Best Friends for Never (3 page)
“Easy, Mopey Dick,” Layne teased.
“All of my Florida friends have been e-mailing me about their latest crushes. Meanwhile, the only Westchester guy I've been hanging out with is Mr. Block. Don't you ever want to meet cute guys and have crushes and get all nervous when they're around?”
“No,” Layne said. “I try not to want anything—that way I'm never disappointed.”
“How is it possible not to want anything? What about that color printer you keep talking about?”
“It doesn't apply to merchandise.”
Claire heard a loud snap.
“Ow!” Layne said. “I think that kernel just broke my tooth.”
DING
.
MASSIEKUR:
DESPR8
“You okay?” Claire tried to stay focused on her conversation with Layne, but Massie was obviously determined to get her attention. Massie was switching her desk lamp on and off so quickly, Claire thought her room looked like it was caught in a severe electrical storm.
“Layne, can you hold on for a second?”
Phone in hand, Claire slid off her slippery leather chair and landed under her desk. If she was going to keep ignoring Massie's cries for help, she would have to take cover. She couldn't believe she had been reduced to hiding from Massie in her own house. It was
beyond
embarrassing.
Claire moved her hand across the bottom of the windowsill until she found the bottoms of the heavy beige curtains. She gripped them between her index and middle fingers and slid them shut.
“'Kay, I'm back, sorry 'bout that.” Claire peered out from under the desk at the round chunky legs on her four-poster bed. They looked like something straight out of a knight's castle. An ivory lace runner hung over the top of her dark dresser drawers and made her think of old ladies. All of the furniture in her room looked tired and unfriendly, like it would much rather be somewhere else. She missed the bright modern bedroom she left behind in Florida and made a mental note to ask her mother if she could remove the yellowed photographs of the Blocks' dead relatives so she could put up some of her own shots.
“I want to find a boyfriend.” Claire sighed. “Maybe then my life won't seem so pathetic.”
“You can't expect someone else to make you happy,” Layne said. Then she launched into a speech about boys and how much trouble they could be, but Claire was too distracted to pay attention. Someone wearing a pair of black pointy-toed boots was standing in front of her desk, tapping her foot. Claire's heart started to pound.
“Layne, I have to finish my design homework. I'll see you tomorrow in class,” Claire said. She yanked on the phone cord until the beige base fell off her desk and landed on the floor in front of her. She pulled it toward her and quickly hung up.
“Why were you ignoring me?”
Claire craned her neck out from under the desk and looked up. Massie stood above her with her hands on her hips. She was snapping her Dentyne Ice.
“I have no idea what you're talking about. I've been down here for like the last ten minutes, looking for my earring.”
“When did you get your ears pierced? After dinner?”
“Is this about the bet?” Claire asked. “Are you mad?”
“No. I welcome the challenge. Now get up.” Massie offered her hand. Claire took it.
The crown charm on Massie's bracelet dug into Claire's palm, but she didn't dare complain.
Once they were face-to-face, Massie spoke.
“Claire,” Massie said. Her voice was suddenly sweet. “Remember a few weeks ago you said you wished your parents would let you have a cell phone?”
“Yeah …”
“Well, I know how you can get it.” Massie started pacing. “From now on, all we have to do is act like we're best friends and our moms will give us anything we want.”
“What are you talking about?” Claire asked.
“I overhead them talking about how badly they want us to get along, sooo, all we have to do is give them what they want and we'll get what
we
want.” Massie flashed a proud smile.
“But how—?”
“Look, you want a cell phone and I want a boy-girl Halloween party. Follow my lead and they're as good as ours.”
Claire weighed the options. If she agreed, Massie would be grateful, which could lead to friendship down the line. She'd also get a cell phone, which would definitely help her fit in around school. And she'd finally have the opportunity to meet some Briarwood boys at the party and find a crush. Her days as “Mopey Dick” would be behind her forever.
“Okay,” Claire said. “Let's do it.”
THE BLOCK ESTATE
THE LIVING ROOM
9:00
PM
October 23rd
“Stop acting so scared,” Massie said. She smacked Claire's hand away from her mouth, putting an end to the irritating nail-biting sounds. “You're acting like you've never lied to your parents before.”
