Part 6 (2/2)
TECHNOLOGY.
- Portable DVD players (and chargers) - Cell phones (and chargers) - Sidekicks (and chargers) - Video cameras (and chargers) - IPods/iPod shuffles/iPod minis/iPod nanos (and chargers) - Portable speakers (and plugs) - Bose noise-reduction headphones (extra AAA batteries) - Digital cameras (and chargers) - No Game Boys (antisocial. Besides, boys will have them. Good excuse to talk to them.) - Flashlight optional (do they run on batteries? If so, bring batteries.) UNDERWEAR.
- Socks - Bras (ALICIA!) - Underwear (No granny panties, Claire[image] .) .) COSMETICS.
- Face soap - Body soap - Deodorant - Moisturizer - Powder - Razor, shaving cream - Perfume (one for day/one for night) - Q-tips - Makeup remover - Electric toothbrush - Dental floss - Toothpaste - Mouthwash - Tweezers - Eyelash curlers - Mascara - Zit cream - Cover-up - Visine - Nail polish (top and base coat too) - Nail polish remover - Nail file - Cuticle clipper - Eyeliner - Eye shadow - Blush - Lip gloss - Lip balm - Lipstick - Shampoo - Conditioner - Deep conditioner - Leave-in conditioner - Brush - Comb - Hair dryer - Diffuser - Curling iron - Flatiron - Antifrizz serum - s.h.i.+ne serum - Bug spray OTHER.
- Scented candles - Magazines - Gum (sugar-free) - Lavender-scented sheet spray - Satin blindfolds for sleeping - Slippers - Bathrobe - Shower cap - Hair clips and elastics Claire reviewed the list knowing full well the only approved item she would have was the underwear, because she'd just bought ten new pairs from Victoria's Secret.
”Remember”-Ma.s.sie put her hands on her hips-”if this doc.u.ment is leaked, it could be very dangerous.”
Claire tried as hard as she could to think of how this type of information could be ”dangerous.” She couldn't come up with a single thing and hoped someone else would ask, but they all seemed to understand completely.
”In case any of you aren't sure why why this cannot fall into enemy hands, I'll explain.” Ma.s.sie looked right at Claire. Thankfully the room was dark, so no one could see her blush. ”I went online and did a search. There are no cute stores in the Adirondacks. So if everyone starts dressing like us, we can't run to the mall and get something new. We will only have what we packed.” this cannot fall into enemy hands, I'll explain.” Ma.s.sie looked right at Claire. Thankfully the room was dark, so no one could see her blush. ”I went online and did a search. There are no cute stores in the Adirondacks. So if everyone starts dressing like us, we can't run to the mall and get something new. We will only have what we packed.”
”Ahhh.” Claire nodded, pretending to get it.
”You can always call me,” Kristen offered. ”I'll be shopping all week, so I can send something up in case there's an emergency.”
It was obvious that Kristen was trying to sound excited about her situation, because she spoke in a high-pitched everything's-okay-with-me-why-do-you-ask? tone that Claire had never heard before.
And it was obvious by the way the corners of Ma.s.sie's lips curled up that she was about to bust Kristen on her fake enthusiasm. But the pling! pling! sound on her computer alerted her to an IM she had just received from SHORTZ4LIFE. And that took priority. sound on her computer alerted her to an IM she had just received from SHORTZ4LIFE. And that took priority.
”Ehmagawd,” Ma.s.sie squealed. ”It's from Derrington!”
”What'd he say?” Alicia raced over to the iMac. Ma.s.sie leaned into the screen. Either she was blocking the IM from her friends or she had suddenly become farsighted. Whichever it was, she insisted that everyone stay seated. ”I'll tell you everything,” she promised. ”I just don't need everyone breathing down my neck.”
Alicia took a few steps back.
Ma.s.sie read and typed.
SHORTZ4LIFE: HI BLOCK HI BLOCKMa.s.sIEKUR: HEYSHORTZ4LIFE: WHAT R U DOING? WHAT R U DOING?Ma.s.sIEKUR: HANGING OUT WITH TPC HANGING OUT WITH TPC.
