Part 9 (1/2)
Alicia, Olivia, Claire, and Layne had already taken all the plush seats in the back except for two, which they were saving for Ma.s.sie and Dylan.
”Oh no, I guess there aren't enough seats for all of us.” Ma.s.sie tried to sound upset.
”That sucks.” Derrington smacked one of the TV screens that hung down from the ceiling.
”Dude!” Josh shouted. ”Sit here.”
Derrington slid his blue backpack off his shoulder and was about to stuff it in the overhead rack when Merri-Lee b.u.t.ted in.
”Dylan, why don't you ride up front with me and Cole?” She giggled. ”I mean Mr. Myner.”
”No, thanks, I'm good,” Dylan insisted. ”They already saved a seat for me in the back.”
”That would be perfect.” Derrington grabbed his backpack. ”If you sit up here, then I can sit with Block.”
Ma.s.sie felt his warm hand on her shoulder again. ”How long is the ride?” she asked Mr. Myner.
”Five hours.”
Ma.s.sie froze. It would have been perfect if Derrington were a few seats away, admiring her from afar while she interacted with her friends. But sitting face-to-face with him for five hours was not something she was prepared to do. What if he wanted to hold her hand or make out?
”Come on, Pickles.” Merri-Lee patted the velvety cus.h.i.+on next to her.
Dylan plopped herself down, folded her arms across her chest, and turned toward the window.
”Ihopeyouwaxedyourmustachethismorning.” Carrie winked as Ma.s.sie and Derrington pa.s.sed her on their way to the back.
”What did she just say?” Derrington asked.
”Who knows?” Ma.s.sie rolled her eyes.
Alexandra and Livvy smeared their lips with Glossip Girl and puckered up. It wasn't long before everyone on the bus was making kissing noises. Ma.s.sie wanted to die, especially when Derrington wrapped his hands around his back and ma.s.saged his spine, so it looked like he was making out with someone. The kissing noises quickly turned to laughter.
Without thinking, Ma.s.sie slapped Derrington on the b.u.t.t.
”Ow.” He rubbed it and gave a little wiggle.
Everyone roared with laughter. Ma.s.sie blew her palm as if it were a smoking gun, stuffed it in the front pocket of her jeans, and casually took her seat, like slapping boys' b.u.t.ts was something she did all the time. The truth was, she'd done it to punish Derrington for making her feel so awkward and uncomfortable. But no one needed to know that. They seemed to think the slap was playful and flirty, a show of real confidence. And that was perfectly fine with her.
”What was that that all about?” Derrington chuckled. He rubbed his b.u.t.t, then slid in beside her. all about?” Derrington chuckled. He rubbed his b.u.t.t, then slid in beside her.
”Watch yourself,” Ma.s.sie said, summoning her inner vixen. ”There's more of that on the way if you don't behave yourself.”
”Promise?” Derrington's brown eyes flickered.
Ma.s.sie quickly turned to the window, pretending to have missed his comment.
”Who's ready for three days at Lake Placid?” Mr. Myner stood at the front of the bus with a proud smile.
Everyone exploded in a round of cheers and applause.
”Are you sure?” he joked. ”Because there's no turning back now.”
Ma.s.sie sneaked a peek at Derrington from the corner of her eye. He had two freckles on his upper jaw, by his left ear. She had noticed them before and thought they were ah-dorable. But now that they were so close to her face, they seemed menacing. She shook her head and turned back to the window.
The doors hissed as the driver pulled them shut. He started the engine and eased the bus out of the lot.
Ma.s.sie took a deep breath and sighed.
”You okay?” Derrington touched her arm lightly.
”Yeah, I'm fine.” She gathered her hair in a ponytail, then let it fall. ”Uh, I just get a little carsick. I think I need to rest my head for a minute.”
”Okay.” Derrington slipped off his green Burton s...o...b..ard jacket, balled it up, and handed it to Ma.s.sie so she could use it as a pillow.
”Thanks.” Ma.s.sie tried to smile. She propped the jacket up against the window and rested her head against it. The nylon felt rough against her cheek, but Ma.s.sie still managed to stay in that exact position for the next five hours.
LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK FOREVER WILD CAMPSITE.
Monday, February 23rd 1:13 P.M. P.M.
”Smile,” Claire said as she snapped another picture with her digital camera for what seemed like the nine millionth time since they'd stepped off the bus.
”It's so beautiful here,” she said. It was the happiest Ma.s.sie had seen her since the whole Cam incident had gone down a week earlier.
”Okay, how about one of us over here by the fire pit?” Ma.s.sie reached for Dylan and Alicia. It felt weird not to have Kristen there, like Ma.s.sie had forgotten to pack her toothbrush or something.
”Enough with the pictures already,” Dylan snapped.
She was still cranky from the five hours she'd spent listening to Mr. Myner and her mother blab on about all of the ”romantic European cities” and ”sensual exotic foods” Merri-Lee had been exposed to over the years thanks to her ”deeply satisfying career.”
”Look at the mountains behind us.” Claire clicked away. ”They're so big and snowy.”
”Pace yourself, Kuh-laire, we haven't even seen the inside of our cabins yet,” Ma.s.sie said.
”I know, but this is so incredible.” Claire took a deep breath and exhaled slowly before snapping her final picture. A puff of white steam escaped from her mouth.
It was much colder in the Adirondacks than it had been in Westchester, and none of the Pretty Committee girls had dressed for the crisp mountain air. They had opted for something a little more ”winter-lite” instead; tight V-neck sweaters and earth-toned turtlenecks, moccasin boots and dark jeans. Claire was the only exception, in her baby blue puffy jacket, L. L. Bean Storm Chasers, and red wool Gap turtleneck.
”Can we please go to our cabins and change?” Alicia was bouncing up and down trying to stay warm.
”Can you please keep doing that?” Chris Plovert said as he hobbled by.
Alicia folded her arms across her chest. ”As soon as you learn to walk, gimp.”
The girls high-fived Alicia and laughed.
The five wood cabins on Forever Wild campsite looked out on Lake Placid, a ma.s.s of fresh water that was so clean and clear you could see the red and silver rocks glistening on the bottom. The cabins formed a semi-circle around a wide fire pit that offered dozens of tree stumps as stools for sitting and roasting marshmallows. At the foot of the pit was a thin sliver of caramel-colored sand that lined the mouth of the lake like lip liner.