“And how cool is it that some of us go to different schools?” Catherine said. “That’s never been done before.”
“What should we plan for our first night?” Meredith asked Alicia. “Name something you’ve always wanted to do.”
Alicia clapped. “How ’bout we give you a makeover?”
Meredith leaned in toward the mirror and examined her face, but Alicia was too excited to notice. “My mother was just in Spain visiting my grandparents and she brought back a ton of European makeup. You should see my bathroom right now. It’s so Sephora.”
“Are you going to invite Massie?” Olivia asked.
“Oh my Gawd, how much fun would that be?” Meredith said.
“It would be great. Massie is sooo good at putting on makeup. Have you ever seen her at the MAC counter?”
Alicia rolled her eyes. She couldn’t believe they were talking about Massie again.
“No, I wish,” Meredith said. “Have you?”
“No,” Olivia admitted. “But I heard she’s even better than the people that work there.”
“Didn’t they ask her to quit school so she could work with them?” Catherine said.
“That’s what I heard.”
“Why are you guys so obsessed with Massie Block?” Alicia asked. What she really wanted to say was, “Why are you guys more obsessed with Massie Block than you are with me?” But she stormed out of the locker room instead.
The girls chased after her.
“What’s wrong?” Olivia called. “What did we do?”
Alicia poured herself a glass of cucumber-infused water from the pitcher by the receptionist’s desk and waited for Catherine and Meredith to catch up. She was only going to say this once.
As soon as Meredith and Catherine arrived, Alicia spoke. Her voice was crisp and controlled, but on the inside she was shaking.
“I am about to put my social life on the line to host a sleepover party for you and all you can talk about is Massie Block,” she announced, tossing the cup full of water into the trash. “News flash, I’m not the head of her fan club, okay?” Then she took off again.
The sound of the girls’ feet following her lightened Alicia’s mood.
“We’re sorry—we’ll never mention her again,” Meredith shouted.
“Yeah, never,” Catherine said.
“Come on, wait up,” Olivia pleaded.
Alicia stopped, then sighed and turned to them with a forgiving smile that said, “Your begging worked.”
The girls apologized one last time for hurting her feelings before they said their goodbyes.
“Call and let us know what time to be at your house tomorrow night,” Meredith said.
“Wait,” Olivia said. “Don’t we have the Teen Vogue interview tomorrow?”
“Oh my Gawd, I almost forgot.” Alicia fluffed up her hair. “We’re going to New York City tomorrow. The fashion editor at Teen Vogue is doing a big story on us because we won a uniform design contest at our school last week.”
“I know,” Meredith said. “We heard all about it. That’s sooo cool.”
“Does this mean the sleepover is off?” Catherine asked, her dimples slowly fading.
“No, it just means we’ll have tons of great stories to tell you when we get back.”
Catherine’s dimples popped back on her face and Meredith put her hands over her mouth and jumped up and down.
“Don’t forget to call us later,” they called back to Alicia as they pushed through the heavy glass doors and ran outside to meet their parents.
“I won’t.” Alicia waved goodbye to her dance friends.
A gust of freezing winter air smacked her cheeks and made her eyes water. She was relieved to see her father’s driver, Dean, waiting in their limo. It meant she didn’t have to stand alone in the cold thinking about what she had just done.
Alicia still felt chilled a half hour later when she sat down to dinner with her parents. The six-bedroom estate often felt big and lonely, especially when Alicia’s cousins and grandmother weren’t visiting from Spain. The staff had the night off and it was one of those rare occasions where Alicia, her mother, Nadia, and her father, Len, were alone in the house. Nadia had done her best to make the big house feel like a home with music, cinnamon-scented candles, and authentic Spanish cuisine.
“What is this?” Alicia slid a dark, salty chunk of meat across her gold plate with the side of her knife.
“Cordero asado and escalivada Catalan,” Nadia said.
“Ohhh.” Len sounded impressed. “It’s delicious.”
“What is that?” Alicia asked.
“Roast lamb and roast vegetables.” Nadia smiled with pride. Her perfectly white teeth looked like pearls against her dark olive skin and her red lipstick made them seem even brighter. She hadn’t modeled since she’d left Spain and moved to Westchester, fifteen years ago, but Alicia thought she still could.
