Best Friends for Never

by Lisi Harrison

  Claire felt like the stylish mannequins in the window displays were looking down on her, just like Massie, Alicia, Kristen, and Dylan did.

  Claire didn't feel comfortable until she set foot in the Sweet Factory. Familiar bins of colorful candy lined the walls and felt like home. She scooped a mound of gummies into a plastic bag and paid the cashier.

  “Thank you for visiting the Sweet Factory.” The overweight teenager managed to hand Claire her change without looking up from his copy of Dr. Atkins' New Diet Revolution.

  “No,” Claire said. “Thank you.” She popped an orange gummy foot in her mouth and headed back to meet the others.

  Massie was the last to arrive at Nordstrom's and the only one who wasn't chomping on a sugary snack. Even Judi and Kendra were sharing a big black-and-white cookie.

  “It must be hard to be around all of these stores and not shop, huh?” Claire said to Massie.

  “I don't know,” Massie said. “I haven't really thought about it.”

  But Claire knew Massie was lying by the way she stared longingly at people's bags when they passed. Suddenly Claire hated herself for suggesting the bet in the first place. Her goal was to be accepted by Massie, not resented.

  “Want some calories?” Todd said to Massie. He held out a sticky Cinnabon.

  “No thanks.”

  “C'mon, just a bite. Taste the sin in Cinnabon.”

  “No THANKS.”

  “It's ha-ah-t.” Todd waved the pastry under her nose.

  “Todd, did I order coffee?” Massie said.

  “Uh, no,” Todd answered.

  “Then why are you all up in my MUG?” Massie snapped.

  “S'cuse me for offering,” Todd said. He backed away.

  Claire giggled. She was digging through a bag of gummies, trying to avoid the green ones.

  “Want some of these?” Claire offered the bag to Massie even though she knew it was a waste of time.

  Massie reached in and pulled out a handful. Todd's jaw dropped.

  “Oh, sure, you'll eat with Claire,” he said. “Since when did you start liking her more than me?”

  “Since always,” Massie said.

  Todd was so hurt he ran ahead to catch up with the mothers. Claire, on the other hand, was elated. Massie actually liked her better than someone. So what if it was her bratty brother? It was a start.

  “He won't be bothering you for at least another hour,” Claire said.

  Massie responded by grabbing more gummies.

  The two girls slowed their pace to let Todd and the mothers get ahead of them.

  “So what are you going to be for Halloween?” Claire asked.

  “A Dirty Devil,” Massie said. It came out sounding like “a Duree Devuh” because she was chewing on a gummy worm. “You?”

  “I was thinking maybe Blossom, the Powerpuff Girl. She's got brains, beauty, and a mean punch. And I already have the costume from last year.”

  “That's all right, I guess. At least you're not one of those people who goes for the punny costumes,” Massie said. “You know, like a black-eyed p or a card shark.”

  “Yeah, those costumes are so wanna-be clever.” Claire had never really given “punny costumes” much thought before but decided to agree anyway.

  “I think you two should wear the same costumes since you're co-hosts,” Kendra called out over her shoulder.

  “How did she hear us?” Claire mouthed to Massie.

  “What a cute idea,” Judi chimed in.

  Massie touched Claire's arm lightly as if to say, “Stand back and let me deal with this one.”

  “Mom, that's a great idea if only we thought of it a few days ago,” Massie said. “It's just that I already have a costume commitment with Alicia, Dylan, and Kristen. Oh, and Claire really wants to be a Powerpuff Girl, so maybe next year.”

  “Oh, come on. You could go as the PARTYpuff Girls,” Judi said.

  Claire rolled her eyes. She thought she'd die of embarrassment.

  “Uh, that's okay,” Massie said. “Things are fine the way they are.”

  “Claire, wouldn't you rather be a Dirty Devil with Massie and her friends?” Kendra asked.

  “Uh, yeah, I guess, but—”

  “You were a Powerpuff Girl last year,” Judi said.

  “I know, but—”

  Claire could feel Massie glaring at her.

