A Tale of Two Pretties (15 page)

“I have no idea, and it’s my house,” Claire whispered back.

She led them down the hall, and into the furniture-free office. Inside, the hardwood floors had been Swiffered to a shine,
vanilla-scented candles flickered along the window ledge, a floor-length mirror was propped up against the wall, an iPod was
loaded, and open cases of makeup, hair accessories, and styling tools had been set up in five stations. A couch cushion for
each girl was also available in
case she needed to sit and do her nails. “Old New Isaac is on his way back with hot chocolate and snacks. Sugary ones.”

The girls hugged her like Santa. Claire beamed. So that’s what Massie did while Claire had been snapping family move-in pictures.

“Let’s focus. Tonight is the party to end all parties. And we have
gawt
to look better than everyone else there. I’ve taken the liberty of using the money we raised to buy some outfits that will
work for us all.” She pressed play on the iPod. Rihanna’s “Pon De Replay” burst forth from the speakers. Ancient? Yes. Sick
of it? Never. The girls began speed-clapping with the beat as Massie dimmed the lights.

“And finally…” Massie handed each girl a pink-and-white Intermix garment bag. “One, two, three, unzip!”

Squeals and gasps echoed off the bare walls. Massie turned up the music and the girls paraded around in their outfits. There
was plenty of noise but not a single complaint.

“I was inspired by Alicia’s sale tent. We all have our own styles, so instead of trying to make us all look the same, I decided
to go with what makes us different.”

Dylan had a red-hot Herve Leger knee-length dress that would hug her curves like it was made by Porsche. Alicia had a sultry
black-and-nude lace minidress, Kristen got silver-and-gold metallic shorts to show off her soccer legs and a sheer blouse,
Claire got a blue-gray satin babydoll dress, and
Massie had a white sequin dress that shimmered like it was made of ice.

Apart they looked like individuals, but together they were fabulous.

“Ahhhhh!”

Massie exhaled in relief and spun around the main dance floor, her nude Prada peeptoes carrying her to the center platform.
She glowed under the strobe lights as she shimmied to the heavy, fast beats that Samantha Ronson was delivering from the DJ
booth. She knew that standing in the middle of the main dance floor meant she was currently the center of attention—not only
was everyone on the first floor watching her, but so were the guests on the second- and third-floor balconies. And it felt
like home.

One by one, the Pretty Committee joined her, circling around her and getting into the groove like they were channeling Madonna.
Alicia’s trademark dance moves rocked her mini, while Dylan’s red curls bounced around, complementing her red Herve Leger
dress and catching the light. Kristen’s smooth, high ponytail and winged eyeliner made her look like a sleek, sassy cat in
her black shorts. Claire’s satin dress twirled happily around her as she grabbed Dylan’s hand and sang along.

Her friends looked ah-mazing, Massie knew. But she had to admit she felt extra special in her sequin dress and black diamond
jewelry, her brown hair pinned up to give her the look of
a Grecian goddess. And in the center of the dance floor, being passed hors d’ouevres from waiters wearing black tuxedoes as
the Olsen twins and the cast of
True Blood
mingled next to her, she felt like one, too.

Every year, Merri-Lee’s parties got more and more extravagant. This year, the theme was “Haute & Cold Couture,” where the
concepts of fire, ice, and fashion were reflected everywhere. Out front, an ice-skating pond had been constructed, where professional
skaters welcomed guests with triple lutzes and double axels. Out back, a bonfire and rows of tiki torches kept revelers warm
as a live band sang oldies, and fireworks lit up the sky at the top of every hour. And inside, catwalks lined the floors as
models walked the runways, wearing red-and-silver Herve Leger dresses and tossing confetti into the air. Everywhere Massie
looked, there were famous names wearing designer dresses and suits—standing in line for the buffet stations of hot and cold
foods, asking the DJ to play a song, and rifling through the swag bags.

“Food break!” Dylan announced, grabbing Massie’s hand and pulling the PC to the nearest carving station. She grabbed a tray
of sushi and brought it over to the cocktail table Alicia had snagged from Hilary Duff.

“Best. Party. Ever!” Claire said, her mouth full of brown rice.

Massie nodded in agreement, stabbing her eel roll with her chopstick and pointing it toward Dylan. “Tell your mom that this
year’s theme is toe-dally inspired!”

