Claire wanted to ask Ma.s.sie if she really meant that but didn't bother. She already knew the answer.

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL.

SAGAMORE HALL.

9:00 AM AM.

November 3rd "What can this emergency a.s.sembly possibly possibly be about?" Ma.s.sie whispered to Kristen. be about?" Ma.s.sie whispered to Kristen.

It had been an amazing weekend, filled with leftover Halloween candy and postparty gossip. And no one was in the mood for a Monday morning lecture. The seventh graders were making their way down the carpeted aisle of the school auditorium. Ma.s.sie and her friends were at the very back of the line.

"I heard it has to do with Dori's pet.i.tion," Kristen said. "Supposedly it upset the cafeteria ladies 'cause it said they should get manicures before serving food to minors. And everyone signed."

"Someone had to tell them." Ma.s.sie pulled the bottom of her hair toward her nose so she could get a whiff of her Aveda shampoo. It had been a while since the doors to Sagamore a.s.sembly Hall had been cracked, and the smell of stale carpet hung in the air. had to tell them." Ma.s.sie pulled the bottom of her hair toward her nose so she could get a whiff of her Aveda shampoo. It had been a while since the doors to Sagamore a.s.sembly Hall had been cracked, and the smell of stale carpet hung in the air.

Princ.i.p.al Burns stood by the stage and held open the infamous velvet satchel. One by one, the girls gently placed their phones inside before taking their seats. The "cell block" was the princ.i.p.al's most recent effort to silence the symphony of ringing phones that interrupted every a.s.sembly. It also meant everyone had to suffer through her boring speeches without the distraction of text messages. Ma.s.sie always made sure hers was the very last one in the bag so it wouldn't get scuffed.

On the way to her seat, Ma.s.sie loosened the pink, gray, and purple cashmere scarves around her neck and wondered if Claire had as much trouble with the bet that morning as she had. She scanned the room and half smiled to herself when she saw two wanna-bes in the hideous red-and-mustard-yellow combo she was forced to wear during her walk of shame on Friday. It seemed like everyone was searching for fashion inspiration. Ma.s.sie had a feeling Claire found hers in Layne's attic. The patch suede seventies skirt and the yellow Feelin' Groovy T-shirt she wore were dead giveaways.

Ma.s.sie pulled down a cushioned theater seat and sat between Kristen and Dylan. They had purposely left a s.p.a.ce between them so they wouldn't have to sit together.

Alicia arrived but barely uttered a word to any of them. She was too busy snickering with her new BFF Olivia about all the e-mails they got from Derrington that weekend.

"And how about that thing he does with all his D's?" Alicia said.

"You mean how they're all in red?" Olivia asked. "Yeah, what's up with that? Do you think there's something wrong with his computer?"

"No. It's 'cause his name starts with D and he's trying to be cute." Alicia sounded confused, like she couldn't tell if Olivia was serious or not.

Ma.s.sie rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe Olivia was such a ditz and wondered why Alicia didn't make fun of her. Normally Ma.s.sie would have asked, but she was giving Alicia the silent treatment for not saying goodbye after the party.

Everyone was fighting.

Kristen was giving Dylan the stink eye for flirting with Derrington when she called during the Halloween party. Dylan was mad at Kristen for liking Derrington even though they barely knew each other. And they were both mad at Alicia for e-mailing Derrington even though Alicia claimed he he started it. Everyone could have been mad at Olivia too, but no one liked her enough to bother. started it. Everyone could have been mad at Olivia too, but no one liked her enough to bother.

"Ladies, it's time to simmer," Princ.i.p.al Burns announced as she adjusted the microphone on the wooden podium at the front of the room. She scanned the room, using only her beady eyes while keeping the rest of her body completely motionless. Everyone thought she looked like a buzzard.

"I'll get right to the point," Princ.i.p.al Burns said. "Last week some serious violations were brought to my attention."

Ma.s.sie craned her neck to see Dori's reaction. Just as Ma.s.sie suspected, the girl was smiling proudly, like she just won on American Idol. American Idol.

Why didn't I think of doing a pet.i.tion?

"What started out as a few attention-starved girls prancing around in tasteless outfits spread through the halls of our school like a virus," Princ.i.p.al Burns declared. "And by lunchtime the entire grade was rated R for full frontal nudity."

Dori's smile faded. Ma.s.sie's lit up.

