Hey guyz! Do two things for me, pretty please ;): First, check out the story I'm co-writing with Mikky-good-luck-charlie-lover called Alpha Games: Attack of the Alphas. R&R! Also, check out BaconCupcakes' announcement!

Heart ya,
Joy

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
SOCIAL STUDIES
9:07 AM
DECEMBER 12, 2012

Kristen Gregory was not good at being in charge, and she had completely underestimated the responsibility it took to head up an entire Clique. First of all, her mother would barely let her out of the house to hang out with them, so they didn't have any Witty Commitee customs, traditions, or inside jokes. Not only that, Claire had been an absolute nervous wreck since Monday, and she had no idea whether it was because of the boys or the fact that the Pretty Commitee had come back.

But the worst part was that Kristen had no clue what to do about Massie, Alicia, and Dylan. They'd been lying low the past couple of days, and she was sure that meant they were about to attack. But what could she do about it? So she did something she tried never to do. Ignoring the glares from the Pretty Commitee's Alpha and Beta, she pulled out the chipped silver Motorola her father had finally broken down and bought for her.

SEXYSPORTSBABE: Do ne of u hav friends who would b willing 2 take one 4 the team?
SPREADTHELEXILUV: What do u mean?
SEXYSPORTSBABE: We need some1 2 try to integrate themeselves in2 the Pretty Commitee and figure out their plan 2 take us down.
MIKKYMOUSE: What about Layne?
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Ur kidding.
THELOVELYEVE: i hav a friend who would work. Her name's Vail Collins.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Cute?
THELOVELYEVE: Yep.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Attitude?
THELOVELYEVE: Lots of it.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Perf. Do u have her number?
THELOVELYEVE: 914-383-1240
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Hi, r u Vail Collins?
COLLIECRAZY: Depends on who's asking.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Kristen Gregory.
COLLIECRAZY: That's me.
SEXYSPORTSBABE: Would u like 2 help out the Witty Commitee a little bit?
COLLIECRAZY: Sure. How?
SEXYSPORTSBABE: I want u 2 try and join the Pretty Commitee. Could u find out how they're planning 2 take us down?
COLLIECRAZY: U bet. ;)

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
CAFE
11:35 AM
DECEMBER 12, 2012

"Yes! They're sitting together," Alexia whispered behind her moisturized, manicured hand.

"Good work, Eve," Kristen congratulated Maeve with a smile.

Maeve shook her head. "It's all her. She's an amazing actress."

Claire glowered as she watched Vail giggle with Alicia. Once, the Beta pointed toward the Witty Commitee's table, and both girls cracked up laughing.

SEXYSPORTSBABE: how's it going?
COLLIECRAZY: tell u l8er
SEXYSPORTSBABE: meet u at Vanilla Bean after skl?
COLLIECRAZY: yeah

"She's doing fine," Kristen reported.

"We can tell," Claire grumbled.

Alexia shifted in her seat, eventually voicing the opinion that had been working its way through Kristen's head. "The Pretty Commitee was made to be on top. Why are we even trying to change destiny?"

"I don't believe in destiny," Claire broke in. "It's a lame excuse for waiting for something to happen instead of making it happen. While the Pretty Commitee is down for the count, we need to take charge and show them what we're worth. Maybe we can change destiny." It was the longest, most heated speech she'd ever made.

"It's true." Everyone turned to look at Mikayla. "Nobody's perfect. Even the great-and-powerful Massie Block has to have a weakness."

"You're right," Maeve agreed. "And right now, the more trust she puts into Vail, the easier it will be to take her down."

"As long as she doesn't decide she likes the Pretty Commitee better than us," Kristen worried. "She could turn traitor and we wouldn't even know it."

"She won't," Maeve declared confidently. "She would never do that."

"Then we have nothing to worry about," Mikayla pointed out. "We'll wait until Vail has something to tell us at the Vanilla Bean."

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY
CAFE
11:43 AM
DECEMBER 12, 2012

Massie Block couldn't keep the smile off her face. Maybe the Witty Commitee was the coolest clique right now, but obviously the Pretty Commitee's attractive magnet still existed. Already, a girl who could easily have made the LMNOPs back at PMS had approached her and her friends and struck up a conversation. Her name was Vail Collins.

"Tell her," Alicia muttered close to Massie's ear.

"Why?"

"Maybe she's the one," Alicia replied.

Massie turned to Vail with a conspiratorial smile. "Guess what?"

The girl's eyes lit up at being let in on this important tidbit of information. "What?"

"We have a foolproof plan for taking the Witty Commitee down."

"What is it?" Vail asked eagerly.

"We're going to take on two trainees, very secretly, of course, and have them figure out the Witty Commitee's deepest, darkest, secrets. Then we'll blackmail them and tear that little clique down. And you could be one of them."

