A Tale of Two Pretties by Lisi Harrison Read Free Book Online Page A

anyone, about your secret.”
    “The money one.”
    “The money one.” Claire sat on the edge of her bed. “I’m almost offended that you think I would tell.”
    “Um, are you a busboy?”
    “No,” Claire said.
    “Then why are you turning the tables?” Massie asked.
    “I—”
    “That was about me not you. But I believe you now, so let’s move on.”
    Claire sighed. She wanted to be there for Massie like Selena was there for Demi, but it was hard when she had her own secret
     to keep.
    “Hey, Mass…” Claire wondered aloud. “Do you think we’d still be friends if we didn’t live on the same estate?”
    Massie did a belly-first dive onto Claire’s bed, knocking the “maybe” pile of clothes onto the floor. “Oh, you don’t have
     to worry about that, Kuh-laire!”
    Claire felt the knot in her stomach unravel a little.
    “Your family will never leave. Which is actually perfect because if mine does—not that they are, but they might… someday—I’ll
     move in with you, keep the same address, and no one will know the difference!” she declared, her eyes brightening. “It’ll
     be our secret.”
    Another one?
    Claire knew she had to tell Massie the truth and ask point-blank if they’d still be friends once they didn’t live together. And even if Massie pulled a Simon Cowell and left, at least
     Claire would know the truth and all the secrets would be over.
    “This is cute for you,” Massie said to a gray Alexander Wang tee shirt. “Keep this one.”
    “You gave it to me,” Claire admitted.
    “Oh.” Massie giggled. “Ooops.” Her smile was endearing, a mix of warmth and vulnerability. It stuck with Claire like a sad
     movie.
    “Maybe you should tell them,” Claire tried. “See what happens.”
    “Opposite of great idea,” Massie said, picking through Claire’s old blouses. “ ‘See what happens’ is for ordering jeans online,
     not for telling your friends you’re
poor
.” She reached for her necklace and dragged the black diamond along the chain.
    “Did you get that for Christmas?” Claire asked innocently.
    Massie nodded yes.
    “Then you’re not
poor
.”
    “Tell that to the frozen fish tank in my dad’s study. We’re selling it to a sushi chef from Ichi San.”
    Claire crossed the room and joined Massie on her bed, gently moving the “for keeps” clothes to her desk chair. “The point
     is, friends are there for each other no matter what. Did you bail on Kristen when you found out she wasn’t rich?”
    Massie paused to consider this. “Interesting point. Run with it.”
    Empowered, Claire sat taller. “It’s just that you’ve been there for them so many times…”
    “Name ten,” Massie said, as if the alpha’s greatest hits just slipped her mind. “Not including the one you just said.”
    “Okay, ten…” Claire thought hard. “Keep in mind I’ve only been here a year.”
    “Ten.”
    She stood and began pacing. “One. You helped Alicia buy her first minimizing bra. Two, you supply Kristen with new outfits
     every morning before school. Three, you designed their dirty devils Halloween costumes. Four, you had Jakob fix my bangs after
     Layne butchered them when I was trying to be Old-Claire for Cam. Four, you helped Dylan when Mr. Myner was dating her mom.
     Five, you formed the NPC after OCD became BOCD! Six, you started an underground clinic to teach lip virgins how to kiss. Um…”
     She searched the sticky corners of her mind for more. “Okay seven.”
    “You skipped seven.”
    “Seven, you turned the overflow trailers into Tiffany’s boxes so they wouldn’t feel like losers. Eight, you hosted billions
     of sleepovers—and spa days—so that’s eight. Nine, you sawed off Nina’s heels when she stole our crushes. And ten…”
Come on, Claire, don’t choke now… you’re almost there…
    Massie sat cross-legged on the bed, folded her arms across her chest, and glared expectantly.
    “Ten. You introduced them to me,” Claire said with a