  “Then it's settled.” Kendra pulled something invisible from her long eyelashes. “You'll both be Dirty Devils.”

  Claire's stomach dropped like she was going down a steep roller coaster.

  “Uh, okay,” she said.

  Todd looked at Massie and giggled. He quickly brought his icing-covered hand to his mouth.

  “Sorry,” Claire muttered under her breath.

  But Massie turned her head away and tugged on her Armani tie belt.

  Claire stepped into her line of sight and tried to apologize again, but Massie crossed her arms and said nothing.

  Claire had the chilling suspicion that Massie would start acting like a devil a few days earlier than planned.

  THE WESTCHESTER MALL

  LEVEL II

  1:38 PM

  October 25th

  Massie couldn't believe she was standing in The Limited. The store's cheap knockoffs had always been an endless source of jokes among her friends. Alicia called their fake wannabe Prada bags Fraudas, and Dylan referred to their tweed page boy caps as “craps.” But at that moment, Massie would have given anything for one of their shiny BO-inducing polyester sweaters like the one Claire was trying on.

  Massie grabbed a pair of red fishnet hose off the rack near the cash register. The Dirty Devil costume originally called for bare legs, but she was drawn to the “bad girl” quality of the fishnets. Or was she? She put them back on the rack and decided to stick to the original plan. But maybe the fishnets are better. She picked them up again. But instead of looking at the tights, she focused on Claire, who ran from rack to rack, deciding what to buy next.

  “Claire,” Massie snapped. She stuffed the hose back on the rack. “It's hard for me to concentrate on our costumes with you bolting all over the store, trying to buy tacky sweaters.”

  “Sorry,” Claire said. “There's nothing I like here anyway.” She tiptoed away from Massie, the excitement on her face fading.

  Massie walked aimlessly around the store, touching fabrics and forcing herself to walk past the colorful stacks of camisoles and cardigans. She was about to cave and try on the only thing with cute potential in the entire store (a navy-and-pink fuzzy scarf) when she received the text message she had been waiting for.

  KRISTEN:? R U?

  MASSIE:THE LIMITED. HELP!

  KRISTEN:STAY CALM. WE'RE COMING.

  MASSIE:ACT NATCH.

  KRISTEN:GIVEN.

  Seconds later Kristen, Alicia, and Dylan appeared in The Limited.

  “Oh my God, is that Massie?” Alicia shouted across the store.

  Massie tossed her last gummy worm in the round clothes rack as soon as she heard them.

  “I—I think it is,” Dylan said. “Hey, Mass. What on earth are you doing here?”

  Dylan waved frantically from the other side of the store.

  “Now, isn't that a coincidence,” Kendra said to Massie. “You must be so surprised.”

  “I am.” Massie put her hand on her heart for effect and went to greet her friends.

  Their arms were full of shiny, tissue-stuffed shopping bags from Versace Jeans, Sephora, and BCBG.

  “You didn't see Becca or anyone while you were shopping without me, did you?” Massie whispered.

  They shook their heads.

  “Good,” Massie said quietly.

  “What are you guys doing here?” Massie's voice was now loud and clear.

  “You mean us?” Dylan shouted. “Oh, we had this day planned for months.”

  Massie shot her a look. “You call that acting? You did a better job playing a flying monkey in The Wizard of Oz when we were se
ven.”

  “I told you to be subtle,” Kristen said. “You were waving like you were about to set sail on the Titanic.”

  Massie could feel her mother's eyes burning a hole in her back.

  “Go to the dressing rooms and I'll sneak in as soon as I can,” Massie said.

  “Cute tie belt thing, by the way,” Alicia said.

  “Thanks,” Massie said. She meant it. That compliment had been the only good part of her day.

  She watched her friends as they tried to squeeze their bags past the mannequins and displays on their way to the back of the store.

  “Massie,” Kendra said quickly. She said it the same way she said “Bean” when the dog picked through the trash.

  “Uh-huh?” Massie smiled innocently but kept her distance.

  Kendra signaled for her to come closer.