"Ooh, I'd love to!" Vail squealed. She looked like a happy, bubbly 11-year-old, but inside, her heart was pounding. She had to make a desicion that would impact her for the rest of the school year, or possibly until she moved away from Westchester. Pretty Commitee, or Witty Commitee?

WESTCHESTER
VANILLA BEAN
3:02 PM
DECEMBER 12

"So what's the deal?" Kristen leaned across the table to hear Vail's answer.

"They're going to hire two girls to scope you guys out. They want to blackmail you into LBR status."

"You're one of them, aren't you?" the Alpha demanded.

"Yeah." Vail beamed. "Isn't it great?"

"It's perfect. You can lie to them."

"Exactly."

Claire rolled her eyes. She knew this was never going to work out. Sooner or later, Massie would find out, and all five of them would be dead. But Kristen didn't seem to be thinking this through.

"Would you like to be the Omega of the Witty Commitee?" she blurted.

"Wow, Delta of one clique and Omega of another," Vail giggled. "I'd be honored."

Correction: all six.

BLOCK ESTATE
MASTER BEDROOM
3:08 PM
DECEMBER 12, 2012

Massie hovered at the foot of her mother's bed, wishing that this was the good old days, where she'd just run in and dive-bomb into the sheets.

"Yes, Massie?" Kendra slipped a bookmark in between the pages of The Devil Wears Prada and dropped the hardcover on the down pillow next to her.

"Since I'm here, Kuh-laire's nawt going to be using my room anymore, is she?"

"Where else is she going to go?" Kendra wanted to know. "She can't stay in the guesthouse by herself."

"Why nawt?"

"She's a child. Who's going to make her breakfast and dinner and make sure she stays alive? This isn't Home Alone, sweetheart."

"Inez has a sister," Massie shrugged. "And you could check on her."

"I don't think she'd like that very much." Kendra laughed. "Your room is certainly big enough to share."

A smirk crept across the brunette's face. "Okay," she said agreeably, and skipped to her bedroom to wait for Claire.

RIVERA MANSION
ALICIA'S ROOM
3:13 PM
DECEMBER 12, 2012

Lazily, Alicia circled random answers to her homework as she thought about her social status at OCD. Technically, as much as she hated to admit it, the Pretty Commitee was now the B-List clique. Sure, Massie could say it was more complicated than that all she wanted, but facts were facts.

Since she couldn't focus on the worksheet in front of her, Alicia opted for putting together the best outfit any sixth-grader had ever seen. She made the trip from her desk to her walk-in closet and stared at the vast amount of clothes just waiting to be combined into a glorious ensemble.

She picked a bow ruffle front sheer chiffon Rock&Republic top with a bubble hem. The perfect pair of pants were skinny dark rinse Calvin Kleins. She added gray Jimmy Choo ankle boots, then clomped over to her mirror for a basic check. She sifted through her bags until she came upon an elephant-colored textured-leather Tory Burch purse with a gold designer plaque. She unsnapped the detachable shoulder strap, which she placed on her bureau. Then she laid the pocketbook to the side and slid large-diamond Tiffany studs through her pierced ears. Lastly, she pried the green-patterned case she'd used yesterday off her iPhone 4S and attatched a white quilted one. She slung the handbag over her shoulder and grinned at herself. Tomorrow, she'd add mascara, but right now, she looked as good as she ever had. After one last supermodel-esque pose, she changed out of the clothing she planned to wear tomorrow.

She put on pajamas and climbed into bed, where she selected a bottle of Essie's Turquoise and Caicos nail polish. After a quick manicure, she put it away, admired her nails for about three minutes, then went downstairs to see her mother.

Ally's pregnancy bump was beginning to actually show, and soon she'd have to switch to maternity clothing.

"¿Puedo ir al centro comercial con Dylan?" She knew she didn't have to ask; her mother always let her go to the mall.

And sure enough: "Si," her mom replied. "Que se diviertan."

"Gracias." Alicia placed a quick call to her redheaded friend, and forty minutes later they were smack in the middle of the Westchester, breathing in the cool air and deciding which designer store to start with.

"BCBG," suggested Dylan.

"Sephora," Alicia argued.

"How about we start with Juicy Couture and work right?" Dylan proposed.

"Perfect."

And, armed with platinum American Express cards tucked securely into designer wallets, they headed off for a major shopping spree. It hadn't occured to either of them to call Massie.

BLOCK ESTATE
MASSIE'S ROOM
4:12 PM
DECEMBER 12, 2012

"Gawd, you took forever," Massie fake-yawned.

"Why were you waiting?" Claire retaliated.

"I need to talk to you."

"Oh?"

"Now that we're, for want of a better word, fighting, I don't really want to be sharing a room with you."

"Same." Claire busied herself on her phone.

"Look up." When she did, Massie said, "So I think you should go back to the guesthouse."

"But no one's there."

