The Beauty Queens

by FashionLeMode

Madeleine had already been chosen by the popular girls at school to be the Queen of the entire Sixth Grade. Now the question was, would the other girls - Scarlett, Kayla, Mackenzie, and Audrey - grow into their designated roles in Madeleine's court? And could Madeleine successfully reign over an entire grade, or would the uniqueness of the girls prove too much for her to handle?

10. Chapter Nine

Disclaimer: I own all the characters in this story.

---

Chapter Nine

---

The Stein Estate

Kitchen

10:39 A.M.

Monday, September 9th

As Madeleine spooned the last of her lukewarm cornflakes into her mouth, her emerald eyes were glued to the TV, enthralled by the cinematography that exposed Samantha's deception. On the screen, Samantha tricked Alexandria's new love interest into thinking one of Alexandria's friends had slept with him - all part of Samantha's vengeful plot to get back at Alexandria for stealing her part in the school play.

After the TV credits finished, Madeleine took a deep breath and leisurely rose from the breakfast nook, leaving the television on. She deposited her milk-stained bowl and spoon in the sink, ready for Ingrid to clean. Glancing down, Madeleine saw Coco dutifully following behind her.

Madeleine tenderly cradled her Pomeranian, Coco, against her chest. She stroked the pup's clean fur and remembered that the regular dog walker cared for Coco that day. Glancing at the oven's black, stainless steel digital clock, Madeleine noted it was nearly 10:44 a.m.

Cradling Coco close, Madeleine exhaled deeply and resolved to take her time. Walking outside, she strolled past the living room, dining room, and winding staircase. Entering the grand foyer, she paused to admire the gleaming marble floors and the minimalist black chandelier suspended from the vaulted ceiling.

Madeleine noticed Milton had left her purse on the console table by the front door, as instructed. She set Coco down, stepped away from the foyer mirror, and struck a pose while scrutinizing her current outfit with one hand on her hip.

Dressed impeccably, she wore an ivory Cinq à Sept minidress with ruffle trim and a matching ruched ivory crepe blazer. Completing the chic ensemble were blue Gucci peep-toe espadrilles and a blue leather Dooney & Burke satchel that complemented her shoes. Her signature pearl necklace and earrings added a touch of elegance, while her honey-blonde hair was straightened and her makeup was light and natural.

After checking her stylish outfit in the mirror, Madeleine stopped posing and retrieved a breath mint from her designer handbag. She let the mint dissolve on her tongue, determined to have fresh breath.

Madeleine retrieved her Pretty & Perfect nude matte lipstick from her designer bag and applied it to her already glossed lips. After a quick mirror check to admire her freshened-up look, she returned the lipstick tube to her purse. With her morning routine finished, Madeleine pressed the intercom button on the nearby console and spoke into it.

"Bye, Mom!" Madeleine called, flinging her purse over her right shoulder.

"When will you be back?" Margaret's voice crackled through the intercom.

Madeleine glanced at the white speaker and rolled her eyes. "Before ten tonight," she replied, hoping her plans wouldn't run late.

"Okay, sweetie," Margaret said through the intercom. "See you when you get home tonight."

Madeleine removed her finger from the intercom button after responding. "All right, Mom."

Madeleine stared at her flawless reflection in the mirror, smirking. Taking a sharp breath, she rolled her shoulders back and turned on the heels of her espadrilles. Milton opened the front door just then, but Madeleine had already reached for the handle. Stepping outside, she plucked her Dior sunglasses - the same pair she'd worn last Sunday and Wednesday - from her designer handbag.

Shielding her eyes from the intense sunshine, Madeleine slipped on her sunglasses and marched down the driveway, inhaling the humid air. As she approached, she observed Nick waiting inside the idling Range Rover, exhaust puffing from the muffler.

Madeleine approached the vehicle, opened the door, and settled into the plush leather backseat. She placed her purse on the adjacent seat and stared ahead as the driver began to back out of the driveway. Without speaking to Nick, Madeleine closed her eyes and leaned back against the headrest.

Madeleine practiced meditation, taking deep breaths for fifteen minutes with her eyes closed and arms crossed. Opening her eyes, she gazed out the tinted rear window of the Range Rover, watching the same mother-daughter pair exit their house in yoga attire, their rolled mats tucked under their arms. Glancing through the front windshield, Madeleine saw that Nick was still at the start of their usual route to Scarlett's house. She rested her head against the headrest and closed her eyes again.

Arriving at the Wilson residence, Nick smoothly guided the Range Rover into the circular driveway and parked in front of the house. He then stepped out, opened the rear passenger door, and allowed the cool air from the vehicle's air conditioning to escape. Now, Nick waited for Miss Scarlett to realize the carpool had arrived.

Scarlett paced the front porch, furiously texting. Seeing Madeleine's driver waiting with the car door open, she hurled her iPhone into her purse and sprinted down the stairs. As she approached the car, Scarlett's ensemble exuded effortless style - a turquoise Veronica Beard double-breasted tweed jacket over a ruffled white cotton top, paired with high-waisted 7 for All Mankind skinny jeans and white leather Aphrodite ballet flats. A white leather Kate Spade satchel hung from her right shoulder, and her signature pearl charm bracelet adorned her thin wrist. Shielding her icy-blue eyes behind Ray-Ban sunglasses, her natural makeup accentuated her glamorous features. Climbing into the car, she settled beside Madeleine and dumped her purse on her lap.

Scarlett greeted Madeleine with a bright smile and a warm hug. "Hey, Maddie!" she exclaimed. "You look stunning!"

Madeleine pulled her sunglasses onto her head. "I could say the same about you," she mused, admiring Scarlett's outfit. "Adorable jacket - where did you get it?"

Scarlett beamed and crossed her arms. "I found it at one of the shopping malls in Antigua during my summer vacation," she replied, changing the subject. "Mads, has Lachlan gotten back to you about the details for your first date?"

"No, Scar," Madeleine replied honestly, feeling the car depart from her friend's driveway. "I believe he wants to maintain secrecy. However, I may instruct Kenzie to have her informants investigate where Lachlan is taking me."

"I can have my spies find the information for you," Scarlett said, adjusting her posture and pushing her sunglasses down her nose. "They could scroll through his social media and hack his devices in just a few seconds."

Madeleine's face lit up with a radiant smile. "Instead of just finding the information for me, you could widen the search to include you, Mack, Addy, and Kalia," she told Scarlett. "We all need to find out where our crushes are taking us so we can dress appropriately for the weather that day."

Scarlett flashed Madeleine a faint smile before retrieving her iPhone from her purse. "Don't worry, Maddy," she mumbled, quickly typing a group text to her spy network. "I'll likely have the information you need by tomorrow afternoon."

Without a word, Madeleine nodded to Scarlett before retrieving her compact from her designer handbag. Examining her lipstick, Madeleine noted it remained flawless since she left home. She snapped the compact shut and dropped it back into her purse. Glancing over, Madeleine noticed her friend rapidly typing on her phone.

With a sigh, Madeleine pulled her phone from her purse, unlocked it using FaceID, and opened the Instagram app. She studied the solo selfie she had taken before going downstairs for breakfast, watching as the likes accumulated. Scrolling past her post, she noticed all her classmates shared photos of themselves, their friends, and their families.

Madeleine giggled quietly as she examined the photo Hannah Copeland had posted on Instagram. She noticed Hannah stood out, dressed in bright colors while the rest of the group wore neutral tones. Eager to share the image, Madeleine reached over and shook Scarlett's shoulder, wanting her friend to see the picture before she stopped texting. When Scarlett looked up, Madeleine held out her iPhone, displaying the photo for her.

"Oh, Lett, what do you think about Hannah's outfit in her family portrait," Madeleine asked her friends, enjoying Hannah's online embarrassment.

Scarlett gasped in utter disbelief, blinking at Madeleine's phone screen. Scarlett gasped in utter disbelief as she blinked at Madeleine's phone screen. "Oh my god, Maddie!" she exclaimed, momentarily forgetting her text conversation with Scott. Snatching the device, Scarlett zoomed in on the picture, frowning. "The bright colors are making her look like a fool. Everyone else is dressed in simple, neutral tones."

Madeleine studied the photo on her iPhone and snickered wickedly. "Those clothes are visible from space, Scar," she added. "Why didn't anyone tell her to change?"

Scarlett let out a cruel laugh while zooming in on the picture. "I bet they told her to change her clothes," she simpered smugly. "But eventually, they just gave up and let her dress however she pleased."

Madeleine tapped on the comment section and chuckled. "We should check the comments under the picture," she remarked. "I bet everyone is humiliating her in those comments."

"Maddie, it seems Chloe took time out of her day and demonstrated some kind of attention to this loser," Scarlett said nonchalantly, reading the comments. "She commented that Hannah's outfit makes her look like a jester."

Madeleine snickered and crossed her legs. She peeked out of the corner of her eye, watching Nick hurry down the familiar path toward Kayla's house. Turning back to her friend, she shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe one of Avery's friends would comment on Hannah's picture. After all, she's practically the seventh-grade Queen of Gossip and Secrets."

Scarlett nodded proudly as she zoomed further into the picture. "Yeah, Maddy," she said with a shrug, "I'm just as surprised as you. I thought she would have pretended not to exist on her Instagram page."

Madeleine snatched the iPhone from Scarlett's hand without warning. "Yup," she said, still struggling to accept that Chloe would deign to notice some sixth-grade nobody. "I wonder what kind of expression Hannah has right now."

"She's probably freaking out that our following Prescott popular girl is even commenting on her post," Scarlett implied before returning to the text conversation that she was having with her crush.

Madeleine sensed the conversation had ended. She tapped her iPhone screen to wake it, then typed a critical comment under Hannah's photo: Everything about you is tasteless, while your family looks more decent. Smiling to herself, Madeleine set down her phone and returned to gazing out the tinted rear window, counting the mansions as they passed by.

Arriving at the Adams' residence, Nick maneuvered the Range Rover into the circular driveway and brought the car to a stop in front of the steps. He exited the vehicle and opened the rear passenger door, allowing the cool air from the air conditioning to escape. Nick then waited for Miss Kayla to notice that the carpool had arrived.

Kayla leaned against the wall next to the front door, eyes glued to her iPhone. Spotting Nick waiting in the car with the door open, she quickly shoved her phone into her purse and hurried down the steps. As she approached the car, Kayla's outfit came into view - a light-blue flutter-sleeved top that looked fabulous, paired with AG skinny jeans in a concord wash. Her feet were adorned in silver Tory Burch ballet flats, and a medium metallic silver Marc Jacobs tote rested on her right elbow. Delicate Tory Burch jewelry - sterling silver logo earrings, a pearl necklace, and a gold Annoushka diamond charm bracelet given to her by Deliah and Emily - completed the look. Kayla's wavy wheat-blonde hair was swept into a high ponytail, and oversized light-blue Aphrodite sunglasses shielded her amber eyes from the sun. Her makeup was perfectly applied in a neutral style. Reaching the car, Kayla climbed in and slid into the seat next to Scarlett, her designer handbag in her lap.

Kayla greeted her friends warmly, "Hey, besties!" she remarked. Kaypulled Madeleine into a tight bear hug, noticing Scarlett was absorbed in her cell phone. "You all look fabulous."

Scarlett glanced up from her phone, dropping it onto her lap. Eager to return to her text exchange, she hugged her friend Kayla tightly. "Oh, Lala, I love your jeans!" she exclaimed.

Kayla broke away from the hug and quickly retrieved her iPhone from her designer handbag. "Oh, Mads and Scar," she said. Unlocking her phone, Kayla immediately opened Instagram and searched for Delilah's account. Delilah's latest post appeared within moments, which Kayla promptly showed to her friends. "I was looking at the pictures on her Instagram page while waiting for Nick to pick me up."

Scarlett studied the picture and chuckled. "It looks like she's spending time with Emily Hudson in the country club's dining room. They seem to be enjoying each other's company."

"Of course, Lett," Kayla nodded, beaming at Scarlett. She then exchanged a glance with Madeleine. "I was delighted to see that they could hang out with each other without their other friends surrounding them. But, I'm still waiting for them to invite me out on another outing with them."

Madeleine twirled the pearl stud in her left ear and questioned. "Why don't you take the initiative and ask them yourselves?"

Kayla perched her sunglasses on her forehead as she noticed the girls listening intently to her. "Girlies, that's actually a good idea!" she exclaimed. However, her enthusiasm was short-lived. "But then someone anonymous DM'd me and said that Deliah and Emily were going to invite me for dinner at Indian Tower. At six-thirty."

Scarlett leaned back in her seat, careful not to bump Madeleine's right shoulder. "Cool, Lalia. We know you'll share the hangout details with us."

Madeleine's eyes were fixed on Kayla, who was examining her three-week-old manicure. "Alright," Madeleine agreed. "When they finally reach out to you, I think you should just accept their invitation."

From the right tinted rear window, Kayla peered out and noticed a high school student wearing poorly dyed leggings. "Got it, besties," she nodded.

Just as Madeleine was about to speak, her designer handbag suddenly buzzed on her lap, causing Kayla and Scarlett to jump in their seats. Without glancing at the screen, Madeleine grabbed her iPhone and answered the call, turning on the speakerphone so the others could hear. She sighed lightly as she waited to hear what the caller had to say.

Mackenzie's voice perked up as she greeted her friend. "Are you on your way with the carpool yet?" she asked.

Madeleine leaned back in her seat and chuckled. "Yeah, Mack," she declared. "P.S., Scar and Kay are with me in the car too."

After Madeleine finished speaking with her, Mackenzie greeted her other friends. "Hey, girls."

Scarlett smoothed down her jacket and greeted Mackenzie excitedly. "Hi!"

Kayla dropped her iPhone into her purse and greeted her friend. "Hey, Manzie."

Madeleine abruptly interrupted the conversation among her friends. "My driver will be here in 10 minutes, so we will see you soon."

"Okay, Maddie," Mackenzie said to her friends before ending the call. "See you all soon."

Tossing her iPhone into her purse, Madeleine looked directly at Scarlett, who had returned to texting whoever was on her cell phone. Sighing, she glanced toward Kayla, who was scrolling through Instagram on her iPhone. Looking away, Madeleine peeked over her right shoulder, looking at the vehicle's rear. Seeing that there was another car driving behind them, she faced forward, leaned against the headrest, and closed her eyes.

After ten minutes, Nick pulled the Range Rover into the Frost's family's circular driveway and stopped in front of the house. Remaining inside the vehicle, he honked the horn twice, waiting for his boss's daughter's friend to notice the carpool had arrived.