Claire was about to respond but was silenced by Massie's palm.
“Shhh.”
They were pressed up against the leopard print wallpaper just outside the living room, waiting for the perfect time to interrupt their parents' conversation.
“What about
The Producers?”
Kendra asked her husband. “You liked that play.”
“No, dear, I said I didn't
hate
it.”
“Well, I hated it,” Jay said.
“You hate anything that doesn't take place on a football field,” Judi said.
Massie looked at Claire and rolled her eyes. She couldn't believe their parents talked about such boring things.
“Okay, we're going in,” Massie said. “Remember, even if something I say sounds strange, go with it.” Then she grabbed Claire by the elbow and pulled her forward into the room.
“Hey, everyone.” Massie squeezed Claire's arm.
“Hey,” Claire said, right on cue.
Massie took a deep breath. The familiar smell of coffee and burning wood filled the air. Massie instantly relaxed. She had worked this room a thousand times.
“Claire and I just wanted to say happy birthday to Dad one more time before we went to bed,” Massie said.
“Y-yeah, happy birthday, William,” Claire added. Her voice was strained and her smile forced.
“Wanna ask them?” Massie turned to Claire. She knew Claire would have no idea what she was talking about and hoped she would play along.
“No, you should,” Claire said. “You're such a good asker.”
“Thanks.” Massie looked at Claire with a humble smile and puppy dog eyes, hoping her parents would believe affection and respect flowed effortlessly between them.
“Mom, Dad, Judi, Jay,” she addressed her audience. “Claire and I were talking before bed, which we've been doing
ah lot
lately, and—” She paused for effect.
Claire nodded in agreement.
Massie continued. “We were thinking about maybe having a Halloween party at the house this year.”
Massie looked for her mother's reaction first, because it was the only one that mattered. Kendra presided over all things related to the house, school (before, during, and after), spending money, sleepovers, punishments, and food. Her dad only stepped in when it came to grades, curfews, and loud music that needed to be turned down.
Kendra had a delicate white mug with gold trim raised to her lips but put it down before taking a sip. The clink of the china was the only sound in the room. Massie couldn't stand the silence and rushed to fill it.
“Of course, we would stay in the backyard so the house doesn't get dirty,” she added quickly. “Oh, and Claire has a great idea. Wait till you hear it.”
Massie knew it was crucial for her parents to think that she and Claire had spent hours discussing this and that saying no to the party would be like saying no to their first steps toward friendship.
“Go on,” Massie said. “Tell 'em.”
Claire stared right back at Massie and asked, “Whhhat?” through her teeth. It came out sounding like, “Ahhht?”
“Ehmagod, you are sooo modest.” Massie put her arm around Claire.
“She
thought it would be cool to invite a few boys to the party, too. You know, just to balance things out and to get some interesting costumes in the mix.”
Massie discreetly pressed her arm down on Claire's shoulder, reminding her to play along. Claire brushed her hand against the back of Massie's leg to say that she would.
“Claire, that was
your
idea?” Judi asked. She sounded pleasantly surprised.
“Looks like our little Lyon is one big dog,” Jay replied, and followed up with a phlegmy laugh.
“Don't tease.” Judi slapped her husband's arm playfully. “I think it's perfectly normal that she's ready to interact with boys.”
Massie could feel Claire starting to squirm under her arm.
“So Mom, can I?” Massie asked.
“Can you what?”
“Can I have the party?”
“Can
you
have the party?” Kendra looked from Massie to Claire and then back to Massie again.
Massie's mouth dried up and a rush of prickly heat shot up the back of her neck.
How could I make such a stupid mistake?
“I assumed you two were going to co-host.” Kendra tapped the side of her mug with her bloodred acrylic nail tips.
“Especially since it was
Claire's
idea to have the boys in the first place,” Judi said. She leaned in toward the dessert tray on the coffee table, snapped off a piece of biscotti, and popped it in her mouth.
“Oh, we're definitely co-hosts,” Massie said. “We've already started working on our list.”
“I hope your brother, Todd, is in on it,” Jay said to Claire.
“Of course he is.” Claire stuffed her hands into the side pockets of her cords.
