Part 6 (1/2)

”Claire, wouldn't you rather be a Dirty Devil with Ma.s.sie and her friends?” Kendra asked.

”Uh, yeah, I guess, but-”

”You were a Powerpuff Girl last year,” Judi said.

”I know, but-”

Claire could feel Ma.s.sie glaring at her.

”Then it's settled.” Kendra pulled something invisible from her long eyelashes. ”You'll both be Dirty Devils.”

Claire's stomach dropped like she was going down a steep roller coaster.

”Uh, okay,” she said.

Todd looked at Ma.s.sie and giggled. He quickly brought his icing-covered hand to his mouth.

”Sorry,” Claire muttered under her breath.

But Ma.s.sie turned her head away and tugged on her Armani tie belt.

Claire stepped into her line of sight and tried to apologize again, but Ma.s.sie crossed her arms and said nothing.

Claire had the chilling suspicion that Ma.s.sie would start acting like a devil a few days earlier than planned.

THE WESTCHESTER MALL.

LEVEL II.

1:38 PM PM.

October 25th Ma.s.sie couldn't believe she was standing in The Limited. The store's cheap knockoffs had always been an endless source of jokes among her friends. Alicia called their fake wannabe Prada bags Fraudas, and Dylan referred to their tweed page boy caps as ”c.r.a.ps.” But at that moment, Ma.s.sie would have given anything for one of their s.h.i.+ny BO-inducing polyester sweaters like the one Claire was trying on.

Ma.s.sie grabbed a pair of red fishnet hose off the rack near the cash register. The Dirty Devil costume originally called for bare legs, but she was drawn to the ”bad girl” quality of the fishnets. Or was she? She put them back on the rack and decided to stick to the original plan. But maybe the fishnets are better But maybe the fishnets are better. She picked them up again. But instead of looking at the tights, she focused on Claire, who ran from rack to rack, deciding what to buy next.

”Claire,” Ma.s.sie snapped. She stuffed the hose back on the rack. ”It's hard for me to concentrate on our costumes with you bolting all over the store, trying to buy tacky sweaters.”

”Sorry,” Claire said. ”There's nothing I like here anyway.” She tiptoed away from Ma.s.sie, the excitement on her face fading.

Ma.s.sie walked aimlessly around the store, touching fabrics and forcing herself to walk past the colorful stacks of camisoles and cardigans. She was about to cave and try on the only thing with cute potential in the entire store (a navy-and-pink fuzzy scarf) when she received the text message she had been waiting for.

KRISTEN: ? R U? ? R U?.

Ma.s.sIE: THE LIMITED. HELP! THE LIMITED. HELP!.

KRISTEN: STAY CALM. WE'RE COMING. STAY CALM. WE'RE COMING.

Ma.s.sIE: ACT NATCH. ACT NATCH.

KRISTEN: GIVEN. GIVEN.

Seconds later Kristen, Alicia, and Dylan appeared in The Limited.

”Oh my G.o.d, is that Ma.s.sie?” Alicia shouted across the store.

Ma.s.sie tossed her last gummy worm in the round clothes rack as soon as she heard them.

”I-I think it is,” Dylan said. ”Hey, Ma.s.s. What on earth are you doing doing here?” here?”

Dylan waved frantically from the other side of the store.

”Now, isn't that a coincidence,” Kendra said to Ma.s.sie. ”You must be so surprised.”

”I am.” Ma.s.sie put her hand on her heart for effect and went to greet her friends.

Their arms were full of s.h.i.+ny, tissue-stuffed shopping bags from Versace Jeans, Sephora, and BCBG.

”You didn't see Becca or anyone while you were shopping without me, did you?” Ma.s.sie whispered.

They shook their heads.

”Good,” Ma.s.sie said quietly.

”What are you guys doing here?” Ma.s.sie's voice was now loud and clear.

”You mean us?” Dylan shouted. ”Oh, we had this day planned for months.”

Ma.s.sie shot her a look. ”You call that acting? You did a better job playing a flying monkey in The Wizard of Oz The Wizard of Oz when we were seven.” when we were seven.”

”I told you to be subtle,” Kristen said. ”You were waving like you were about to set sail on the t.i.tanic t.i.tanic.”

Ma.s.sie could feel her mother's eyes burning a hole in her back.

”Go to the dressing rooms and I'll sneak in as soon as I can,” Ma.s.sie said.

”Cute tie belt thing, by the way,” Alicia said.

”Thanks,” Ma.s.sie said. She meant it. That compliment had been the only good part of her day.

She watched her friends as they tried to squeeze their bags past the mannequins and displays on their way to the back of the store.

”Ma.s.sie,” Kendra said quickly. She said it the same way she said ”Bean” when the dog picked through the trash.

”Uh-huh?” Ma.s.sie smiled innocently but kept her distance.

Kendra signaled for her to come closer.