Hearing the carpool's horn, Mackenzie looked up from her iPhone and spotted the waiting Range Rover. She quickly dropped her cell phone into her purse and raced down the steps towards the vehicle. Mackenzie's ensemble was a vision of coordinated elegance - a jade-green Theory minidress, paired with a matching oversized boxy jacket that elevated the look. Jade green platform wedges by Stella McCartney adorned her feet, and a small jade green Kate Spade shoulder bag hung gracefully from her left side. A thick, deep jade green headband by Marc Jacobs kept her wavy strawberry-blonde hair neatly away from her face. Flawless 8-carat James Allen diamond studs glinted in her ears, and a single diamond tennis bracelet adorned her thin right wrist. Her natural makeup was expertly applied. Climbing into the Range Rover, Mackenzie settled into the seat beside Madeleine.

Madeleine set down her designer handbag, straightened the slit in her dress, and announced to her friends. "I have some tea to share with all of you."

Madeleine's gaze locked onto Mackenzie's striking aquamarine eyes, anticipating the news her friend was about to reveal to the group. "Mack, you simply must share the tea with all of us," she responded eagerly.

Kayla and Scarlett exchanged a brief, silent glance before turning to Mackenzie. "Tell us everything," they said in unison, eager to hear what their friend was about to reveal.

Mackenzie twirled a wavy strand of hair around her slender fingers, addressing her friends. "Let's wait until everyone arrives before we begin," she said, mindful of not excluding Audrey. "We don't want Audrey to give us the silent treatment, do we?"

Madeleine pouted and rolled her eyes. "We can just update her when Nick picks her up," she said, clearly displeased that Mackenzie was withholding information from her.

Scarlett leaned back in her seat and spoke to Madeleine. "We need to be mindful of Audrey's feelings. She's likely to cause a commotion over Mackenzie not waiting for her arrival."

Mackenzie reached into her purse, retrieving her compact and her Red Bliss mascara. She opened the compact and applied three layers of the voluminous mascara to her long lashes. Okay, fine then," she said.

Madeleine straightened her posture and squared her shoulders. "Besties, I think we should follow Tia, Jacqueline, Molly, and Sofia around town. I want to see what dirt we can uncover on our own without relying on your spy rings to do the work for us."

Kayla peered over her sunglasses at Madeleine. "I'd rather we make more plans with our crushes after we finish hanging out together," she responded, disliking the idea of sneakily following Tia and her friends. "And I want to spend some one-on-one time with James."

Scarlett crossed her ankles and reached up to feel her icy blonde hair, still in a braid. "Me too," she agreed with Kayla, "I don't want to follow Tia and her friends around. Some losers would just record us and share it with everyone. Mads, where are Lindsey, Avery, and the rest of the social club meeting?"

Mackenzie fidgeted with the short sleeves of her jacket. "Scar, we're meeting them at Tiffany's house tomorrow. One of my spies informed me of the meeting spot after their weekly yoga class yesterday." she paused, relaying the details to Scarlett. "The main topic will be to review the plans already in place for the dance. We also need to come up with a great design concept for the Back to School dance."

Madeleine's purse buzzed, and she reached inside to retrieve her iPhone. "Lindsey and Avery sent me a text yesterday afternoon," she mentioned, glancing at the screen. Unlocking her phone, Madeleine saw a message from Lachlan, her crush, who couldn't wait to see her. She quickly replied: I can't wait to see you too. Madeleine dropped the phone back into her bag and returned attention to her friends. "Lindsey and Avery said we have to plan the rest of the co-ed school dances for the year by ourselves. Anyway, can we get back to talking about Tia and her friends? I want to do some recon on them."

"Well, I was supposed to head over to Spa Trinity with Chloe and Daniella after the social club meeting ends," Mackenzie said. "They texted me right before I was going to bed. They said that they each have separate dentist and doctor appointments. So, I have some free time available tomorrow afternoon."

Sipping Perrier, Scarlett let out a frustrated sigh and said nonchalantly. "At least we have something to do after the meeting tomorrow. This meeting is the only thing on my social calendar, and I detest it."

Kayla frowned and leaned back in her seat, reluctant to carry out Madeleine's plan of surveilling a group of girls they deemed losers. However, Kayla knew her friend was determined to make it clear that she had her eyes on them at all times. "Oh, I can't wait to gather more intel on these girls," she said dramatically, her gaze fixed on her friends.

Madeleine turned to the Range Rover's windshield and noticed an eighteen-year-old crossing the crosswalk. She glimpsed at the red traffic light before glancing at the girls. "Even though we've relegated them to the bottom of the social hierarchy, I won't be lulled into a false sense of triumph," she said. "I have a feeling these fools are planning something else. So, Nick will park the car out of sight - I don't want them to recognize my family's vehicle. Then we'll observe them without any distractions."

Madeleine peeked out of the corner of her eye and observed Scarlett texting on her iPhone, while Kayla updated Mackenzie about Delilah and Emily's upcoming lunch invitation. Turning away, Madeleine desperately missed her Pomeranian, Coco, sensing the dog would make her feel less uneasy about needing to protect her position. Shaking these thoughts, Madeleine stared at the car's touchscreen, noting it was almost 11:35 PM. Knowing they had a lunch reservation at Phoenix, she sagged against her seat and shut her eyes.

Thirteen minutes later, Nick guided the Range Rover into the Webster's circular driveway and stopped before the house. He exited the vehicle and opened the rear passenger door, allowing the cool, conditioned air to escape. Nick then stood by, waiting for Miss Audrey to notice the carpool.

Audrey engrossed in a text conversation with Aiden on her iPhone, strolled across the front porch. Suddenly, she spotted the open rear door of the Range Rover and quickly dropped her phone into her purse before racing down the steps. As she approached the car, Audrey's ensemble came into view – a chic ice-blue double-breasted blazer by Paige, paired with matching Paige shorts and a sleeveless white V-neck top from Rag & Bone. Her feet were adorned with pristine Tory Burch espadrilles, showcasing her bare toenails. Completing the look, a mini bright-white Jacquemus Le Chiquito Moyen bag hung elegantly from her right shoulder. Audrey's accessories were equally refined, featuring flawless 14-carat Josephine Carroll diamond studs, an 18-carat Shay diamond choker, and a Shay diamond-and-pearl bracelet. Her makeup was kept neutral and minimal. With a final glance at her ensemble, Audrey ascended the Range Rover and slid into the seat beside Mackenzie, her purse resting on her lap.

Kayla greeted Addie cheerfully as she retrieved her compact from her purse. With her manicured fingers, she deftly opened the compact and pulled out her mid-tone berry-pink Pretty & Perfect Super Stay matte liquid lipstick. Lifting the compact to her face, Kayla applied several coats of lipstick, keeping her mouth closed. "Mack has some tea to share with us, but she didn't want you to feel excluded," she said.

Madeleine greeted Audrey warmly, tilting her head. "We all know you would have given us the silent treatment," she said, crossing her legs.

Audrey's perfectly waxed platinum-blonde eyebrows arched as she glanced over at Mackenzie. "Kenzie, are they telling the truth?" she asked eagerly.

Mackenzie nodded at Rey, her arms folded across her chest. "Someone DM'd me yesterday after our group chat. They sent me a video of Hannah Copeland trying to flirt with a boy from Westchester's public schools. She asked him to the upcoming school dance, but he harshly rejected her, saying he didn't like her at all."

Madeleine's boisterous laughter filled the car, heedless of Nick's wince as the sound reverberated around them. "Oh my god," she exclaimed breathlessly. "I hope they recorded the whole thing in 4K!"

Brimming with excitement, Mackenzie exclaimed. "Yeah, Mads! I rewatched the video and was pleasantly surprised by how calmly Hannah maintained her composure."

Audrey and Scarlett grinned at each other. "We can't wait to see Hannah's humiliation go viral on TikTok," they spoke in unison.

Kayla crossed her jean-clad legs and ran her delicate fingers through her ponytail. "I completely agree with Rey and Scar's statements," she said.

Mackenzie applied a coat of cherry-flavored Pretty & Perfect lip oil on her lips and recounted. "As I replayed the video, I noticed Hannah discreetly waiting for the boy to leave before breaking down in tears. I couldn't stop laughing for nearly five minutes - my sides were aching from it."

Madeleine pushed her straightened hair back from her face before pointing directly at Scarlett, Kayla, and Audrey. "Oh, Kenzie, you need to send that video to me now. We have to watch it too."

Mackenzie nodded as she pulled her iPhone from her purse. "I just sent the video to you, Maddie," she said. "You and the others are going to get a kick out of Hannah's hilarious crying face.

Madeleine retrieved her iPhone from her purse and used FaceID to unlock it, feeling the curious gazes of Scarlett, Kayla, and Audrey on her. Tapping the newest notification, she focused on the video playing. As the scene unfolded where Hannah and her friends eagerly anticipated the outcome, Madeleine anxiously chewed her lip, captivated by the loser asking the adorable boy to their first coed school dance. Without hesitation, she burst into laughter, joined by the giggles of her friends. For several minutes, Madeleine couldn't contain her amusement, watching Hannah's dramatic reaction to the boy's rejection. Peeking from the corner of her eye, she saw Scarlett, Kayla, and Audrey also laughing heartily.

Madeleine's laughter turned to uncontrollable coughing. "I can't believe Hannah's friends didn't even try to comfort her after she got rejected," she told the other girls, unsympathetic towards Hannah's plight. "They just let her cry it out all on her own."

Kayla shook her head in disbelief. "I can't believe Hannah's friends just abandoned her like that," she said, her laughter tinged with bewilderment. She simply couldn't fathom how they had so completely failed to support their friend.

Audrey crossed her arms over her chest and tilted her head in agreement. "Same," she concurred with Kayla.

As Scarlett sipped her Perrier, she commented. "I noticed Hannah's friends didn't even give her a tissue to blow her nose while the video was playing."

As Mackenzie adjusted her headband, she carefully avoided disrupting her wavy hair. "I saw Hannah repeatedly gesture for her friends to pass her a tissue," she said sharply. "But they acted as if they couldn't hear what she was telling them."

Madeleine combed her straightened hair with delicate fingers. "I don't feel bad for her," she bluntly stated. "She chose to befriend two-faced people."Nick pulled the Range Rover up to the curb outside the restaurant, leaving the engine running. He turned to face the girls. "Ladies, we've arrived," he said. "Madeleine, call me when you're ready for pickup."

Madeleine slipped her iPhone into her designer handbag and opened the rear passenger door. "Can do, Nick," she said with a bright smile. She then stepped out of the car and crossed her arms, waiting for her friends to follow. Peering back inside, Madeleine saw that Scarlett, Audrey, Mackenzie, and Kayla had already exited the vehicle.

Sensing her friends behind her, Madeleine quietly closed the door with her petite frame. She slipped on her sunglasses and stepped through the restaurant's glass doors, her friends trailing close behind.

---

Westchester, NY

Phoenix

1:09 P.M.

Monday, September 9th

Madeleine's eyes twinkled playfully. "Let's play a game of Spot the Loser, besties," she suggested. "I created this game last year. Especially when Scar and I would play this game with each other."

Scarlett leaned back in her seat and smirked. "Okay, Maddie," she said, reminiscing about the times she and Madeleine had played this game together after school. "I can't wait for Kay, Kenzie, and Addie to get hooked too."

Kayla popped a soup dumpling into her mouth and asked her friends. "Who's going first?"

Mackenzie raised her dominant arm in the air a bit before eagerly taking the first bite of her chicken chow mein, using her chopsticks. "I spot a loser from school wearing a rainbow tie-dye shirt and colored jeans," she commented.

Audrey scanned the restaurant until her gaze landed on a young girl, about twelve years old. "There she is," Audrey said in a singsong tone. "I just recalled that Delilah and Emily were insulting her in the school hallways, criticizing her outfit."

"They told me I have the right to judge whenever someone wears something that violates the school's dress code," Kayla said, referring to her title as the sixth-grade Queen of Connections and Fashion, which she claimed was true to the Prescott popularity system.

Audrey ate her kung pao chicken with chopsticks and remarked. "I spot a loser wearing last season's clothing and inexpensive heels."

Madeleine spoke calmly, trying not to raise her voice in the restaurant. "I've spotted her. Her outfit makes her look like a has-been."

Scarlett peered in the direction of Madeleine's gaze. "I've seen that exact dress on a canceled TV show last year," she commented before taking a sip of her Diet Coke. "It really doesn't suit her skin tone at all."

Mackenzie took another bite of her chicken chow mein. "Of course, Scar," she responded, surprised that her friend had remembered a long-canceled TV show. "Your memory is remarkably intact. However, I have an issue with the color itself."

Kayla arched her perfectly waxed wheat-blonde eyebrow at Mackenzie. "Surprised by the dress color? I think you all should be focusing on the shoes instead. The way they look makes it clear this person has zero fashion sense."

Madeleine noticed Audrey's lingering gaze on the same girl. Smirking, she remarked. "I just spotted a school loser wearing a pair of tacky rhinestone cowboy boots.

Scarlett's eyes landed on Hannah Copeland, who was wearing the cowboy boots Madeleine had described. "There she is," Scarlett said confidently. "Those boots are a fashion faux pas."

Sitting with their legs crossed, Mackenzie and Kayla remarked in unison. "You know, we just realized we've never seen her wear those shoes to school before."

Audrey wrinkled her nose in disgust, asking Mackenzie and Kayla. "How could she wear those shoes to school? She knows people will laugh at her."

Madeleine took a sip of her Coke Zero and inquired. "Why do you all seem so bewildered that she doesn't wear those shoes to school? Hannah knows Kayla would have given her a strike for wearing them in the first place."

Scarlett glanced sideways and saw that Hannah was sneaking furtive looks in their direction. "She's definitely watching us right now," she remarked before turning her attention back to the game. "I spot an adult wearing shorts that show a bit too much and a messy updo."

Madeleine picked a carrot piece off Mackenzie's plate and popped it into her mouth. "Scar is always spot on with her descriptions," she remarked with a playful laugh. "I can't believe she actually left the house dressed like that."

Kayla ate another soup dumpling. "Someone must have said that people would look at her strangely," she muttered.

Mackenzie took a sip of her Mountain Dew. "Kay, the older woman must have ignored that person," she said.

Audrey leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. "Hold on, besties," she let out a sigh. "Will you ever have the courage to speak the truth directly to people's faces?"

Between bites of chicken fried rice, Madeleine emphatically answered Audrey's question. "Definitely. I believe people should be direct and truthful without trying to dance around the facts."

Kayla smirked and nodded in agreement with Madeleine's previous statement. She then turned her attention back to the game, rested her elbows on the table, and laid her chin on her folded hands. "Anyway, I spot a 15-year-old girl wearing rainbow sneakers and black jeans," she reported.