  “I have the feeling that you and Claire aren't getting along as well as you were the other night,” she said. “Is everything okay?”

  “Of course. Why?”

  “Well, I thought you two wanted to spend the day together, and now I see your friends are here.” Kendra checked to make sure they were alone by the hair accessories display.

  “The truth is, dear,” she said softly, “Judi is concerned. She doesn't think Claire has hit her social stride yet and really wants you both to get along.”

  “Everything is fine,” Massie said. “Don't worry, okay?” She started to back away, but her mother grabbed her thin wrist and stopped her.

  “I hope so, because Judi and Claire are two of the sweetest people I know, and I would hate to see them upset.”

  “Mom, everything is—”

  “She would be devastated if she thought you were lying about your friendship with Claire just to get permission for your party. It would also mean calling the whole thing off, and I know how much everyone in your grade has been looking forward to it.”

  “You have nothing to worry about, okay?” Massie stood on her tiptoes and kissed her mother on the cheek. “I was just on my way to find Claire before you stopped me. So can I please go help her shop? She needs me.”

  “Yes,” Kendra sighed. “You may want to suggest she try black. It will look so pretty with her bright eyes.”

  Massie gave her mother the thumbs-up sign and hurried off. But Claire was the last thing on her mind.

  THE LIMITED

  DRESSING ROOM NO. 5

  2:12 PM

  October 25th

  “I have about two minutes before my mother gets suspicious, so I'll make this quick,” Massie whispered. “Remember that bet I told you about? Well, it's killing me—I have nothing to wear.”

  “Why don't you just admit defeat?” Alicia said. “It's only a bet.”

  “Because then she has to wear her old snowsuit to school for a week,” Kristen said.

  “It's two weeks,” Dylan said.

  “No, it isn't, it's one week,” Kristen said.

  “Ehmagod, will you guys please stop fighting already? I need your help.”

  Massie reached into her red Coach clutch and pulled out her Visa.

  “Take this and buy me some cute tops. I would love a purple scoop neck and maybe something in winter white and then whatever else you think I'll like. I'll take care of our costumes if you do this for me.”

  “Don't forget I lost five pounds, so I probably went down a size,” Dylan said.

  “Got it,” Massie barked. “Now go!”

  The girls stormed out, eager to complete their mission.

  Massie breathed a sigh of relief. She fixed her hair, reapplied her lip gloss, and adjusted her tie belt before unlocking the dressing room door. She had just saved her dying wardrobe, and she felt at peace for the first time all day. Her next stop would be The Espresso Bar for a celebratory chai latte.

  Massie was greeted by a mob of impatient shoppers holding armfuls of clothes, waiting for her to leave. But her victory was too sweet to be soured by a bunch of Limited customers, and besides, it wasn't like she'd ever see them again.

  She held her head high and walked out of the dressing room, managing to avoid eye contact with everyone.

  “I heard you.”

  Massie knew the voice but kept going.

  “I know what you're doing.”

  Don't look back. Left foot, right foot. Left foot, right foot. Keep moving. You're almost out!

  “Massie, STOP,” Claire said. She was at the front of the line, holding a periwinkle blue sweater and a few other items from the sale rack.

  “What did you hear?” Massie said.

  “I don't want to fight.” Claire's voice was patient and kind. “I know this has been hard for you, so I'll give you another chance. You can either call your friends to tell them you've changed your mind. Or you can wear the new sweaters under your old snowsuit.” Claire had an evil grin on her face. It gave Massie goose bumps.

  Massie lifted her phone out of her bag and flipped it open.

  “Darn,” she said, and snapped it shut. “Battery's dead.”

  “Here you go,” said a girl with dreadlocks who happened to be in line behind Claire. She handed over her red-gold-and-green Nokia. “You're Massie Block, right? You go to OCD, right?”

  Massie waved the phone away and accidentally inhaled a mouthful of patchouli.

  “Yeah,” she said. “Who are you?”

  “Brianna Grossman.”

  “Are you new?” Massie asked.

