Part 12 (2/2)
And that was just today.
The sting that comes with realizing you've been lied to p.r.i.c.kled and itched Dylan's skin. Her mouth dried. Her lashes fluttered. She was having another snapshot moment. It could be t.i.tled ”the moment Dylan lost her innocence.” Or ”the moment Dylan stopped trusting people.” Or ”the moment Dylan became fat.”
She smacked the pants that had betrayed her. The leather felt cold and unapologetic. ”Size four?” She tugged at the label. ”Did you fake that too?”
Yasmine looked away guiltily.
”Oh my Gawd, you did!” Dylan stomped her gold wedge. ”I am so suing you!”
”Dylan, wait!”
”No, you you wait!” Dylan shouted, not quite sure exactly what she meant. wait!” Dylan shouted, not quite sure exactly what she meant.
And with that, she stormed toward the door and marched out. It didn't matter that there was a huge tear in the back of her pants. Or that her blue-and-green polka-dot underwear was showing.
She had already been exposed.
MERRI-LEE MARVIL'S NEW YEAR'S YVES PARTYBACKSTAGEFriday, December 31st11:23 PM If there was a feeling more pathetic than being the last kid in the school parking lot, waiting for Mom to arrive, Kristen was feeling it now. Seated backstage on a cracked plastic chair by the VIP entrance, she was crying into the terry-cloth sleeve of her sweats.h.i.+rt, wis.h.i.+ng harm on the happy performers who slowed down to stare when they entered. Hoping Marshmallow would stop staring at her. Praying her cab would arrive before tears shrank her Juicy.
Being kicked out of the party by Marshmallow for ”impersonating Rihanna” had been a particularly low moment. Leaving without returning the dollar-sign charm had been rock bottom. And watching Ali pull away in the limo had been subterranean. But when her mom found out she'd spent her emergency money on a cab from the airport hanger party she'd crashed, and ridden alone, Kristen would be buried alive.
”Here.” Marshmallow finally handed her a crumpled-up napkin from his inside pocket. It smelled like coffee. ”Everything is going to be fine.”
Then why are you hovering over me like a prison guard? Kristen wanted to shout. Instead, she took the napkin and wiped the corners of her eyes. He had been standing watch over her for the last forty minutes. His dark brown eyes filled with a mix of disappointment and pity. It was nothing she didn't already feel. Kristen wanted to shout. Instead, she took the napkin and wiped the corners of her eyes. He had been standing watch over her for the last forty minutes. His dark brown eyes filled with a mix of disappointment and pity. It was nothing she didn't already feel.
Just then, the pretty redheaded girl from her school burst through the door. As usual, she was dressed like a runway model. Her face was also streaked with tears.
Kristen looked up and tried to smile, silently acknowledging that they were both crying on New Year's Eve.
”Ugh!” the girl sobbed. ”There are people everywhere everywhere!”
”Everything okay, Ms. Marvil?” asked Marshmallow. The burly bouncer looked confused, almost afraid, to be surrounded by sobbing tweens.
She sniffle-nodded yes, then casually placed her hands over her b.u.t.t and began backing up toward the wall, as if covering up an embarra.s.sing stain.
”Are you related to Merri-Lee Marvil?” Kristen asked, forgetting herself for a second.
”Yeah. I'm Dylan. Don't you go to OCD?” she asked, sounding more suspicious than interested.
Kristen nodded. ”I play soccer,” she said, hoping that might explain why they hardly knew each other.
”What are you doing here?” Dylan asked, hand-drying her cheeks.
”I-” Kristen peered up at Marshmallow, silently asking if he would let her fib. He shrugged like he was too exhausted to care. ”I was already inside but some spaz waiter spilled c.o.c.ktail sauce all over my Chanel dress and I had to run out and change. Thank Gawd I had a pair of Juicy sweats in the limo. I'm Kristen.” She smiled, realizing she hadn't really answered the question.
”Why are you you crying?” Dylan eyed the red velour pants with interest. crying?” Dylan eyed the red velour pants with interest.
”My cousin took off with the limo. I'm stuck waiting for a cab.”
Marshmallow looked away, shaking his head in disbelief.
”Why didn't you leave with her?”
What was with all the questions?
”Oh, um, because I found this charm on my way out. I heard some girl lost it and I wanted to return it.” Kristen swallowed hard, her heart pounding against the inside of her chest as if trying to tip Dylan off to her many lies.
”No way!” Dylan jammed her hand inside her tight leather pocket. ”I found a charm too.”
”What is it?” Kristen leaned forward, teeth chattering.
Dylan held her hand out dismissively.
”Oh, a pig.” Kristen smiled. ”Cute.”
Dylan quickly stuffed the charm back in her pocket. Then, as if contemplating something important, her emerald green eyes wandered. She twirled one of her long red curls. When she let go, it bounced back into place. ”Where do you live?”
”Um, the Montador Building,” Kristen lied again. But her building, the Pinewood Apartments, was next door to the luxury condos, so it wasn't too bad. ”Why?”
”I'll make you a deal,” Dylan offered, her eyes sharply focused on Kristen. ”Trade outfits with me and I'll give you a ride home after the show.”
”Yeah, right.” Kristen giggled, a.s.suming the proposition was a joke. The G G's stamped into the leather either stood for Gucci or Gap. Either way, they were nicer than anything she'd ever owned.
”I'm serious serious.” Dylan pressed her b.u.t.t against the door.
”Shoes too?”
”Everything.” Dylan began unbuckling her wedges.
”I'm more of a silver person,” Kristen added, trying to sound like she was settling. ”But okay.”
”Come on. Let's go change.” Dylan pulled her by the hand. Marshmallow stepped aside, unwilling to argue with the boss's daughter.
”Cancel the cab,” he said into the curly wire clipped to the white lapel of his suit. ”Have fun.” He smiled as Kristen reentered the world of the rich and famous.
”We will.” She smiled back.
Now that she wasn't alone, the crowded dance floor looked like a dimly lit dream about supermodels in a club made of gold. It smelled like Kobe beef and exotic perfume. It felt more luxurious than a cashmere sleeping bag. And tasted sweeter than refined sugar.
”How crazy is this?” Dylan giggle-shouted over a Destiny's Child song while yanking Kristen through the crowd. Her red hair and emerald green eyes were so vibrant and alive, she almost looked animated.
”Cray-zzzzzy!” Kristen beamed, wondering if she looked animated too. But maybe she just felt that way. Because a world usually reserved for celebrities and the popular girls at OCD was starting to open up to her. All she had to do now was find a way to keep it open. And trading clothes with Merri-Lee Marvil's daughter was the perfect place to start.
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