OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
LOBBY
2:46 PM
JUNE 25, 2013

Massie stuck her Cartier watch in front of her friends' faces and began the countdown. "In ten, nine, eight, seven, six, five, four, three... two... one..."

Bring! The last bell of the school year echoed through OCD, and a torrent of students flooded out of the school.

"Happy summer!" Claire couldn't resist calling out to Alexia and Maeve as they rushed out of the building.

They brought their hands to their ears and stuck out their thumbs and pinkies, indicating that they would call her. No one could ever harbor a grudge against Claire Lyons.

The Pretty Committee followed the rest of the girls out of OCD and jumped into the Range Rover.

"Where to, ladies?" he asked smoothly, turning up the air conditioner.

"The Westchester, of course," Massie told him. "And afterward, we're all going back to my house."

"It's Monday, though," Isaac pointed out.

"I know that. But the last day of school deserves a GLU sleepover."

"If you say so." Isaac tipped his hat at the brunette and sped off down the road.

WESTCHESTER MALL
ANN TAYLOR
3:01 PM
JUNE 25, 2013

"Don't only adults shop here?" Claire wondered as they entered the chilly room.

"Uh, no," Alicia told her. "There's really cute stuff. It's just hidden in the back."

"And it's pretty cheap," added Massie for Kristen and Claire's benefit. "I got a skirt for $184 last week."

The blondes groaned in sync. But the Pretty Committee was too far buried in the store to hear them.

THE RANGE ROVER
BACKSEAT
5:48 PM
JUNE 25, 2013

"Ehmagawd, I feel so rejuvenated." Alicia grinned as she hoisted five bags onto her lap: one from Georgina Goodman, two from Guess, and another two from Ann Taylor. "Shopping is my exercise."

Dylan laughed. "Same." She only had one bag, from Alice&Olivia, but it was stocked to the brim, mostly with hair accesories.

Massie slung a Calvin Klein sack that she'd purchased for $390 over her shoulder. It was stuffed with her findings, the majority of which were Miss Me jeans and Cole Haan boots.

"What do you need boots for?" Kristen scoffed. "It's summer."

"A girl always needs boots." Massie pinched the tops of one pair and held hem up. "Aren't they ah-dorable?"

"Sure." Kristen sank back in her seat. The only thing she had was a tiny satchel from YSL, which held a tin of eyeshadow.

Claire hadn't bought anything except a slice of pepperoni from the Pizza Hut counter in the food court. She stumbled out after the girls, then disappeared into the guesthouse, where she retrieved a Little Mermaid sleeping bag and a duffle full of pajamas, hair brush, toothbrush, toothpaste, ponytail holders, and neutral makeup. Then she ran up to Massie's room.

The girls were already wearing PJ's, and they were grouped around a tin of sushi that Inez must have brought up while she was gone.

"Finally, you're here," Massie remarked. "I-"

"Massie?" Inez poked her head into the room. "Your mother wants to see you."

BLOCK ESTATE
MASTER BEDROOM
6:00 PM
JUNE 25, 2013

"Mom?" Massie knocked on the door, then stepped into the room without waiting for a response.

"I have something to tell you, Massie. Come here." She beckoned to her daughter, who approached. "Don't worry; it's good news."

She sat down next to Kendra and looked up. "What?"

"We're going to France."

"Eee!" Massie bounced up and down on the bedspread, which was rumpling under her butt. "When are we leaving?"

"In two days. And we're staying with family for the entire summer."

BLOCK ESTATE
MASSIE'S ROOM
6:07 PM
JUNE 25, 2013

Massie couldn't keep the grin off her face as she entered the room. "Guys, guess what?! We're going to France."

"Lucky." Kristen was still bitter.

"But who am I going to complain to about the baby?" Alicia moaned.

"Kuh-laire?" Massie suggested. "She has a brother."

Claire stuck out her tongue.

"So, ready for Gossip Points?" asked Dylan.

"Wait." Everyone glanced at Alicia, who normally wanted to gossip more than anyone. "I think we should update each other on our summers, you know? Like, what's everyone doing?"

"Good idea." Claire air-clapped. "'K, so I'm going to Orlando." She threw on a huge smile, but no one applauded. Her face fell.

"It's alright, Kuh-laire," Dylan assured her. "Everyone has to visit their family. It's nawt your fault yours live in Orlando."

She sighed. She couldn't tell the Pretty Committee that she loved it there without being laughed at, which had been happening way too much lately.

"So I was supposed to go to Spain, but Mom wants help with the baby." She made a face.

"I'll do anything I can," Kristen offered. "It's nawt like I have anything better to do."

"Me too." Dylan shrugged.

"Thanks!" Alicia beamed. "Gossip?"

"Sure."

BLOCK ESTATE
MASSIE'S ROOM
6:21 PM
JUNE 25, 2013

But girls, they want to have fun.
Oh girls, just want to have
(That's all they really want!)
Some fun

"D, you're ringing." Massie glanced toward the iPhone sitting next to the redhead.

She picked up and immediately shushed everybody. "Hey, Mom, what's up?"

There was a few minutes of chattering on the other end. When she finally hung up, her face was blanched. The noise died down, and all the girls stared at their friend. "I-I." She couldn't get it out. "My mom's nawt moving back."

"But we knew that." Alicia tilted her head. Massie smacked her.

Dylan looked right at the Beta as she said the last word. "Ever."