The Chic Shall Inherit the Earth (7 page)

“I think that’s just a rumor,” I managed to say.

“I don’t care if it is. The point is, she’s going to make us all look stupid and low-rent. And that is not what Spencer is about.”

“Ashley, Vanessa is definitely not low-rent. And you know John Galliano is probably going to design her maternity clothes himself. She’ll wind up restarting the rage for bubble dresses just when they were going out.”

It looked as if it hurt her to smile. “Regardless, we’re asking her to step down today. We’re considering a small number of people who could take her place as senior consultant. Are you interested?”

“Me?!” I fell back on my hands. My elbows felt as if they would barely hold me up.

“You’ve got the experience,” she said rapidly, as if to head my objections off at the pass. “You worked on the Benefactors’ Day Ball and also Design Your Dreams last year. You’re connected. And everyone knows you’ve got style.”

That was nice to know.
Don’t fall for flattery. Tell her no
. “I, uh…”

“At least think about it,” Ashley begged.

“What about DeLayne? Or Emily, or someone in Vanessa’s group?”

“We don’t want a Vanessa clone,” she replied with honesty as brutal as Gillian’s. Only unlike Gillian’s, it wasn’t tempered with kindness. “We want someone different. Someone everybody likes. Someone who’s dependable.”

“Someone who’s not likely to turn up pregnant.”

“Exactly. There are only two or three people in the senior class who fit that description. And you’re one of them.”

Okay, I’d been sort of kidding. Yikes. These people were serious to the point of grimness about their Cotillion. Could I handle that? “When do you need my answer?”

“By Thursday at the latest, so we can vote on the short list. Our next meeting is on Friday, right after lunch. If you’re the successful candidate, I can brief you on everything we’ve done, introduce you formally, and you can hit the ground running the same day.”

My mother, charity benefit organizer extraordinaire, would really like this girl. I wondered if Ashley was interested in interning this summer. I also wondered who else was on the short list.

“I’ll let you know by Wednesday,” I said. “I have to talk—er, think it over first.”

“We’d really appreciate it, Lissa.” She climbed to her feet and picked up her backpack. “Personally, I’m lobbying for you. I think you’d be perfect for the job.”

Which job—running the Cotillion Committee, or stepping into Vanessa’s shoes? Because it was an unspoken fact that the most popular girl in the senior class was picked to be the senior consultant.

So what exactly did that make me?

WE HAD PRAYER
circle that same night, but I didn’t bring up Ashley’s request there. I didn’t want to trifle with the Lord’s attention—and there were bigger problems to pray over. A couple of people lifted up Gillian and her decision about colleges. She prayed for her brother, the gymnast, who was getting ready for the Olympics. And me?

I thought I was going to pray for Gillian, too. But it’s funny how the heart can take over when the brain is looking in the other direction.

“Father, this is probably going to surprise You, but I want to lift up Vanessa Talbot to You tonight. It’s none of my business, but all of us are Your business. If she’s thinking about, um, ending her pregnancy, I hope You’ll help her change her mind and point out whatever path is in Your will for her. Even if she doesn’t know it. In Jesus’ name, amen.”

People murmured “amen” and a little silence fell, as if they were digesting what I’d said. Finally, Shani flipped open her laptop and started Danyel’s weekly video. I concentrated on his musical voice, lifting us all up as if he were right there with us, and tried to relax.

Afterward, Jeremy and Brett said they had other stuff to do and headed off. Shani and Gillian waited until we were out on the street, walking down to Starbucks. “So what’s with the prayer, girlfriend?” Shani wanted to know. “I never expected to hear
that
name coming out of our circle, that’s for sure.”

“Why not? She can pray for whomever she wants,” Carly said. “Ease up.”

“I never said she couldn’t,” Shani retorted. “I just want to know what brought it on, is all.”

“I don’t know,” I said. “It just—came out.”

“I agree with Carly that a person should pray for someone if they’re led to. Especially when it’s over something as huge as an abortion. You can bet I’ll be praying about that. But—” Gillian paused. “You know how Vanessa is. She’s not the most trustworthy person on the planet, and I’d hate to see you get pulled into her orbit and have her find some way to hurt you.”

I never expected a simple prayer to make my girls react like this. “I’m sure she has other things to think about.” I shrugged. “I brought it to God. My work is done.”

“Vanessa wouldn’t thank you for it,” Shani said quietly.

“There’s another thing she won’t thank me for.” We pushed open the door and while we stood in line, I filled them in on the Cotillion Committee’s leadership problems.