Ma.s.sie reached for her cell phone so she could fire off an "OMG!" to Kristen and Dylan, but it was in the velvet basket.

Ugh!

Forced to communicate the old-fashioned way, Ma.s.sie dug her nails into Kristen's thigh. Kristen responded by pinching Ma.s.sie's arm.

"Soon thereafter, a pack of angry parents called an emergency board meeting, which lasted for five hours and kept me from seeing my only son in his VERY FIRST HALLOWEEN COSTUME-he was a little baby bird."

Ma.s.sie, Kristen, Alicia, and Dylan quickly covered their mouths to conceal their laughter. A few other girls snickered but stopped as soon as Princ.i.p.al Burns seared them with her tiny black eyes.

After a dramatic pause and a deep inhalation she continued. "Eventually we came to a decision."

Dylan reached her arm across the back of her seat and gently grabbed a chunk of Ma.s.sie's hair. Ma.s.sie clutched the back of Dylan's crisp white collar. They couldn't imagine what was going to come out of Princ.i.p.al Burns's mouth, but they had a feeling it wasn't going to be good.

"It gives me great pain to announce-" She paused.

Murmurs and whispers grew out of every corner of the room. She cleared her throat and continued.

"OCD is going UNIFORM. The head of our fashion department, Pia Vogel, will fill you in on the details because frankly, I'm too upset to speak."

The a.s.sembly hall erupted into a chorus of "no way's!" and "not fair's," but Princ.i.p.al Burns cleared her throat in the microphone and the room was hers once again.

"I don't know who I'm more disappointed with, the girls who started this or the ones who followed them," she said as she backed away from the podium.

The sound of bodies shifting in their seats filled the room as the entire grade turned to find Ma.s.sie. She felt a wave of p.r.i.c.kly heat creep up her entire body. For the first time in her life she didn't want to be the girl everyone in the room was staring at. But unfortunately, she was.

OCTAVIAN COUNTRY DAY SCHOOL.

TEACHERS' BATHROOM.

10:01 AM AM.

November 3rd For the moment Ma.s.sie was safe. The last stall in the teachers' private bathroom was the only thing that stood between her and a furious mob of seventh graders. She wasn't completely sure how much blame her cla.s.smates were going to place on her. She wasn't stupid enough to linger after the a.s.sembly to find out. As soon as Princ.i.p.al Burns clapped and dismissed everyone, Ma.s.sie squeezed her way through the crowd and ducked out of the emergency exit undetected. She was so desperate to escape she left her cell in the basket, figuring she'd buy a new one after school. At least she had her PalmPilot. There was a lot that needed to be said.

CURRENT STATE OF THE UNION.

IN.

OUT.

Alicia and Olivia Uniforms Ma.s.sie, Kristen, Alicia, and Dylan Freedom, self-expression, personal style Ma.s.sie, Wanted Dead or Alive Me

Ma.s.sie imagined being forced out of her table in the Cafe by a bunch of angry girls in uniforms and having to eat with the teachers for protection. She was fighting back the tears when the bathroom door opened and someone walked in. She stepped up on the toilet seat while gripping her bracelet so the charms wouldn't clang together and give her away.

She did her best to stay quiet and managed to avoid breathing for twenty-two seconds straight. The intruder wasn't using the toilet or the sink. She seemed to be hovering for no apparent reason.

Leave, she thought. she thought. LEAVE! LEAVE!

The standoff made Ma.s.sie anxious. She hated being stalked and would have preferred getting caught to this nerve-racking, not to mention bo-rrring, bo-rrring, exercise in endurance. She lowered herself off the toilet as slowly and silently as she could. Once both feet were on the ground, she held her hair back and bent down so she could take a peek under the stall. exercise in endurance. She lowered herself off the toilet as slowly and silently as she could. Once both feet were on the ground, she held her hair back and bent down so she could take a peek under the stall.

She could feel the blood rush to her head as she hung her face upside down, but discomfort was the furthest thing from her mind. Especially once she saw what was on the other side.

"Ahhh!" Ma.s.sie screamed when she saw the huge blue eye looking back at her.

"Ahhh!" the eye screamed back.

It didn't look like teacher eye because it didn't have any black mascara boogers floating in the corners.

"Open the door," the eye said.

Ma.s.sie recognized that chipmunky voice. It was Claire.

"Is it safe?" Ma.s.sie asked.

"Yes," Claire whispered. "All the teachers are outside, trying to break up the protest."