“And how many kids did you plan to invite from your grade?” Kendra asked her daughter.
Massie paused. If she said “everyone,” her mom might worry about noise or mess. But if she said “almost everyone,” her mother would be angry she was leaving people out.
“Everyone,” Massie said, deciding that when it came to her mother, it was always best to include. She held her breath while she waited for a reaction.
“We'll sleep on it,” Kendra answered.
Massie stomped her foot and put her hands on her hips.
“I need to know—” Massie felt Claire tap her on the back of the leg. “I mean,
we
need to know tonight,” she said. “Halloween is only a week away, and we want to get Landon Dorsey to plan it.”
“Who?” Claire asked.
“She's the best party planner in the entire 914 area code. There is
nothing
that woman can't do,” Massie said.
Kendra looked at the girls one last time and sighed. “I'm okay with it if you are,” she said to the other parents.
“Have Landon call me with the cost,” William said.
“Thanks, Daddy.” Massie ran over to the couch. She hugged her father and planted a big kiss on his balding head.
“What about the cell phone?” Claire whispered to Massie.
“Huh?” Massie said. She was busy massaging her father's shoulders.
“You told me you'd help me ask for a cell phone.”
Massie started karate chopping William's back.
“Honey,” Jay said to Claire. “You know the rule. NO cell phones until you're sixteen.”
“I know.” Claire looked down at her fluffy pink slippers.
“Well, g'nite,” Massie said, her voice bursting with cheer. She kissed her parents and headed off to bed.
Claire ran out after her.
Todd was sitting on the hardwood floor outside the living room, playing his Game Boy on mute so he could eavesdrop.
“Hey, Massie, how 'bout for the party I dress up as a rock star and you can go as my stalker?”
“Hey, Todd,” Massie said. “How 'bout you dress up as a roadside raccoon and I'll go as a speeding truck driver?”
“Are you serious?” Todd asked Massie. “I love that.”
Massie ignored him and was speeding toward the stairs when she saw that Claire had followed her out of the room.
“I can't believe you tricked me like that!” Claire shouted at Massie. “I thought we had a deal.”
“Then DEAL!” Massie shouted back.
“Good one!” Todd slapped his hand against his faded jeans. “Hey, who wants to make root beer floats?”
But all he got in return were heavy sighs, stomping feet, and slamming doors.
11:15
AM
October 24th
The rickety Hardapple Orchards wagon jerked and wobbled as it rolled over the clumps of hay and horse poo that covered the trails. The entire seventh-grade class struggled to keep their hot chocolate from spilling all over the rough wool blankets that covered them. Massie fixed her gaze on the passing apple trees and thought about how she'd get back at Becca Wilder.
It was their second field trip of the year, and despite the chilly air and the bumpy ride, it was going much better than the first.
“Hey, Kristen,” Britton Daniels shouted toward the back of the wagon. “You're not going to be selling any bad makeup on
this
trip, are you?”
Britton and her B-list friends giggled.
Massie saw Kristen clench her jaw muscles.
“Don't let her get to you,” Massie said. “How were you supposed to know the makeup would make everyone's lips swell up?”
“Yeah,” Dylan Marvil said. “It's not
your
fault they got rushed to the hospital.” She twirled a piece of long red hair around her index finger.
“Dylan's right.” Alicia's beautiful almond-shaped eyes looked hazel in the sunlight. “It's their fault for having sensitive skin.”
Despite the comforting words of her best friends, Kristen refused to let it go.
“Hey, Medusa,” Kristen fired back. “This time I thought I'd sell you something from my new line of power tools. Maybe an electric saw will help you comb through that lice trap you call your hair.”
Britton ran her hand across the back of her head. Massie, Alicia, and Dylan roared with laughter.
“That's enough, girls,” Heidi said. Their nature-loving science teacher was zigzagging her way over to Kristen, clutching onto her students for balance as she passed. When she finally reached her target, Heidi rested her palm on Kristen's shoulder and continued her lesson.
“We will be at the pumpkin patch in a few minutes. In ancient Greece pumpkins were called
pepons
, which is Greek for ‘large melon.’” The turbulent wagon made her voice shake.