“It’s good.” Alicia tried to be polite, but she had no appetite. Every chunk of dead meat on her plate was a reminder of what she would be when Massie found out about the sleepover.
They sat around the rectangular glass-and-cast-iron table, eating to the frenzied rhythm of Spanish music Nadia had brought back from her last trip to Barcelona. The singer’s voice sounded like a groggier version of Ricky Martin’s. She knew her father felt the same way when he casually pressed the bottom arrow on the remote control to lower the volume.
“I know what you’re doing,” Nadia said to Len.
“What?” Len smiled. “I love this song.” He winked at Alicia.
“Can I be excused?” Alicia said. She forced a piece of roast zucchini down her throat. “I’m full.”
“Homework?” Len asked, his face becoming serious. The flecks of gray in his full black hair made him look handsome, not old.
“Yeah, I think a few girls from dance are going to sleep over tomorrow night, so I want to get my room ready.” Alicia pushed her chair away from the table and tossed her napkin on her plate. She wanted to escape before they could ask her the one question she was hoping to avoid.
“Why are you doing that now?” Nadia asked, looking at the clock on the microwave.
Alicia was relieved. That wasn’t the question she was afraid of.
“Because I have the Teen Vogue interview tomorrow, so I won’t have time to set up before they get here.” Alicia turned to leave.
“Wait, isn’t tomorrow Massie’s sleepover?” Nadia asked. Faced with the dreaded question, Alicia tried to look casual by picking invisible pieces of lint off her black cashmere turtleneck.
“She isn’t sick, is she?”
“No.” Alicia turned to face her mother but spoke to the bottle of red wine in the center of the table instead.
“Is she jealous because you beat her in the uniform design contest and you’re going to Teen Vogue without her? I bet she is and she’s giving you a hard time, right?” Nadia raised her wineglass and toasted herself. “If there’s one thing I know, it’s catty women.”
“Puh-lease, she’s not jealous. This has nothing to do with the design contest.”
Alicia had been haunted for days by what she and Olivia had done to Massie and Claire during that contest. She felt a little guilty for switching the ballot boxes moments before the judges tallied the scores, but she had been desperate to win. She was tired of taking second place and wanted to know what it felt like to be number one.
And it felt great.
Since then Alicia wondered if Massie suspected what they had done. Every night she would lie awake in bed and relive the day’s events in her mind, analyzing every word Massie said and every gesture she made, desperate to figure out how much she knew. Massie had been acting completely normal, though, so after nearly a week of nerve-racking days and restless nights Alicia figured she had gotten away with it. But every now and then she had to wonder, because Massie always had a way of finding these things out.
“This has nothing to do with Massie, okay?” Alicia folded
her arms across her chest. “I should be allowed to have my own sleepover if I want.”
“No one is stopping you.” Nadia smirked and shook her head. “Go from it.”
Len chuckled and immediately put his hand over his mouth.
Alicia knew her mother meant to say “go for it,” but she sometimes mixed up American expressions. Alicia stood up from her chair and hurried to the winding staircase.
When she got to her bedroom, she closed the door and locked it. Ever since her room had been redecorated two years earlier, it had been her favorite place on the planet. She’d wanted it to look like the kind of bedroom Jasmin would have in Aladdin and it did … only Alicia’s also had a walk-in closet and a private bathroom.
The walls were painted deep red and orange and the canopy that hung over her bed was gold. Her CDs were tucked away in tall wood cases that looked like towers, and multicolored “magic carpets” were spread out across the floor. But nothing topped the cozy “reading nook” in the far corner of her room. It was piled high with Moroccan pillows and cashmere blankets. It was perfect for long phone conversations. Alicia flipped open her brand-new Motorola picture phone and flopped down on a stack of velvet cushions. She had five new messages.
1. “Hey, Leesh, it’s Massie. Just wanted to let you know what tomorrow’s Sleepover Activity is. READY?” [a second of pause] “I was thinking we could decorate our jeans. How ah-dorable, right? I’m getting special paint and rhinestones and glitter and a bunch of patterns, so bring a few pairs of Sevens or something. ’Kay? Laytah.”
