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

there, A. A. and Ashley talked about her, just as when Ashley didn’t join them for tennis on Saturdays, she and A. A. spent the day gossiping about her, and on Tuesdays and Thursdays when A. A. had a different lunch period,she and Ashley spent the hour picking her apart.
    She sat quietly in the back of her mother’s black hybrid SUV as their driver drove them back to their house in Presidio Heights, just a few blocks away. Like Pacific Heights, it was an exclusive, affluent neighborhood filled with beautiful homes and immaculate gardens.
    â€œThat was nice, wasn’t it?” asked her mother.
    â€œUh-huh,” Lili replied softly, tracing a finger on the windowpane and making smiley faces in the mist.
    â€œWas that Lauren Page I saw you girls with earlier?” her mother continued, removing a Chanel compact from her bag and powdering her nose.
    Lili nodded, feeling a small twinge of guilt at making up that ridiculous story about Lauren. Already people were oinking whenever they saw the poor girl running to and from the bathroom after Ashley’s second dare.
    But whatever, the girl should be old enough to take care of herself, right? It wasn’t Lili’s fault—it was just a joke .
    â€œIt’s nice that you guys are making new friends,” Nancy said, snapping the case shut as they arrived at the gates of their palatial Tudor mansion.
    â€œMmm,” replied Lili, wondering if her mother had any idea of what had really happened at the tea. Winston, their chauffeur, opened the back door for them, and shegot out of the car quickly before her mother could ask her any more about it.
    When they walked in, their chef was already making dinner, and a delicious smell was emanating from the oven. Lili’s twin three-year-old sisters, Josephine and Brennan, were running around like banshees, wet blue paint on their hands, their nannies running after them with towels. Her mother’s two personal assistants were buzzing around with wireless receivers strapped to their ears. One was going through a thick stack of invitations, while the other was faxing replies.
    Her two older sisters were away, one at college and the other at boarding school. Lili missed them more than she thought she would. Her older sisters had teased and tormented her mercilessly, but now she wished more than anything that they still lived at home.
    Her mother had quit her job to be with her family, but it seemed she was busier than ever. There was always so much activity in the house. Sometimes Lili felt it was more of an office than a home, and she was merely a junior associate in her mother’s old law firm. Someone who was expected to execute deliverables.
    â€œWhat’s this?” Nancy asked, noticing a yellow slip sticking out of one of Lili’s books on the counter. It wasthe late notice from this morning. “You were late? But I dropped you off at the corner at seven thirty.”
    â€œI met Ashley at Starbucks first. I blame the baristas. It took them so long to make our lattes,” Lili joked, steeling herself for a lecture as her mother read the note and frowned.
    Sure enough, Nancy put a hand on her daughter’s shoulder and crouched down so she could look her in the eye. She folded up the note, and it was obvious from her brisk demeanor that she knew what had happened. Lili was never late unless Ashley was involved somehow. “Sweetie, you know I adore Ashley, but she has too much of an influence on you,” her mother said.
    Ever since Lili had brought home a “warning” from the headmistress’s office after the SOA sticker caper, Nancy had gotten it into her head that the Ashleys were nothing but trouble, and the late notice didn’t help any.
    â€œYou really have to learn to be your own person,” her mother said firmly. “Get out of her shadow.”
    Lili tried not to show her annoyance, since it would land her in more hot water. But how exactly did you