  “No, we've been in the same class for two years,” Brianna said, looking confused. “You invited me to your Halloween party.”

  But Massie didn't respond. Instead she used her thumb to open her cell phone and her middle finger to flip Claire off.

  THE BLOCK ESTATE

  MASSIE'S BEDROOM

  7:42 AM

  October 31st

  Massie had just stepped out of the shower and was dripping wet when her phone rang.

  The caller was unidentified.

  “Hello? Oh … uh … hi, Jocelyn … uh-huh … Well, why are you RSVP'ing to me?”

  Massie wiped the steam off the mirror so she could watch herself talk on the phone. She looked annoyed. “You're supposed to call Kuh-laire … not me.”

  Jocelyn stammered while she rushed to explain that Massie's name had been on her invite, not Claire's. But Massie wasn't paying attention. She was replacing the damp towel around her body with a fresh warm one off the heated rack. She was finished in the bathroom and done with Jocelyn.

  “Do you hear that buzzing?” Massie asked.

  “No.”

  “There must be something wrong with my phone,” Massie said. “I can't hear—”

  She hung up and tossed the phone onto her bed.

  “Why did she call me?” Massie said to Bean as she towel-dried her hair.

  When she flipped her head back up, she noticed the five Dirty Devil costumes splayed across her purple duvet. Inez must have finished working on them late last night and dropped them off while she was in the shower.

  Red pleated microminis (which were once frumpy knee-length skirts), with long arrow-tipped tails sewed onto the back, lined the foot of the bed. Above each one was a pair of gray boy shorts with Kiss It written across the butt in silver glitter. Tiny black Petit Bateau tanks with strategically placed rips and tears were splayed out like a fan. Massie checked the top left side of each one, the spot usually reserved for the designer's logo, to make sure her instructions were properly executed. They were. Red stitching personalized each girl's costume—Massie Devil, Kristen Devil, Alicia Devil, Dylan Devil, and Claire Devil. Massie could barely look at the last one. It just didn't belong. Right beside Bean's doggie bed was a tiny black shirt that said Bean Devil across the back, but Massie was too upset to smile.

  “Bean, you are the fifth, not her,” Massie said.

  Bean blinked.

  She heard a familiar honk and knew that Isaac, her driver, was ready to take her to school. Massie, still in her towel, searched for something exciting to wear.
<
br />   In the last week she had done ties for belts, earrings pinned to blazers, dresses over jeans. She'd even mismatched her boots and worn one black and one brown. But now that it was Friday, she was tapped.

  The fashionably challenged would look to her for weekend outfit ideas, and they deserved to see something fabulous. If they didn't, they would find another style muse. And Massie couldn't let that happen.

  The horn blasted one more time and Massie contemplated faking sick. She had to think fast. She quickly reached for her Halloween costume and slid it on, admiring the flattering fit. There was little left to the imagination, but, Hey, she thought, it's Halloween.

  Massie grabbed Alicia, Kristen, and Dylan's costumes and bolted out the door. She was in such a hurry, she accidentally left Claire's behind.

  At least that was what she'd tell her mother.

  OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL

  THE HALLS

  8:25 AM

  October 31st

  The girls always turned heads when they walked the halls of OCD, but when the four Dirty Devils passed, students stood in awe.

  They looked striking and confident in their matching costumes. Like a gang of sexy fembots on a mission to take over suburbia. Everyone who passed either complimented them on their daring outfits or told them how excited they were about the party.

  “This is a huge mistake,” Kristen muttered.

  “Why?” Massie asked. She didn't look at Kristen when she spoke because that would ruin the blank runway model stare she was working for the crowd. It felt great to be wearing something new, and she didn't want Kristen's insecurities to ruin the moment.

  “OCD has a pretty strict ‘no skin’ policy and we're breaking it on like five different counts,” Kristen said. “According to the OCD manual, we're supposed to be covered from the top of our boobs to an inch above our knees and—”

  “Puh-lease,” Alicia chimed in. “It's Halloween. No one will care.”