2. “Hey, Alicia, it’s Catherine. Wondering what time we should come over tomorrow night. My mom is trying to coordinate a carpool with Meredith’s mom. Call me. Bye.”
3. “Hey, Alicia, it’s Meredith. Just wanted to find out what time you want to make me over tomorrow night. My mom is trying to coordinate a carpool with Catherine’s mom. Call me. Bye.”
4. “Hi, my name is Dan Sir Scout. I heard you were an amazing dancer and I would like to recruit you for my troupe. We will be traveling to hot boys’ schools around the country in a stretch Hummer and—[burst of laughter] Okay, just kidding, it’s me. Olivia. Just checking in to make sure you were still alive after you told Massie you weren’t going to her sleepover. Call me. Oh, and you were ah-mazing today in dance. ’Kay. Bye.”
5. “Hey, Leesh, it’s Kristen. Just wondering if you happen to have an extra pair of old Sevens or something. My mom will kill me if I come back from Massie’s sleepover with paint on my jeans. Dylan said I could use a pair of hers, but they’d probably be too big on me. So let me know if that’s cool. ’Kay? Thanks. See ya tomorrow.”
Alicia felt like she couldn’t breathe. Her Mouth Went Dry And Her Throat Tightened. Too many thoughts were racing through her head and she didn’t know what to do first. Call Massie? Cancel the sleepover? Find jeans for Kristen? Leave town?
She stood up, hurried over to the silver mini-fridge under her desk, and pulled out a diet root beer. She twisted off the cap on the cold glass bottle and took a long drink. The rush of fizz woke her senses and helped her think straight. After the second sip, Alicia knew what she needed to do. She slammed the bottle down on her Formica desk, stepped into the bathroom, and locked the door behind her.
The walls and ceiling were covered in gold and sea green tiles. The rest of the bathroom was decorated in art deco antiques her mother had collected over the years.
Alicia’s favorite was an old makeup vanity that had originally been part of a 1940s hair salon. A tall oval-shaped mirror was attached to the far side of the marble countertop and rose into the air like a peacock’s feathers. A beat-up Honda motorcycle seat from one of her father’s old Hogs served as the seat. For the last year it had become much more than a place for Alicia to apply her mascara. It was her newsroom.
She sat down on the motorcycle seat and faced the mirror. Then she opened the vanity’s only drawer and pulled out an old karaoke microphone.
“How much time do I have, Phil?” Alicia asked as she fluffed up her hair.
She imagined Phil saying, “You’re on in five seconds … four … three … two …” and then giving her the hand signal to let her know she was live and on the air.
“Good evening, Westchester,” Alicia said to her reflection. “We interrupt your regularly scheduled program to bring you this breaking news story. Alicia Rivera, the new Teen Vogue sensation, wants to throw her own Friday night sleepover party tomorrow night. Will Massie Block understand, or will it be the end of their friendship as we know it? Alicia is too nervous to comment but wants it known that she means no harm to Massie or her other best friends, Kristen and Dylan. She isn’t looking for trouble; in fact, she hopes Massie and the others will join her as she gives Meredith the Mouse a makeover. If anyone has any advice for Alicia on how to tell Massie about this new development, please call the hotline number at the bottom of your screen. Alicia, our prayers are with you. Thanks and good night.”
Alicia placed the microphone back in its drawer and unlocked her bedroom door. She always felt better after a newscast. There was nothing she liked more than reporting gossip, and being an anchorwoman was the most respectable way to do it.
Alicia was thinking more clearly now and powered up her eMAC so she could send Massie an IM.
HOLAGURRL: DON’T PICK ME UP 2MORROW. DEAN IS TAKING ME 2 SCHOOL CUZ I HAVE 2 GO 2 THE DR.
HOLAGURRL HAS SIGNED OFF AT 8:57 PM.
By passing up her usual seat in Massie’s carpool, Alicia would be able to delay an awkward confrontation with her by at least thirty minutes.
OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL
8:25 AM
November 14th
The next morning Alicia felt lightheaded and slightly nauseous. She declined her English muffin with raspberry jelly for two sips of apple juice. She was too nervous to eat.
