The Pretty Committee Strikes Back (2 page)

DERRINGTON:
Placid is gonna rule, fool!

She had hoped Derrington's message would be a little more personal but still chalked it up to flirting.

MASSIE:

She wanted to respond with a clever yet cute comeback. But Mr. Myner interrupted her.

“And Miss Block, let me remind you that this field trip is also a great way to add ten percent to your grade.” Mr. Myner winked at Massie. His eyes seemed to look straight into her soul. Massie discreetly dropped her cell phone back into the green side pocket of her Joie cargos.

“Why are you saying that to
me?”
She slapped her French-manicured hand against her heart and widened her amber eyes. Did the whole class really have to know she'd gotten a C on the last test?

“I'm not
just
saying it to you.” His voice was smooth and calming, like a late-night DJ's. “I'm saying it to everyone in the class who got below a B on the world hunger quiz.”

The A students started giggling. Kristen was among them. Massie shot her a firm stop-that look. Kristen bit her lower lip and looked toward the window.

“Not all of us
need
to learn how to survive off the land.” Massie glared at Mr. Myner. “Some of us can actually afford groceries and electricity. And the ones who
can
should be tested on something relevant, like European resort towns or natural hot springs.”

The C students cheered and Massie bowed her head in gratitude. She knew she would eventually face Mr. Myner's wrath, but she didn't care. Their applause made it all worth it.

But before Mr. Myner could say another word, the bell rang. The high-pitched screech of chairs sliding back across the freshly waxed floors and the snapping sound of paper getting clipped back into binders meant they were done for the day.

“So, the iPad on Sunday?” Massie reconfirmed as they raced out of class. “I think everyone should show up early. This packing list may take a while.”

“Count me out.” Kristen pushed past them and raced down the hall.

“Why?” Massie yelled after her.

Alicia, Dylan, and Claire looked at one another and shrugged.

Kristen stopped, her back still facing them. She didn't flinch when some girls in a hurry knocked into her with their bags and coats. She just stood there, motionless.

Massie and the rest of the Pretty Committee darted over to Kristen and stood by her side. Tears were rolling down her cheeks. A black mascara booger had formed in the corner of her right eye.

“I had no idea you guys were so sick of me borrowing money.” She sniffed.

Alicia nervously twirled her thick black hair into a chignon and dabbed a bit of pink lip gloss onto her full mouth. “We're so nawt.” Alicia tried to sound sincere, but her voice was flat and unconvincing.

“Just let us pay,” Dylan said. “If we split it four ways then—”

Alicia cleared her throat and tilted her head toward Claire.

“I mean, if we spilt it
three
ways, we could totally afford it,” Dylan corrected herself.

Claire brought her thumbnail to her teeth and bit down.

“Seriously.” Massie rested her hand on the back of Kristen's hot-pink-and-white Puma track jacket. “What's the big deal?”

Kristen wiggled out from under Massie's gentle grip. “Because I don't want you to think I'm some pathetic charity case.”

Massie sighed. She didn't have time for this. Not when Derrington was waiting for her to respond to his text message. Maybe a little humor would lighten Kristen's mood. “You're not
some
charity case. You're
our
charity case. And we ah-dore you.”

Kristen's mouth fell open and tears started rolling down her flushed cheeks.

Alicia glared at Massie.

“What?” Massie was genuinely surprised by their reactions. “I was kidding.” She grabbed Kristen's hand and held it like she was about to propose marriage. “Come on, Kris. This is going to be the best week ever. Just let us pay.”

“No, thanks.” Kristen dried her eyes on her polyester sleeve. “I'll raise the money myself.”

“How are you going to raise fifteen hundred dollars in two days?” Claire sounded genuinely interested.

“I am going to teach memory skills,” Kristen said.

“What?” the girls said together.

“I am taking a home course in photographic memory skills, and it's really working,” Kristen explained.

“Okay, so what did we read about in geo today? Word for word?” Dylan pulled up her new size-two denim miniskirt, then checked to see if anyone noticed.

Massie quickly looked away.

Kristen cocked her head, ran her fingers through her short blond hair, and smiled. “We didn't read anything today. Mr. Myner spent the whole class talking about stupid Lake Placid.”

“Hmmm.” Dylan tapped her index finger against her pursed lips. “Not bad.”

“Why tutor when we can just give you the money?” Massie asked.

