The girls were gathered in Alicia's room. They always sat in a circle, in the same positions: Massie leaning against the Latina's bed, Alicia and Dylan on either side of her, Claire next to Alicia, and Kristen next to Dylan. Except now Dylan's space was conspiciously unoccupied. There was only empty air where the redhead used to be. No one had the heart to close in, so Dylan's spot remained ahbviously vacant. It drew their eyes like a dead body.

A single tear dripped from Massie's eye, and she caught a sob the second before it escaped her throat. The Pretty Commitee already had enough to be upset about. No way was she going to let them know their leader was falling apart.

She clapped loudly. "I was thinking..." When she realized everyone was still glaring at the floor, she pitched her voice louder. "I was thinking we should have a sleepover at the hospital this Friday so we can include Dylan."

"Great idea." Kristen nodded.

"Uh, guys, I hate to shoot this down, but we have a wedding to plan," Alicia reminded them bitchily.

"Pull your fucking head out of your ass," Claire snapped. "Dylan is much more important than you right now."

Everyone was struck silent; none of them had ever heard the blonde curse before. Alicia, however, still had her voice.

"Excuse me, Dylan is fine. She'll make it. I, on the other hand, have a major life event to prepare for."

Massie blinked. She couldn't decide whether Alicia had always been like this and she'd just overlooked it, or if her Beta had changed in the years since they'd separated. "Get...your...fucking...priorities...straight...bi tch." She glared, turning up the power in her eyes until they glowed with amber fire.

Kristen spoke up. "You can plan your stupid wedding yourself. We, awn the other hand, are going to support Dylan tomorrow night." She turned toward the others. "After school, we'll awl head home and grab our stuff, then go to the hospital."

"We should check first," Claire piped up. "Just to make sure they'll let us stay in her room overnight." Her voice had returned to her normal calm tone, but she sounded strangely detatched.

"Alright." Massie pulled out her phone. "I'll call." She talked for a few minutes, then nodded. "They want a little something." She rubbed her thumb and index finger together. "I'll bring $100."

Kristen nodded again. "Perfect." She checked the time on her watch. "I'd better get going. See you tomorrow at school. And Alicia, come if you have it in you to make the right decision."