OK, so you know how I said in the first book that the fundraiser was in three weeks? I started it as months, then changed it to weeks, but now it's back to months, so the fashion show and fundraiser and all that is officially on December 1st!

Heart ya,
Joy

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
SOCIAL STUDIES
9:16 AM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

MASSIEKUR: We hav 2 figure out who spiked the punch.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Y does it matter?
MASSIEKUR: Hmm, maybe cuz u got in trouble and can't come 2 the sleepover, cuz Merri-Lee Marvil probably h8s me 4 getting her daughter drunk, and cuz Alicia is still sick and told her mom she thought she waz coming down w/ the flu. That's y.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Done.
BIGREDHEAD: Done.
HOLAGURRL: Done.
MASSIEKUR: And done.

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
CAFE
11:01 AM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

"I think it's Layne," Kristen whisper-blurted.

"Why?" Massie asked, focusing her amber eyes on her Delta.

"I heard her talking to an LBR about it, Melanie, maybe."

"Her name's Mikayla," Dylan broke in.

"How do you know?" Kristen demanded.

"Cuz I was with you when we noticed their conversation," Dylan snapped with exxagerated patience.

"Alright," said Massie. "Do you see her?"

"Massie or Layne?" Kristen wondered.

"Either."

Both of her friends scanned the cafeteria. "There!" they exclaimed at the same time, pointing at the table that was now occupied by Claire, Layne, Coral, Kori, and another girl. "That's Mikayla."

Massie's eyes widened as she took the girl in. She was extraordinarily slim, with perfectly groomed auburn waves that fell down her back to her butt. Her eyes were a deep emerald color, and done up in champagne shadow and subtle eyeliner. She was also dressed head-to-toe in designer clothing, from a tight Alexander McQueen espresso-colored minidress down her creamy legs to white Blahnik kitten heels encasing beautifully pedicured toes. "Why is she hanging out with them when she could be with us?" she demanded incredulously. Neither girl gave her an answer. Instead, they stared guiltily at each other and then at the ground. "What?"

"Shethinksyou'reacold-heartedbitch," Kristen finally offered, chewing on her pinkie nail.

Massie yanked her friend's hand away from her mouth. "What?"

"She thinks you're a cold-hearted bitch."

"Why?"

"Cuz she heard you making fun of Kori in the hall the other day," Dylan explained.

"But that's, like, my job!" Massie exclaimed defensively.

Dylan threw her arms up. "Don't kill the messenger."

Massie got up and turned vicious, angry eyes toward Table 4. "Oh, she's gonna get hell from me."

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
CAFE
11:22 AM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Kristen was almost scared to watch Massie in action. She crept along behind her Alpha, next to Dylan. As soon as they arrived at the table, Massie tapped the girl's shoulder with her talons. "Excuse me?"

"Yes?" The girl known as Mikayla turned hostile eyes on Massie. "Oh, it's you." That got a laugh from Claire and Layne.

"Damn straight, it's me," Massie snapped. "And I heard what you called me."

Silkily, Mikayla replied, "I hoped you would."

Massie breathed air out of her nose. If it had been any louder, it could have been called a snort. Then she realized. It wasn't like she needed Skye's help anymore. The one party had been enough. No one had ceased complimenting them. "Kuh-laire?"

She looked up from giggling with Coral.

"Would you like to rejoin the Pretty Commitee?"

"Sure," she giggled, and got up. She had been planning on acting much more smoothly, but Massie might have rescinded her invitation if she took too much time. "So long!"

Massie whirled on her heel and stomped away in Jimmy Choo high-heeled snakeskin boots. "Kuh-laire?"

"Yeah?"

"Do you have Mikayla's number?"

"Uh-huh." She let Massie copy the information into her contacts, then snapped the phone shut, slipped it into the faux Marc Jacobs purse that had been a gift from her aunt, and leaned over the Alpha's shoulder to see what she was going to do with it.

MASSIEKUR: Never mess w/ Massie Block. Cuz now ur Alpha-less.

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
FIRST-FLOOR HALLWAY
11:48 AM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

"Um, Mass?" Claire whispered urgently.