Mackenzie wrinkled her nose in disgust and insulted. "That top looks like something you'd find at a thrift shop. It's got holes in it."

As Audrey took a small bite of her kung pao chicken, she said. "I agree with Mack. That top is from Josephine Carroll's last fall collection."

Madeleine cocked her head to the side and shot her friends a half-smirk. "Actually, you guys, I used to have that exact top, but I got rid of it last spring," she said. "So I'm pretty sure that's my old top she's wearing."

Scarlett recalled the memory and grinned. "Remember when you told Ingrid to donate that top to the Salvation Army, Maddy?" she asked, crossing her slender legs together. "I'm sure there's still a faded makeup stain around the neckline."

Kayla reminded herself that Madeleine and Scarlett had been friends longer than she had known them. She shook off those thoughts and sipped her Pepsi Zero before speaking up. "Anyway, can we talk about the fact that the girl is wearing rainbow sneakers? You know people really shouldn't be wearing those."
Mackenzie winced in repulsion as she pondered the perplexing popularity of rainbow sneakers. "I just can't fathom how anyone would feel comfortable wearing such garish footwear in public," she said, her voice wavering.

Audrey stifled a snicker as she eyed Mackenzie's look of disgust, careful not to offend her friend. "Remember when Marie Claire claimed rainbow sneakers were all the rage last spring?" she reminded the girls. "I'm trying to forget that article ever existed."

Madeleine ate a spicy BBQ chicken wing and laughed. She then wiped the corners of her mouth and added. "I still haven't visited the Marie Claire website since then," she replied. "I just can't forgive them for that article at all."

Mackenzie flashed a bright smile at Madeleine's comment and then turned her attention back to their game. "Hey, besties, check out that middle-aged guy over there- he's rocking some nice casual clothes, but those shoes are straight-up ugly," she said, taking another sip of her Mountain Dew.

Scarlett followed Mackenzie's gaze and let out a deep sigh. "I like the top he has on," she said, appraising the man from head to toe. "But you're right, Kenzie- those shoes are not great. I saw someone else wearing them on Instagram, and the comments were pretty negative."

Kayla popped two more soup dumplings, beaming. "At least, Lett, you've only seen those shoes on Instagram," she remarked. "I even saw some public school boys wearing them at the mall. One of them even tried to ask me out on a date."

Audrey discreetly glanced over and saw that Hannah Copeland had already settled the lunch tab. "Oh, Lala," she groaned. "How did you respond to his romantic overture?"

Kayla smirked, reveling in Audrey's rapt attention. "I told that boy straight to his face that I would never consider liking him," she said coldly. "My old elementary school friends scolded me afterward for being so cruel and hurting his feelings."

Madeleine sagged against her seat and remarked. "Kalia, you should have told your former friends to mind their own business."

Audrey nodded in agreement with Madeleine. She gazed out the restaurant's windows, watching pedestrians stroll by on the sidewalk. Moments later, Audrey faced her friends and rejoined the conversation. "I spot Olivia Crawford with her group. She's wearing a tacky Mickey Mouse knockoff top and last season's Citizen of Humanity jeans."

Between bites of her chicken chow mein, Mackenzie sneered. "Everything Olivia wears makes her look stupid. Why didn't her friends tell her not to wear that?"

Scarlett ran her tongue across her teeth, her mouth closed. "Oh, Kay," she declared, eating two steamed dumplings. "I think Olivia's friends may have tried to make her change out of those clothes. But, shouldn't she be worried about running into you outside of school?"

Kayla tapped her chopsticks against the bamboo steamer, disregarding the noise that echoed through the restaurant. "Scar, she should actually be more worried about Delilah and Emily catching her," she responded.

Madeleine rolled her neck, trying to relieve the tension. "Between classes, I've glanced out the windows and seen them in the courtyard," she said emphatically. "They were issuing citations for their fashion faux pas."

Scarlett bobbed her head in agreement, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Absolutely," she replied, barely containing her laughter. "I couldn't help but chuckle when everyone around started crying."

Kayla grinned widely at Scarlett, amused at Emily and Delilah's fashion policing had intimated the less fashionable. "They've asked me to help them hand out fashion citations," she said. "I'm considering accepting their offer."

Mackenzie hastily stuffed a green onion into her mouth, chasing it with a gulp of Mountain Dew. "Oh, Kay," she exclaimed, clapping excitedly. "You should accept their offer! It'll help you earn more cool points with Delilah and Emily."

Audrey surveyed the restaurant, where employees were cleaning tables. "Certainly," she grinned while looking away from her friends.

Madeleine took a sip of her Coke Zero and rolled her shoulders back. She then glanced at her friends and redirected their attention to the game. "But, in any case, I just spotted Tia Scott wearing the most hideous dress imaginable."

Scarlett snickered, admiring how Madeleine effortlessly conjured the harshest insults for those beyond their inner circle. "That print is so last season, according to Teen Vogue. I doubt she cares if people give her strange looks."

Kayla and Mackenzie nodded in agreement, acknowledging the validity of Scarlett's statement. "As soon as Teen Vogue declared print was out, we immediately purged it from our closets," they said simultaneously. "However, Tia appears to be dressed in bright neon colors from the 1980s."

"Tia wears rejects from high-end fashion lines," Audrey remarked, brushing a rice crumb off her shorts.

Scarlett ate two more of her steamed dumplings. "Nevertheless," she teased. "I can't help but notice Jacqueline Everstone's dreadful hat. It's visible from miles away."

Madeleine took another bite of her spicy BBQ chicken wings. "I remember seeing someone wearing that exact same hat on Instagram. And I definitely said the colors of that hat were washing them out."

Mackenzie touched the backs of her diamond studs and sighed. "Mads, you're right about the hat's colors," she admitted reluctantly. "But I have to say, the dress she's wearing is actually kind of adorable. I can't believe I'm even saying that."

Audrey slapped her dominant hand over her chest. "Oh my god, Mack!" she gasped. "I never would have thought you'd complement these losers, but you're right about her dress."

"Suprise to see how Kenzie is complimenting this girl?" Kayla smirked, enjoying the reaction on Audrey's face. "I thought she would have said something mean instead."

"Damn right!" Scarlett exclaimed loudly, unconcerned if the other patrons in the restaurant could hear her. "This a bit unusual for me."

After taking a sip of her iced water, Kayla slumped back in her seat and chastised Audrey. "You shouldn't be complimenting this loser," she warned. "We can't let Jacqueline think that Maddie's gonna lift her social banishment."

Madeleine flipped her straightened hair over her shoulder, careful to keep any strands from landing in her chicken fried rice. "That's never going to happen on my watch," she said, rolling her eyes. "That judgment is staying with her and her friends."

Kayla huffed dismissively and shifted forward in her seat, crossing her arms over her chest. "I spot Alexis Davis wearing a nice top with neon orange pants and white sneakers," she observed, switching the topic back to the game.

Relieved to find her hair still neatly braided, Scarlett turned her attention to her friends. "Those pants look like something you'd find at Target," she commented.

Audrey daintily crossed her legs beneath the table as she used her chopsticks to shovel a bit of kung pao chicken into her mouth. "Ugh, Kay, those white sneakers totally clash with her pants," she muttered disapprovingly. "I would have paired that top with a midi skirt instead."

Mackenzie pulled out her iPhone, quickly scrolling through her notifications. She observed that one of her spies had sent her some juicy gossip about a seventh-grader named Sara Spears. "Oh, pretties, I have some gossip to share with you all," she announced.

As soon as Mackenzie mentioned there was some new gossip, Madeleine instantly abandoned the game they had been playing. "Really, Mack?" she asked, sounding surprised. "You have to tell us now."

Scarlett bounced excitedly in her seat. "Yes, yes, and yes!" she screeched. "Share everything!"

Kayla and Audrey's eyes sparkled with delight. "Oh, Manzie," they chimed playfully in unison. "New gossip is just what the soul needs."

Mackenzie leaned forward, a malicious glint in her eye. "One of my spies uncovered that Hannah's mother is in prison for running a Ponzi scheme," she announced to her friends. "She lured middle-class investors with promises of lucrative returns, convincing them to funnel money into her company's account. But instead of investing it, Hannah's mother used the funds to pay off earlier investors, perpetuating her fraudulent scheme."

Scarlett scoffed and angrily plucked a loose thread from her jacket. "I can't believe we share a school with the daughter of a criminal," she said frostily.

Madeleine arched her perfectly waxed honey-blonde eyebrows. "Wait a minute," she said. "How is Hannah able to afford our school's tuition?"

Audrey took the last sip of her chilled Diet Coke. "There's also the fact that I only see her wear designer stuff from time to time," she remarked regally. "Does that mean she buys things on sale?"

Mackenzie leaned back and crossed her arms over her chest. "Hannah's dad is the one paying her tuition," she revealed to her friends. "The same spy also told me that Hannah buys everything on sale. And get this- her dad, who's the CEO of a media company, caused a news blackout about this whole situation."

Audrey offered a half-smile at Mackenzie, speaking to her friend. "I suppose he tried to keep his wife's arrest a secret," she said with dramatic flair. "But I suspect the truth eventually came to light."

Madeleine drummed her fingers against the table and replied. "Addie, things usually emerge from the shadows, but they will try to suppress that at all costs."

Kayla's left eye twitched suddenly at Madeleine's statement. "I can't believe people think they can hide their secrets on social media," she declared, punctuating her point by popping three soup dumplings into her mouth. "Internet detectives will dig into your past no matter what."

Scarlett tapped her right foot impatiently against her chair's legs. "Why are we complaining about people finding out what you post online? You know Kenzie and I have our own spies digging up information and gossip."

Glancing at her cell phone, Mackenzie's eyes went wide. "Oh no, Mads! What time is our appointment at Pure Bliss Spa?"

Madeleine raised her dominant hand to flag down a waiter. "I didn't realize so much time had passed," she said urgently. "We need to be there by 3:15."

Scarlett flung her napkin aside, shifting in her seat. "I could really use a deep tissue massage right now," she said, her tone suggesting contentment rather than any sense of urgency or need.

"I can't wait to get a manicure and pedicure," Mackenzie said gleefully. She then tossed her iPhone into her designer handbag before swallowing five gulps of her Mountain Dew.

Audrey and Kayla watched as the waiter approached their table. "I agree," they replied simultaneously.

Madeleine tuned out her friends and fixed her gaze on the waiter. "We need to check out," she said calmly. Madeleine then reached into her purse to retrieve her Amex card and handed over the credit card. "Please just give me the receipt."

The waiter returned, holding a black leather portfolio. "Young miss, please sign the receipt," he said.

Madeleine nodded in acknowledgment and opened the book to retrieve her Amex card. Dropping her credit card back into her purse, she quickly signed the dotted line without reading it. Madeleine then stood up and sighed. "Alright, girls," she said. "We need to head out. Nick is probably waiting for my call to come pick up us."

Without a word to her friends, Madeleine snatched her designer handbag from the back of her chair and slung it over her right shoulder. She strode toward the restaurant's exit, sensing her friends close behind. Stepping outside, Madeleine halted in front of Phoenix. A few moments later, she pulled her iPhone from her purse, asked Siri to call Nick, and listened as the line rang three times before her driver answered.

"Are you ready to be picked up, Miss Madeleine?" Nick's deep voice came through the phone.

Madeleine twirled several straight strands between two manicured fingers. "Yeah, Nick," she quickly answered.

"Okay, Miss Madeleine," Nick replied, ending the call.

After ending the call, Madeleine quietly returned her cell phone to her purse and glanced at her friends. Seeing them absorbed in their own devices, she decided against engaging them and let out a small sigh. Madeleine then turned her gaze down the crowded sidewalk ahead.

Madeleine observed a mother-daughter duo exiting Paradox Jewelry, carrying shopping bags. She glanced up at the clouds, which were shaped like Coco. Moments later, Madeleine noticed Nick turning the Range Rover onto the street and pulling up to the curb, where he remained inside the running vehicle.

Getting into the car, the girls slid across the plush leather backseat and dumped their purses on their laps. Buckling their seatbelts, they leaned back as the car lurched forward, feeling Nick pull away from the curb.

As Nick drove towards the spa, Madeleine realized that her driver must have been regularly dropping off her mother. Glancing over at her chatting friends, Madeleine opted not to join their conversation. Instead, she leaned back in her seat, closed her eyes, and remained that way for the rest of the car ride.

---

Westchester, NY

Pure Bliss Spa

4:59 P.M.

Monday, September 9th

As Madeleine's regular manicurist, George held up a bottle of Essie Embossed Lady in front of his client's face and asked. "Would you like your nails the same color as your toes?"

Madeleine sank back in her seat, half-closing her eyes as the manicurist massaged the spa's rose-scented oil onto her hands and wrists. "Yeah," she nodded, relaxing as the HVAC system hummed at full blast.

Madeleine opened her eyes to the soft, white glow of the spa's chandeliers on her face, as she bobbed her head to the calming music playlist. Scarlett, Mackenzie, Kayla, and Audrey sat on either side of her, getting manicures from their nail technicians. Their nails were being painted in an array of colors. Madeleine reveled in the blissful pampering that filled her afternoon.

"I feel so relaxed now," Madeleine sighed contentedly.

Leaning in, Kayla fixed Madeleine with a direct stare. "Same for me," she chimed in. "Oh, and Mads, while we were getting those hot stone massages earlier, I received some news that there's a new transfer student in our grade - her name is Lisa Yamada."

Scarlett looked around the spa and noticed some customers finished with their manicures. "Is she a threat to Maddie's throne?" she asked, concerned they may need to worry about this girl.

Mackenzie playfully smirked at Scarlett. "Oh Scar, there's no need to worry about this nobody," she said dismissively. "Maddy's position on the throne is unshakable."

Audrey's voice was calm. "Everything's going to remain the same," she said, turning her attention to the next soothing track on the spa's playlist. "However, we must keep a close watch on her."

Madeleine glared up at the spa's ceiling, resenting the need to guard against potential threats to her popularity constantly. "Wonderful, just wonderful," she muttered, eyes fixed on the ceiling. "Another person I have to worry about. But Addy's right - I should keep an eye on this girl, so she doesn't cross my path at school."

Kayla tried to project a sense of tranquility to her anxious friend. "Calm down, Mads," she spoke soothingly. "Everything's going to be fine."

Scarlett checked her left hand, noticing her nails were dry. "Hey, besties, Sarah texted me this morning before Nick picked us up. She wanted to remind me about her pool party this Sunday."

Mackenzie's voice cut through the cool, filtered air and said. "Scar, can you believe she had the nerve to text you when she and Hayden are still in the wrong for bullying you all last year?"