“I'll be fine,” Kristen insisted. “I have five hundred dollars in my savings account, so all I need is a thousand dollars.”

Massie smiled. “Maybe you could teach math, too.”

Kristen giggled, then wiped away her last tear. “I'm serious. If I charge ten girls a hundred dollars each, I'll be able to go.”

“Great. Now can we please go shopping for earth tones?” Dylan whined.

“Yes.” Alicia bounced up and down on her toes. “I'm desperate.” She tightened the knot on her short ballet-pink tie-front cardigan and her cleavage practically tripled.

“Oh good, I need some new underwear.” Claire's blue eyes widened with excitement. “Can we go to Victoria's Secret?”

“Given,” Alicia agreed. “I need a new br—” She crossed her arms over her C-cups. “I need some things too.”

The girls started walking toward the exit to meet Isaac, Massie's driver. He'd warned them that he might be late because a new fridge was getting installed in the backseat of the Range Rover. “See you guys.” Kristen waved. Her voice was full of purpose and determination.

“Aren't you coming?” Massie asked.

“Nah, I'm going to use the Xerox machine to make flyers for my course,” Kristen said.

“Want help?” Massie pushed open the wood doors and stepped into the cold.

“Yeah, I'd love some.” Kristen's face lit up. “Wanna come with me to make my posters?”

Massie felt her stomach lurch. She hadn't actually expected Kristen to say yes.

“Uh, I can't because Isaac is on his way,” Massie shouted. “Good luck. Call me later.”

“Uh, thanks.” Kristen turned toward the library.

“Good luck,” the others echoed as they followed Massie outside.

“Think she'll be able to raise a thousand dollars by Friday?” Dylan pulled a hunter green knit cap out of her turquoise Marc Jacobs duffel and forced it over her mass of red curls.

“Only if your famous mother turns her morning talk show into a telethon,” Alicia said. Dylan's mom, Merri-Lee Marvil, was the host of a super-popular morning show,
The Daily Grind.

“That would be so cool.” Claire zipped up her baby blue Old Navy puffy coat. “Do you think she could get Joss Stone?”

“She can get
anyone.”
Dylan smiled proudly. “And I bet she could raise the money in like five minutes.”

“Gawd, where's Isaac?” Massie stood on her toes and looked out into the empty parking lot. She would have said anything to change the subject. Kristen's whole poverty thing was a major snoozer. And Dylan's famous mother was running a close second. The only thing that held Massie's interest these days was Derrington.

A white Lexus and two black Audis pulled into the lot. Livvy Collins, Alexandra Regan, and Carrie Randolph waved to the drivers as they strolled down the school steps, taking their time so they could finish their conversation.

“I
know
Nina was a total fake.” Alexandra buttoned up her winter white Banana Republic boiled wool coat. “But how great would it be to have her on this Lake Placid trip?”

“Totallyagreed,” slurred Carrie, the notorious fast talker. “Nooneknewmoreaboutguys.”

Suddenly Massie felt dizzy. It was one thing to hear her classmates idolize Nina Callas—Alicia's Spanish slutbag of a cousin, who was responsible for almost tearing Massie and Derrington apart—but it was quite another for them to consider her an
expert
in anything other than lying, stealing, and cheesy Euro style. Besides, Massie had assumed that when Nina returned to Spain, things would go back to normal and she would become the all-around expert again. So why wasn't that happening? She lowered herself onto the stone steps. Alicia, Dylan, and Claire sat down beside her.

“Maybe we could get her e-mail address from Alicia.” Livvy bit down on her plump bottom lip, chewing off her clear lip gloss. “I bet she could give us some killer tips.”

“Lovethat.” Carrie clapped her lambskin mittens together. “Hey, look, theresheis!”

“Nina?” Livvy and Alexandra shrieked at the same time.

“No,
A-licia.”
Carrie stomped her foot. She pulled her friends by their coats and dragged them down the steps.

The well-coiffed woman inside the white Lexus honked the horn.

“Holdonaminutemah.” Carrie stomped her foot again and held up her index finger.

The two black Audis beeped next. Alexandra and Livvy held up their fingers the same way Carrie had.

“What?” Massie rose to her feet. Alicia, Claire, and Dylan immediately joined her side.

“We actually wanted to ask Alicia something.” Carrie seemed to be speaking to Massie's burnt orange suede Michael Kors nonwaterproof snow boots.

