Part 21 (1/2)

Derrington turned red. ”No, before I knew you liked me.”

Ma.s.sie crinkled her eyebrows, grateful for the wax she'd gotten just before the trip.

”I just said those things because I thought you were going to say them to me first.” Derrington bit down on his lower lip. ”I thought you were over me.”

”No,” Ma.s.sie said. ”I just wanted our relations.h.i.+p to be private. You know how much I hate being in the public eye. It can be so ahn-noying sometimes.”

Ma.s.sie reached into her Pocket and pulled out the M M pin. ”Want this back?” She tilted it back and forth like a hologram, so he could see the rhinestones glisten in the moonlight. pin. ”Want this back?” She tilted it back and forth like a hologram, so he could see the rhinestones glisten in the moonlight.

Derrington held out his hand and wiggled his b.u.t.t. He closed his fist around the pin, then fastened it to the bottom of his shorts.

Then, without saying a word, he leaned in and gave Ma.s.sie a long thank-you kiss. It felt so good, Ma.s.sie decided to keep this one to herself.

LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK FOREVER WILD CAMPSITE POWWOW LOG.

Tuesday, February 24th 7:25 P.M. P.M.

The minute the MUCK girls saw Ma.s.sie lying on top of Derrington, Claire knew her mission was accomplished. She was free to meet Cam.

Finally!

She had a zillion questions for Ma.s.sie, including, What were you and Derrington doing on the ground? Did you like your first kiss? Were you nervous? And was my timing okay? What were you and Derrington doing on the ground? Did you like your first kiss? Were you nervous? And was my timing okay? But all of that would have to wait until later. She had waited weeks to kiss Cam, and now that their time had come, Claire wasn't going to let anything stand in her way. Not even Ma.s.sie Block. But all of that would have to wait until later. She had waited weeks to kiss Cam, and now that their time had come, Claire wasn't going to let anything stand in her way. Not even Ma.s.sie Block.

Everyone was indoors now, changing into pajamas for the nighttime reading. Except for Mr. Myner and Mr. Dingle, who were tossing logs and leaves into the pit so the fire would be in full blaze when everyone arrived. Merri-Lee was perched on one of the logs beside them, sipping a gla.s.s of white wine.

”Everything okay, Claire?” Mr. Myner crouched down and snapped a branch across his manly kneecap. He chucked both halves into the smoldering pit.

”Yup,” Claire chirped as she pa.s.sed them. She knew she should have stopped but it was almost impossible. There was too much energy coursing through her body.

”Then where are you racing off to?” Mr. Myner asked. ”Evening program starts in fifteen minutes.”

”Oh, uh, yeah, I know.” Claire smiled. ”I just forgot my gloves in the dining pavilion and I wanted to get them.”

”Would you like an escort? It's a little dark over there.”

The bottoms of Claire's feet tingled. In a few seconds she would be alone with Cam, surrounded by darkness. The idea was thrilling and terrifying at the same time, like riding a giant upside-down roller coaster.

”No, I'm fine.” Claire hurried farther ahead before he could insist on joining her. ”I know exactly where they are.”

”Okay, just holler if you need backup.” He smiled like a fearless superhero.

”'Kay,” Claire shouted over her shoulder.

”You're so brave, Cole.” Merri-Lee giggled.

”Ew,” Claire said to herself. Dylan's mother flirting with their geography teacher was more disgusting than Layne licking the rim of an empty Go-Gurt tube.

Once she was out of their view, Claire forced herself to slow down. She didn't want to show up all panting and sweaty. Besides, it was better to appear casual and confident. Claire leaned back against the sh.e.l.lacked wood walls of the dining pavilion and applied a fresh coat of cherry-flavored ChapStick to her lips. After a quick bang fluff and a few cheek pinches, she was ready.

She made her way across the gra.s.s toward Powwow Log taking light, graceful steps. She wanted to appear before Cam like a beautiful angel. Not like a desperate s.e.x maniac. She tried to steady her breathing by holding her breath as long as she could, then exhaling through her nose, a little bit at a time.

The closer she got, the more Claire was certain that they had picked the perfect spot. The log faced Lake Placid and was lit by the silver light of the moon as it reflected off the water's gla.s.sy surface. It was the best seat in the house.

Claire, now only a few feet away, was able to make out Cam's silhouette. She felt the urge to run again but somehow managed to control herself. Cam's torso looked a little wider than usual and Claire a.s.sumed he was hunched over, trying to stay warm. As she got closer, she heard his soft voice. She smiled. He was talking to himself. Knowing Cam, he was rehearsing a romantic poem he had written just for her.

”I've been wanting to do this for a long time,” Claire heard a girl say.

”You have?” Cam sounded surprised.

”Uh-huh.” The girl inched closer and slowly leaned in toward him.

He made no effort to push her away.

Every muscle in Claire's body tensed up except her heart. It pumped faster than it ever had before, like it was about to burst through her chest and pummel the s.l.u.tbag who was moving in on her guy. And Claire was more than happy to step aside and let it.

”Cam, stop! What are you doing?” Claire didn't care how desperate the outburst made her look, or who heard.

Cam whipped his head around and jumped to his feet. The girl stood up slowly, staying close to his side. The moonlight shone at their backs, making it almost impossible to see their faces. But Claire a.s.sumed it was Strawberry. Who else could it be?

But when the girl turned to face Claire, she recognized her silhouette immediately: the thick, full hair ... the thin frame ... the big b.o.o.bs ...

”Alicia?” Claire whispered softly.

”Given.” She didn't seem the least bit sorry.

”Is this your way of getting back at me?” Claire wasn't exactly sure who the question was directed at. It could easily have applied to both of them.

”Now you know how I feel.” Alicia put her hands on her hips, letting beams of light through the s.p.a.ces between her arms. The dramatic lighting made her look like an evil sorceress.

”What?”

”You kissed Josh when you knew I liked him,” Alicia said. ”And now you know how it feels.”

”Wait, you were using me?” Cam asked Alicia. He sounded slightly hurt.

Both girls ignored him.

”Alicia, I never would have kissed Josh if I thought you still liked him. You told me at the game that you were over him.” Claire could hear her voice trembling. ”Besides, I don't even like him. I never did.”

”Well, I don't like Cam, but that doesn't make you feel any better, does it?” Alicia said.

”Thanks a lot.” Cam ran his hands through his wavy black hair and stepped away from Alicia.

Claire was torn between wanting to comfort him and wanting to kick him in the neck.

”Why did you go along with this?” Claire s.h.i.+fted her anger to Cam. ”Was this your way of getting revenge too? Because kissing Josh was a mistake, okay? A mistake! I'm sorry. What else do I have to do to prove it?” Tears flooded Claire's blue eyes. She blinked them back but they fell forward and spilled down her cheeks anyway.

”Me, out for revenge?” Cam took a step toward Claire. ”I thought you you were out for revenge.” were out for revenge.”