Audrey sighed and tilted her head, relieved they had plans for Sunday. "At least our social calendar isn't empty this weekend."

Madeleine's iPhone buzzed silently in her lap, disrupting the room's tranquility. With her hands still immersed in the manicure station's UV dry lamp, she realized she would require her manicurist's assistance to retrieve and check her vibrating phone.

Madeleine gestured for her friends to be quiet and said. "George, please get my iPhone out."

George snatched Madeleine's iPhone from her purse and tapped on the screen. "Okay, Madeleine, where would you like me to tap?" he asked, seeing that it was asking for the passcode.

Madeleine bounced excitedly in her seat and asked. "Who's texting me now?"

George used Madeleine's face to unlock the iPhone and tapped the screen several times. "The contact is someone named Lachlan," he reported.

Madeleine glanced at her left hand, pleased to see the freshly painted black-purple nails had dried. "He finally responded to my text," she said with a smile. "I wonder what he said."

George read the text off Madeleine's phone. "He's saying Scott scrolling through Netflix for a movie for everyone to watch when you get there."

Madeleine nodded at George. "Send this text to Lachlan: We'll arrive in an hour. Make sure there are several buckets of popcorn ready for us to eat. And some iced drinks on standby."

George placed the phone in front of Madeleine and announced. "It's done."

Madeleine's face lit up. "I can't believe Lachlan just texted me," she said. Madeleine then glanced over at George, who had returned to working on her nails. "I wonder if he'll follow through on the promise we discussed last night. He said he'd try to make time for us to talk one-on-one."

Scarlett rolled her eyes and murmured to Madeleine. "We're here, aren't we? At least we're spending time with boys."

Mackenzie scratched her itchy nose against her dress. "Maybe we should bring some snacks with us," she suggested.

As Kayla glanced at her nail technician, she sighed and expressed her concern. "I hope Scott chooses an interesting movie because I don't want to sit through something boring."

Audrey's voice brimmed with excitement. "I can't wait to hang out with Aiden."

Madeleine shifted the conversation. "So, Manzie, how's your scheme against Nikki Reeds progressing?" she asked, her tone betraying a concerning interest in her friend's malicious plot.

Mackenzie shot Madeleine a conspiratorial glance. "Everything's going according to plan, Mads," she confided. "As Nick arrived to pick me up for carpool, I had just finished texting Nikki through my fake Instagram account. She still can't believe that a boy is talking to her."

Audrey let out a callous laugh as she reveled in Mackenzie's scheme to socially undermine Nikki. "She had it coming," she declared without remorse.

Kayla smirked maliciously at Mackenzie. "Now, now, now..." she said. She then turned to her manicurist, who was applying a top coat to her freshly painted nails. "You have to make her confess her secrets on video. She'll probably think her online crush will keep her secret safe."

Scarlett snickered, anticipating that Nikki would soon get her comeuppance. "Mack, you just need to keep reeling her in and making her feel at ease," she advised.

Madeleine brushed a straightened strand of hair from her eyes with her right shoulder and laughed. "Manzie, Nikki Reeds shouldn't have gone against you," she said.

Mackenzie quickly revealed. "She just confessed to me that her parents are frequently absent. They always try to make it up to her by buying her trinkets."

Kayla smirked at her friends and suggested. "We should spy on her to see how she's feeling about her fake boyfriend."

Audrey smiled and quickly added. "I've also noticed her checking my latest Instagram story."

Scarlett let out a moan. "Oh God," she said, kicking under the manicurist's station without regard for the nail technician. A spiteful smile spread across her face. "I can't wait for her to be humiliated in front of the entire school."

Settling comfortably in her seat, Madeleine abruptly changed the subject, snorting. "Does anyone else have any more gossip?"

Audrey's voice perked up. "You'll never guess what I heard. Jacqueline was caught on a TikTok live and she looked terrible."

Kayla's face lit up. "Really?" she asked. "Where did you hear this gossip?"

Mackenzie shrugged and looked directly at her friends. "Oh, Addy, did someone clip how she looked?"

Scarlett lowered her shoulders. "No way! Please tell me that video is being shared around our school for everyone to see."

Madeleine stretched her neck from side to side and snorted. "I'd love to see that in person."

Audrey surveyed the girls and smirked. "You needn't ruffle your feathers," she said candidly. "One of my spies forwarded the video clip to me before it was deleted."

Kayla inspected her freshly polished nails, noting the vibrant color was dry. Glancing at her other hand, she saw the manicurist had just finished applying several coats of Essie Top Coat. "Addie, could you please send me that video clip?" she requested.

Glancing at the clock above the nail technician's station, Mackenzie realized an hour and a half had elapsed. "Me too," she concurred.

Scarlett shrugged and smiled. "I'm glad Jacqueline is being ignored by everyone at school now," she remarked.

Madeleine briefly glanced up at the spa's ceiling before glancing over at her friends. "I wish I could have laughed in her face."

After a short pause, George interrupted the girls' discussion. "Madeleine, your and your friend's nails are done."

Madeleine smoothed her straightened hair, turning to George. "Okay," she said, her tone clipped with annoyance at his interruption of their conversation. "Is there anything else on the itinerary for our two-hour appointment?"

After closing the Essie nail polish and top coat bottles, George announced. "The itinerary is complete."

"Understood, George," Madeleine replied, nodding. She stood up and faced her friends. "Alright, you guys. We need to pay for the services before heading to Scott's place."

George leaned forward, rested his elbows on the station's counter, and flashed Madeleine a reassuring smile. "Don't worry about the payment," he interjected. "The receptionist has already charged the purchase to the credit card on file with your mother's account."

Without another word to George, Madeleine stepped away from the station and examined her friends' freshly painted nails. Captivated by the vibrant colors, she grabbed her iPhone from George's station and tossed it into her designer handbag. Several moments later, Madeleine exited the spa with her friends following behind. Taking a deep breath of the humid air, she rolled back her shoulders and exhaled slowly.

A couple of moments later, Madeleine glanced sideways and saw her friends chatting. Shifting her gaze down the street, she wondered if Nick had obeyed her instructions to wait outside the nail salon. Sure enough, there was the Range Rover with Nick smiling brightly from the driver's seat. Taking a deep breath, Madeleine turned to face the girls and collected her thoughts before speaking.

Madeleine adjusted her designer handbag and gestured toward the Range Rover. "Time to go, girlies. Nick's waiting."

Scarlett's gaze followed the direction of Madeleine's outstretched finger. "I'm so excited to get to Scott's!" she exclaimed.

Kayla hurried towards the car, eager to meet up with her crush. "I can't wait to see James and smell his Versace Eros Energy perfume," she beamed excitedly.

Mackenzie placed her dominant hand on Kayla's left shoulder, struggling to keep pace. "Um, Lala, that sounds stalkerish," she replied. "But I'm excited too."

Hurrying after Kayla and Mackenzie, Audrey managed to fix the hem of her top and asked. "Um, Mads, did you get Scott's address from Lachlan yet?"

Madeleine fidgeted with her necklace and giggled. "I'm texting Lachlan right now. I need to share Scott's address with me. So Nick can put it into Google Maps."

Scarlett wondered aloud if Scott lived in a mansion or a regular house. Mentally, she knew she needed their address to visit more easily. "Mads, please send me Scott's address once you've obtained it," she requested.

Madeleine walked closely behind her three other best friends, nodding in agreement. "Alright, Lett," she said. Madeleine retrieved her iPhone from her designer handbag and texted Lachlan: Send me Scott's address! My driver will need it.

As Madeleine continued walking towards the Range Rover, she shifted her attention to the girls, her well-manicured dominant hand still gripping her cell phone after texting Lachlan.

Madeleine crossed her arms, feeling her iPhone press against her chest. "Oh, Drey, you haven't sent the video clip to us yet?" she asked.

Audrey quickly Airdropped the video to her friends after retrieving her iPhone from her purse. "Not yet," she responded gratefully, relieved by the timely reminder that might have otherwise slipped her mind.

Scarlett sashayed towards the car, her right arm draped around Madeleine's shoulders. "Mads, can you send me Scott's address?" she asked.

After reviewing her phone's notifications, Madeleine saw that Lachlan had already forwarded Scott's address to her. She then promptly shared the information with her friend, saying. "I just sent the address to you, so you should be able to get to Scott's house without any issues."

After Scarlett nodded to Madeleine's remark, Mackenzie quickly retrieved her iPhone from her designer purse. Unlocking her cell phone, she opened the Photos app. "Guys, I'm about to watch the clip Addie just airdropped with us," she said eagerly. "I can't wait to see how ridiculous Jacqueline looked on the livestream."

Kayla peered over Mackenzie's left shoulder. "Same," she said, agreeing with her friend. "You know what? Let's send this clip to Ivy, Tiffany, Delilah, and Chloe."

Audrey smirked at Mackenzie and Kayla. "Yeah, we all know they'll find a way to tie it back to the school's official website," she said.

"I'm considering anonymously posting this video clip as a comment on the school's website," Scarlett said, smiling brightly. "So, please don't send it to them directly."

Madeleine opened the Range Rover's rear door and said. "Lottie, make sure no one can trace your IP address. The headmistress won't take action against you, but the school board will investigate this matter relentlessly."

Scarlett slid into the car's backseat, sinking into the supple leather. "Don't worry, Maddie," she said, her voice laced with determination. "I'll mask my IP address- that'll make it even easier to humiliate Jacqueline even more."

Kayla sat down beside Scarlett, dropping her purse in her lap. "Scar, get one of your spies to handle this dirty work for you," she said, adjusting her top.
Mackenzie nodded at Kayla and climbed into the car. She plopped down on the backseat, maintaining distance from Scarlett. "I'll burst into giggles when Lett actually follows through on what she's saying," she remarked.

Audrey sat beside Mackenzie, her purse abandoned on her lap. "I would relish seeing Jacqueline humiliated," she nodded.

Madeleine shook her head, ignoring her friends' chatter. She climbed into the Range Rover and closed the door. Settling between Mackenzie and Scarlett without jostling them, she left her designer purse on her lap, buckled her seatbelt, and leaned back.

Glancing at Nick, Madeleine noticed her driver pulling away from the curb. She then stole peeks at the girls, who were conversing with each other. Turning to stare out the right-side tinted rear window, Madeleine counted the passing trees and remained relaxed for the rest of the drive to Scott's house.

---

The Thorpe Estate

Home Theater

6:27 P.M.

Monday, September 9th

Madeleine rested her head on Lachlan's muscular shoulder as they watched the latest Crew Marrow action movie on Netflix. "Why did you choose this one, Scott?" she asked, struggling to follow the plotline and frequently asking Lachlan to rewind.

Scott gazed directly at Madeleine. "I assumed you would have enjoyed it without any issues," he said.

Sounding irritated, Scarlett interrupted Madeleine and Scott. "Can you two just be quiet and watch the movie?" she asked, popping a piece of popcorn into her mouth.

Madeleine narrowed her eyes at Scarlett, silently hoping her other friends would back her up without hesitation. "Why don't you mind your own business?" she asked in a measured tone, striving for an air of nonchalance.

Scarlett used her eyes to silently communicate with her friend, hoping to help Madeleine compose herself in front of her crush. "You need to relax and stay calm around Lachlan."

Madeleine muttered an apology under her breath, suddenly aware of Lachlan's presence. Exchanging a worried glance with Kayla, Mackenzie, and Audrey, she realized they were silently urging her to apologize to Scott before she lost his good graces entirely. "I'm sorry, Scott. I was acting terribly towards you."

Scott glanced at Lachlan, who was completely engrossed in the movie and didn't hear Madeleine's words. "It's okay," he quickly reassured Madeleine. "Anyway, who's up for some ice cream sundaes?"

Kayla eagerly raised her right arm, bouncing excitedly in her seat. "Meeeeee!" she exclaimed.

James echoed Kayla's sentiment. "Same here. I desperately need a sugar fix, even though the coach will have our heads for indulging."

Mackenzie arched a perfectly groomed strawberry-blonde eyebrow at James. "What do you mean?" she asked, clearly surprised that the boys' lacrosse coach prohibited them from having sugar. "Sugar is typically fine in moderation."

Despite their coach's warning that sugar would ruin their health, James was surprised when Mackenzie claimed it was fine to eat. "Our coach told us sugar would destroy our bodies," he said. "But we always sneak sugary treats when we're not in school, so he'll never find out."

Declan crossed his muscular arms and said. "James, we can't forget how the coach forced Matt Sanderson to sit out the rest of the season. But I still want a sundae, and I don't care if the coach finds out."

Audrey's cerulean-blue eyes rolled at Declan's remark. "Scott, I'd like a sundae as well," she said.

Aiden leaned back in his seat and shoved a handful of popcorn into his mouth. "Same for me," he added.

After acknowledging Adien's statement, Scott nudged Lachlan with his right arm and asked. "Oh, Lachlan, do you want a sundae?"

Lachlan glanced away from the projector screen and spoke softly. "Why are you interrupting me? I'm trying to watch the movie."

Scott got up, sending a shower of popcorn crumbs cascading to the hardwood floor. "Everybody wants to grab some sundaes from the kitchen," he said. "So, are you coming with us?"

Lachlan snatched the remote from Scott's seat and paused the movie on the screen. "Yeah," he murmured. "Some ice cream would help me power through this movie faster."

Aiden wrapped his muscular right arm around Audrey's shoulders, drawing her nearer. "Let's head to the kitchen," he said, guiding her towards the doorway.

After exiting the home theater silently, the boys and girls walked down the hallway to the kitchen. They entered the room, gathered around the kitchen's central island, and let out a collective sigh.

With a smile, Scott instructed. "Grab some bowls and spoons from the kitchen cabinets and drawers, and wash them."

Madeleine sat on the island and crossed her legs. "I can't wash any dishes because I just got my nails done today," she said.

"I'll wash the dishes," Lachlan said, walking to the kitchen sink with his forest green-and-white Awet letterman jacket sleeves rolled up.

Declan went into the kitchen pantry and announced. "I will get the rainbow sprinkles, the final jar of maraschino cherries, and M ."

"What ice cream flavors do you have, Scott?" Kayla inquired, her mouth watering at the creamy dessert.

"Yesterday afternoon, Kayla, the maid in my family brought home tubs of Ben & Jerry's chocolate fudge brownie and vanilla caramel fudge ice cream," Scott replied as he took an ice cream scooper from one of the kitchen drawers.

Mackenzie grabbed eight porcelain bowls from the kitchen cabinet and said. "Scott, please give me a few scoops of vanilla caramel fudge in my bowl."