”Ask him if Josh Hotz is definitely going to Lake Placid,” Alicia whispered, as if Derrington could hear her through the computer.
Claire felt her forehead break out in a cold sweat. Every time Alicia mentioned Josh, Claire tried not to look guilty. She widened her eyes and looked around the room like an innocent fawn.
Ma.s.sIEKUR: IS JOSH GOING? IS JOSH GOING?SHORTZ4LIFE: ALL MY BOYZ WILL BE THERE. ALL MY BOYZ WILL BE THERE.
JOSH, CAM, PLOVERT, & HURLEY.
Claire felt her heartbeat quicken when Ma.s.sie said Cam's name. More than anything, she wanted to ask Derrington if Cam had mentioned her poem, but she held back. She didn't want the Pretty Committee to know how desperate she was.
”Ehmagawd.” Dylan slapped her thighs. ”Ask Derrington if Plovert is still on crutches.”
Ma.s.sIEKUR: IS PLOVERT STILL A GIMP? IS PLOVERT STILL A GIMP?SHORTZ4LIFE: LOL. YUP. CAST COMES OFF IN 2 WEEKS LOL. YUP. CAST COMES OFF IN 2 WEEKS.
”Love that!” Dylan said. ”Now he can't run away from me.”
”Should I tell Derrington you like Plovert?” Ma.s.sie's fingers hovered above her keypad.
”No! I'm not making it official until tomorrow.” She paused. ”Unless you think he's a bad crush. If you do, it's no big deal. I could always go for someone else. Like Josh.” I'm not making it official until tomorrow.” She paused. ”Unless you think he's a bad crush. If you do, it's no big deal. I could always go for someone else. Like Josh.”
”Don't even think about it, Marvil.” Alicia threw a half-chewed marshmallow at Dylan's head. ”Or I'll chop off all your hair while you're sleeping and make you eat it.”
Claire stuffed four squares of chocolate into her mouth at once.
”No, please don't.” Dylan grabbed her own waist. ”I really don't want to gain all that weight back.”
”Just think,” Kristen said. ”If you stayed here with me, we could work out every day.”
”No offense, but I'd rather eat my hair.” Dylan smiled.
SHORTZ4LIFE: IS CLAIRE GOING?Ma.s.sIEKUR: GIVEN.
Claire stood up and raced over to Ma.s.sie's computer. She knew she'd been asked to stay seated, but Cam was obviously asking about her. And she didn't want to miss a single word of the exchange.
”Is Cam with him?” Claire asked. ”Ask him if Cam got my po-my e-mail.”
Ma.s.sie started typing but was interrupted by another pling! pling! She started reading out loud again. She started reading out loud again.
SHORTZ4LIFE: DOES SHE LIKE JOSH? CUZ HE'S TOTALLY INTO HER DOES SHE LIKE JOSH? CUZ HE'S TOTALLY INTO HERMa.s.sIEKUR: DOES WHO LIKE JOSH? WHO IS HE INTO? DOES WHO LIKE JOSH? WHO IS HE INTO?.
Alicia jumped up and hurried over to the computer.
SHORTZ4LIFE: CLAIRE.
Claire nudged Ma.s.sie.
”Uh.” Ma.s.sie leaned over her screen. ”He won't say.”
”I need to know who it is.” Alicia pleaded. ”Tell him we all went home and then ask him if it's me.”
”Sneaky,” Kristen mumbled, and rolled her eyes.
”Ugh, will you just let me pay for your trip?” Alicia snapped. ”I can't handle your att.i.tude anymore.”
”I don't want to go,” Kristen said. ”Honestly, I am looking forward to getting ahead on my reading.”
”Fine.” Alicia tried to push past Claire so she could see what Ma.s.sie was typing.
Claire carefully stuck her foot under Ma.s.sie's desk and knocked the plug out of the wall. The computer screen went blank.
”What happened?” Ma.s.sie pushed her chair back and lifted her keyboard. She pressed every b.u.t.ton and shook it around.
Claire pressed her elbow into Ma.s.sie's back, a.s.suring her that everything was okay.
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