“Tell her yourself,” Dylan shrugged. “Here she comes.”

The PC swiveled their heads in unison as Merri-Lee, clad in a long vintage Calvin Klein and more jewels than Massie had ever
seen one person wear, sashayed up to them. “Happy New Year’s Yves!” She pointed to the limited-edition Yves Saint Laurent
handbag that was positioned at the top of a large contraption that towered up to the third floor. “Don’t you just love it?
We’re counting down to the handbag drop instead of the ball drop this year!”

Massie smiled in response and briefly wondered how far out of reach the bag would be if she climbed over the third-floor balcony.
Then she dismissed the idea. Her dress was
nawt
made for any physical activity besides shimmying her hips to the music, even though the tote was more tempting than Taylor
Lautner.

Merri-Lee air-kissed each of them before wrapping Dylan in a hug while whispering something in her ear. Massie watched as
Dylan’s face grew pale, even under all the NARS bronzer she’d applied at Claire’s. Then Merri-Lee kissed her cheek and floated
off to the center stage of the dance floor, leaving traces of YSL Opium in her wake.

Just when Massie was about to ask Dylan what was going on, the strobe lights dimmed and Samantha turned down the sound. A
lone spotlight shone down onto Merri-Lee, who was carrying a microphone and waiting for the crowd to grow silent.

“Can I have everyone’s attention, please?” Merri-Lee called. Slowly, hordes of people began filing in from the
backyard, and Massie had to bob her head around until she found the perfect angle from which to see Dylan’s mother. As long
as Ellen DeGeneres kept her head still, she’d be set.

“First of all, I just want to say a giant thank-you to everyone for coming out tonight!” A cheer rose and Merri-Lee tried
her best to blush, but Massie knew it was just her Shiseido Luminizer. “The new year is a time to reflect on what we see for
ourselves in the future—who we want to be, how we can improve, and how anything is possible if we put our minds to it!”

All around her, guests were nodding in agreement. Massie tried not to snicker. Merri-Lee’s thoughts were about as deep as
the temporary ice-skating rink out front. She looked at Dylan, who was still pale and now looked a little sweaty, like she’d
been out near the fire pit for too long. She leaned in close to her.

“What’s this all about, Dyl?” she whispered.

Dylan’s eyes never left her mother, who was now talking about the importance of family. “She’s about to announce the show
and reveal the first episode,” she said dully.

Massie’s stomach heaved and she put down the next sushi roll she had been about to eat and squeezed Dylan’s arm.

“With all that said,” Merri-Lee continued. “I have an exciting announcement to make! Tonight, for the first time, I’m finally
able to tell all of my closest friends the incredible news…”

Everyone in the Marvil house leaned forward.

“My daughters and I are the new stars of the next biggest
reality show in television history:
Marvilous Marvils
!” With a flourish, a screen unrolled behind her, lit up with a promotional shot of Merri-Lee, Jaime, Ryan, and Dylan—all
wearing matching Marc Jacobs shirtdresses and Sigerson Morrison over-the-knee boots—and the text
Marvilous Marvils: Coming this spring!
spelled out at the bottom. The crowd burst into applause and Merri-Lee curtsied on stage.

“Ehmagawd!” Alicia shouted, barely audible over the noise.

“You’re going to be a star!” Kristen squealed.

The PC crowded around Dylan, dropping their rolls and champagne glasses.

“Yep,” Dylan said sheepishly, her head hanging down so that her curls brushed against the top of the table.

“This is ah-mazing!” Claire said sincerely.

“You mean…” Dylan looked up into the grinning faces of the PC. “You’re
nawt
mad at me for keeping it a secret?

“Are you kidding?” Alicia said. “My dad handles the legal contracts for practically
awl
of that network’s shows. So I know what kind of confidentiality clause you probably had to sign!”

“We’re not mad, we’re pumped!” Kristen added. “This is so, so cool.”

“Thanks…” Dylan said doubtfully. “I just feel really bad that I was keeping this huh-
yuge
secret from you all this time.”

“Speaking of secrets…” Massie said softly. She looked
at the rest of the PC, one by one. And one by one, their faces grew somber.

“Okay, okay,” Alicia huffed after a moment of silence. “Fine. I’ve been keeping a secret from you all, too.”

Dylan gasped. “Are you getting a reduction?”

“What?” Alicia looked down at her C-cups. “Of course
nawt
!”