Swiftly, Scott took the bowls from Mackenzie's grasp. "Okay, Mackenzie," he said, setting the bowls on the kitchen island. "Can someone please grab the Ben & Jerry's ice cream tubs from the fridge?"

Scarlett's pulse quickened when she recognized her crush's voice. Determined to appear calm, she hurried to the fridge, grabbed the tubs, and approached him. "Here you are, Scott," she said, handing over the items.

Madeleine watched as Lachlan had finished washing the dishes and was now wrapping his muscular arm around her from across the kitchen. "Scott, are we the only ones alone in the house?" she asked. "Where are the household staff?"

While scooping several portions of vanilla caramel fudge into Mackenzie's bowl, Scott glanced at Madeleine and remarked. "We're not alone. The household staff are likely outside running errands or cleaning and cooking around the house. Honestly, I don't pay much attention to them."

Madeleine rested her head on Lachlan's right shoulder and said. "Alright."

As Lachlan pulled Madeleine closer, he reminded Scott, changing the topic. "Don't forget, I don't like the taste of maraschino cherries, so please don't add them to my sundae."

"Alright, Lachlan," Scott said. He nodded and placed the ice cream scooper back in Mackenzie's bowl. Scott turned to James, asking. "Would you like some M 's on your sundae?"

"Yes, Scott," James replied, sitting carefully on the kitchen counter and pulling Kayla in between his toned thighs. "I'll take some M on my sundae, but I'll skip the sprinkles."

Kayla shifted focus to Audrey and Aiden. "Oh, Rey, what's happening between you two over there?" she asked, still leaning against James' toned chest. "We haven't heard from the two of you since leaving the home theater room."

Audrey moved away from Aiden's right ear and turned to Kayla. "Aiden just said something amusing to me," she reported.

Aiden pulled Audrey closer to her side. "I was just telling Audrey a joke," he said. Aiden then turned to Scott and requested. "But can you give me sprinkles only, please?"

Scott grinned at Aiden. "Got it," he nodded. After a brief pause, Scott addressed the group. "Hey, everybody, did anything exciting happen this morning?"

Lachlan leaned in and rested his chin on Madeleine's right shoulder as he described the scene he witnessed from his window this morning. "Rio Grande was playing dress-up with his little sister. She was applying makeup to his face, but I think he must have felt someone watching because he suddenly looked up. When he saw it was me staring, Rio dashed inside, which made his little sister start crying."

Madeleine felt that her crush was currently playing with her hair and interrupted sharply. "Wait a minute. Why did Rio allow his sister to apply his makeup on his face?"

Feeling empathetic for Rio, Scarlett removed the ice cream scooper from Mackenzie's bowl and then poured some sprinkles inside. "I don't think Rio meant to hurt his sister's feelings at all, Madeleine."

Scarlett rested her elbows on the kitchen's island. "Lachlan, please tell me you took pictures before Rio noticed you," she pleaded.

Lachlan recalled how his uncontrollable laughter had prevented him from taking any pictures. "Um, no, Scarlett," he answered truthfully.

Stifling her laughter with her dominant hand, Kayla said. "You guys shouldn't stress about this problem. Someone else must have witnessed what Lachlan saw and taken pictures too."

"Of course, Kayla," James added after his crush's statement. He plucked a loose strand of hair from his slate-blue All Saints jersey T-shirt. "I wish I could have been there with Lachlan to film Rio and his little sister."

Mackenzie nodded in agreement with James and Kayla's comments. She then crossed her arms over her chest and confessed. "I can't stop picturing Rio and his little sister playing dress-up. The image is stuck in my mind."

Declan wrapped his muscular right arm around Mackenzie's waist and pulled her closer to his side. "Maybe their parents forced him to play with his sister," he suggested.

Audrey smirked, acknowledging the validity of Declan's suggestion. She then eyed the rainbow-sprinkled ice cream in Mackenzie's bowl, noticing it was beginning to melt. "I don't understand why people insist on not recording embarrassing situations," she said. "Just because it violates privacy laws."

Aiden draped his muscular right arm around Audrey's shoulders as he brushed some lint off his black Dries Van Noten zip bomber jacket. "Those situations can't be that terrible at all," he added. "After all, people have the right to film whatever they want."

Madeleine pressed her delicate fingers against her temples. "Whatever," she huffed. Madeleine then quickly changed the question, asking. "Does anyone want to play a game of Truth or Dare?"

Lachlan mentally noted to speak with Madeleine privately. "Absolutely, I'm up for a game of Truth or Dare," he replied without hesitation.

Scott sighed as he sprinkled M atop the sprinkles in Mackenzie's bowl. "Alright, who's asking the questions first?" he asked, knowing the game couldn't start until someone took the lead.

Clenching her fists in jealousy, Scarlett watched as her friends' crushes displayed affection. "I believe Lala should go first," she suggested, gesturing towards Kayla.

Kayla sighed deeply and shrugged. Locking eyes with the group, she asked. "Okay, everybody. Truth or dare?"

James flexed his fingers, the joints popping, before firmly grasping Kayla's waist. "Actually, I'll take the truth," he responded.

Mackenzie watched as Scott dropped three cherries inside her bowl. She then managed to grab a stainless steel spoon from a kitchen drawer and tapped her manicured fingers impatiently on her right arm. "Truth for me," she nodded. "Scott, can you just give me my ice cream sundae? It's starting to melt."

Declan passed the bowl to Mackenzie. "Truth," he replied. "It's the safest choice."

Audrey's platinum-blonde curls shifted to the left side of her slender neck. "Kalia, I believe I'll opt for the truth," she said.

Aiden withdrew his muscular right arm from around Audrey's shoulders and leaned his upper body against the kitchen island. "Truuuth!" he declared.

Madeleine lifted her head from Lachlan's right shoulder. "To be honest, I'd choose truth as well," she said with a bright smile.

"Um, Kayla, I'll pick the option of truth," Lachlan spoke with unwavering honesty, his words conveying a resolute commitment to his reply.

Scarlett positioned herself beside Scott, believing her crush could use assistance preparing sundaes for the group. "My truthful answer will speak for itself," she said.

After scooping generous portions of chocolate fudge brown ice cream into three bowls, Scott chuckled and exchanged a side glance with Kayla. "I'm of the opinion that honesty is always the best policy," he remarked.

Kayla arched a perfectly waxed, wheat-blonde eyebrow at their remarks. "That's certainly true for me," she replied, answering her own question. "If a genie granted you three wishes, what would you ask for and why?"

"If I could, I'd wish for a remarkably long life," James said, swinging his muscular right leg over Kayla's head. "That way, I'd outlive everyone else on Earth."

Declan jumped up onto the kitchen counter next to Mackenzie. "This might be strange, but I'd wish for world peace," he said, responding to Kayla's question. "Countries need to settle their differences."

Mackenzie savored a spoonful of her decadent vanilla caramel fudge sundae. "Ah, happiness," she sighed contentedly. "I believe people should find fulfillment in what they already possess. Alternatively, they could choose happiness by spending quality time with loved ones."

Aiden leaned forward, resting his chin in his hands. "I believe pursuing a fortune-based wish would be the best path forward," he addressed the group. "Not only would it allow me to add some more money to the family fortune. But it would also enable me to obtain a prestigious business degree from Havard in the future."

Audrey beamed at the group. "Oh, to be endowed with eternal popularity!" she declared in an exaggerated tone. "At least then, everyone would adore me."

Lachlan rolled his muscular neck from side to side and then leaned back against the upper kitchen cabinet. With a contented sigh, she declared. "Strength. I aim to stay strong and athletic, no matter what."

Madeleine bit her lower lip, a coy smile playing on her lips. "I'll pick the choice of being beautiful," she answered Kayla's question. "I intend to preserve my looks for as long I can."

As Scott discreetly licked chocolate fudge brownie ice cream off his fingers, he said. "I always strive for a peaceful state of mind. That would help me relax, but given the constant problems at school. I know that elusive sense of calm will never truly settle."

Scarlett nervously fiddled with her bracelet, her gaze averted from Scott. She couldn't help but notice how endearingly he licked ice cream from his fingers. Addressing the group, Scarlett declared. "I'll choose immortality. That way, I can indefinitely, just like a vampire."

Kayla stepped away from James and leaned against the kitchen counter. "One word for me is love," she smirked, voicing her opinion. "I think the genie would give me a way to control how love would develop in my life."

Listening intently to Kayla's statement, James hoped the girl he was interested in would want a way to figure out how love comes into her life. He then surveyed the group, crossing his muscular arms over his chest. "Alright, let's keep playing. Truth or dare?"

Mackenzie savored another spoonful of her decadent vanilla caramel fudge sundae. "This time, I've chosen to accept the dare," she smirked coyly.

Declan shook his head at Mackenzie's coy remark and responded with a half-smirk directed at James. "I feel the same way," he concurred.

Audrey flicked a loose thread on her blazer. "I'd pick dare too," she told James.

Aiden watched as Madeleine and Lachlan were lost in their own world, completely engrossed in each other. With a small smile, he announced to the group. "Even though it may cause me some trouble, I'm going to let myself go and choose to dare as well."

Madeleine's gaze shifted from Lachlan to the other occupants of the room. "Dare," she uttered matter-of-factly.

Lachlan's smirk betrayed his decision as he brushed a stray dirty-blonde curl from his forest-green eyes. "I'll take the dare," he declared.

Scarlett sighed heavily and buried her face in her perfectly manicured hands. "I'm fine with choosing the dare option," she said.

As Scott dropped handfuls of M into the same three bowls, he said. "Uh, James, just share the dare with us."

Kayla ran her delicate fingers through her ponytail and confessed to the group. "I'm choosing to accept the dare."

With a mischievous grin, James uncrossed his muscular arms and issued a challenge. "I dare you all to sprint down the driveway in nothing but your underwear."

Declan whooped excitedly, thrilled that James was going for the kill. "That's one wild dare!" he exclaimed.

Mackenzie's jaw fell open in utter disbelief. "No way," she gasped, miraculously keeping hold of her ice cream sundae. "You can't force me to do that."

Aiden stared at James in astonishment, asking. "You can't be serious about this dare, right?"

Audrey's glare at James burned with rage. "Absolutely not," she hissed through gritted teeth, her voice dripping with outrage. "I won't be an internet laughingstock for millions to mock."

Madeleine recognized the wisdom in Audrey's statement, but she was determined to appear daring before Lachlan. "I'll take on this dare," she said coyly. "I can't risk being labeled a coward."

Lachlan's eyebrows shot up at James' risky remark. "James, we usually only do that kind of thing when we lose a bet or something," he pointed out. "You need to have some compassion for the fact that the girls are standing right here. I think we should leave them out of this dare and just do it ourselves instead."

Scott carelessly scattered sprinkles and cherries into the same three bowls. He then sternly eyed James, silently urging his friend to exercise more caution. "Oh, James," he sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. "You've really gotten yourself into a mess this time."

Scarlett angrily snatched a finished bowl of chocolate fudge brownie sundae from Scott's reach, declaring. "That dare is out of the question."

Kayla glared at James, her breaths coming in angry huffs. "Are you out of your mind?" she demanded in a raised voice.

James raised his hands in surrender and spoke softly. "Okay, okay, okay. The girls don't have to do it, but we're the ones required to do it for everyone here."

Mackenzie thumped her chest with her dominant hand and replied. "Thank you!"

Declan pulled Mackenzie into a comforting hug, aware his crush feared public embarrassment. Addressing his closest friends with a dry tone, he said. "Alright, guys, we need to summon our courage, just like we've done before."

"Thank goodness," Audrey said, snatching a bowl of chocolate fudge brownie sundae from Scott's reach. She needed the sugary treat to help her relax and regain her composure. "James will let us off the hook for this dare,"

Aiden nodded in agreement with Declan's suggestion, recognizing his friend's attempt to elevate the mood. "Alright then," he replied casually. "Boys, let's begin taking our clothes off our bodies."

Lachlan removed his jacket and tossed it on the floor next to Madeleine, his tone tinged with melancholy. He didn't want his crush to draw unwanted attention by dancing provocatively in public. "We can't have the girls become the laughingstocks of Westchester and beyond. But James, you know we only do this kind of thing under the cover of darkness, because of the bets we've made," he said.

Madeleine bit her lower lip, interrupting with a puzzled expression. "You guys always do this when you've lost a bet, don't you?"

Scarlett's icy-blonde eyebrow arched skeptically as she snatched a spoon from inside a kitchen drawer and took a bite of her chocolate fudge brownie sundae. "Are you saying you and your friends regularly roam the neighborhood in nothing but your underwear?" she asked Lachlan.

Scott nodded and laughed at Scarlett's expression. "Oh, yeah," he said. "We've only gotten in trouble with our parents once. But they always let us do whatever we want without any consequences."

Kayla snatched the bowl of chocolate fudge brownie sundae from Scott's reach. "When did this happen?" she asked. "Why didn't your parents discipline you after that incident?"

Caught off guard by Kayla's remark, James assumed his crush was simply curious. "It happened last year," he told the girls. "The cops found us running in just our underwear and lectured us for over an hour before releasing us to our parents. They then grounded us for two weeks, restricting us to school and home."

Declan pulled his dark green, tie-dye long-sleeve John Varvatos top over his head and then looked over at Kayla. He then fixed his gaze on Audrey was currently taking a spoon from inside a kitchen drawer. "After the punishment, we were more careful to avoid getting caught during our antics," he answered.

Mackenzie daintily licked the ice cream off her spoon. "I understand that you don't want to miss out on your social life,"

Aiden crossed his muscular arms over his chest and asked the boys. "Can we please get back to taking our clothes off? We need to finish the dare."

As Audrey savored a spoonful of her rich chocolate fudge brownie sundae, she brushed a stray curl from her eyes. "I wouldn't want you to get in trouble with your parents," she said.

Madeleine leaned against the kitchen counter, her lower back pressed against the hard surface. She felt the urgency in Aiden's voice and replied. "Boys, you can keep talking while taking your clothes off."

Lachlan grinned smugly at Madeleine. "It seems like you're worried about me," he said, his dimples appearing at the corners of his mouth. He then pulled his white Helmut Lang logo short-sleeve T-shirt over his head and tossed it onto his crumpled jacket.

Witnessing Lachlan's flirtatious behavior with Madeleine, Scott smiled brightly, loving how his friend was besotted with his crush's friend. He then hastily removed his black Celine Homme logo-print cotton hoodie and tossed it onto the kitchen counter beside Madeleine. "I still need to finish preparing the ice cream sundaes and head back to the home theater to continue watching the movie."

Scarlett's frustrated yell cut through the lively conversation. "Quiet, everybody! The boys need to hurry up and dash across the driveway in their underwear."

