Read Online The Pretty Committee Strikes Back by Lisi Harrison - Free Book Online Page A

and get something new. We will only have what we packed.”
    “Ahhh.” Claire nodded, pretending to get it.
    “You can always call me,” Kristen offered. “I'll be shopping all week, so I can send something up in case there's an emergency.”
    It was obvious that Kristen was trying to sound excited about her situation, because she spoke in a high-pitched everything's-okay-with-me-why-do-you-ask? tone that Claire had never heard before.
    And it was obvious by the way the corners of Massie's lips curled up that she was about to bust Kristen on her fake enthusiasm. But the
pling!
sound on her computer alerted her to an IM she had just received from SHORTZ4LIFE. And that took priority.
    “Ehmagawd,” Massie squealed. “It's from Derrington!”
    “What'd he say?” Alicia raced over to the iMac. Massie leaned into the screen. Either she was blocking the IM from her friends or she had suddenly become farsighted. Whichever it was, she insisted that everyone stay seated. “I'll tell you everything,” she promised. “I just don't need everyone breathing down my neck.”
    Alicia took a few steps back.
    Massie read and typed.
    SHORTZ4LIFE: HI BLOCK
    MASSIEKUR: HEY
    SHORTZ4LIFE: WHAT R U DOING?
    MASSIEKUR: HANGING OUT WITH TPC
    “Ask him if Josh Hotz is definitely going to Lake Placid,” Alicia whispered, as if Derrington could hear her through the computer.
    Claire felt her forehead break out in a cold sweat. Every time Alicia mentioned Josh, Claire tried not to look guilty. She widened her eyes and looked around the room like an innocent fawn.
    MASSIEKUR: IS JOSH GOING?
    SHORTZ4LIFE: ALL MY BOYZ WILL BE THERE.
    JOSH, CAM, PLOVERT, & HURLEY
    Claire felt her heartbeat quicken when Massie said Cam's name. More than anything, she wanted to ask Derrington if Cam had mentioned her poem, but she held back. She didn't want the Pretty Committee to know how desperate she was.
    “Ehmagawd.” Dylan slapped her thighs. “Ask Derrington if Plovert is still on crutches.”
    MASSIEKUR: IS PLOVERT STILL A GIMP?
    SHORTZ4LIFE: LOL. YUP. CAST COMES OFF IN 2 WEEKS
    “Love that!” Dylan said. “Now he can't run away from me.”
    “Should I tell Derrington you like Plovert?” Massie's fingers hovered above her keypad.
    “No!
I'm not making it official until tomorrow.” She paused. “Unless you think he's a bad crush. If you do, it's no big deal. I could always go for someone else. Like Josh.”
    “Don't even think about it, Marvil.” Alicia threw a half-chewed marshmallow at Dylan's head. “Or I'll chop off all your hair while you're sleeping and make you eat it.”
    Claire stuffed four squares of chocolate into her mouth at once.
    “No, please don't.” Dylan grabbed her own waist. “I really don't want to gain all that weight back.”
    “Just think,” Kristen said. “If you stayed here with me, we could work out every day.”
    “No offense, but I'd rather eat my hair.” Dylan smiled.
    SHORTZ4LIFE: IS CLAIRE GOING?
    MASSIEKUR: GIVEN
    Claire stood up and raced over to Massie's computer. She knew she'd been asked to stay seated, but Cam was obviously asking about her. And she didn't want to miss a single word of the exchange.
    “Is Cam with him?” Claire asked. “Ask him if Cam got my po—my e-mail.”
    Massie started typing but was interrupted by another
pling!
She started reading out loud again.
    SHORTZ4LIFE: DOES SHE LIKE JOSH? CUZ HE'S TOTALLY INTO HER
    MASSIEKUR: DOES WHO LIKE JOSH? WHO IS HE INTO?
    Alicia jumped up and hurried over to the computer.
    SHORTZ4LIFE: CLAIRE
    Claire nudged Massie.
    “Uh.” Massie leaned over her screen. “He won't say.”
    “I need to know who it is.” Alicia pleaded. “Tell him we all went home and then ask him if it's me.”
    “Sneaky,” Kristen mumbled, and rolled her eyes.
    “Ugh, will you just let me pay for your trip?” Alicia snapped. “I can't handle your attitude anymore.”
    “I don't want to go,” Kristen said. “Honestly, I am looking forward to getting ahead on