Read Online The Ashley Project by Melissa de La Cruz - Free Book Online

at the dance,” A. A. piped up, finally putting her phone away.
    â€œYeah, Lil, be serious. I’m so tired of eighties nostalgia, it’s so cliché,” Ashley finally declared.
    â€œWell, what are your ideas, then?” Lili asked, looking hurt and annoyed.
    Ashley listened as the club discussed the merits of a winter wonderland theme. But the whole idea was nixed when A. A. pointed out that it was still autumn. There was a long, semiheated debate on whether or not to serve food (would anyone actually eat in front of the boys?), and it looked like the meeting would accomplish exactly nothing, until a clear voice spoke from the back of the room.
    â€œWhat about doing it like a celebrity event? We could do a red carpet—or a green one for Miss Gamble’s. And the yearbook people can pose as paparazzi. And we could all get really, really dressed up,” Lauren said, blushing deeply when all eyes turned to her.
    Ashley raised an eyebrow. Okay, so it was not such a bad idea, but she couldn’t very well acknowledge that.
    â€œThat doesn’t sound too bad,” Lili chimed in. “Don’t you think, Ash?”
    In response, Ashley flipped her hair over her shoulders and pointedly ignored Lili’s comment. “I know,” she announced, snapping her fingers. “We’ll throw a VIP. A Very Important Party. We’ll call it Miss Gamble’s Goes Hollywood and have a velvet rope and lists and we coulddress up in really cool clothes and get our pictures taken for the school newspaper.”
    Ashley watched as Lauren’s color deepened. It was so obvious Ashley had just stolen her idea, but nobody seemed to care or notice. Lauren put her head down, her cheeks aflame. But she didn’t say anything.
    Just the way Ashley knew it would happen.

12
THE ENEMY OF YOUR ENEMY IS YOUR . . . FRENEMY?
    AFTER THE MEETING ENDED, LILI watched as Lauren collected her things slowly so it wouldn’t be so obvious that she had to walk out of the room by herself while everyone else was bunched into chattering groups. Why had she spoken up in favor of Lauren’s idea? Especially since Ashley had declared Lauren a no-friend zone? If Lili stepped out of line . . . Well. What would happen? An idea began to form in her head.
    Lili checked to see if Ashley had left the room, and when she was sure Ashley wouldn’t see her, she ran up to Lauren. “Hey, wait up.”
    Lauren turned around. Her face was still bright red, from anger or embarrassment, Lili didn’t know.She gave Lauren the once-over. Lauren was wearing her hair back in a long, dark ponytail, and she’d lost the thick socks for a pair of cable-knit burgundy tights. Her uniform, Lili couldn’t help but notice, was custom-tailored so it fit her perfectly. She made the green plaid kilt look almost chic. No wonder Ashley hated her.
    â€œWhat?” asked Lauren, when Lili didn’t say anything for a long moment.
    â€œGum?” Lili offered, holding out a Trident pack, not knowing quite how to start or what to say. The room where the meeting was held was one of the Gamble mansion’s old bedrooms, with floral wallpaper and a brass chandelier hanging from the ceiling. An eighth grader stuck her head in the room looking for a forgotten binder and gave the two girls a curious look.
    Lauren waited until she left before shaking her head. “No, thanks.”
    Lili shrugged and popped her gum. You weren’t supposed to chew gum at Miss Gamble’s. You also weren’t supposed to slouch when you stood, sit with your legs spread, or talk loudly. But Lili was getting tired of playing by everyone else’s rules.
    â€œListen . . . I know I’m probably not one of yourfavorite people right now,” Lili said cautiously. “But I’d really like to talk to you.”
    Lauren snorted. “Why? So you can take credit for something I came up with, like your friend