Part 10 (1/2)
”I was, uh, wondering if you could introduce us to a few of the Briarwood boys?” Claire pointed to Layne, who was watching from the azaleas.
Ma.s.sie straightened the horns on her head before she spoke. ”Why don't you ask the couch poo? She knows the same people as me.”
”She's shy,” Claire said. ”Besides, our moms were probably expecting you to help me out since they think we're such good friends and everything. Right? Isn't that what you told them when you asked if we could throw this party together together?”
Claire prayed that her voice was trembling. ”How upset do you think they'll be when they find out you've been telling everyone this is your your party?” party?”
”Why guess?” Ma.s.sie asked. ”Why not tell them right now?”
Claire's insides froze. That was not the answer she was hoping for.
”Fine, I will.” Claire turned and headed down the path toward the main house. She looked down at her patent leather Mary Janes while she walked and prayed for a miracle. She had no idea what to do next, but she marched ahead like a girl with a serious plan.
”Okay, wait,” Ma.s.sie called after her.
Thank you, G.o.d!
”Meet me in the out-of-order bathroom in five minutes. I'll bring over two guys that I think will be perfect for you and Layne.”
”No LBRs,” Claire said. She knew she shouldn't abuse her sudden power over Ma.s.sie, but it was hard not to. ”And no funny business or I'll talk.”
”Done,” Ma.s.sie said.
As Claire walked back to Layne, she wondered if any boy was actually worth this kind of trouble.
WHEN h.e.l.l FREEZES OVER PARTY.
OUT-OF-ORDER BATHROOM.
8:22 PM PM.
October 31st The out-of-order bathroom was a tight squeeze for Layne and her oversized costume, so Claire was forced to sit on the toilet seat.
”I can't believe I let you talk me into this,” Layne said.
”You promised.” Claire finger-combed her blond hair and reapplied some clear gloss. ”How many guys do you think will be into a girl they met on the toilet?” she asked Layne as she lowered herself onto the cold seat.
”We're being set up.” Layne tried to keep the corners of her costume from scratching the plaid Ralph Lauren wallpaper. ”Why would she have us wait in a bathroom bathroom if she wasn't planning something humiliating?” if she wasn't planning something humiliating?”
”Trust me.” Claire crossed her legs and bit into a Nerds Rope. ”She just wanted us to meet her here so no one sees her talking to us in public.”
”Oh, that's that's all.” Layne shook her head. ”Great, I feel sooo much better now.” all.” Layne shook her head. ”Great, I feel sooo much better now.”
She adjusted her pillows. ”You know, meeting boys in bathrooms is something runaways do. I feel like we're being filmed for some sort of public service announcement.”
They were interrupted by a light tapping on the bathroom door.
”Someone's in here,” Claire shouted.
”No, it's me, me, Ma.s.sie.” Ma.s.sie.”
”Oh, come on in.” Claire jumped to her feet. She was about to pinch her cheeks so she'd have a little color until she remembered her face was covered by a mask.
Ma.s.sie tried to open the door and it jammed into Layne's costume.
”This is stupid,” Layne snapped as she regained her balance. ”I'm leaving.”
She had managed to wiggle past Claire and get halfway out the door when she came face-to-face with two tall, gangly, dark-haired boys. One was surrounded by a chunk of gray foam and the other was in all black with dinner rolls pinned to his clothes.
”I'm Rock,” said the chunk. ”And he's Roll.”
”Have a blast,” Ma.s.sie said. She turned and walked out of the cabana.
”Oh my G.o.d, that's hilarious,” Layne said to the rock. She tried to slap her knee, but all she could do was lift her arm half an inch into the air and then lower it. ”Can you guess what I am?”
”Of course,” Rock said. ”You're a couch potato. I've been watching you try to walk in that thing all night. You must be fried fried.”
Roll cracked up at his friend's potato joke and high-fived him.
”Oh my G.o.d, fried fried,” Layne said. ”Claire, how funny is that?”
But Claire didn't think it was funny at all. She was more interested in why Ma.s.sie a.s.sumed she she would be into the garage band type. Layne might be ”indie,” but Claire was pure pop. would be into the garage band type. Layne might be ”indie,” but Claire was pure pop.
”I'm Eli,” Rock said to Layne. ”And this is Tristan.”
”Hi,” Claire and Layne said at the same time.
”Anyone wanna go for a skate?” Eli asked.
”Totally!” Layne said. ”By the way, you rock.”
”Could she be any BOULDER?” Claire said to Tristan, hoping her dorky pun would break the tension between them.
”Huh?” he said.
Claire didn't bother repeating herself. Instead she watched Layne and Eli take off toward the skating rink. She was embarra.s.sed to have positioned herself as the ”boy expert” when it took Layne less than ten minutes to meet her indie soul mate. Meanwhile, Claire would rather have been left with her own brother than Tristan.
”Wanna dance?” he asked.
”Uh, sure?” she said. But it came out sounding more like a question than an answer.
Tristan held his hand out to Claire. His nails s.h.i.+mmered with silver polish. They matched the silver sparkles in his blue eyeliner. Claire bent down and pretended to adjust the strap on her Mary Janes to avoid his gesture.
”Where do you get your makeup?” Claire asked once she straightened up.
”My older sister.” Tristan looked proud. ”I usually sneak into her room after she leaves for school.”
”Usually?” Claire asked. ”You mean it's not part of your costume?” Claire asked. ”You mean it's not part of your costume?”