OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
AUDITORIUM
1:26 PM
OCTOBER 3, 2012

Wild cheers and clapping erupted from the stands as Skye's group grinned broadly and exited stage left.

"We're on." Alicia took a deep breath and attempted a smile. "We can do this, and remember, fake it 'till you make it, and follow my lead." Then the lights brightened. "Let's go." She led them onto the stage.

They wore extremely tight Rock&Republic denim short shorts with a cami that matched each girl's eyes, which were done up in heavy black pencil. Over it was a glittery charcoal Trina Turk vest and matching flats. Their hair had been straightened and placed in perfect high, high ponytails that morning by Jakkob, Massie's barber-turned-personal-stylist. In their pierced ears were hoops that matched their tanks, provided by Massie. They commanded attention, and every girl's gaze was tuned to theirs.

"Hi, I'm Alicia." She stepped forward. "And we're the Pretty Commitee!"

"Massie," she said loudly and posed. Dylan, Kristen, and Claire followed.

After a discreet wiggle of Alicia's fingers, the music blasted on. Nicki Minaj's voice filled the giant room, wafting out through the seats.

Alicia was on auto-pilot, and would stay there until her solo, which was going down in three, two, one, now! She kicked into a quick arabesque, spun, and flipped a sexy layer of her hair out of her face. She hadn't expected the stage to be quite as slippery as it was, and as soon as she could, she managed to kick her flats off and make it look like it was supposed to happen. Now that the soles of her feet could finally find traction, she was able to improve her posture and smile even more blindingly. Although she couldn't see the audience, she hoped to God their facial expressions matched hers.

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
AUDITORIUM
1:34 PM
OCTOBER 3, 2012

'Ehmagawd, my knee is killing me,' Kristen thought as she held a simpering smirk on her face, covering the pain. She'd been at soccer practice running extra laps with Coach to make up for what she'd missed the other day at 6:00 sharp this morning, before the sun had really risen, and not only did her body ache all over, she was dead tired. Too late, she realized she had to stand up with Dylan. She shot to her feet, supported much less than her share of Alicia, and tried a clumsy throw. Luckily, unlike her, the Beta was a pro, and for a reason.

Alicia made her body as compact as she could and managed to complete her twist. The rest of the girls got up with phony smiles, and posed perfectly. Everything had gone the way they'd practiced, but it felt fake this time, as though the life had gone out of it.

As though the life had gone out of them.

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
SEVENTH PERIOD
2:22 PM
OCTOBER 3, 2012

The school-wide intercom clicked on. "The talent show places for today are as follows:"

In Tech with Mr. Venti, Massie and Kristen dropped their carvers and clutched each other's hands.

In English with Ms. Beaumont, Dylan and Claire let their worksheets flutter to the floor in the fan-created breeze and grasped each other tightly.

Alicia sat alone in Science, casually pouring ingredients from a test tube into a measuring cup. She knew that the most important element in any performance was the dancers, not the dance. How much were they enjoying themselves? How much could they add to the act? And she knew the answers today had been They Weren't and None. Yesterday at rehearsal, everything had gone so well. But at the talent show, it all had fallen apart.

"In third place, we have... the Pretty Commitee!"

Massie and Kristen fake-cried. Dylan fake-cried. Claire actually cried. Alicia's eyebrows shot up. She couldn't believe they'd placed at all.

"In second, we have... Marcia Lent and the Jugglers!"

Alicia rolled her eyes.

"And in first, there's Skye Hamilton and the Stars!"

Of course there was.

BLOCK ESTATE
MASSIE'S ROOM
3:36 PM
OCTOBER 3, 2012

Merri-Lee had been sick again, and cancelled rehearsal. So after dropping off the girls, Massie had fallen into bed and pulled the covers up to her chin. Normally she couldn't stand to stay still for more than a few minutes. But right now, she felt like she could have laid there for the rest of her life. She scooped up Bean.

"We got third," he moaned, burying her wet cheek in the pug's fur. "Is that good, Bean?"

"Arf!" Bean yelped, struggling against Massie's hands.

"Tell me!" Massie begged. "Puh-lease."

MARVIL MANOR
DYLAN'S ROOM
3:40 PM
OCTOBER 3, 2012

"Honey, I'm going out!" Merri-Lee shouted.

"Okay." Dylan was sure her mother couldn't hear her, but she didn't care. Tomorrow they'd have to stand up to Skye, and do what she wanted.

The only thing she felt certain about was that Skye didn't play fair. And there was nothing they could do to prepare themselves.

BLOCK ESTATE
GUESTHOUSE
3:43 PM
OCTOBER 3, 2012

Claire lounged against her pillows, eating Mario Fruit Snacks, Todd's favorite kind. She couldn't think of anything to do with herself, so she did what she'd taken to doing when that situation arose.

CLAIREBEAR: can i come over?
MASSIEKUR: i guess.

She got up and in three minutes, had knocked at Massie's door and entered.

"We need to find you an outfit for tomorrow," Massie said lazily. "Skye has to be impressed by us." She led Claire over to her closet, where designer after designer hung. "Pick."

With a faint smile, Claire leafed through Massie's wardrobe, eventually choosing a pale-pink Ralph Lauren pencil skirt.

"That goes with this," Massie told her grudgingly, holding up a preppy-but-hawt white-knit Burberry sweater. "And these." She pointed to white Ann Taylor pumps. Then she opened and closed drawers to her jewelry box until she found diamond Tiffany studs. "There's your outfit. Don't forget to shave your legs. Come back in the morning for a blowout."

"My mom won't let me shave."

Massie disappeared into her private bathroom. "Here you go."

"Massie?"

"Uh-huh?"

Claire looked down at the razor in her hand. "I don't even know how to shave."

"That's a problem," said Massie. "That we are going to solve right now."