The Pretty Committee Strikes Back (21 page)

Where's Claire?

Massie felt like her head was going to explode from lack of oxygen and didn't know how much longer she could hold her breath.

Hurry, Kuh-laire.

Right when Massie thought she was going to pass out, Derrington pulled away and gasped for air. Massie searched his face for signs of extreme joy. She longed to see a loving glint in his eye or a satisfied smile on his face. But all she saw was the back of his palm wiping the shiny Cinnabon gloss off his lips.

Did I do it wrong? Was the Cinnabon flavor too sweet? Would something in a traditional mint have been better? It's all Claire's fault for teaching me to kiss on a stupid moose.

Massie looked over Derrington's shoulder but no one was there. Now they would have to kiss all over again. But that didn't seem so terrible. She was actually looking forward to it. Massie tilted her head again and slowly leaned forward. But Derrington stepped away.

“Block.” His voice was shaky.

“Yeah.” Massie batted her eyelashes. She wanted to look pretty and girly when he said, “I love you.”

“I…” He paused and looked down at his boot. He gently kicked the side of the tree a few times before continuing. “I, uh—”

“What is it?” Massie tried to sound patient but needed him to say it before the girls showed up so she could kiss him again.

“I, uh, don't think we should hang out anymore.”

“What?”

Massie heard a loud ringing in her head. Everything around her started spinning and her mouth tasted like pennies. Was this really happening? Maybe they were still kissing and the lack of oxygen to her brain was causing her to hallucinate.

“You're just so moody,” Derrington said. “I never know—”

Massie heard footsteps crunching in the leaves. They were getting louder and closer. It was Claire and the girls. Without another thought she grabbed Derrington's head. She skipped the head tilt, the dimming eyes, and the gentle touchdown and went straight for his lips.

Derrington was so surprised, he lost his balance and fell back into the snow. Massie knew his bare legs must have been numb but decided to worry about that later, once the audience had cleared out.

The MUCK girls were
shhh-ing
one another and giggling. Massie only had one option. She threw herself on top of Derrington and continued to kiss him on the lips. The more he struggled, the harder she pressed into him. And when she couldn't hold him in position any longer, Massie lifted her head and looked past Derrington. She widened her amber eyes and opened her mouth, hoping the girls could make out her horrified expression in such low lighting.

“Kuh-laire,” Massie screeched. “What are you doing here? Can't I get any privacy?”

The girls ran off immediately, leaving Claire behind to face Massie alone.

“Sorry.” Claire tried to sound regretful.

“Just leave.” Massie winked.

Once everyone was gone, Massie stood up. She felt light and giddy. She held out her hand and lifted Derrington to his feet. The backs of his bare legs were red. But all Massie could think about was the look of shock on everyone's faces when they'd seen her on top of him. Her plan had worked perfectly.

“Sorry.” Massie fluffed her hair. “They can be so immature.”

Derrington didn't say a word. He was too busy rubbing the backs of his knees.

Massie wondered if he still meant what he had said about them not hanging out anymore. Maybe he'd changed his mind. Now that they'd gotten kissing out of the way, she had no reason to avoid him anymore. In fact, now she wanted to see him all the time.

“So, uh, why'd you do that?” Derrington tugged on one of the tree branches that hung above his head.

“I …” She paused. It wasn't like she could just come right out and say, “I needed to kiss you to get my popularity back.” And now that it was over, Massie wasn't even sure that was the only reason she'd done it. She actually liked kissing Derrington.

“Well?”

“I wish you would change your mind,” Massie whispered in case any of the girls were still listening.

“Why?” Derrington asked. “It's not like you like me or anything.”

“That's so un …” Massie stomped her foot.

“
Un-what?”
He tore a leaf in half.

“Untrue.” Massie's voice cracked. “It's
you
who doesn't like
me,
remember?” This was not the conversation she'd expected to have after her first kiss and suddenly, Claire's do-over obsession with Cam started to make sense. It sucked when things didn't go as planned, especially first kisses.

“Why do you say
that?”
Derrington crumpled up the leaf and threw it on the ground.

This was getting ahn-noying. “Be-cause you said you didn't want to hang out anymore.”

“Oh.” Derrington looked at Massie for what seemed like the first time. His expression softened and his eyes lit up. “That was before.”

“Before we kissed?” Massie felt funny saying
kissed
out loud. It was kind of embarrassing.

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

Massie 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,” Massie said. “I just wanted our relationship to be private. You know how much I hate being in the public eye. It can be so ahn-noying sometimes.”

Massie reached into her Pocket and pulled out the
M
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 butt. 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 Massie a long thank-you kiss. It felt so good, Massie decided to keep this one to herself.

LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK FOREVER WILD CAMPSITE POWWOW LOG

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

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

Finally!

She had a zillion questions for Massie, including,
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 Massie 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 glass 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 passed 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 shellacked 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 grass toward Powwow Log taking light, graceful steps. She wanted to appear before Cam like a beautiful angel. Not like a desperate sex 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 glassy 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 assumed 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 slutbag 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 assumed 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 boobs …

“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 spaces 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 shifted 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
were out for revenge.”

She stepped back. “Me? Why?”

“Because you never showed up tonight.” Cam lowered his voice. He no longer sounded angry. It was worse than that. He sounded heartbroken.

“What are you talking about?” Claire's voice sounded higher than usual. “I gave Alicia a note to give to you. It said I'd be late.”

No one said a word. It was suddenly very clear what had happened.

“Ooops.” Alicia covered her mouth with the palm of her hand. “I must have forgotten to deliver it. My bad.” She skipped toward the bushes and met up with Olivia, who had been crouched down and hiding behind a pine tree. The girls burst out laughing and speed walked toward the cabin, because Alicia refused to run.

“Claire, I'm sorry.” Cam took another step toward her. “Nothing happened. It was a big misunderstanding.”

But Claire didn't want to hear his excuses. She knew what she'd seen and couldn't bear to look at him anymore.

“Where are you going?” Cam called after her.

The rhythm of her footsteps on the ground along with the jagged breaths she took in between sobs formed a melodic beat that gave Claire something to focus on besides the desperation in Cam's voice.

Claire hid along the side of her cabin and waited for her tears to stop. She thought about splashing water on her face in the shower house but knew it would probably be full of girls getting ready for the evening program, and she didn't feel like explaining the reason for her tears. In fact, she wished someone would explain it to her. The more Claire thought about it, the more the situation reminded her of what she'd done with Josh. She'd given in to his advances because she'd been hurt by Cam and had wanted to feel loved. And technically, that was what Cam had been doing with Alicia. He'd thought Claire had blown him off. He'd been hurt and vulnerable and…

A piece of white satin buried under a pile of dirt suddenly caught Claire's attention. She kicked the leaves aside and found her underwear, once again. Only this time, the discovery made her burst out laughing. At this point, what else could she do?

Claire cautiously opened the door to her cabin and peeked inside. Was Alicia in there waiting for her? Was she updating the girls on what had happened? Were they going to laugh at her?