James peeled off his T-shirt, tossing it onto the kitchen island. He carefully ensured it didn't land on the nearby ice cream tubs. "Fine," he huffed.

Kayla stood on her tiptoes and planted a kiss on James' left cheek, not daring to gauge his reaction. Her face flushed with embarrassment, and in her flustered state, she accidentally dropped the bowl of chocolate fudge brownie sundae she had been holding onto the kitchen island. "I hope you don't get caught by the cops," she blurted out.

Mackenzie had noticed Kayla's actions and seen James' surprise at the kiss, but she had no desire to meddle in their affairs. She spoke confidently, assuring the boys. "Everything's going to be okay."

Declan peeled his dark-wash Levi's skinny jeans and tossed them aside. "Scott's parents will be arriving from the city by 9 pm tonight," he told the girls.

Audrey knew that the situation had escalated rapidly. She just wanted the boys to deal with James' scandalous challenge. "Now, we really need these five to seal their lips shut," she spoke calmly.

Aiden shrugged off his jacket and draped it over a nearby bar stool. With a reassuring smile, he kissed Audrey's temple and said. "Don't worry." Aiden then gestured to himself and his friends, announcing. "We're picking up the pace."

Stressed with the boys' continued yapping, the girls fell silent as they observed the boys stripping their remaining clothes and leaving them scattered on the floor. Watching the boys exit the kitchen, the girls trailed behind them, eyes averted from the boys' muscular physiques.

Worrying about appearing inappropriate to the boys, the girls quickly moved towards the foyer, sidestepping the conversing boys, and opened the front door. Noticing the boys were now outside, the girls remained in the doorway, not wanting to get locked out.

Madeleine exchanged furtive glances with her friends, using her eyes to communicate with them. Noticing their heads tilt towards Lachlan, she darted down the steps and leaped onto his back. Wrapping her arms around his neck, Madeleine planted a kiss on Lachlan's cheek. "Hope you manage not to get caught by Scott's neighbors," she giggled, hopping off and scurrying back to her friends.

The girls giggled at Lachlan's shocked expression after witnessing Madeleine's actions. Wiggling their fingers, they watched as the boys, now clad only in their underwear, scurried down the driveway, seemingly reacting to the cool air around them. Glancing around the neatly trimmed lawn, the girls noted that no one else was outside, reassuring themselves that the boys were safe, at least for the moment.

As the girls watched the boys run up the driveway, they moved aside and kept the door open. They crossed their arms and leaned against the doorframe. The boys quickly ran through the front door and closed it behind them. Observing the boys, the girls noticed they were breathing normally as they headed towards to the kitchen. Catching up, the girls walked alongside the unusually quiet boys.

Madeleine resisted the urge to stare at Lachlan's rear as he walked back towards the kitchen in just his underwear. She then resumed the conversation, asking. "Did you feel liberated without any clothes on?"

Glancing at the clock, Lachlan saw it was nearly 8 p.m. A sense of triumph washed over him as he realized they had successfully pulled off their mischievous trick. "Yeah, but I'm feeling a bit cold too," he remarked.

Hurrying to the kitchen, Scott was worried about facing his parents' displeasure and spoke impatiently. "We need to get dressed before my parents get home in an hour. Let's hurry up and put our clothes on."

Scarlett twirled the ends of her braid, flashing Scott a coy smile. "Don't worry, everything will be fine," she purred. "We just have to keep your parents from catching you undressed."

Kayla glanced at Scarlett and Madeleine, their boldness inspiring her. "Can we get back to the game?" she asked.

With a bright smile, James pulled his T-shirt over his muscular body. "Okay, Kayla."

"Game time!" Declan shouted as he entered the kitchen and scooped up his discarded shirt from the floor. "Truth or dare?"

Mackenzie followed behind her crush, worried about a repeat of James' risky dare. "Uh, Declan, I'll choose truth," she said.

"It's the right time to choose the truthful option," Aiden said, wearing his black Burberry Equestrian Knight-printed cotton T-shirt.

Audrey took a deep breath and pressed her manicured hands together. "Truth," she said without hesitation.

Lachlan smiled widely and donned his shirt. He slipped his muscular arms into the sleeves and pulled it over his broad, toned torso. "I'd pick truth as well."

Madeleine rolled her shoulders back and declared. "Let's go with the truth!"

Scarlett reached into a kitchen drawer, retrieved a stainless steel spoon, and dug into her sundae. "Truth," she declared, grinning cheekily at Aiden.

Scott scooped three bowls of creamy vanilla caramel fudge ice cream, then topped them with cherries and M . "I'm definitely choosing the truth!" he declared.

With a snort, James snatched the bowl of vanilla caramel fudge sundae from Scott's grasp and retrieved a stainless steel spoon from the same drawer Mackenzie had opened earlier on. "I'm picking truth because it's the safer option right now," he declared.

Kayla watched as Aiden pulled on his dark-wash Diesel skinny jeans. "The truth will set you free," she said.

Declan smirked mischievously and crossed his muscular arms over his chest. "Who's your secret crush?" he asked, hoping to uncover if Mackenzie's feelings for him were growing.

Mackenzie feigned interest in her vanilla caramel fudge sundae and avoided making direct eye contact with her crush. "It's Declan," she confessed, her cheeks flushed.

As Audrey savored another bite of her rich chocolate fudge brownie sundae, she mused. "I really like Aiden."

Aiden snatched the finished bowl of vanilla caramel fudge sundae from Scott's reach and grabbed a stainless steel spoon from beside the ice cream tubs. He then began digging into the sundae. "Audrey's my crush," he announced to the group confidently.

Madeleine slid a finished bowl of vanilla caramel fudge sundae across the kitchen counter, reached behind her, and retrieved a stainless steel spoon from the drawer. She admitted, her gaze averted. "Lachlan is the person I like."

Lachlan suddenly recalled leaving the home theater's projector screen on, worrying that Scott's parents might scold his friend for failing to turn off unused devices. "Madeleine," he said, his tone succinct.

With conviction, Scott scooped chocolate fudge brownie ice cream into Lachlan's bowl and declared. "Scarlett is the one for me."

Scarlett was about to take a bite of her sundae when she choked mid-spoonful upon hearing Scott's unexpected confession. "I can't believe I'm saying this, but I really like Scott a lot."

Kayla grabbed a spoon from the kitchen counter and shoved a spoonful of chocolate fudge brownie sundae into her mouth. "James," she laughed.

James shot Kayla a bashful half-smile. "Kayla is my secret crush," he admitted candidly.

Declan grinned as he finished getting dressed, relieved that Scott's parents likely wouldn't have a reason to contact his own parents. "I want to tell everybody that I like Mackenzie," he said.

Mackenzie dropped her bowl of vanilla caramel fudge sundae as her stomach began to ache from over-indulging in the surgery treat. "Of course I do," she nodded, silently admitting her crush on Declan with a sigh. Rubbing her stomach in distress, Mackenzie asked the group. "Okay, Truth or dare, anybody?"

Aiden spoke slowly, his appetite for the sundae suddenly diminished. "Mackenzie, you shouldn't worry about my answer. Telling the truth typically leads to smoother outcomes."

Tugging at the hem of her shorts, Audrey said. "I believe telling the truth is better than going along with a dare."

Lachlan leaned against the kitchen counter, resting one elbow on the surface. "I definitely agree with Audrey," he nodded.

Madeleine swiftly snatched the finished vanilla caramel fudge sundae from Scott''s grasp, then retrieved a stainless steel spoon from a nearby drawer. She promptly shoveled a spoonful of the creamy dessert into her mouth and declared. "Truth."

Scarlett peeked from the corner of her eyes, watching as Scott finished dressing. "We're going with the truth," she said.

Scott sprinkled the sundae with sprinkles, then clumsily dropped it onto the kitchen island. "Mackenzie," he said nervously. "Since we're being honest, I'm choosing truth, just like Scarlett did."

"I'll go with the concept of truth," James said, passing the bowl to Lachlan.

Kayla's eyes widened at Mackenzie's statement. "I understand that the truth usually sets me free," she said.

Declan decided against eating a sundae. "I think I'll just go with the truth," he said, carefully considering his words. "Yes, I've made up my mind - I'm going to be completely honest."

Mackenzie nodded thoughtfully and took another spoonful of her decadent vanilla caramel fudge sundae. She then posed the question to the group. "If you could be invisible for a day, what's the first thing you would do?"

Aiden rubbed his muscular neck. "If I could turn invisible for a day, I'd play pranks on unsuspecting people," he replied with a mischievous grin.

Frustrated, Audrey pushed aside her haf-eaten sundae and said. "If I was invisible, I'd finally hear the truth about what people say behind my back, instead of them lying to my face."

Madeleine rested her head on Lachlan's right shoulder and said slowly. "I'm fascinated by observing people's private lives behind closed doors. You know how they present one persona in public, but may have a very different side to them that few ever see."

Lachlan lightly tapped Madeleine's face with his right hand. "If I was invisible, I could spy on the people I dislike," he said with a shrug.

Scott rolled his sore wrist and said. "Of course, Mackenzie. I know you'll be curious about my answer, but I'll tell you anyway. If I could be invisible, I's use it to snoop on Rio Grande He's always meddling in our business for no good reason."

Scarlett rolled her eyes as she hopped up to sit perfectly on the kitchen counter. "I'd use invisibility to secretly meet with my network of spies. People are always nosy about what I do, not just at school but everywhere I go."

Tossing her ponytail over her right shoulder, Kayla suggested. "Using invisibility to eavesdrop on people could be an interesting idea."

With an amused smile, James leaned casually against Kayla. "I'll use invisibility to sneak into our rival schools and photograph their lacrosse plays," he said. "That way, our team will always stay one step ahead."

Declan excitedly high-fived James, exclaiming. "Oh, that's a smart move!" He then turned his attention back to the group. "Anyway, being invisible will let me follow the coach home. I'll finally figure out why he's always on my case."

Abandoning her half-sundae on the kitchen counter, Mackenzie replied bluntly. "Invisibility would let me uncover people's deepest, darkest secrets."

Aiden perched carefully on the kitchen counter, his feet swinging back and forth. "Truth or dare?" he asked.

Audrey surveyed the group of boys, observing that they were all fully dressed. "I wonder if I can choose truth once more," she pondered.

"Of course, Audrey," Lachlan said, taking another bite of his chocolate fudge brownie sundae. "But I'm choosing truth this time."

Madeleine cocked her head, laughing loudly. "Truth, truth, and truth!" she exclaimed.

Scarlett pondered what question Aiden might assign to the group. "Truth," she uttered.

Glancing at the melting ice cream tubs, Scott realized the frozen treats were turning into a puddle. "I've decided to be truthful," he stated.

"Aiden, I'm choosing truth," James said, pausing to take a long, refreshing sip from a chilled bottle of Evian water he'd gotten from the fridge. The cool, crisp mineral water instantly quenched his thirst.

Pondering their choices, Kayla and Declan thoughtfully chewed their lower lips. "We've decided to be completely truthful with everyone," they said in unison.

Mackenzie straightened her posture, making sure not to slouch over. "I've decided to be truthful," she declared.

Aiden grinned, his mind set on a question for the group. "If you were stranded on a deserted island, what three items would you choose to take with you?" he asked.

Audrey stole a glance at Aiden, who was casually leaning against the kitchen counter. "I'll figure out how to get my clothes, some snacks, and maybe something fun to pass the time while I wait for someone to come save me," she quickly chimed in.

Madeleine recognized that having her crush by her side would make the experience more enjoyable. "If I were stranded on a deserted island, I would take a TV, some food, and Lachlan," she smiled, feeling clever about her choice.

Lachlan took Madeleine's right hand and drew her in closer. He realized that their chance for a private chat wasn't going to happen today, which meant he had already picked the day for their first date. "I'm thinking of bringing my lacrosse stick, some water bottles, and of course, Madeleine," he said with a grin, his gaze fixed on her.

Scott cracked his knuckles and instantly replied. "I would love to bring some books to read, my lacrosse stick, and my bros."

Scarlett was disappointed that Scott didn't invite her to the deserted island, but she also acknowledged they were still in the early stages of their relationship, exploring their feelings for each other. "I know the guidelines say I can only bring three items," she said. "But I'd like to request an exception to bring a fourth - my friends, along with Scott, some food, and my clothes."

"I'm planning to bring some fashion magazines, my friends, and food," Kayla said with a smirk. She thought about including James too but kept that to herself.

With his dark-brown eyes fixed on his bare feet for a few seconds, James finally voiced his thoughts. "If I found myself on a deserted island, I'd want my friends, something fun to pass the time, and my parents around."

Declan flashed a dazzling smile at Aiden. "You've put me on the spot, but I'd only bring my friends and food. I won't mention the last thing - I want to keep that to myself."

With a perfectly waxed strawberry-blonde eyebrow raised, Mackenzie shot a look at Declan, thinking he was probably talking about her. "Anyway, I'd just take my friends, a few fashion magazines, and something to keep me active."

Audrey crossed her arms, a smile spreading across her face. "I'll only be bringing my friends, some food, and my parents."

Aiden moved his left wrist in a circular motion, delighting in the sound of his bones snapping. "Just three things: Audrey, my buddies, and my lacrosse stick to keep fit," he remarked.

The sound of the front door opening interrupted the boys and girls before Lachlan could speak. They all peered out from the kitchen, staring down the hallway, and as soon as the adults came into view, the girls and boys realized that Scott's parents had returned home.

After sealing the ice cream tubs, Scott gestured for Scarlett to return them to the refrigerator. With a broad smile, he called out. "Hey, Mom and Dad!"

Alerted by their son's voice, Scott's parents, Anne and Jacob Thorpe hurried towards the kitchen, their eyes sweeping over the five strangers in their home. "Hello, Scott!" they exclaimed, enveloping their son in a warm group embrace. "Who are these people in our kitchen?"

Madeleine introduced herself to Scott's parents, saying. "Hi, I'm Madeleine Stein."

Jacob interrupted the girls' introduction, saying. "Wait a minute. Are you Stephan and Margaret's child?"

Madeleine sensed a rift had developed between her parents and Scott's parents, nodding. "Yeah, Mr. Thorpe."

"Oh, don't worry, nothing bad happened with your parents," Anne reassured Madeleine. "We're just excited to finally meet you in person, since they're always raving about you at their dinner parties."

Madeleine's demeanor shifted as she offered a smile to Scott's parents. "Alright," she said with a shrug. "At least you two are being cordial with one another."

"Let's get back to us, shall we?" Scarlett said, clearing her throat to grab their attention. She was excited to introduce herself to Scott's parents. "Hey, I'm Scarlett Wilson."

Kayla took a deep breath and said. "Hello, Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe. I'm Kayla Adams."

