Part 16 (1/2)

”It just got better, my pet,” he said. ”How was yours?”

”Wasn't that Cam Fisher?” Ma.s.sie quickly glanced at Todd's knapsack, hoping to get a look inside, but it was zipped up.

”Yeah.” Todd started walking toward the guesthouse and Ma.s.sie followed.

”Why was he he here?” Ma.s.sie thought if she sounded annoyed, Todd wouldn't pick up on her crush. here?” Ma.s.sie thought if she sounded annoyed, Todd wouldn't pick up on her crush.

”No reason,” Todd said. ”Hey, wanna come over and play Tony Hawk's Underground?”

”I would love to, but I have to give Bean a bath.” Ma.s.sie put the dog on the ground and fanned the air. ”It's been a while and she's starting to smell like feet.”

”Let me help.” Todd reached down to pat Bean, but the dog ran and hid behind Ma.s.sie's legs.

Ma.s.sie couldn't play this game for one more second. She knew Cam had dropped something off for her and she wanted it. Todd was probably holding Cam's love gift hostage because he was jealous.

”Todd, darling.” Ma.s.sie put her hand on his shoulder and they stopped walking. She glared at him with her amber eyes until a bead of sweat formed above his upper lip. ”I know what's in the bag and I want it.”

”What?” Todd grabbed onto the straps of his backpack with both hands.

”Just give it to me,” Ma.s.sie said.

”You want it?” Todd asked.

”Yes.”

”Really?”

”YES!”

”Ohh-kayyy.” He slid the bag off his shoulders and stepped closer to Ma.s.sie.

She could feel her hands getting clammy.

”Ready?” Todd asked.

”READY!” she said.

Todd stood on his toes, sprang forward, and planted his lips right on Ma.s.sie's.

”Eeeplished, a reminder that she was back on the scene after a grueling fifteen-day ban.

Alicia, Kristen, and Dylan had their arms full of an over-whelming amount of Coach, Lacoste, and Guess? bags, but Ma.s.sie still had more.

”I wish they had shopping carts at malls,” Dylan whined. ”Think of how much more we could buy if we didn't have to carry it all.”

”We should hire a shopping Sherpa.” Ma.s.sie put her foot on a bench and rested her bags on her knee. ”You know, some strong little guy that would follow us around all day while we shopped so he could carry everything we bought.”

”That's a boyfriend,” Alicia said. ”And I'm working on it.”

Everyone giggled, but Ma.s.sie cracked up. She had missed Alicia's playful divalike att.i.tude and was overjoyed that for the moment Leesh was Olivia-free and back where she belonged.

”Where is Olivia tonight?” Ma.s.sie asked, trying to sound genuinely interested.

”She has dance on Fridays,” Alicia said.

”And she went? went? The night before the fas.h.i.+on show? Gawd, you must be p.i.s.sed. I'm sure you wanted to rehea.r.s.e, right?” The night before the fas.h.i.+on show? Gawd, you must be p.i.s.sed. I'm sure you wanted to rehea.r.s.e, right?”

”No, it's fine. She's sleeping over,” Alicia said.

”Oh.” Ma.s.sie didn't know where to look.

”Can we go into A&F?” Kristen sped up and led the way.

”You're not going to find anything in Abercrombie that's cute enough to wear to the contest tomorrow night,” Alicia said.

”I know, but I need their latest shopping bag for my bed-room wall.” Kristen pointed to the poster of the chiseled half-man, half-airbrushed model in the store window and cooed, ”And he he better be on it.” better be on it.”

”So you're not sleeping at my place tonight?” Ma.s.sie asked Alicia. She was sifting through the racks of wool cardigans and denim jackets, trying to sound casual.

”I totally forgot it's Friday,” Alicia said. She completely managed to avoid Ma.s.sie's eyes. She turned toward Kristen and Dylan, who were standing on opposite sides of the T-s.h.i.+rt display table. ”Are you guys going?”

”Given,” Dylan said.

Kristen nodded.

”Don't you have to finish your uniforms?” Alicia asked.

”We were going to finish them at Ma.s.sie's,” Kristen said.

Alicia slid a bunch of hangers back and forth on the rack.

”Kristen, I thought you were going to practice your soccer kicks with Derrington tonight,” Alicia said.

”No, on Monday.” Kristen frowned. ”What's with the advertis.e.m.e.nt?” She stole a glance at Dylan, who turned red with anger, then green with jealousy. Her face matched her hair.