The Clique by Lisi Harrison Read Free Book Online Page A

smile.
    “Always come prepared,” Kristen said. She lifted a backup shirt out of her bag as if she was pulling a tissue out of a box. She patted her notebooks dry with the hem of the stained T-shirt she was wearing.
    Massie could not believe Claire was still standing with them. “Claire, did I invite you to my barbecue?” Massie asked, her neck tilting to the right and her arms tightly crossed.
    “Huh? No. I mean, I don’t know,” Claire said.
    “Then why are you all up in my
grill?
” Massie said through her teeth.
    Everyone laughed except Claire. Her lower lip twitched.
    The piercing sound of the bell jump-started the slow walkers who were shuffling to third period, and suddenly everyone was on the move.
    “Gotta go,” Dylan said as she bolted to English.
    “Think I have time to run to the bathroom and wash the chai off my chest before second bell?” Kristen asked.
    “Yeah, go. I’ll save you a seat,” Alicia answered.
    “Hurry,” Kristen shouted.
    “She doesn’t know
how
to hurry,” Massie joked.
    “Why should I get all sweaty over an art class?” Alicia said.
    “I have art too! Is your teacher Vince—?” Claire was cut off.
    “You better go, Alicia,” Massie said while looking right at Claire.
    Alicia sauntered off.
    Massie and Claire were left alone to face each other. The hall was suddenly silent and empty. Massie realized this was the first time she had ever looked at Claire’s face head-on. She was pretty in a plain sort of way, and Massie couldn’t help thinking that with a new wardrobe, a little mascara, and longer bangs she might be able to make a few friends of her own.
    “I don’t understand why you hate me so much.” Claire’s voice was shaking.
    “Claire, this isn’t
Clueless,
okay?” Massie snapped. “Why don’t you just make your own friends and worship me from afar like everyone else?”
    Claire’s aqua blue eyes widened with disbelief and she let out a nervous giggle.
    “I practically live with you, Massie,” Claire said. “I can’t just go away. No matter how hard you try to make me.”
    “You obviously haven’t seen me try,” Massie said.
    Claire pushed the stack of bracelets away from her wrist and back up her arm. She looked like she was rolling up her sleeves before a fistfight.
    “I was just wondering,” Claire said. “Are you a female dog?”
    “What?” Massie asked. “Why?”
    “Because you’re acting like a real
bitch!
” Claire shot her a scowl and hurried away before Massie had time to answer.
    Poor Claire,
Massie thought.
In her world that was probably clever
.
    But in Massie’s world it was a big mistake.
    MASSIE: CLAIRE CALLED US BITCHES
    DYLAN: ????
    DYLAN: HOW RUDE. SHE JUST MET US
    MASSIE: I VOTE HER OFF THE ISLAND
    ALICIA: DONE
    DYLAN: DONE
    KRISTEN: AND DONE
    Massie clicked her phone shut and smiled. She knew her friends would do most of the dirty work, which was exactly what she wanted. That way she’d be “innocent” when her mother and her conscience caught up with her for what they were about to do.

O CTAVIAN C OUNTRY D AY S CHOOL A RT C LASS
    11:40 A.M . September 2nd
    When Claire finally got to class, everyone was seated and calm except her.
    Vases of colorful flowers lined the window ledges, and bowls of overly buffed fruit filled the shelf along the back wall. The skylights on the ceiling allowed sunny brightness to flood the room, creating a pleasant and cheery environment.
    “You look confused, dear. What’s your name?” asked a tall thin man in a navy smock that said, D ON’T M ESS W ITH P ERFECTION .
    The entire class stared at Claire.
    “I’m not confused, I’m just looking for a seat,” Claire answered. She could feel her face turning red.
    “And you arrrrrrre?” He tapped his clog impatiently while he waited for an answer.
    “I’m Claire.”
    “Hello, Claire, I’m Vincent. My likes are swing dancing and must-see TV. My dislikes are … let me think … hmmm … oh, I know—TARDINESS!” he shouted.