BEVERLY HILLS
GOLDEN ISLES
8:09 AM
DECEMBER 4, 2012

"What about New Year's Yves?" Claire asked as she expertly shuffled a deck of tourist souvenir cards.

"Merri-Lee lives here now, idiot," Massie told her affectionately. "She'll probably just have the party in Cali." She ran a flat iron through her glossy tresses. "You like my bangs?"

"Yeah," Claire replied. "They're cute."

"Thanks." She unplugged the cord and shoved the device back in the cabinet. Then, as if she remembered something, she glanced quickly at the clock, then up at her friend. "She's having lunch right now," she said quietly.

"Who?"

"Kristen." Masse didn't even bother spouting off with a sarcastic comment. "I miss her."

"Me too." And they held hands and cried on each other's shoulders and collapsed onto the couch, desperately wishing that they could find a way to reunite the Pretty Commitee.

BEVERLY HILLS
GOLDEN ISLES
8:13 AM
DECEMBER 4, 2012

While her ex-friends were being completely unproductive in their house, Alicia was in serious planning mode. She'd already picked out a killer outfit: a bright multi-colored hand-knit rope-strap top she'd picked up the last time she'd gone to Spain, paired with light wash Miss Me skinny jeans and lime green snakeskin Prada heels . A black Chanel purse lay on her bed, along with onyx hoop earrings. A look that shouted free, confident, and sexy, all in one.

"9.8," she rated herself, then tightened her jaw. She'd already cleared Massie Block out of her life, and with any luck, that LBR Claire would soon go with her. After checking her teeth in the mirror for any remnants of the blueberries she'd eaten for breakfast, she sat down at her mahogany desk and booted up her laptop. She needed to scroll through her Twitter and make sure no one had Tweeted anything important in the few days she'd been busy. Then she opened her Facebook, Tumblr, and the Instagram software she'd downloaded from her iPhone 5. After catching up on the latest trends, she rested her chin in her hand and thought about her latest effort to get revenge. All her plans just seemed to fall through the cracks lately, and what she needed now was something absolutely foolproof.

She went through the steps one by one in her head. First, she'd make sure she was uber-nice to Claire. She had to find her weakness, any problems she might possibly have with Massie, and blow them out of proportion so the new Delta would absolutely hate the Alpha. Then she'd purposely say something to Massie that wouldn't come across as rude to anyone else, so that the twins wouldn't kick her out. Knowing her old friend, she wouldn't be able to contain her anger, and she'd come out with something so rude that Pop 'n' Lolly would have to get rid of her. Lastly, all the girls would be under Alicia's control, and she would be in charge, just as she was meant to be. It was watertight, with no flaws. There was totally, positively no way this could go wrong.

Satisfied, she latched on her earrings and peered into the mirror. A little mascara here, a touch of blush there, one last toothbrushing so her teeth would be white and shining... perfect! Looking amazing was Alicia Rivera's specialty. With a smug smirk, she brushed out her hair one last time, flipped her head upside down, scrubbed her temples with the heel of her hand, and ran a comb through the volumnous strands. Then she slung her bag over her dark shoulder and left.

As she strolled smartly through the collection of agencies, recording studios, and talent-managing offices, Alicia ticked off on her fingers how many people looked over at her enviously. One, two, that girl over there made three, four, five, was that Massie Block? She performed a double-take, and sure enough, that was her ex-Alpha, holding court over both Dylan and Claire, who appeared to be hanging on her every word. Discreetly, she joined a group heading in the clique's direction and branched off into the shadows when they approached the girls.

"She's going to try and take over."

How did she know?

"There's no way."

Are you sure about that?

"Don't worry, Mass, we're completely loyal."

What about last time, huh?

"Don't listen to a thing she says."

So now they were going to ignore her?

"We won't."

BEVERLY HILLS
GOLDEN ISLES
8:21 AM
DECEMBER 4, 2012

Dylan slid on comfy Louis Vuitton sandals and walked outside, tilting her face toward the sky, not just to feel the warm rays, but to enjoy the fresh, cool breeze. She was in California, having the time of her life. Who cared about Alicia Rivera, who Massie was currently obsessing about? Who cared that Hollywood and some of her favorite stars were less than ten minutes away and could show up anytime, even now, and see her in her ratty pajamas? Who cared?

All Dylan ever wanted to be was happy. And eventually, she would be. But not now.

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
CAFE
11:24 AM
DECEMBER 4, 2012

Kristen had taken to sitting with Layne, Kori, Strawberry, and Mikayla, although that group always made her want to look around for Claire.

SEXYSPORTSBABE: How's it going out there?
CLAIREBEAR: Not so good.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Y?
CLAIREBEAR: Massie's already kicked Alicia back out, so Dylan ditched her. And she expects me to h8 her 2, but i don't. i'm not even sure what she did wrong.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Tell her how u feel! Take a stand!
CLAIREBEAR: What? No, that's mean.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Stand up 4 urself. U'll only hav this opportunity a few times. Take advantage.
CLAIREBEAR: i can't. She won't take me seriously.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: She will if u threaten her.
CLAIREBEAR: ?!
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Nawt like that. Tell her sumthing that forces her 2 take a step out of her perfect little world and choose between two things that matter. Make her look bad. 1,000,000 starts w/ one.
CLAIREBEAR: U mean if i stand up 2 her, other peeps will 2?
SEXYSPORTSBABE: That is exactly what i mean. Do me a favor?
CLAIREBEAR: Sure.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Kick her skinny little ass. And do it 4 me.

BEVERLY HILLS
STUDIO CHARMANTE
8:32 AM
DECEMBER 4, 2012

"I love the weather here," Alicia commented airily as she walked alongside Claire. Even though the blonde sped up as soon as she heard her voice, she continued talking to no one. "It's so nice nawt having to think about bundling up, even if it does give me the chance to show off my ah-mazing Cole Haan parka."

Finally, Claire turned around, just as Alicia had a hunch she would. "Are you pyscho, talking to your invisible friend back there?"

"Of course nawt," she replied sweetly.

Dylan yanked Claire around to face her. "Stawp talking to her," she ordered. "She's going to suck you in."

"You're falling for her trap," Massie explained. "You'll make it easier if you don't talk to her."

"For who?" she demanded. "For you, or for us?"

"What are you talking about?"

"I mean what I say. Everything you do, you say it's good for us, or for the Pretty Commitee, but it never is. It's only good for you. You, you, you and your stupid ideas! And this is where it's gotten us!"

Both Massie and Dylan were staring at Claire, at first stupified, but then angry. "Exactly," the Alpha said in a deadly tone. "It's gotten us to Beverly Hills, modeling with Pop 'n' Lolly."

"No," Claire corrected. "I got you to Beverly Hills. Dylan and I, we made it on our own. You, I had to beg them to take, but you know what? I'm not even sure I want you here anymore. You separated me from my best friend. Yeah, I admired you, but you only liked me after I began looking like you, and talking like you, and being like you. All you did was move me away from my real best friend, and you know what? I'm going back."

Review/PM and tell me: Alicia or Massie? Or both? Or neither? Tell me your opinion, and I'll count 'em up and make 'em work.

Heart ya,
Joy