Part 25 (1/2)
”Did you feel that?” She looked up at the sky, hoping it wasn't about to rain. This was her first big trip into Manhattan and she didn't want anything to block her view of the skysc.r.a.pers.
”Oh, sorry,” Layne said, wiping a pink droplet off Claire's cheek. She immediately stopped swinging her bag. ”I have a Popsicle in here.” She patted the stained canvas. ”It must have melted.”
Claire giggled. ”You reaaally don't don't care what people think, do you?” They both burst out laughing at Layne's sticky bag. care what people think, do you?” They both burst out laughing at Layne's sticky bag.
They were still laughing when they rounded the side of the school and stepped onto the paved parking lot. Claire spotted Dean and Alicia immediately. They were both standing with their arms crossed in front of the open car door.
”Hurry,” Alicia screamed.
”Coming from the girl who moves slower than detention,” Layne murmured.
Claire giggled, then started to run. Layne was following close behind.
”What are you doing?” Claire huffed and puffed. ”Don't you have cla.s.s?”
”I want to give you a proper send-off.”
Claire could feel herself getting annoyed all over again. ”You don't have to.”
”Kuh-laire,” Alicia shouted. ”Everyone's waiting.”
”Ugh,” Claire said in total frustration. She started running again, too frazzled to care if Layne was behind her or not.
”Ehmagawd,” Alicia squealed when she saw Layne. ”It looks like you barfed up a waiter's suspenders from TGI Friday's.”
Kristen, Dylan, Faux-livia, Strawberry, and Kori stuck their heads out the window of the limo. They burst out laughing when they saw Layne's headgear.
Claire looked at Layne out of the corner of her eye. Layne was smiling.
”That's a pretty good one,” Layne said. ”For you.”
”Help,” Claire mouthed to Alicia when Layne wasn't looking.
Alicia winked at Claire and held up her index finger to let her know she'd be a minute. She disappeared inside the limo and came out dragging her lime green snakeskin Prada bag. She opened the side zipper and pulled out one of her signature knockoff Louis Vuitton scarves.
”Layne,” Alicia said. She sounded like a kindergarten teacher about to discipline a bad student. ”I'll make you a deal.”
”Yeah,” Layne said. She looked bright and cheery, like she had no idea she was embarra.s.sing herself.
”If you take that antenna off, right now, right now, and promise never to wear it to school again,” Alicia said, waving the scarf in front of her eyes, ”I'll give you my very last Louis.” and promise never to wear it to school again,” Alicia said, waving the scarf in front of her eyes, ”I'll give you my very last Louis.”
Layne tapped her index finger against the bar of her headgear as if she were carefully mulling over the offer.
”It's totally worth it,” Alicia said, sounding like a desperate salesgirl working on commission. ”It allows you to hang out with us whenever you want.”
Claire knew Layne was wondering how she could be friends with such a conceited girl and felt slightly embarra.s.sed for having bought into Alicia's rap.
”Whenever I want?” Layne cracked her knuckles.
”When-ever,” Alicia said, anxious to close the sale. Alicia said, anxious to close the sale.
”Fine.” Layne took off her headgear and clipped it around the handle of her Suns.h.i.+ne Tours bag. Alicia placed the scarf in Layne's open palm.
”Thanks, I totally needed this.” Layne stuffed the scarf into her bag. It was covered in gooey pink liquid when she lifted it out.
Alicia gasped.
”Oops, my Popsicle melted and I ran out of tissue,” Layne said. She tossed the sopping wet Louis at Alicia. ”Have fun on your shoot, Claire,” she called over her shoulder as she walked away. ”Call me when you get back.
” ”I will,” Claire promised with a huge grin on her face.
Claire avoided Alicia's eyes when she slipped into the limo.
”How can you be friends with her?” Alicia asked when she sat down.
”How could I not?” Claire giggled.
”Let's go, Dean,” Alicia called into the front seat. ”We want to get there before dark.”
Claire sighed, relieved that Alicia had changed the subject.
”Aren't we waiting for Ma.s.sie?” Dean asked into the rearview mirror.
”She's not coming.” Alicia raised the gla.s.s divider between them.
Claire was tempted to ask how Ma.s.sie was going to get there but decided not to. Why should she care? They were no longer friends.
Alicia clapped once they started moving and bounced up and down in her seat. ”We're off!”
”Yippeee!” Strawberry, Kori, and Faux-livia bounced and cheered. Kristen and Dylan said nothing. They didn't even bother looking up from the pages of US Weekly US Weekly to see what all the excitement was about. to see what all the excitement was about.
Eventually the yelling got to them. Dylan turned to Alicia. ”Why are they they here?” here?”
”Yeah, they're not even modeling,” Kristen added.
”Uh, we can hear you.” Strawberry clenched her fist.
”Good, so maybe you you can tell me why you're coming to New York,” Kristen said. can tell me why you're coming to New York,” Kristen said.
”Because they are my friends,” friends,” Alicia said firmly. Alicia said firmly.
”Whatevs,” Dylan said, returning to her US Weekly US Weekly.
Claire watched Strawberry and Kori examine the contents of the fridge, play with the stereo, and fiddle with the sunroof. She felt like she was watching herself three months ago.
”Where are your scarves?” Alicia asked the girls. They looked up at her with the startled expression of someone who just realized she left her homework a.s.signment on the school bus. ”I thought you were going to wear them around your necks.”
”I did.” Faux-livia beamed, pulling her turtleneck sweater to one side.
”I have mine around my ankle,” Strawberry said, lifting up her winter white cords. ”How cute is it there?”