“Well, if it has to do with her trashy cousin Nina, don't bother,” Massie hissed. “She's dead to us.”

“We just want her e-mail address.” Livvy stepped in. The blond ballet dancer-slash-basketball player was the thinnest and tallest one in the group, but Massie refused to look up at her. Instead, she spoke to the scratched rhinestone buttons on her tacky wannabe antique coat.

Dylan burst out laughing. “Stupid much? Like they have e-mail in Spain!”

Claire and Alicia giggled at Dylan's ignorance but Massie shot them a look, warning them to stop.

Carrie, Alexandra, and Livvy seemed to believe Dylan, because they all turned red and looked away. It was the perfect time for Massie to pounce.

“Look, I know the only reason you would want to speak to that slut-o-rita is to get guy advice before the trip.” Massie softened her voice so she'd sound sweet and caring. The girls lifted their heads, and Massie stepped down and joined them on their level. “Am I right?”

“Yeah.” Livvy scraped more lip gloss into her mouth.

“I totally understand.” Massie patted Livvy's shoulder. “That's why I'm offering a secret kissing clinic before the trip.” She waved her hand behind her back so Claire, Dylan, and Alicia wouldn't question her.

One of the black Audis honked again.

“ONE MINUTE, MAH,” Alexandra shouted. Then she leaned in toward Massie and whispered, “What's kissing like? Tell me
everything.
Don't leave one thing out.”

“It's hard to describe.” Massie spoke louder than she needed to. “Derrington and I have been making out for a while now—since the holidays, to be exact.” She elbowed Alexandra in the rib and winked. “Thank Gawd for mistletoe, if you know what I mean!”

Claire cracked up. Massie waved her hand again.

“Who do you think taught Nina how to kiss?” Claire chimed in. Massie was grateful for the backup.

“What?” Alicia screeched.

“Is that true?” Massie heard Dylan whisper.

Massie stepped in front of her friends, blocking them from the conversation.

“I have a few spaces left in my kissing clinic if you want to sign up,” Massie offered. “But you can't tell a soul. I've already had to turn a lot of people away, and it wouldn't be fair.”

“Wewon'ttell.” Carrie squinted and shook her head, her saucer-shaped brown eyes barely open.

“Swear.” Livvy made an invisible cross on her tacky coat to prove her sincerity.

“Double swear.” Alexandra crossed her boiled wool twice. “This is gonna be so great.” Her smile revealed a mouthful of emerald green braces.

“’Kay, we're meeting in the OCD Serenity Chapel Friday after school.” Massie's tone was hushed and secretive.

“Okay,” Livvy whispered back. “But are we actually gonna have to kiss someone?”

“Ignore her.” Alexandra giggled. “She's a little bit of a wuss. But
I
can't wait.”

The horns honked again.

“Coming.” Alexandra ran down the steps toward her impatient mother, and the other girls followed.

“I am
not
a wuss,” Livvy insisted to no one in particular.

“Thanks, Massie,” Carrie shouted. “Iwon'ttellanyone.”

“Shhhh.” Alexandra put her finger to her lips. “It's a secret, remember?”

“Ooops.” Carrie laughed. “Sorry.”

“Oh, don't forget the fee,” Massie yelled after them. All three girls stopped in front of their mothers' cars and looked back at Massie. “Twenty bucks a person. Cash only.”

The girls smiled back and waved goodbye.

“Are you actually going to take their money?” Claire asked Massie as the girls pulled away.

“Of course.” Massie half smiled. “I'll donate it to Kristen's Lake Placid fund.”

“Nice.” Claire gave Massie a thumbs-up. “But do you think she'll take it?”

“I'll tell her I want to hire her to tape the clinic—you know, so I can put it on my new video blog,” Massie said.

“When did you start a video blog?” Dylan asked.

“And when did you become a kissing expert?” Alicia added.

Massie looked at Claire, silently begging her for help.

“Over the holidays.” Claire vouched for her friend. “I thought everyone knew that.”

Massie shook her head. “I don't like to kiss and tell.”

“Ooops, sorry.” Claire hit herself on the head, like she should have known better.

Massie was pleased with her friend's willingness to play along. Claire was the only one who knew the truth about Massie's lack of experience with boys and was smart enough to know that Massie wanted to keep it a secret.

“It's okay.” Massie continued her Oscar-worthy performance. “But if you must know, Derrington and I have been getting pretty busy these days.”