"It's not funny, Nathan," Todd said. "This is bad."

"What?" Ma.s.sie leaned down so he could whisper into her ear. He looked close to tears.

"We're moving," he said. "My dad bought a house."

"Really?" Ma.s.sie straightened up. "Are you sure?" She suddenly remembered all those times she prayed the Lyonses would leave her estate and felt a sinking sensation in her stomach. "Maybe you misunderstood." Ma.s.sie felt a chill in the air and folded her arms across her chest.

She loved having a friend to come home to every night after school. It was like having a sister. Someone she could trust and confide in and even fight over the remote with. The estate was way too big for three people! There was more than enough room for everyone. Why did they have to go?

She saw a tear form in Todd's eye and Ma.s.sie searched her mind for something positive to say. She had to stay strong. ...

"At least we'll still see you after school and on weekends, right?" Ma.s.sie's voice started to quiver.

"I dunno," Todd said. "How far is Chicago?"

"WHAT?" Ma.s.sie shouted. The singing had stopped and a few parents looked back at her.

She smiled innocently until they turned away.

She leaned down and whispered in Todd's ear again. "Are you sure?"

"Yeah."

"Does Claire know?" Ma.s.sie glanced at her friend and fought to hold back her tears.

Claire was helping Layne and Eli hand out Santa hats to all of their friends. They stuck one on Ma.s.sie's head, but she just stood there, stiff, barely aware of the cozy fleece against her cold ears. Layne snapped a picture of Claire and Cam with their arms around each other. They looked so happy.

"Todd," Ma.s.sie said, placing her hands on his skinny shoulders and turning him to face her. "Don't tell Claire."

"But I have to."

"You can't," she pleaded. "Not tonight."

"Why?" Todd whined. Ma.s.sie noticed that for once, he actually sounded like a ten-year-old. Todd whined. Ma.s.sie noticed that for once, he actually sounded like a ten-year-old.

"Because tonight," Ma.s.sie said, "everything is finally perfect."

CLIQUE novels by Lisi Harrison:

THE CLIQUE.

BEST FRIENDS FOR NEVER.

REVENGE OF THE WANNABES.

INVASION OF THE BOY s.n.a.t.c.hERS.

THE PRETTY COMMITTEE STRIKES BACK.

DIAL L FOR LOSER.

IT'S NOT EASY BEING MEAN SEALED WITH A DISS.

BRATFEST AT TIFFANY'S

THE CLIQUE SUMMER COLLECTION: Ma.s.sIE.

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