“Oh,” Dylan burped. “Then what is it?”

“I’ve been…” She paused and looked around the circle. When she met Massie’s eyes, Massie widened her amber eyes at her, trying
to send her strength. “I haven’t been reading as much as I said I was. Claire, you can have all the books you lent me back.”

“Um, okay?” Claire said.

“I only said I was reading-with-an-r because I didn’t want to lead-with-an-l. And when I got an e-reading from Hermia, she
told me I’d be the new alpha of the Pretty Committee. But I swear, I don’t want to be the leader!”

Dylan burst out laughing. “It’s okay, Leesh. Massie’s staying with Claire, so you can get back to
heed
ing instead of leading!”

Kristen giggled, then grew serious. “But, um, I have a secret, too. I told Massie already, but I need to tell everyone, because
it affects us all.”

“Oh, no. Did you lose your scholarship to OCD?” Dylan asked.

“Actually, I got picked to be on a traveling competitive soccer team!” Kristen’s eyes shimmered with tears. “It’s a
lawt
of hard work. I’ve already gone to a couple of practices. And while it could open doors for me, it also means that most of
my weekends will be booked up with soccer stuff now.” She sighed. “And it’s safe to say I’ll be spending a lot less time with
the PC.” Her voice wavered.

“We all hate that we have to see less of you,” Massie said quickly, not wanting to see anyone else cry. “But what an ah-mazing
opportunity for you!”

“Congrats, Kristen!” Dylan said, while Alicia and Claire hugged her. She blew her nose into the monogrammed
Happy New Year’s Yves!
napkin.

“Well, now that that’s all settled—” Massie started, but Claire held up her hand.

“Wait! I actually have one more thing to tell you all.”

Massie froze, startled. She felt like the “Cold Couture” part of the evening. Everyone already knew Claire had moved into
a new house. What other secrets was she keeping?

“
RememberhowCamandIexchangedgiftswellhegotmemore-thanthecandy
,” she released, all in one breath. The rest of the PC glanced back and forth at each other, silent.

“What else did you get?” Alicia asked after a few moments, tucking her hair behind her ear so her chandelier earrings could
be seen.

Claire glanced at Massie, who closed her mouth.

“We’re taking a photography class together,” she whisper-confessed. “Every Friday night.”

Massie lifted her wrist to her nose and inhaled deeply. The
familiar whiff of her Chanel No. 19 cleared her mind and she smiled. It was New Year’s Eve, and they were at the best party
of the year. Their problems, while not ideal, were not insurmountable. They were like all the homework she had piling up in
her locker at OCD—they could wait.

But when Massie glimpsed her parents in the crowd, she realized she still had one very big problem hanging over her head.
She hadn’t confessed her secret to them yet. And it was time to do it now, before the clock struck midnight and the YSL bag
dropped.

“I’ll be right back,” she called to the PC. “But don’t worry—we’ll all be fine!”

Massie skipped over the still-crowded dance floor, balancing precariously on her Pradas, until she came face-to-face with
her parents. “Mom! Dad! Can we talk for a sec?”

“Happy New Year!” they shouted, embracing her. Kendra’s Jil Sander dress felt warm against Massie’s skin, and she breathed
in the sharp mix of her mother’s perfume and her father’s cologne.

“How was your day at Claire’s new house, sweetie?” William asked.

“Actually, that’s what I wanted to talk to you about,” Massie said, struggling to make herself heard over the noise of the
crowd. “It’s nawt just Kuh-laire’s new house.”

Kendra raised her eyebrows. Massie pinched her upper thigh through her dress. She glanced back and forth between her parents.

“I’m moving in with Kuh-laire,” she blurted. “I’m not going to England. I’m going to spend the rest of the year with the Lyonses
so I can finish eighth grade at OCD, with my friends.”

Kendra and William glanced at each other and then back at Massie. At the sight of their jaws clenched into a tight, sharp
line, Massie’s throat started closing up.

“Absolutely not,” William said forcefully.

“We know this move is hard for you, Massie,” Kendra added.

“And we’re sorry about that,” William agreed. “But under no circumstances—”

“Absolutely none!” Kendra interrupted.

“—will we allow you to stay in Westchester without us. Sorry, but that’s the way things have to be,” William concluded, thrusting
his hands out as if to say,
What can I do?