Read Online The Clique by Lisi Harrison - Free Book Online Page A

out. She opened her eyes as wide as they would go and slid both of her pupils to the right as if she’d just heard a frightening sound.
    The flash went off and the girls exploded. The one with the FCUK T-shirt laughed so hard a little milk dribbled out her nose.
    Claire checked to see if Massie was still watching her. She was.
    “My name is Layne,” the girl with the camera offered. Claire thought the girl looked like a female version of Tom Cruise, with her big nose, green eyes, and slightly crooked smile. The wild braided hair seemed to be the only thing keeping her from a career as his stunt double.
    “This is Heather and Meena,” Layne said.
    “Hi.” Heather smiled.
    “Hi.” Meena smiled too.
    “I’m Claire.”
    “Aren’t you Massie’s friend?” Heather asked.
    Before Claire answered, she checked to make sure Massie wasn’t watching her anymore.
    “Uh, yeah, I am,” Claire said softly. “How’d you know?”
    “I saw you with her this morning. And you’re dressed like a pure Massie-chist.”
    Claire was glad she wasn’t in the clothes she’d worn school that day or they never would have believed her.
    “Um, since I’m new here, I’m trying to meet everyone,” Claire said. “Massie was bummed about it at first because she was scared I’d make other friends and dump her—”
    “She
told
you that?” Layne asked.
    “Not exactly.” Claire bit her lip. “She wrote it in an e-mail.” “
    No
way,” Meena said. “What did she write?”
    Heather looked at her watch and let out a loud whine. “Meena, we have to meet LuLu about getting into her dress-making class,” she said.
    “I can’t believe we have to leave right when the Massie gossip is getting started,” Meena said.
    “Don’t worry, I have plenty more Massie stories. I’ll tell you everything next time,” Claire said.
    “Promise?” Meena asked.
    “Promise.” Claire raised her palm in the air like she was being sworn in under oath. Okay, so it wasn’t really true. But better to be a liar than a loser, right?
    Now that the girls were gone, Claire realized she had been standing up that whole time. She felt awkward looking down at Layne, who was seated.
    “Did you eat yet?” Layne asked. “’Cause I have tons of oatmeal left if you want some—it’s protein enriched. I bring it every day from home. I’m addicted.”
    Claire appreciated the offer, but the thought of sharing goopy oatmeal from a stranger’s thermos made her want to dry-heave.
    “No, thanks,” Claire lied.
    She was talking to Layne but kept her eyes fixed on Massie, who sat down at a nearby table to talk to some friends. Claire shifted in her seat uncomfortably and only half paid attention to her conversation with Layne.
    After a very short visit Claire watched Massie program some girls’ numbers into her cell phone. Alicia, Dylan, and Kristen turned three-quarters and waved goodbye from over their shoulders. Claire seemed to be the next stop on their table tour, because they were walking straight toward her.
    Wild geese that fly with the moon on their wings
    These are a few of my favorite things. …
    Claire caught a whiff of Massie’s perfume and knew they were getting closer. Before she could decide if she should get up and run or hide under the table, the four girls had arrived. Layne looked at Claire to see how she would greet them, probably hoping for an introduction. But nothing happened. They brushed by the table and didn’t say a word to anyone.
    False alarm
.
    “Jeez,” Layne said. “Massie is
really
jealous.”
    “I told you.” Claire ran her fingers across her bangs, suddenly anxious about how they looked. But the second Massie left the café, Claire relaxed.
    Layne and Claire spent the rest of lunch period talking about their mutual love of old musicals (especially
Sound of Music, Annie,
and
Wizard of Oz
), skater boys, and digital cameras. They hated the snobby factor of
Teen Vogue
and thought Drew Barrymore seemed like she’d be