DYLAN
Gawd, she missed them. She hadn't realized that they'd awl reverted back to strict Pretty Commitee lingo, but they had. She also hadn't realized they awl had so many unshared secrets. Including hers.
"Well...there's a reason I turned bulimic. And it wasn't cuz of Mr. Myner, like I told Kuh-laire. I mean, I guess it was partially him, but there was much more. I, well, there was a reason I never wanted a boyfriend. And I guess there was kind of an undercurrent, which was why no boy ever wanted me. Nawt cuz I was fat, but cuz I'm lesbian." She didn't give them the chance to comprehend the statement. "And there's a girl. Named Ashlee Delemonico. I think we're really in love. And I decided to lose weight for her."
Kristen gulped. "That's...great, Dyl." She smiled. "I mean, ahbviously nawt the bulimia part, but that you've found love: really great!"
"The only reason I went with bulimia is cuz nothing else worked! No diet, no exercise program, nothing! So I just gave up. This was so much easier. Until now."
"Bulimia is never easy." Claire shook her head and looked around meaningfully at the group. "Listen, I don't know who knows this, but my mother was bulimic, and that's why she's always getting sick now and stuff. That's why she goes to the hospital for routine check-ups. Nawt cuz of that skin cancer she had, but cuz of the bulimia. She almost had a heart attack once. It's dangerous, it really is. Never, ever do this ah-gain, Dyl. You're lucky that we found this out now, and that nothing worse happened. Cuz it gets too fatal, too deadly, too soon. And then we might never see our ah-mazing Dylan Marvil ah-gain. So puh-lease, puh-lease, never ah-gain." She stared everyone in the eye ah-gain. Her gaze seemed to linger for an extra moment awn Alicia, who spoke.
"Maybe I'm missing something here, but is no one else a little shocked about this lesbian thing?"
"Nawt really." Massie shook a strand of hair out of her amber eye and tucked it behind her ear, which she'd never do in public. "Everything she said is true: she never wanted or had a boyfriend, and no offense, but no boy ever really wanted her, except for that quick thing with Derrick before I had him."
Kristen tightened her lips and nodded. "I guess. You told us cuz you want to process with us, am I right?"
Dylan nodded gratefully as her eyes filled with tears. There were still plenty of people against gays and lesbians. Alicia's father, for one, probably both of Kristen's parents, and yet here they were, awl supporting her. No one was making a big deal out of it, except for Alicia, but that was trademark behavior for her.
"Can we spread it? As gossip?" We all know who asked that.
"Nawt right now!" Massie reprimanded. "We're, like, the lowest of the low on the social ladder right now, thanks to Ms. Duhlivia Airhead."
Dylan balked. The Alpha's reason had nothing to do with her personal privacy and trust, but instead awl to do with their status. She scowled. "Has anyone considered my reasons why this shouldn't spread?" Her bright green eyes flashed.
Kristen put an arm around the redhead. "'Lax, Dyl Pickle. It'll be okay. Promise. Trust us." She indicated herself and Claire with a wink.
Dylan wasn't sure. She knew she could put faith in Claire, the nicest, most down-to-earth girl here. It didn't matter that her father earned the family a billion dollars a year. She could always be counted awn.
Massie was filled with raw power. She had enough to create a hurricane and flip the whole school over if she chose. Alicia worked sneakily and subtlely. She was manipulative, cunning, and everything perfect for a Beta. Dylan got mad fast, and used awl her anger at once by lashing out. She didn't know how to keep it in or save it for later like those two. Claire had a little power, but she was more like Crabbe or Goyle, bowing down to Malfoy. She used it the way she was told, and only stood up for herself once in a while. But when she did, she could knock you down. But Kristen...
Kristen was powerful and charming and snappy and quiet awl at once. She could rule if she had to, and with a bat of her eyes and a toss of her hair and a quick show of her long, athletic legs, she could win you over in a heartbeat. She knew how to shoot an insult and leave, and she never had to even worry about comebacks, like Massie did, because the students were literally scared of her. No one wanted to bother Kristen. But she could play awn your side too. She could turn into the quiet but eager best friend, but she'd always switch back. Kristen Gregory lived for herself and no one else. Don't cross her. That was what Dylan had learned when the Pretty Commitee had split.
"I know," was what she whispered.
"So let's hear about Ashlee Delemonico," prompted Claire. "You never told us about her." She fluttered her eyelashes suggestively and grinned.
Dylan swatted her. "What do you want to know?"
They had a long list of questions. They started simply, but awl at once.
Dylan threw her hands up. "Hold awn. I can't hear myself think." (She finally understood that expression.) "Once at a time. Let's start with Massie, then go Alicia, Kristen, Kuh-laire, k?"
They nodded.
"Okay, Mass," Dylan started.
"What does she look like?"
"Wanna see a picture?"
"Sure."
Dylan produced her iPhone from a drawer and scrolled through her photos. "Here's a good one."
It portrayed a girl with very tan skin, cinammon-colored, sparkly eyes, high cheekbones dusted with blush and glitter, plump, pink, glossy lips, and long, lithe legs. Her hair was billowy and dark, falling to a little above her waist. A white headband held it back. She was wearing distressed cutoffs, white Havianas, and a flimsy white v-neck tissue tee. A clump of diamond tennis bracelets weighed down her thin, bony wrist, and a matching locket hung from her neck.
"There's a picture of me in there," Dylan explained abashedly.
"Cute!" Alicia crowed.
"We'd just gone to the spa," she added. "Look, see her fingernails." She zoomed in.
Ashlee's nails were covered in navy blue polish with white crackle.
"Gawd, she must love white," Massie commented.
"She doesn't love white," Dylan contradicted. "She loves diamonds. You know, girl's best friend and awl that. And since diamonds are white..."
"Same thing," dismissed Massie.
"Next question."
"What's she like? You know, personality-wise?" Alicia inquired.
"Um, she's kinda shy when you first get to know her, but becomes totally fun and crazy fast. A little like Kuh-laire. Next."
"Are you, like, really in love?"
"I don't know," Dylan replied thoughtfully. "I mean, I did this for her, though."
"Has she come to visit you?" Claire leaned in.
"A few times." Dylan smiled at the memory. "You guys would love her so much. In fact- shit!"
"What?"
"I told her she could come tonight. I didn't know you guys were gonna sleep here until Kuh-laire called today and she's probably coming right," a knock sounded at the door, "now." She got up. "Hey, Ash!"
"What's up?" Her voice rang clearly from the threshold. "Who's there?"
"A few of my friends," Dylan responded easily. "Loosen up. They already know."
"Fine." Ashlee came into view. She was wearing a floral-print Alice&Olivia bustier top with a super-short denim mini and pale pink flats.
Massie bustled over to her and stuck out a hand. "Hi, I'm Massie Block."
"Alicia Rivera." "Kristen Gregory." "Claire Lyons." The others chimed in, smiling, trying their best to make her feel welcome.
Dylan, awn the other hand, watched the girls' expressions: Alicia's slightly bored, Kristen's genuinely interested, Claire's kind and open. But Massie's was hungry. Nawt hungry for food. Hungry for that girl.
Dylan knew the Alpha well enough to figure it out.
Massie wanted Ashlee for the Pretty Commitee.