"Nawt now."

"But-"

"Nawt now!"

"But Skye's coming," she said in her tiny, girlish voice.

Her first instinct was to order Claire to hide behind her, but instead she stood straight and tall, like an Alpha should. "Hey, Skye," she greeted the seventh-grader warmly.

"I thought we agreed that she was gone." Skye raised her eyebrows, her dark blue eyes widening. "I thought we had a deal." She didn't sound hurt, just bossy and annoyed.

Massie gathered her thoughts, then signaled discreetly for the Pretty Commitee to gather and back her up. People were starting to pause and watch the showdown between the DSL Daters and the new group, who had already amply proven that they could stand up for themselves. "You thought we had a deal?" she repeated sweetly, crossing her fingers that the rest of the group would catch on and remember what they'd rehearsed.

"Then deal!" they all shouted.

Skye looked furious. Then she grabbed Chelsea and Hilari and stormed off, leaving the other girls to follow. Bree tugged Maya's arm and went after them, but the Epsilon spun out of her friend's grasp. "This isn't over," she hissed before trailing the rest of the DSL Daters. "Skye never gives up."

RIVERA MANSION
ALICIA'S ROOM
12:05 PM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Alicia's head was still killing her, although less than the day of the party. She'd convinced Ally to let her stay home while she ran errands. Len was on a business trip in Spain, which caused Alicia to thank God for her good fortune. If her father found out she'd been drunk, especially in sixth grade, she'd be dead whether it was her fault or not.

The point was, right now she had the house to herself. It was the driver's day off. She listened carefully for the tell-tale sound of the silver Ferrari's engine. When it started up with a smooth purr, she leapt out of bed, ran down to the pantry, grabbed herself a six-pack of Oreos, and strolled back upstairs. Then she picked up her phone.

HOLAGURRL: How's it going? Have i missed nething?
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Kuh-laire's back in the Pretty Commitee.
HOLAGURRL: Nething else?
MASSIEKUR: i just told Skye off.
HOLAGURRL: Bad?
CLAIREBEAR: Very. The whole sixth and seventh grade saw it.
MASSIEKUR: It waz nawt that bad, Kuh-laire... well, maybe it waz. ;)
HOLAGURRL: U would.
MASSIEKUR: i'll take that as a compliment.
BIGREDHEAD: Just out of interest, what would happen if u had taken it as an insult?
MASSIEKUR: U don't want 2 know.

MARVIL MANOR
THIRD-FLOOR HALLWAY
2:56 PM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

The Pretty Commitee was standing around in their outfits for the fashion show, chatting and fixing their accesories. The excitement was tangible.

"Okay, gals!" Aimee clapped loudly. Everyone spun to face her. "Raise your hand if you've walked in an evening dress."

Alicia's hand shot up. So did Dylan's.

"Okay, Ms. Marvil, would you like to demonstrate?"

"Sure," she agreed gracefully, stepping up in her pumps. After adjusting her bodice, she swaggered down the red carpet. She kept a hand on her skirt, lifting it up at the perfect angle: enough so that she wouldn't trip, but not enough for the audience to notice. It almost looked like she was floating.

The girls air-clapped. Massie ran toward her for a hug, no easy feat in an extremely tight shift and four-inch heels. Without giving her friend a chance to fend her off, the Alpha threw her arms around Dylan. "That was great!" she squealed.

"Thanks." Dylan grinned and curtsied playfully.

There was the sound of someone clearing her throat at the other end of the corridor. Then there was a loud announcement courtesy of Merri-Lee Marvil. "There are exactly 28 days until the show. We are rehearsing with Landon Dorsey in two weeks. You had all better be picture-perfect by then, or you're out, and you can count on that."

"But... I haven't been here," Claire protested.

"It doesn't matter." Merri-Lee wanted to be sympathetic, but she was under a lot of pressure. Her red hair swung against her cheeks. "And could someone please tell Alicia this?"

"Sure," Dylan said. "Now go work on the party, Mom. I know you're stressed."

With a tight smirk and a small wave, Merri-Lee departed, leaving the Pretty Commitee with exactly fourteen days to be "picture-perfect."