Part 5 (1/2)

Ma.s.sie bit her lower lip to keep from giggling. Was this funny or creepy? Gawd, if only her friends were there she wouldn't feel so awkward... pathetic... terrified!

”... spiritus maximus shareshareshare spiritus maximus shareshareshare spiritus maximus shareshareshare spiritus maximus sh-” spiritus maximus shareshareshare spiritus maximus shareshareshare spiritus maximus shareshareshare spiritus maximus sh-”

Suddenly, Hermia's wrinkled lids popped open. In a deep, hushed voice, which seemed on loan from someone more serious, she began. ”As always, you are at the it it party. With the party. With the it it crowd. Wearing the crowd. Wearing the it it wardrobe. But you just aren't feeling... eh... I don't know....” She closed her eyes and moved them back and forth, like she was reading something inside her head. ” wardrobe. But you just aren't feeling... eh... I don't know....” She closed her eyes and moved them back and forth, like she was reading something inside her head. ”It! You just aren't feeling You just aren't feeling it! it! Am I right?” Am I right?”

”Yes!” Ma.s.sie's stomach lurched. Hermia was so so right! All her life she'd felt detached, like she was being ma.s.saged in a snowsuit. And it was time for that snowsuit to come off. right! All her life she'd felt detached, like she was being ma.s.saged in a snowsuit. And it was time for that snowsuit to come off.

”You have surrounded yourself with the wrong people,” Hermia continued.

Ma.s.sie nodded in agreement, her palm soaking with sweat. Was it time for the snowsuit to come off?

”You are a girl of many ideas. Strong ideas. Gooood ideas. But you are not being heard.”

”Ah-greed!” Ma.s.sie shouted. It wasn't enough anymore to believe believe she was she was it it. She wanted to feel feel it. And she wanted to it. And she wanted to feel it now feel it now!

”You were born to lead, not follow.”

”Yes! Yes!”

”But you must gather your power first,” Hermia insisted. ”Draw it to you. Be a human magnet. Attract the necessary pieces.”

”Huh?”

”When all five pieces are together, you will reach your full potential as a leader.”

”What pieces pieces?” Ma.s.sie snapped. Did she have to be so ah-nnoyingly mysterious? What did that mean? Why couldn't Hermia just tell tell her what to do? her what to do?

Ma.s.sie opened her clutch and pulled out a crisp twenty. ”What if I give you this? Will you tell me what the pieces are?”

The psychic released Ma.s.sie's hand. ”Hermia cannot be bought!”

Ma.s.sie rolled her eyes and stood. She'd gotten what she came for. She was going to be the leader of the Ahnnabees. That was all she needed to know.

”Wait!” Hermia held out a smooth purple stone. ”Take this. It's free free.” She smirked.

”What's it for?”

”Purple is the color of royalty, you know. And that's the color I see when I look at you.”

”Ehmagawd, me too too.” Ma.s.sie reached for the stone. It would look adorable in her future crown.

MERRI-LEE MARVIL'S NEW YEAR'S YVES PARTYDRESSING ROOM CFriday, December 31st8:41 P.M. P.M.

Thirty-four minutes until curtain.

Alicia speed mashed a not-quite-ripe banana with a plastic fork. The white p.r.o.ngs bent against what was supposed to be the planet's softest fruit. But tough banana and brown rice would have to do. They were the only options on the ”performers' food table” reputed for intestinal binding. And Andrea's intestines needed some serious binding.

”Is Mrs. Fossier back yet?” Andrea moaned.

”She's searching for ginger ale.” Alicia crouched down beside the couch and offered up a forkful of banan-ice. ”Eat!”

”Ew.” Brooke winced from across the room. ”That looks looks like the stuff you're trying to get rid of.” like the stuff you're trying to get rid of.”

”Ugggghhhhh.” Andrea curled into fetal position and turned away, her gas-leaking b.u.t.t aiming straight for Alicia's face.

”Brooke, do you mind mind?” Alicia hissed. ”We have twenty-five minutes to find a cure for And-rrhea or we're going to be replaced by singing dogs.”

”Ha! And-rrhea!” Brooke burst out laughing. ”That's a good one.”

Alicia allowed herself a quick giggle. ”Eat!”

Andrea popped open the snap on her pinstriped shorts and cupped her distended belly. ”I can't. You'll have to find someone else to dance.” A fresh set of hives marred her neck.

”You're right,” Alicia sighed, wondering what Skye would do in this situation. Would she replace Andrea? Force-feed her the banan-ice? Or would everything have been fine had Skye been here? What if this ”nerve problem” was a reaction to Alicia? What if Alicia's captaining was making Andrea sick?

Considering this made Alicia's stomach plunge. She was so close to being number one. And as usual, someone was getting in her way.

A m.u.f.fled ringing sound drew her back. It was coming from the bottom of her new caramel-colored Marc Jacobs tote. Thanks, Santa! Thanks, Santa!

Whoever was calling would have to wait. She was in crisis mode. This was no time to discuss celeb sightings with the couch-ridden girls in her grade.

But the caller kept calling. And calling. And...

With a frustrated sigh Alicia dug deep into her MJ. She dug beyond the Juicy sweats. Beyond the hair products. Beyond the sealed box of Nair. And pulled out her pink Nokia.

The display flashed SKYE HAMILTON SKYE HAMILTON.

Ehmagawd, was she back? Did her Hawaii trip get canceled? Was she ready to dance? Could she be here in twenty minutes? Normally Alicia would have ignored the bossy captain, but under the circ.u.mstances, she would gladly welcome her back.

”Skye!” she answered, sounding slightly out of breath. ”Hey! Are you ba-”

”What did you do to Andrea? Why is she so nervous? Do you realize how important this night is? Not only for the troupe but for my parents' studio?” She continued screaming but Alicia tuned her out. Instead she covered the mouthpiece and whispered to Andrea. ”Did you call her?”

Andrea bit her bottom lip and nodded yes, like a child caught drawing on the furniture.

Alicia's heart tapped like Riverdance.

How dare dare And-rrhea undermine her authority by calling Skye in Hawaii! And-rrhea undermine her authority by calling Skye in Hawaii!

How dare Skye blame her for And-rrhea's nerves!

How dare Brooke sit so peacefully in the corner, bopping her head to some peppy song while Alicia's world fell apart?

How dare Mrs. Fossier disappear on a ginger ale hunt instead of trying to find a new dancer?

She turned to the wall-mounted TV monitor above her head. The audience was applauding like crazy.