Part 7 (1/2)

”What?” Ahnna practically snorted. She made a goofy face at the other girls, implying Ma.s.sie was crazy.

They goofied back in agreement.

Ma.s.sie turned to Hermia's tent, like it was a customer-service help line and she had a faulty product. Perhaps Hermia could offer a few tips on how this transfer of power might go down. But the only thing Ma.s.sie got was the sudden urge to end this drama and get on with the rest of her royal life.

”This means I have the power now. Just accept it.” She pinched the stone between her thumb and index finger and held it under Ahnna's pert nose.

”Stawp!” Ahnna whacked Ma.s.sie's arm away from her face.

The gold charm bracelet flew off Ma.s.sie's wrist and landed by Lana's foot. The lanky brunette scooped it up and let it dangle between Ma.s.sie and Ahnna, unsure of whom to give it to. ”Here you go,” she finally said, obviously hoping someone would take it.

But Ma.s.sie couldn't move. She was frozen by the realization that she'd just let some celebrity psychic lead her to revolution without a plan, an army, or a chance. Her destiny had never been clearer. Or more grim.

”The only thing I'm going to accept accept,” Ahnna finally responded, ” ”is that your Cracker Jack bracelet is too cheap to stay on your bony wrist.” She grabbed it from Lana and began twirling it around her finger. ”Maybe my little sister can use it. She's always losing the pieces to our Monopoly game.”

Ma.s.sie recalled the joy in her parents' voices when they'd presented her with the bracelet. She pictured Inez outside her door grinning because she'd made it up the stairs in time for the surprise. Then she remembered the Ahnnabees' envious expressions when they first saw the trendsetting piece. And she knew. The bracelet was special. It was more than an accessory. Each charm represented part of her soul. And her soul was worth fighting for.

”Give it back!” Ma.s.sie swiped like a frisky cat, hooking her finger around the gold chain.

Grinning, Ahnna pulled it back.

Scowling, Ma.s.sie pulled it forward.

Squinting, Ahnna pulled it back.

Grunting, Ma.s.sie pulled it forward.

Wincing, Ahnna pulled it back.

And then-pppsht!-it was gone. The chain broke in two and the charms scatter-bounced across the stiletto-stabbed concrete like spilled Tic Tacs and disappeared.

Ahnna-you-dizn't!

Forgetting her pride, her dress, her bare knees, and the densely packed dance floor, Ma.s.sie dropped to the ground. The house DJ began playing ”Gone” by N'Sync and the stilettos began to stomp.

On all fours, palming the floor amidst a barrage of spiked heels was so nawt nawt how she wanted to ring in the New Year. Not even close. how she wanted to ring in the New Year. Not even close.

”Will someone please help help?” Ma.s.sie shouted up at the Ahnnabees.

A college-age hipster in a brown leather suit and white Converse high-tops extended his hand. ”You hurt?”

Ma.s.sie looked up at his warm smile and teared. ”No.” She lowered her head, ”'M okay.”

Finally, Lana and Shauna dropped to their knees. Brianna stood by Ahnna and glared, their faces bloated with superiority.

”How many are we looking for?' Lana asked, like maybe she actually cared.

”Five,” Ma.s.sie sniffled, her knees pressing into the cold concrete while everyone above her danced. How would she ever find five charms in this mess of heels and-”Ehmagawd, five five!” she shouted.

”Yeah, we heard you.” Lana rolled her eyes.

Ma.s.sie sat back on her b.u.t.t and placed a hand on her forehead. ”That's it! Five pieces coming together!”

”Huh?” Shauna pushed her red gla.s.ses up her nose.

”I get it!” Ma.s.sie leaned forward, dabbing her moist eyes with the top of her kneesock. ”My charms are the five pieces. First we have to find them, then then we'll come together.” we'll come together.”

”Stawp, I found two!” Lana dropped the diamond-encrusted bell and the horse into Ma.s.sie's palm.

The horse was slightly scuffed, the bell unharmed. There was hope!

Ma.s.sie scoured with renewed determination, her hands sc.r.a.ping over dust, spilled drinks, and discarded c.o.c.ktail napkins. If it weren't for Hermia's promising prediction, she would have called off this degrading search mission before it even began. But those charms were no longer guilt-tokens from her absent parents. They were magical keys with the power to unlock her destiny. Totally worth a floor crawl.

”Can I keep the horse?” Lana asked, nibbling on her beauty mark. ”You know, as a reward?”

”Yeah, and can I have the bell?” Shauna asked, squatting like a frog. ”For helping?”

”What?” Ma.s.sie snapped. ”No!” ”No!”

Shauna and Lana exchanged shoulder shrugs and stood.

Turning faster than yogurt in a hot car, they wiped their hands on their Burberry dresses and joined Ahnna and Brianna's condescending stare-circle.

”Who's ready for a live performance from Christina Aguilera?” Merri-Lee shouted from the stage.

”Eeeeeeeeeeee!” The Ahnnabes waved their hands, then rushed the stage with the rest of the guests, never once looking back to see if Ma.s.sie was with them.

The pain of getting ditched like last year's Pucci print seized Ma.s.sie's entire body. Her vision kaleidoscoped. Her limbs hung like an empty dress, her heart a squashed piece of bubble gum on the side of the road. Was she that easy to walk away from? That disposable?

Obviously.

The girls' Burberry plaidclad bodies vanished into the dense crowd. And just like that, the Ahnnabees were gone, like a fading scene in a movie. A movie about a friendless girl desperate to find her missing charms or she would be forever doomed.

WESTCHESTER COUNTY AIRPORTMERRI-LEE MARVIL'S NEW YEAR'S YVES PARTYFriday, December 31st9:07 P.M. P.M.

Spending hours in a dressing room while her swizzle sticksize sisters cursed carbs and saturated fats worked Dylan's appet.i.te into a frenzy. Only this time, she didn't crave food. She craved fun fun.

”I'm going out to watch Christina,” she announced to her sisters, who were still in the makeup chairs being preened like it was Fas.h.i.+on Week. It seemed criminal to watch the show on a d.i.n.ky monitor when the performances were right there, just on the other side of the wall.

”Tell the girl she needs to eat,” Jaime snarled at the TV. ”That genie is gonna slip right out of her bottle.”

”Hold still,” urged Kali, clamping down on the eyelash curler. ”I almost ripped your lashes off.”

”OhmiG.o.d, I would club a seal to look like Christina.” Ryan dotted iridescent highlighter over her cheekbones. ”She's got the whole hungry runaway look down. down.”

”I'll let her know.” Dylan rolled her eyes, then hurried out, finding it hard to believe they came from the same parents.

Backstage, the air was crackling with energy. On the dance floor it was blazing.