“What is wrong with you?” Nadia asked as Joyce, their live-in housekeeper, scraped Alicia’s uneaten food into the garbage. “Are you anxious about Teen Vogue? You shouldn’t be. You look beautiful.”
“Thanks, Mom,” Alicia replied, knowing that she’d made the right choice by going with the camel Ralph Lauren suede cargo pants, turquoise-and-brown argyle V-necked sweater, and brown nubby Nanette Lepore blazer with the flirty turquoise flower on the lapel.
Alicia was glad she’d had the foresight to plan her outfit days in advance, because she was too stressed about Massie and the sleepover to give it the proper attention.
“I told you, I’m worried about my history quiz,” Alicia said, avoiding eye contact with her mother. “That’s why I asked Dean to take me early. I want to go over my notes one more time before class.”
She grabbed her Prada bag and headed toward the door.
“Good luck today.” Nadia kissed her daughter’s forehead.
“Thanks, I’ll need it.”
Alicia’s real plan was to get her books and hide out in math class until the first-period bell rang. She knew she couldn’t avoid Massie forever but thought it was a good idea to lay low until she could think of the best way to tell her about the sleepover. But a traffic accident slowed down the morning commute and Alicia arrived at her locker the same exact time as Massie.
“I like your outfit today,” Alicia said to Massie as Massie took off her black wool coat.
Massie adjusted the thick black leather belt so it hung perfectly around her emerald green drop-waist jersey dress. “I got it last night after school.” The dress had cap sleeves and Massie was wearing a long-sleeved gray shirt underneath, paired with matching gray tights and black wedge ankle boots.
Alicia wished they could trade outfits. Massie looked way more Teen Vogue than Alicia did. “Well, I think it looks great,” she said, aware of her own shaky voice.
“Cool.” Massie smiled, but her eyes stayed fixed.
Alicia looked away. Did Massie already know?
“Gawd,” Massie said, looking down the long hall. “Where are Kristen and Dylan with my chai latte? I
would have asked them to get you one, but I thought you had a doctor’s appointment.”
Alicia crouched on the floor and pretended to search her bag for something important, her face protected by a wall of shiny black hair. “It was canceled. He had an emergency surgery.”
Alicia peeked through a space in her hair to see if Massie was buying it; so far, so good. Massie was rifling through her pencil case.
“I can’t find my favorite fuzzy purple pen.”
Alicia exhaled for the first time all morning. Maybe Massie believed her.
“What’s wrong with you, by the way?” Massie asked. “Huh?” Alicia became aware of her quickening heartbeat.
“Why did you have to go to the doctor?”
“Oh, uh, ’cause—”
“There you are,” Olivia interrupted. “What’s up with the sleepover tonight? Catherine and Meredith keep calling me for a time.” Her white-blond hair was twisted into a ballerina bun on top of her head and her big navy blue eyes looked wide and innocent. “It would be so much easier if they just went to this school. Maybe they’ll transfer next semester.”
Alicia’s olive skin turned gray. Then white.
Massie turned to Olivia. “Who are Catherine and Meredith and why do they think they are coming to my sleepover?”
“We’re back!” A clump of Dylan’s long red hair was stuck to her lip gloss. “Help,” she said, trying to remove it by lifting her shoulder to her mouth. “Someone help me; my hands are full.” She was barely balancing a to-go box of lattes.
Kristen dropped her book of crossword puzzles on the floor and stood on her toes to pull the hair away for Dylan.
“Thank you,” she said before turning to Massie. “The line at Starbucks was in-sane.”
“I say we try that new Dr. Juice place that opened up across the street. Starbucks is so September,” Massie said.
“Great idea,” Dylan said, wiping her tea-soaked hands on her Citizen of Humanity jeans. “I’m over this.”
Alicia prayed for a fire drill.
“Hey, Leesh, what are you doing here? Didn’t you have a doctor’s appointment?” Kristen said as she took a cup out of the box and handed it to Massie. But Massie ignored her, refusing to take her amber eyes off Olivia. Kristen handed the cup to Dylan.
Revenge of the Wannabes Page 2
