebrow.
"So," Nikki continues. "Olivia and I got the cook to make us some cupcakes!"
"Chocolate and vanilla," Olivia says. "I know you don't like chocolate, Dyl," she gives her a hopeful smile.
Dylan ignores her.
"And I was wondering if maybe during freetime, we could have a bit of a party. Invite the boys, play someone's iPod. Think we can?"
Even though we're fighting, Dylan, Claire, Olivia and I exchange a glance. Last time we partied at camp, we almost got kicked out. And that's what made Alicia hate us so much.
"That's sounds fine," Alicia murmurs, her eyes on something in the distance.
I look to see what she's looking at, but by then her attention is back on her lasagna.
That night at freetime, the boys come over since it's raining outside. I sit on my bed, alone, sincee Claire and Josh are talking and sitting in each others' arms on her bed. Olivia and Nikki sit on Nikki's bed, along with Derrick and Danny Robbins. Looks like Olivia was right; hanging with Nikki would attract her more attention. Dylan's sitting alone below me, iPod in her ears and magazing on her lap.
A little while ago she had been lying on her back, kicking my mattress and being uber-annoying. But I'll get back at her for that tonight. I'll make sure I continue to toss and turn, causing my bed to creak and shake. She'll get no sleep.
With fifteen minutes left of freetime, the boys leave and Claire walks to the center of the room. She clears her throat, loudly, causing everyone to look up. "I'd like to change beds," she says.
"Feel free to change cabins too," Dylan sneers at her. "No one wants you in this one."
I bounce once on my mattress, causing the bed to shake. Dylan lets out a loud sigh. "I do," I say sweetly. "But since Claire wants to change beds, why don't you change with her? I'm allergic to sluts."
Claire shoots me a huge grin, Olivia's eyes widen as big as saucers and Nikki gives me a look of approval. Dylan sniffs haughtily. "I don't want to share with Olivia."
"I will," Nikki glares at her, as if Dylan had just offended her. "You can have the single."
I raise my eyebrows. Nikki seems to actually like Olivia. Maybe she isn't a total bitch/slut/hoe/whore/every mean name I can think of! Just like ninety-nine percent of it!
After about twenty minutes, everyone is all re-moved in. I have to say, I'm quite happy to have Claire below me, instead of Dylan. It's nice to have an actual friend there.
The next morning at breakfast, Nikki, Olivia, Claire, Dylan and I get called in to speak to Landon. Claire and I exchange a glance. I don't think we did anything bad...maybe someone found out about Dylan and Landon and he was sending us all home for keeping it a secret?
We all sit on the bench outside the offices in the Big House. The door to the offices is closed. So is the door to Landon's room. Then it opens, and a slightly tired looking Landon steps out. The guy really is to die for.
"Morning," he grins sheepishly. "Sorry to call you all in here, but Alicia has some concerns. And I know you're all going to say she's making up lies to get you in trouble, but she's actually looking out for you guys. She said that lately you've been kind of arguing or fighting, and you guys were so close a few days ago! What's up?"
No one says anything. He glances at all of us. "Wanna talk in my room?"
We all shuffle in, uncomfortably. Landon sits on one of the Adirondack chairs in his room and motions for us to sit down. I sit on one of the deliciously comfy couches and cross my legs Indian-style. I can already tell how awkward this is going to be.
"So..." Landon sips his mug of coffee. "Anyone have anything they wanna say? Anything at all?"
Silence.
"Anything you want to get off your chest...?"
Nikki raises her hand slightly. Landon nods in her direction. "I have something I'd like to say. This isn't actually my secret, but I think it's causing a lot of the tension in our cabin."
She won't. She wouldn't. Claire's eyes are so wide and her sunny glow has quickly disappeared.
Nikki takes a deep breath and shoots Olivia a sympathetic glance, as if this pains her to say it. Bull shit. "Olivia, I know you really, really like Danny."
Olivia nods slowly. Claire's hands start to shake. Dylan crinkles her brows. I sit on my hands to stop myself from slapping Nikki.
"And...Claire slept with him."
She did. She said it. She told Olivia. Shit.
"Olivia, I didn't –I mean, I did but-er, I uh—"
Claire's stammering is cut off with a look from Olivia. "You...slept...with Danny. Even though you know I've loved him since I was like six." It's a statement, not a question.
Claire's eyes fill with tears that freely flow down her pale cheeks. She nods, unable to say anything else. Nikki looks at Olivia sympathetically, Dylan's eyes and mouth are wide open and Landon looks uncomfortable. Bet this wasn't what he was expecting when he called us all in here.
Olivia looks speechless, which is a first. She shoots Claire a glare so full of hatred, it makes me kind of scared. "Don't ever speak to me again."
"Olivia," she tries.
"Don't." Olivia's lower lip trembles. "But you know what, Claire? I slept with Josh."
Every mouth in the room drops. Landon coughs a little of his coffee up. Claire stares at Olivia. "You didn't."
"I did," Olivia smirks. "Spring break. Ask him, if you don't believe me."
"You slut!" Claire shrieks, standing up.
"Claire, Olivia," Landon says. "Don't start—"
"I'm the slut?" she barks out a laugh. "You slept with Danny!"
"Newsflash!" Claire shrieks. "You're not with Danny!" Olivia winces. "He doesn't like you! He never has! But I'm in love with Josh!"
Olivia just stands up, staring at Claire. "Whatever. You're a slut, Claire. And an awful friend. Don't speak to me. Ever." She turns to Landon, "Are we done?"
"I don't want to talk to you," Claire storms out of the room without Landon's permission. Olivia quickly stomps out too. Then Nikki follows her. And it's just me, Dylan and Landon. And it's so awkward.
Landon is still kinda shocked looking. "Uhm, I'm gonna go too." I mumble.
"Me too," Dylan follows me out. "Hey," she grabs my arm. "You knew, didn't you? You were the only one who didn't look completely shocked."
I nod and yank my arm back. "I did know. About Danny and Claire and Josh and Olivia."
"Why didn't they tell me?" she looks slightly wounded. For a second I want to apologize for gossiping about her and then come up with a plan with her to get Claire and Olivia friends again. But I don't. Alphas don't apologize –they make others apologize first.
I shrug. "Maybe because you keep secrets from them too," my eyes flit to the Big House then back to her.
Dylan glares at me evenly. "You're not going to tell them, right?"
"No," I shake my head. "And I'm going to go now, if you're done wasting my time." I stalk off towards our cabin.
On the walk there, I see Nikki twirling her hair and giggling over something Derrick said. Olivia's sitting on the bleachers on the deserted soccer field, sobbing. As I reach our cabin, I hear Claire screaming and Josh stammering. Looks like she's finally dumping him.
So this summer definitely isn't going as expected.