Read Online It's Not Easy Being Mean by Lisi Harrison - Free Book Online Page A

be back here, in the penthouse, Friday night at seven o'clock covered in more dark hair than the floor at Supercuts.”
    “
This
Friday?”
    “Yup.”
    “Claire, you don't have to do this.” Judi touched her daughter's icy hand. “There will be other opportunities. Other directors who will want you just the way you are.”
    “It's not
that
,” Claire insisted, not bothering to explain that she was supposed to go to Cam's on Friday night to look for the key. And now, if she agreed to the audition, her friends would be there without her. Making memories, creating inside jokes, and smelling her boyfriend's Drakkar Noir–soaked neck.
    “I'll be right back.” Claire dropped her phone in her cargo pocket and pushed back from the table. It wasn't too late to call Cam from the bathroom and beg him to reschedule. “I just need a second to think about it.”
    “You have until I finish my coffee.” Miles lifted the tiny espresso cup to his lips and then tilted his head back. He replaced the cup in the saucer with a dainty clink and let out a satisfied, “Ahhhh.”
    Then he looked directly into Claire's eyes and folded his arms across his chest.
    “What's it gonna be?”

W ESTCHESTER , NY T HE B LOCKS' R ANGE R OVER
    Tuesday, April 6th
    3:55 P.M.
    “Ah-nnoying!” Massie snapped her Motorola shut and knocked her head against the silver Range Rover's window. “Voice mail again!”
    “Maybe she's on an airplane, flying to L.A.,” Alicia offered as she picked a random piece of glitter off her lavender knit sweater. “Ugh! My soccer uniform leaked in my bag,” she complained to no one in particular.
    “I bet she's at the Keds factory with Mischa Barton designing a pair of signature geek-sneaks.” Dylan plunked her legs down on Alicia's lap. “By the way, you never commented on my new black Paige jeans. Is it ‘cause they make me look fat?”
    “Get your meat sticks offa me!”
    Kristen giggled.
    “Then is
serious
, you guys.” Massie opened the window, hopping the cool breeze might calm her. But all it did was mess her hair. “Claire needs to tell Cam not to let any girls in his house.” She repositioned her gray satin headband.
    “Yul ee er ah ome.” Dylan chewed a powdered Munchkin.
    “Huh?”
    She swallowed.
    “I said, you'll see her at home.” She reached into the wax-lined Dunkin' Donuts bag and popped another round white-sugar-covered doughnut ball in her mouth. “Let's watch the news.”
    Isaac, Massie's driver, hit a button, and a flat-screen TV lowered from the ceiling.
    Kristen's narrow aqua eyes widened. “Do you think something happened to her?”
    “No.” Dylan picked up the thin remote and flipped through the channels. “I saw a commercial last night about depression. It said one of the symptoms is loss of appetite. So maybe if I hear a sad story I'll stop eating these.” She stuck a glazed doughnut ball in her mouth.
    “Here's a sad story for you.” Massie looked directly into Dylan's jade-colored cat eyes. “If I don't get in touch with Kuh-laire, I can't tell her to ask Cam which girls have been trying to get into his house. And if I don't know who they are, I can't stop them. If I can't stop them, they'll get the key first. And if they get the key first, we're done. And if we're
done,
eighth grade is going to feel like one long soccer practice.”
    Dylan bit into a chocolate Munchkin. “Not sad enough.”
    “It will be when Heather and her alt.com friends are the new alphas,” Massie barked. “Better get used to cheap black sweaters and fake silver jewelry that'll turn your skin green.”
    She buried her face in her hands.
    “Mass.” Alicia's warm hand was on her back. “That key is so ours. Do you aw-nestly think Skye would let that room fall into LBR hands? Puh-lease! She's just testing us.”
    Massie lifted her head and gazed into Alicia's big brown eyes. They shimmered with quiet confidence.
    “You think?”
    “I know.”
    “Ah-greed.” Dylan wiped her mouth on the