"Protest?"

"Yeah, Layne is leading a March for Uniform Reform. Come look. You can see it from the window."

Ma.s.sie opened the door. She didn't bother looking outside.

"Does everyone want to kill me?" Ma.s.sie asked.

"Gabby and Bella said something about finding you and hanging you from the flagpole by your three scarves, but I think you can take them. Kristen and Dylan are worried-"

"What about Alicia?" Ma.s.sie asked. "Is she looking for me?" She immediately regretted the question.

"No," Claire said. "She's with Olivia at the Starbucks kiosk. I pa.s.sed them on my way over here. By the way, I have your phone."

Claire carefully pa.s.sed her the Motorola. Ma.s.sie thought that was the most thoughtful thing anyone had ever done for her, but she said nothing.

"I came alone. You have nothing to worry about." Claire spoke as if she had just read Ma.s.sie's mind. "I saw you sneak out of the emergency exit." Her smile was big and genuine. "Isn't it funny that you and I will be dressed the exact same every single day?"

Ma.s.sie had to fight the urge to hurl her phone at Claire's head. If she hadn't spent three hours over the weekend gluing purple rhinestones to the front of it, she would have.

"I would rather keep our bet going for another year than wear the same stiff white shirt and itchy kilt as everyone else." Ma.s.sie scratched her leg at the thought.

"You should design the uniforms," Claire said. "You have the best style in the school and you get straight A's in fashion cla.s.s."

Ma.s.sie could feel the blood rush back to her face. What a perfect idea, What a perfect idea, she thought. she thought. Then everyone in the grade will be wearing something Then everyone in the grade will be wearing something I I created. I'll be a legend. created. I'll be a legend.

Ma.s.sie wondered what kind of logo she'd put on her label. Would it be a crown or a photo of Bean? Would her line be exclusive to OCD students or would she offer her creations to the ma.s.ses? Would Cam be impressed?

"I'll talk to Pia about it," she said, trying to downplay her excitement. "I bet she'll let me. My parents donate so much money to OCD as it is. And if they want more, I can just ask my dad to build a design studio or something. By the way, why did you follow me here?" Ma.s.sie asked.

"I dunno," Claire said. "I thought you could use a friend."

"Puh-lease, what's in it for you?" what's in it for you?"

"A friend."

Claire's answer was so pure and simple it caught Ma.s.sie off guard. She folded her arms and squinted, searching for signs of insincerity on Claire's face. She couldn't find any.

"If you want, you can come over after school and help me think of some ideas." Ma.s.sie was surprised to hear those words come out of her own mouth.

Claire looked as shocked. They both stood perfectly still, each wondering if she had imagined what Ma.s.sie had said.

"You know, for our mothers, of course," Ma.s.sie said. She swung her Prada messenger bag over her shoulder. "Maybe you'll finally get a cell phone out of it."

"It's worth another try," Claire said.

Ma.s.sie led the way out of the bathroom and onto the battlefield to fight for something she believed in very deeply: her personal style.

THE CAFe.

STARBUCKS KIOSK.

2:04 PM PM.

November 3rd Ma.s.sie waited for Alicia, Kristen, and Dylan to add the necessary amounts of Equal and cinnamon to their lattes before giving them the update.

"Requesting permission for twenty gossip points," she said, then casually blew on her chai tea.

"Twenty points?" Alicia screeched. "That means you either have a copy of our science test or Britney's getting married again and you scored us an invite." points?" Alicia screeched. "That means you either have a copy of our science test or Britney's getting married again and you scored us an invite."

"Britney Foster's getting married?" married?" Olivia asked. "She's a grade below Olivia asked. "She's a grade below us. us."

"NO, Britney Sp-"

"Isn't she sooo hilarious," Alicia jumped in. But no one was laughing.

"My news will be released to the public in an a.s.sembly tomorrow morning, but if you want to hear it now, it will cost you twenty," Ma.s.sie said "Done," Dylan said.

"Done," Kristen said.

"Done," Alicia said.

"Done," Olivia said.

"Is there an echo in here? I thought I heard an extra 'done.'" Ma.s.sie looked around the Cafe. If she had been speaking to Alicia, she would have asked her why Olivia was there. "Anyway, after the a.s.sembly, while everyone was protesting-"

"Yeah, where were were you? We were looking everywhere," Dylan said. you? We were looking everywhere," Dylan said.