After Kayla's remark, Mackenzie introduced herself. "Well, I'm Mackenzie Frost."

Audrey took a deep breath and rubbed her palms together in an attempt to steady her nerves. "Hello, I'm Audrey Webster," she said, her voice wavering slightly.

Jacob detected the anxiety in Audrey's voice. "I want to clarify that you are not in trouble," he reassured. "Your parents often boasted about your accomplishments during charity events."

Kayla, Mackenzie, Scarlett, and Audrey believed their parents were genuinely proud of their accomplishments. "Got it," they nodded in unison.

Anne glanced at the time on her iPhone 14 and interjected. "It's almost 9:25. I'm sure your parents are wondering where you girls are."

Glancing at the oven's digital clock, Lachlan realized it was nearly nine-thirty in the evening. "Hold on," he said. "We've been playing truth or dare for the last two hours."

"I never realized time passed so swiftly," Scott commented while moving away from his parents. Anticipating that they might soon ask the girls to leave, he wrapped his powerful right arm around Scarlett's lower back, embraced her, and breathed the aroma of her Gucci perfume.

Kayla fought to maintain her composure in front of James. "Hold on a second!" she exclaimed, her voice rising. "I just realized it's way past my curfew! I have to get home before my parents get back. The last thing I want is to face their wrath and end up grounded."

Mackenzie stepped away from Declan and positioned herself in the kitchen doorway. "Dimitri must have collected my parents from the city and is bringing them home," she said.

Audrey rolled her eyes at Kayla and Mackenzie's statements, pouting. "That's not fair!" she protested. Torn between not wanting to go home and fearing her parents' anger, Audrey suggested. "I think we should sleep over at Scott's house tonight."

James let out a weary sigh, glancing at the girls with concern. "You know, I really think it's time for you all to head home," he suggested, aware that they didn't have any spare clothes and that school awaited them in the morning.

Declan sauntered over to Mackenzie, draped his muscular right arm around her shoulders, and bestowed a gentle kiss on her left cheek. "I can see that you girls cherish your private havens at home," he noted with a knowing look.

Aiden drew Audrey into a warm side hug. "Sure thing," he said, echoing Declan's sentiment. "Addie, I truly want to make sure you don't get into hot water with your parents."

With a radiant smile, Audrey looked at Aiden, finding his sweetness endearing. "No need to fret," she said, offering him reassurance.

"Oh, whatever," Madeleine cut in, folding her arms defiantly. She then sensed that Lachlan had wrapped his muscular right shoulder around her shoulders. "Alright, girls, it's time to head out!"

Scarlett nestled deeper into Scott's embrace, resting her chin on his shoulder. The scent of his Christian Dior cologne filled her senses, evoking a sense of bliss. "Um, Mr. and Mrs. Thorpe, we'll catch you next time we visit," she murmured, her gaze fixed elsewhere.

Without waiting for Scott's parents to speak, the group of girls and boys exited the kitchen, sticking together as they moved. They headed directly to the home theater, entering the room and gradually approaching the plush black velvet theater chairs. Upon realizing the projector screen was still illuminated, they exchanged quiet sighs before starting to chat among themselves.

Madeleine snatched her purse from the back of the theater seat and quickly unzipped it. She retrieved her iPhone, fingers flying over the screen as she messaged Nick to come and pick them up. "Alright, boys, we'll shoot you a text as soon as we're back home," she announced, feeling her phone vibrate in her hand. Glancing at the screen, she saw that Nick was already en route. "If I'm not mistaken, you all have your first lacrosse game on Wednesday, don't you?"

Lachlan continued to hug Madeleine, his gaze fixed on her. "Absolutely," he affirmed with a nod. "The game kicks off right after the final bell rings."

Scott locked his gaze onto Scarlett's eyes, a spark of curiosity igniting within him. "Are you all planning to attend the game?" he inquired.

"Sure thing, Scott," Scarlett said, nodding with a blissful sigh. She glanced at Madeleine, who was busy reading something on her cell phone. "Besides, it'll be beneficial for people to see us there."

Kayla's grin was infectious as she looked at James. "Oh, definitely! I can't wait to see you all play lacrosse," she chimed in with enthusiasm.

James chuckled at Kayla's playful behavior, drawing her in with a warm smile. "Okay," he said. "Just make sure you snag the prime spots on the bleachers."

Mackenzie hopped from foot to foot. "Sure," she sighed. "So, are we going to chill after the game?"

"I believe so," Declan replied, gently lifting his muscular arm from Mackenzie's shoulders. He reached into the left back pocket of his jeans to retrieve his iPhone. A quick look at the time showed it was almost ten in the evening. "Looks like it's getting late."

Aiden playfully propelled Audrey forward, leading her toward the theater's opened doorway. "You all can swing by Coffee Bean once the game wraps up," he said casually. "Just a heads up, though—I have a doctor's appointment at 5:30 that day."

"I hear you," Audrey replied, casting a quick look behind her as Aiden confidently led her out of the home theater.

Trailing closely behind Audrey and Aiden, the other boys and girls hurriedly gathered their belongings and exited the home theater. As they strolled past the living room, their eyes were fixed on the foyer, where their friends were eagerly waiting. Upon reaching the foyer, they halted in front of Audrey and Aiden, engaging them in conversation.

"Alright, ladies," Madeleine announced, her manicured fingers snapping together with enthusiasm. "We have to get going. Nick is out there, eagerly waiting for us. So, let's bid farewell to the boys."

Lachlan's smile lit up his face, dimples dancing at the corners of his mouth. "Madeleine, is this where you just leave without saying goodbye?"

The moment Madeleine heard Lachlan's voice, her ears perked up, and she turned to face him with a bright smile. "Forget about you? Never!" she teased, a wave of happiness washing over her. She then pulled him into a tight hug. "See you later, Lachlan!"

Just a few moments later, Scarlett shook her head lightly and then looked over at Scott. "Oh, Scott, I'll most likely send you a text when I get back," she remarked. "But if I don't, I'll be sure to text you tomorrow."

With a warm smile, Scott's winter-grey eyes sparkled with joy. "Alright, Scarlett," he said.

"Goodbye, Kayla!" James called out, his voice tinged with sorrow. He wished she could stay a little longer, but he understood that he didn't want her to face the wrath of her parents for staying out too late.

"Catch you later, James!" Kayla flashed a bright smile as she enveloped him in a heartfelt hug.

Mackenzie observed Kayla still wrapped in a tight embrace with James before shifting her focus to Declan. She took a moment to practice her meditation breathing, seeking to find her inner calm. "Hey, Declan, I'll catch you at the game on Wednesday," she said, her voice steadying. "I might shoot you a text during school tomorrow, too."

After pulling Mackenzie into a warm embrace, Declan released her with a smile. "I'll be attentive to my cell phone tomorrow," he promised, seeing the happiness bloom on her face at the thought of him keeping tabs on her texts.

Balancing on her tiptoes, Audrey planted a soft kiss on Aiden's right cheek. "Take care, Aiden!" she called out cheerfully.

Aiden flashed a radiant smile at Audrey and grinned. "Alright, Audrey!"

The moment the girls wrapped up their conversation with the boys, they noticed Lachlan had opened the front door and stepped outside. With a quick wave over their right shoulders, they bid farewell to the boys and turned their gaze forward. Their attention was drawn to Nick's Range Rover parked outside Scott's house, and they quickly raced down the stone steps, eager to reach the car.

As they hopped into the vehicle, they sank into the sumptuous leather of the backseat, their purses landing on their laps. They buckled up and reclined, opting for a peaceful silence as they closed their eyes. Nick fired up the engine, embarking on the familiar journey to Scarlett's house.

---

The Adams Estate

Living Room

10:47 P.M.

Monday, September 9th

As Kayla watched the latest episode of Young, Rich, and Fabulous, she leaned back in her seat, ankles crossed. Suddenly, the sound of the front door opening startled her. Quickly, she muted the TV and waited, eyes fixed on the doorway. When her mom walked past the living room, Kayla sat up straighter.

Kayla's eyes flashed with annoyance. "Mom, you scared me to death," she said. Several moments later, Kayla popped a handful of buttered popcorn into her mouth and carelessly dropped the bowl onto the coffee table.

Halting at the sound of her daughter's voice, Catherine entered the living room. "Honey, I didn't mean to frighten you," she said, tossing her Louis Vuitton monogram Speedy bag onto one of the cream Italian silk wingback chairs. "What happened to your face?"

Kayla crumpled her green tea Bliss face mask into a ball and turned her attention to the TV. "Nothing, Mom," she replied bluntly, eyes fixed on the screen. "Shush, please!"

Catherine interrupted Kayla's TV-watching. "What are you watching?" she asked. Catherine then slipped off her black leather Fendi wedge booties, sighing with relief as she freed her pedicured feet.

Kayla focused on the scene where Macy plotted a nefarious scheme against someone beyond her close-knit group and replied. "Young, Rich, and Fabulous!"

Catherine crossed her toned legs, carefully avoiding bumping her manicured right big toe against her left bootie. "I thought you had given up watching TV," she said cheerfully, pleased to have Kayla's attention.

Sitting cross-legged on the couch, Kayla watched her favorite show on Hulu. However, after a few minutes, she turned off the TV, explaining. "I don't always watch it, but I've been interested in this show lately. It's so good. But I got tired of staying in my room, so I came out here to the living room to watch it instead."

Kayla let out a laugh. "Oh, are you kidding me?" she questioned, turning off the TV. "I'm in the middle of watching the second episode of the first season. I couldn't watch it in my room since my TV only has a Fire Stick. The living room and your room are the only TVs connected to cable."

Catherine paused in silence, grappling with how to respond to her daughter's statement. She finally spoke, her voice soft and tender. "Darling, I love you so much. But-"

Smiling, Kayla interrupted her mom's statement. "I love you too, Mom."

"Thank you," Catherine said, shifting in her seat to get comfortable. "I want you to feel welcome to move freely around the house. However, if you truly care for me, please let me know whenever you're alone in a room."

Kayla shook her head emphatically. "That's very dramatic," she chuckled between mouthfuls of popcorn. "I've only been here for thirty-eight minutes. I thought you would have been home about an hour ago."

Noticing a red wine stain on her ivory Reiss top, Catherine's piercing amber eyes narrowed. "You thought what?" she challenged, her tone laced with annoyance. "That I'd just sit around waiting for your dad to come home?"

Kayla's eyes shone. That feels on brand," she said. A moment later, Kayla tugged nervously at the waistband of her sage-green Morgan Lane satin monogrammed nightdress. "I hope you enjoyed yourself today."

Catherine moved from the wing chair and sat beside her daughter Kayla on the couch. "I had a lot of fun," she told Kayla.

Kayla hesitated before asking her mom. "Wait, what were you doing?"

Catherine grabbed a handful of popcorn from the half-filled bowl on the table and popped it into her mouth. "I was checking off an item from my list of fun things to do," she said with a smile, turning to her daughter.

"Oh my god!" Kayla exclaimed, abruptly changing the subject. "You're not gonna believe what was happening on our favorite reality sho—"

Catherine interrupted her daughter's statement with a series of refusals. Pretending in front of Kayla, she feigned disinterest in hearing what her daughter was about to say. "Don't tell me," she insisted.

Kayla narrowed her eyes, noticing her mom's suspicious behavior. "Oh my god!" she exclaimed. "You're watching the show without me!"

As Catherine popped another handful of popcorn into her mouth, she pulled the popcorn bowl closer and remarked. "You've been busy this past week. My TV turned on by itself, and now I'm all caught up on the latest developments with the Grant family."

Kayla sighed, acknowledging that her busy social life had kept her from spending time with her mother. "So, Mom, what happened in the episode?" she asked.

Catherine looked at her daughter from the corner of her eye and deadpanned. "No. You'll have to watch the episode first before we discuss it."

Wiping the sweat from her brow with one of her nightdress's long sleeves, Kayla's tone conveyed her sadness that her mom had not waited for her to view it together. Yeah, I understand. I'm astonished that you watched our favorite reality show without me."

Pushing the bowl aside, Catherine mumbled with a snicker. "Well, if you're so astonished by that, just wait until you hear what I did tonight."

Kayla's curiosity overcame her previous anger and asked softly. "Tell me."

Before recounting her day to Kayla, Catherine apprehensively asked her daughter. "Are you going to make fun of me?"

Kayla responded to her mom with a half-smirk. "Yeah, probably," she said, giving a slight nod.

Relaxing on the couch, Catherine crossed her ankles and smiled. "Okay, sweetie," she giggled, pleased that her daughter could enjoy an uninterrupted moment. "I've been practicing my axe throwing - hitting the bull's-eye on the targets."

Kayla rested her head on her mom's left shoulder and said brightly. "Wait, what? That's the same place where Emily's boyfriend took her on a date. She even captioned the picture she posted on Instagram, saying she loved that place."

Catherine inhaled the cool, refreshing air-conditioned air and remarked. "It was quite exhilarating."

Kayla rested her head on her mom's shoulder and sighed. "I bet."

Catherine tenderly kissed the top of her daughter's head. "You know," she said with a gentle laugh. "I think it's just in our human nature to find such simple things so satisfying."

Kayla's brow furrowed with curiosity while questioning her mom. "Who did you go with?"

"I went axe-throwing with my friends," Catherine explained between mouthfuls of popcorn. "I'm going to have Reginald bring me a cup of chamomile tea in my room. Did you want anything?"

Kayla glanced at the living room's glass windows and noticed that Reginald had followed her instructions to pull the blackout curtains over them. "No, Mom," she said, seeing her mother pressing the intercom's speaker button. She told their butler not to bring a cup of chamomile tea to her parents' shared bedroom. "I don't need anything from the kitchen."

Catherine lifted her manicured index finger from the intercom's speaker button and accidentally knocked some books on the coffee table with her left hand. "What are these?" she asked, her expression puzzled as she changed the subject.

Kayla shrugged apologetically at her mother, a bright grin on her face. She rolled her shoulders back and popped a few pieces of popcorn into her mouth. "The books just arrived from Tinsley. She mailed them over without telling me first. They showed up earlier today when I wasn't home."

Catherine held a book up to her face, her manicured hand obscuring the title. "The History of Fashion Brands!" she exclaimed, trailing her fingers across the back of her neck. "Is this your idea of light reading?"

Kayla glanced at the fireplace and noticed that Reginald had helped her mom move her favorite bohemian painting to a different spot in the house. "Yeah," she nodded calmly. "She seemed surprised that I liked the books. And I didn't send them back to her."

With a wry tone, Catherine commented. "Tinsley gave you that lovely blouse for your birthday last year, but knowing your fashion preferences, you promptly had Reginald and Juanita rush it to the post office and mail it back to her the same day."