Carly took her mocha and led the way to a table in the corner. “Yeah, they asked me, too.” She shook her head. “Even though my only qualification is who I’m dating. I think you should do it,” she said to me. “It seems like a no-brainer.”

“What about you?”

Carly shook her head. “Organizing events isn’t my thing. Going to them is way more fun.”

“You guys know what it means, right? Vanessa will never forgive me.” I took a sip of my honey latte.

“Why should that bother you?” Gillian wanted to know. “She hasn’t forgiven you yet just for being alive.”

True enough. “I guess I’m still hearing them laugh at her in the dining room today. It’s so ugly.”

“We weren’t laughing,” Shani pointed out.

“I know. But I’m not sure about jumping on the bandwagon and adding more ugly to it, you know?”

“How is being the senior consultant adding to it?” Carly asked. “Someone has to do it. You’re good at that kind of thing. It may as well be you.”

“I am?”

“Ashley told you herself that she noticed what you did for those other events.”

Could a person build a career on a knack for event planning? Maybe she could. At least it was something to put on the plus side of my very short list of talents. I might not be a fashion designer or a piano prodigy, but I could pull together a few hundred people and entertain them.

“Vanessa’s not going to take it out on you,” Carly said. “She’s got bigger things to think about. No pun intended.”

But in that Carly proved to be wrong. On Wednesday, I left core class and headed upstairs to second period, still trying to figure out whether or not I should text Ashley and tell her yes. Vanessa came out of the language lab and practically hip-checked me into a row of lockers.

“Well, if it isn’t the new senior consultant.” Her dark eyes were smudged with shadow. Hadn’t she slept? Or had she just been a little heavy-handed with the color palette this morning? “You back-stabbing hag.”

Hold your ground. You’ve got nowhere to go but backward.
“The committee hasn’t voted. And I haven’t decided if I even want to do it.”

“Luckily for you, it doesn’t take a brain to make that decision.”

My cheeks flushed hot, then paled. “I obviously take it more seriously than you do. And you don’t need to get personal about it.”

“Oh, it’s personal.” She leaned in, eyes snapping, while I tried to keep my spine straight and not give her an inch. “Those stupid cows don’t know a good leader when they have one. But I guess they’ll find out, won’t they?”

Ten different nasty cracks hovered on the tip of my tongue and I hung onto my self-control with both hands. I would not become like her. Turning into the blond version of Vanessa Talbot was not the summit of my ambition for the school year.

But deep inside, I knew it was possible. I could crush her with one nasty line. I could face down DeLayne Geary, and soon that group would be giving up their chairs for me at the table in the window. I could be the one deciding who was cool and who was outcast. I could have my pick of dates for the Cotillion.

Oh, yeah. With my longtime nemesis out of the way, I could have everything I once thought I’d wanted. Now there was a frightening thought: Anakin Skywalker turning into Darth Vader, right here at Spencer Academy.

“I have nothing to do with the committee’s decision, Vanessa.”

“Like I’m going to believe that. I heard you were talking to Ashley yesterday.”

“She asked me if I was interested, that’s all. They’re asking a bunch of people.”

“Witch. I know what you want.”

“Really?” I almost laughed. “How can you? I haven’t even figured that out yet.”

“Freaking Bible-thumper. They’ll see what a Judas you are.”

Okay, turning the other cheek has its limits. “Vanessa. For the last time, I didn’t ask for the job. They offered. If you don’t like it, you shouldn’t have—” I stopped and glanced at her stomach.

Her hand twitched, as if she’d barely restrained herself from slapping me. And then she turned on her heel and stalked away down the corridor, leaving me feeling sick and shaken as I made my way to the history classroom.

Vanessa 0. Lissa 0.

To:
[email protected]

From:
[email protected]

Date: May 12, 2010

Re: Re: Question

My friend,

It’s fortunate there is an understanding between us. Had my father seen your e-mail, I am sure he would have provoked an Incident. As it is, I deleted it from my mail and the palace server before the Secret Service found it. You see, my tutoring in computer science at Stanford has its uses after all.:)

The answer to your question is no. My relationship with Vanessa, such as it was, did not progress to the point you fear. I understand my duty, and it does not include foolish behavior. Not that I didn’t want to, you understand. But if I were going to take such a step, it would be with someone willing to accept the Star of the Desert and all that it means.

I still regret that you did not, but on the other hand, I am rewarded with a friend I can count on no matter the circumstances.

Be at peace, Shani. I hope you are well. Please delete this when you have read it.