"No shit. But you're not staying in here."

"Did Kendra say it was okay to kick me out?"

"Uh, no. Which is why I have to deal with you. Which is why, if you don't me to make your life a misery, you'll do as I say."

"You're not the boss of me anymore."

"This is my house and my room." She didn't have to say more than that.

"Fine. What do you want, Your Royal Highness?" she mocked sarcastically.

"First of all, you may nawt keep wearing my clothing. Get your own. Secondly, you are, ahbviously, out of the Pretty Commitee, and so is Kristen. And lastly, this room will officially be used for GLU-exclusive sleepovers, which means that every Friday night through Saturday afternoon, you better stay out of here. Understood?"

"Uh-huh." Claire folded her arms. Strangely, she didn't seem to have tears in her eyes, and she wasn't blushing at all. "I'm sorry," she added.

That caught her off-guard. "What? Why?"

"Cuz the Pretty Commitee is going down." Then she whipped around and left, leaving Massie dumbstruck.

WESTCHESTER MALL
KATE SPADE
4:33 PM
DECEMBER 12, 2012

Although they had already shopped for an hour, the girls had no intention of stopping. They each carried at least five bags, and they'd only been to three stores out of the ten they planned on visiting.

"Don't you just heart these shoes?" Dylan breathed, wobbling through the store in six-inch hot pink pumps with Plexiglass heels.

"Nawt on you." Alicia laughed, dropping her load onto a chair and watching as the clerk shot a dirty look at Dylan. "And I don't think she does either." The beauty tossed her head toward the girl at the register, who was rolling her eyes.

"Are you going to pay for any of this?" She gestured to the pile of merchandise they'd built up.

"Um, yeah," Dylan responded.

"With what?"

"These." She made her Am Ex, Visa, and Mastercard into a fan and held them up to the light. "Unlimited."

"I see." Masking her shock, she reached for a pair of glittery navy pumps, which Alicia had noticed on the back of a shelf and loved. After running them under the scanner, she read off, "On sale for $1,845. Are you sure, no offense, that you can afford this?"

"No, we're making it up," Dylan shot back. "Are you sure, no offense, that you're supposed to be asking questions?"

"Sorry, miss." With that, the clerk rang up the rest of their items and stuffed them into bags. "Enjoy."

"Gawd, was she a bitch." Alicia grinned.

"Hey, give her a break. She'd never met rich, spoiled brats quite like us," Dylan pointed out with a snicker.

"Point." Alicia drew an invisible number one in the air before turning into Prada.

They were done by 6:00. Alicia called Alex to pick them up. He dropped Dylan off at her godmother's house, where she was staying until Merri-Lee returned, if she ever did, then brought Alicia home. She threw him a smile, then scooped up her Michael Kors purse and left her driver to carry her bags inside, where Miguel, the butler who acted as an all-around servant, would take care of them.

Alicia flounced up to her room and turned on the TV. Once she went back to being the second-most popular girl in the sixth grade, member of the elite Pretty Commitee, this would be the life.

WANG HOUSE
DINING ROOM
7:53 PM
DECEMBER 12, 2012

Vera Wang was Dylan's godmother. For all the press and money, she was a surprisingly down-to-Earth woman. She wore her long, silky black hair in a pin-straight waterfall down to her back, and small topaz stud earrings. Normally, Dylan had discovered, she ate dinner in her pajamas, and comfy velvet pants and a white beater fit the bill perfectly.

"How was your day?" she inquired once she'd swallowed her huge bite of linguine in clam sauce.

"Good. How 'bout you?" Dylan had only met Vera once or twice before this, but now that she had to live with her, she felt perfectly at ease.

"Fine, thanks." She rummaged in her no-name hobo hag for something, and came up with a small glass container. She passed it over to Dylan. "What do you think?"

She uncorked it and took a sniff. "Mmm, that's smells amazing. What is it?"

"The fifth scent in my Princess line. I'm going to call it Princess Night."

"It's beautiful. Just the right blend of sweet and fruity." She got up to give Vera a hug. "I'm so glad it's finally done."

"Me too. Do you want to have a game night?"

"What?"

"I'm sorry; you don't have to." Vera sighed and began shoveling food into her mouth.

"No, I'd love to. It's just, we never do that at my house."

"Really?" A smile flickered on her face. "What do you want to play?"

"Life?" Dylan remembered vaguely when her dad still lived with them. Ryan, Jaime, Merri-Lee, and her father would be gathered around a board, laughing and moving pieces around. Dylan, still an infant, was obviously too young to play, but she missed the friendly family atmosphere.

"Lovely." Vera left her half-empty plate on the table. "Race you to the playroom?"

"Heck, yes." And they ran across the house.

"Tie!" they both exclaimed, panting.

Vera wasn't her mother, not even close, but she was as good a substitute as Dylan ever hoped to get.