Kayla smiled brightly and said. "Mom, I wasn't a big fan of that color. You know how I feel about neon orange."

Catherine doubted her daughter's claim about why the books were there. "Honey," she said. "You should have kept the blouse instead of wearing it out."

Kayla rolled her shoulders back and sighed deeply. "You know me well, Mom," she laughed. "I wouldn't give these fashion books away to a donation center. After all, Tins sent them to me specifically because of my expertise in this area."

Chuckling lightly, Catherine uncrossed her ankles as she peered over her daughter's head, eating more popcorn. "You came to the living room just to watch your new favorite TV show live," she said. "So I'm wondering why you even brought the books with you."

Kayla trailed off. "I thought..."

Catherine watched her daughter intently. "You were going to mail the books back to your cousin, weren't you?" she said, interrupting Kayla before she could finish her sentence.

Kayla tilted her head to look at her mom without lifting it from her shoulder. "No, Mom, I won't be returning the books my cousin gave me."

"I'm sorry, Kayla," Catherine said, her legs propped on the coffee table. "The books were in the way, and you know our staff simply follows our instructions without question."

Kayla spoke to her mom, trying to keep her tone breezy. "So you thought I would be spiteful enough to make Juanita and Reginald have Dean drive them to the post office?"

After licking the oily butter from her fingers, Catherine sighed heavily. "No, sweetie," she said, attempting to convey that she was listening to her daughter, even though she didn't believe a word coming from her mouth. "Yes, I remember you and your cousin arguing over FaceTime before we had to leave the Hamptons at the end of summer vacation."

Kayla cocked her head, arching a perfectly waxed, wheat-blonde eyebrow at her mother. "You mean when Tins was rude and dismissive to me during our video call," she said sweetly. "But, Mom, we completely forgot about the fight when we texted back and forth yesterday afternoon."

"There have been a few times when you didn't care for the gifts she gave you," Catherine acknowledged. "Except for the Fendi bag - that one doesn't count as a gift."I never planned to return that item," Kayla said. "It looks great in my closet. It's strange, though, Tins has never given me anything like this."

Catherine studied her two-week pedicure, noting the polish remained pristine after two weeks. "That's her way of apologizing," she said casually. "She's aware she hurt your feelings during your argument over her poor attitude on your summer vacation."

Kayla freed her hair from the messy bun and fastened it back up. "She hurt my feelings," Kayla said, her face brightening. "But she wasn't wrong about me being a goody-two-shoes in elementary school."

"Your cousin was right," Catherine said to her daughter, her voice brimming with delight. Her gaze shifted to the living room doorway, where she saw Reginald ascending the winding staircase, her chamomile tea tucked under a round, silver cover. "I distinctly remember hearing you say those words. There's no taking them back now."

Kayla lifted her head from her mother's shoulder and looked her in the eyes. "Mom, I can admit when I'm wrong," she said, her voice wavering slightly.

Catherine listened intently as her daughter spoke. "That's not the case when it comes to your cousin," she responded. "You practically idolize her."

Kayla placed her slender legs on the coffee table, careful not to bump her mom's. Chuckling, she told her mom. "Tins was right. She wanted me to understand that navigating the social scene at Prescott wouldn't have been easy. You know, she made some valid points at the start of the argument, but I didn't want to hear them since they were coming from her. Still, she was right - she told me I could have benefited from researching the popular girls at my school."

Catherine felt the gritty texture of popcorn kernels in her mouth. She made a mental note to floss her teeth once she returned to the master bedroom. "And the books?" she asked.

"While alone in my room, I read the first two chapters of the book," Kayla said. "The books have been invaluable in helping me stay current on new sewing techniques in the fashion industry. But beyond that, I appreciate them because Tins make me feel cared for."

As Catherine stretched her arms overhead, she attempted to relieve the tension in her shoulders and reassured her daughter. "Tinsley loves you. She does care about you."

Kayla sank deeper into the couch's plush cushions. "I love her, my aunt, and uncle," she added, following her mom's statement.

Catherine leaned back in her seat, glancing at her daughter. "I love you and your dad a lot," she said quickly. "We may argue at times, but I think that's healthy."

Kayla shoved the last handful of popcorn into her mouth, unsure how to respond to her mother's words. "Mm..." she mumbled.

Catherine's jaw went slack as she uttered, "So, what now?"

Kayla nodded in understanding, sitting straighter in her seat. "I've gathered a lot of genuine feelings from my cousin and that feels good," she said.

Catherine responded wryly, unsure how to react to her daughter's statement. "Hmmmm..."

As Kayla admired her freshly manicured nails, she murmured to her mom. "I'll probably finish these books by the end of November. I'm determined to complete them."

Catherine embraced her daughter, pulling the young girl into a warm hug. "Aww," she chuckled, planting a gentle kiss on Kayla's forehead. "There's my good baby girl."

Kayla lingered in her mother's warm embrace and then shifted the conversation. "Do you know when Dad will be home?"

Catherine leaned forward in her seat and murmured. "Your dad called me after Dean dropped me off. He said he probably won't be coming home tonight and that he'll book a hotel room."

Kayla watched as her mom gathered her chestnut-brown hair over her shoulders. "Okay, Mom," Kayla murmured, appreciating their lengthy discussion. "Shouldn't you drink your chamomile tea before it gets cold?"

Brushing crumbs from her high-waisted black Michael Kors pencil skirt, Catherine rose slowly. "Yeah, sweetie," she said, "I'll see you tomorrow when breakfast is served."

Feeling suspicious about her dad's whereabouts, Kayla hesitated to voice her concerns until she had concrete evidence of his activities when he was away from home. With a sigh, she noticed her mom leaving the living room and heading toward the staircase. Glancing at the clock near the TV, Kayla saw it was almost 11:20 PM. Realizing she had been talking to her mom for nearly an hour, she looked down at the bowl and saw only a few kernels of popcorn remaining.

In a hushed tone, Kayla didn't want to disturb her mother and called out. "Reginald!"

Reginald adjusted his black Balenciaga tie, a Christmas gift from Kayla's parents. "Yes, Miss Kayla," he replied flatly, his expression unwavering.

From her cross-legged position on the couch, Kayla crossed her arms and commanded. "Fetch me a chilled bottle of Perrier and bring it to my room."

"Okay, Miss Kayla," Reginald acknowledged, moving away from the living room's doorway.

Kayla quickly left the living room, leaving the bowl on the table for Juanita to clean. She hurried to the winding staircase, taking in the cool, air-conditioned air as she climbed to the second floor. Reaching the top, Kayla skipped across the polished Turkish marble and paused outside her parents' bedroom door.

Pressing her ear to the door, Kayla heard the sound of running water, signaling that her mother was about to remove her makeup. Brushing a bit of lint from her nightdress, Kayla crept quietly down the hall. Entering her room, she closed the door with her foot, her mind turning to Reginald, who she expected to arrive soon bearing a Perrier in his gloved hands.

Kayla unplugged her iPhone from the charger on the nightstand, then unplugged the charger itself from the outlet and let it fall to the floor by her bed. She scanned the room, noting that Juanita had carried out her instructions.

Kayla noticed the curtains in her room were drawn, blocking any potential view from outside. Relieved she wouldn't have the unsettling feeling of being watched, she thought back to the fun she had recently hanging out with James, while the others were engaged in a deep conversation. Taking a deep breath, Kayla sat down on the edge of her bed, her gaze fixed on the television.

Kayla was suddenly transported back to that morning, as she recalled being caught up on the latest gossip. She sighed lightly and turned her attention to the mannequin she was closely examining. The mannequin was outfitted in a slouchy Grey Enza Costa sweater knit top, black Amanda Uprichard pleated skort, paired with black Miu Miu wedges, a medium grey Chloe leather satchel, her signature gold Annoushka diamond charm bracelet, and gold Lucy Quartermaine flower pearl stud earrings.

Filled with excitement, Kayla clapped her freshly manicured hands, eager to look her best for school the next day. With a sigh, she sat on the edge of her seat and used FaceID to unlock her phone. She then tapped the Instagram app and waited for it to load.

As soon as the app loaded, Kayla began scrolling through her feed. She paused to laugh at a post from Cora Lewis, mocking this loser for posting a picture of herself outside a local movie theater. Kayla quickly commented: You would never amount to anything in this life. Scrolling on, Kayla's attention was drawn to a series of group photos Madeleine had posted. The pictures were taken outside Scott's house after spending time with the boys.

Yawning, Kayla tapped the heart icon to like the photo, then checked the time on her iPhone - it was nearly 11:29 PM. Without turning off her phone, she left it on her bed and headed straight to her bathroom.

Kayla walked to her bathroom vanity, turning on the faucet to let warm water flow. She grabbed her electric toothbrush, squeezed on some Colgate toothpaste, and brushed her teeth for five minutes. After brushing, she rinsed the toothpaste from her toothbrush and set it down on the vanity.

Kayla dipped her dominant hand into the water, scooping a handful and swishing it around her mouth. Pleased that her gums and teeth were no longer coated in toothpaste, she spit the minty-fresh water into the sink, leaving the faucet running. Placing her toothbrush back in its holder, Kayla gazed into the bathroom mirror, admiring her flawless, plump, and well-moisturized complexion.

Remembering her skincare routine two hours earlier, Kayla left the bathroom without turning off the lights or closing the door. As she reached the middle of her room, Kayla heard her iPhone ringing. Glancing at the screen, she saw Madeleine's name and hurried to her nightstand. Kayla removed her AirPods from the wireless charging case, shoved them in her ears, and double-tapped the left one to accept the call.

Kayla answered the phone quickly. She sat down on the edge of her bed and brushed popcorn crumbs off her nightdress. "Hello?"

Madeleine greeted Kay warmly. "Hey, Kay. Be sure to say hi to the others on the call."

After Madeleine's statement, Kayla leaned back and crossed her slender legs, greeting the group. "Hey, guys."

Scarlett, Audrey, and Mackenzie greeted Kalia in unison. "Hi, Kalia."

Kayla collapsed back onto her bed before looking over at her nightstand. Seeing the bottle of Perrier, she assumed that Reginald must have come in when she wasn't looking. "Maddie, did anything unusual happen after Nick dropped us off at home?" she asked.

Madeleine excitedly shared with her friends. "Lachlan just texted me - we're going on our first official date on September 19th!"

Scarlett gasped in surprise at Madeleine's news. "No way!" she exclaimed. "I thought I'd have to get my spy ring to uncover the date themselves."

Audrey knew her friend was stressed about the timing of the date and asked excitedly. "Where's he taking you? Is it a movie or dinner?"

Intrigued by Lachlan's thoughts, Mackenzie suggested. "You could share this experience on Instagram for everyone to see."

"I prefer mini-golf over going to a movie or dinner," Kayla confidently declared.

Madeleine sounded happy and said. "I don't know where he's taking me, but it might surprise me."

Scarlett's voice perked up. "Of course, Mads," she said. After a brief pause, Scarlett shifted the conversation to something new. "Oh, besties, I have some information to share with you all."

Kayla and Mackenzie spoke in unison, their voices brimming with excitement. "What information does Scarlett have?" they asked.

Audrey's voice brimmed with excitement as the latest juicy gossip rippled through the group. "Don't leave anything out!" she exclaimed.

Madeleine's voice was hushed with anticipation. "Tell me everything," she said. Madeleine knew that Scarlett's news must have been fresh, happening just within the last few days.

Clearing her throat, Scarlett posed a question to the girls. "Do you remember when Rey mentioned that Jacqueline was caught looking terrible during a TikTok live?"

"Uh, yeah," Kayla nodded as she heard the sound of someone bouncing on a bed in the background.

Madeleine pondered the meaning behind Scarlett's cryptic statement. "Certainly," she replied, seeking to understand the implication.

Audrey reminisced about the conversation earlier this afternoon. "I remember when I was talking about her," she grinned causally.

Mackenzie's voice held a friendly lilt and replied. "Yes, Lala. Why are we revisiting the conversation we had at Pure Bliss Spa earlier today?"

Scarlett's tone sounded smug as she voiced her opinions. "Well, someone anonymously told me that Tia was actually in the same room as Jacqueline. They said the two of them were both on the TikTok live, talking about their social problems at school. I was surprised to hear they spoke about being banished to the bottom of social ladder."

Madeleine let out a soft laugh. "I still stand by the judgment I passed on Jacqueline and Tia," she responded.

Audrey playfully snickered at Scarlett's opinion. "Wonderful!" she exclaimed. "I suppose they were criticizing us during that live broadcast."

Kayla scowled at Scarlett's statement, suspecting that Jacqueline and Tia were intentionally causing trouble. "Scarlett, did you hear them mention our names?"

"I don't see how Jacqueline and Tia's complaints are our concern," Mackenzie chuckled, sounding bored.

Scarlett's voice brimmed with excitement. "Well, pretties, they didn't mention us by name, but people on the internet are trying to figure out who we are," she answered their questions.

Madeleine made a mental note to reprimand Jacqueline and Tia for their actions. "They won't be able to figure this out," she quickly replied. "Listen up, everyone. Nick won't be picking anyone up tomorrow because he has to take my mom to her OBGYN appointment. You'll need to ask your drivers to take you to school instead." Madeleine turned her attention to Scarlett. "Can Ivan make a stop at my house to pick me up?"

Scarlett's voice rang in excitement, anticipating the routine of picking up Madeleine. "Yeah, Maddie," she said.

"I'm heading to bed now," Madeleine explained to her friends. "So I'll see you all later."

Mackenzie's voice carried a tinge of sadness. "Okay, Mads. See you guys later."

Kayla and Audrey spoke in gloomy tones, their voices joined together in unison. "All right, Maddy. We'll see you tomorrow at school."

"Bye, everybody!" Scarlett said, sounding extremely sad.

As she ended the call, Madeleine bid the others farewell, saying. "Later, guys."

After hearing the call end, Kayla gently placed her iPhone on the nearby nightstand and removed the AirPods. She stepped away from the bed and approached the other nightstand. Grabbing the charging case, Kayla quickly shoved the AirPods in the case and set it back down on the nightstand.

A few moments later, Kayla sighed as she approached the mirror, taking in her flawless reflection. Gently touching her face, she marveled at her poreless, soft skin. Admiring the results of her skincare regimen, Kayla continued examining her reflection, appreciating the perfection of her appearance.

Kayla turned from the mirror, walked over to her bed, and climbed in. She pulled the duvet over herself and clapped to turn the lights off. Kayla then slipped on her sleep mask and drifted off to sleep immediately.

---

A/N:

Here's chapter nine for you.

Peace,

FashionLeMode