BLOCK ESTATE
DRIVEWAY
4:38 PM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Massie stood with Claire, waiting for Alicia to show up. The Alpha was cradling Bean in her arms, and her Epsilon was petting the pug. "Finally!" she cried when her friend's limo pulled up.

Alicia hopped out in a gunmetal gray Agnes B pencil skirt paired with a celery-colored Ralph Lauren blouse. "Hey guys!" she called.

"Hi!" Claire waved. "We were thinking of hitting the pool."

"We have to take Bean for a walk," Massie interrupted. "She comes first." Painstakingly, she placed the little dog on the ground. The first thing she did was run over to Alicia and sniff her.

"Eek!" she yelled, jumping back. "Doesn't she have a leash?"

"No." Massie shook her head. "She's just being friendly. Are your Jimmy Choos fake?"

"No." Alicia was horrified.

"Then you have nothing to worry about."

BLOCK ESTATE
INDOOR POOL
5:03 PM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

"I was gonna get a tan today," Alicia whined, examining her olive-toned skin.

"You don't need one," Massie said firmly. "Do you want Kuh-laire to go to the hospital again?"

"No," Alicia replied reluctantly, snapping at the strings on her Miu Miu bikini to ensure they were taut.

"Okay." Massie slipped into the pool.

Claire stayed perched on the side, dangling her feet in the lukewarm water.

"What's wrong?" the Alpha asked consternedly.

Claire shrugged. "I just..." she couldn't hold it in. "I told Layne that you guys got drunk."

"What?" Massie's eyes widened. "No one knows except the girls who were at that party. Only the A-list."

"I'm sorry," Claire whimpered.

"It's okay." Massie patted her friend's shoulder. "I forgive you."

"Really?" Claire asked.

"For now."

BLOCK ESTATE
MASSIE'S ROOM
8:07 PM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Massie sat at her desk, tapping her Essie nails on the bottom of the laptop, thinking of possible topics for her English essay. She was relieved when a text came in.

BIGREDHEAD: ehmagawd!
MASSIEKUR: what?
BIGREDHEAD: guess what i got tickets 4?
MASSIEKUR: what?
BIGREDHEAD: my mom's world famous New Year's Yves party!
MASSIEKUR: ehmagawd! 4 all of us?
BIGREDHEAD: well, that's the problem. i only got four tickets.
MASSIEKUR: what's wrong w/ that? Leesh, Kris, Kuh-laire, and me... oh.
BIGREDHEAD: yeah, i don't get a free pass.
MASSIEKUR: Kris might not even b allowed 2 come. y don't u ask her?
BIGREDHEAD: alright.
MASSIEKUR: and we absolutely hav 2 invite Kuh-laire, and she has 2 come, b/c we can't hav ne1 getting the idea that we're not including her. that'll ruin everything.
BIGREDHEAD: done.
MASSIEKUR: and done. Leesh!
HOLAGURRL: yeah?
MASSIEKUR: tickets 2 Merri-Lee's New Year's Yves!
HOLAGURRL: ehmagawd! did she get enuff 4 all of us?
MASSIEKUR: we're dealing w/ that. but ur definitely coming.
HOLAGURRL: done.
MASSIEKUR: and done. Kuh-laire!
CLAIREBEAR: what's up?
MASSIEKUR: hav u ever heard of the uber-famous New Year's Yves party that Merri-Lee hosts every year?
CLAIREBEAR: u mean the one where she hangs that designer purse from the ceiling and drops it at midnight?
MASSIEKUR: that's the one. neway, we hav tickets!
CLAIREBEAR: ehmagawd! r we all going?
MASSIEKUR: i hope so. but u r absolutely, positively, most certainly invited.
CLAIREBEAR: kool! can't wait. :D
MASSIEKUR: done?
CLAIREBEAR: done.
MASSIEKUR: and done. ;)

She declined sending a message to Kristen. Dylan was taking care of that.

She leaned her head on the polished wood surface, running her finger around the mark her lattes left whenever she drank them and worked at the same time. She always made sure she put them in the same exact place, so they only left one ring of dry liquid. Finally, she decided she'd had enough. Clsoing her computer, she climbed into bed with a smile, sure everything would work out fine.

In your dreams, sister.

PINEWOOD APARTMENTS
KRISTEN'S ROOM
8:10 PM
NOVEMBER 2, 2012

Kristen slept, curled up under the protective covering of three blankets and a sheet, along with her comforter. (The building didn't have a great heating system.) She was blissfully unaware of the barrage of text messages whistling through telephone lines as she dreamed about becoming valedictorian of Brown. A chime woke her up.

BIGREDHEAD: Will ur mom let u go 2 a party?
SEXYSPORTSBABE: When?
BIGREDHEAD: 4 New Year's.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: W/ u guys?
BIGREDHEAD: Yeah, but we're not hosting it.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Who is?
BIGREDHEAD: My mom.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: IDK, i'll ask 2morrow.
BIGREDHEAD: K, night.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Night.

MARVIL MANOR
DYLAN'S ROOM
6:41 AM
NOVEMBER 3, 2012

Dylan shot out of bed at her alarm and felt joy flood through her body before she remembered what she was so excited about. Then she thought of the New Year's Yves party and did a little Irish jig around the room before making an effort to contain herself. With her head bursting with happiness, she flicked the lightswitch and sauntered into her walk-in closet. "Good morning!" she trilled, although no one but her clothes could hear her. She had already decided to wear her red satin wrap skirt with a black tank, a tiny see-through wrap, and flats. She dressed quickly, then ran downstairs for breakfast.

"Good morning!" she reiterated to her mother and oldest sister.

"Hi," replied Ryan, ever-grumpy.

"Dylan, darling!" Merri-Lee exclaimed. "Did you tell your friends about the tickets?"

"Are you sure you don't have one more ticket?" Dylan begged.

"I'm sorry, honey," Merri-Lee said. "But I already told you I get four for each child and one for a friend."

"What friend are you inviting?"

"Well... I'm not sure yet," she admitted.

"That means they can't be such a good friend, whoever you invite. So can I have the extra?"

Merri-Lee laughed. "No."

"Why?"

"Because that's not fair to your sisters," she answered firmly. "End of discussion."