THE GUESTHOUSE
CLAIRE'S BEDROOM

8:22 PM

October 23rd

Claire was in her bedroom, sitting at the dark mahogany secretary by her window. The antique desk came with the room, along with the rest of the dusty old furniture that had once belonged to Massie's grandmother.

“Okay, I know this is going to sound creepy,” Claire said into the phone. “But my brother has a crush on Massie.” She was talking to Layne Abeley, her first and only friend in Westchester.

“Isn't she a little old for him?” Layne asked.

“Not if he's looking for a babysitter.”

Claire kicked off her white platform Keds and propped her legs up on the desk beside her unfinished fashion design homework. Even though FD was a required class at Octavian Country Day School, she had a hard time taking it seriously. How would an education in pattern making, sketching, sewing, and draping (whatever that was) possibly help her become a famous photographer? Her old school in Orlando would never offer a course about fashion. But then again, nothing about OCD reminded her of home.

“How was Mr. Block's birthday dinner?” Layne asked. She was chewing right into the phone, but Claire didn't mind. Layne's new favorite snack was popcorn and mustard, and lately she made almost constant crunching noises. Claire was just glad Layne had gotten over the oatmeal, her old favorite snack. Popcorn might be louder, but it was a lot less mushy.

Claire had begun filling Layne in on the bet she made with Massie when she was distracted by a ding. Someone had sent her an instant message.

MASSIEKUR: R U THERE?

Claire's insides froze. Massie's bedroom in the Block residence faced Claire's bedroom in the guesthouse, so there was a good chance she was being watched. Claire pushed her feet against the floor in a desperate attempt to slide her heavy leather upholstered chair away from the window.

Why did I open my big mouth during dinner?

“So wait,” Layne said. “If you repeat anything, even shoes, you'll have to wear a snowsuit to school?”

“Yup.”

“That's impossible. Why did you agree to that?”

“I'm tired of Massie thinking I'm a loser,” Claire said, her voice drifting off. “I want to prove I can be just as tough as she is.”

“Do you have any idea how many outfits are in a month?” Layne said.

Claire heard the rustling sound of a paper bag through the phone before getting an earful of Layne chewing her popcorn. It sounded like she was stomping on a pile of foam packing peanuts. Layne made a swallowing noise and then continued. “I'm sorry. That wasn't helpful. I'll bring you a bunch of clothes tomorrow.”

“No, don't!” Claire said. Layne's latest obsession was secondhand old man pants and vintage concert tees. If Massie was embarrassed to be seen with Claire in this year's Gap, how would she ever take Claire seriously in Salvation Army?

“I'm sure Nurse Adele will be able to give me a few things from OCD's lost and found,” Claire said. “Remember that great outfit she gave me when Alicia wiped red paint on my pants?”

“Yeah, but I have tons of great new clothes, so it's no problem,” Layne said. “You'd do it for me, right?”

“Of course I would.” Claire meant it.

“Hey, did you take the Smile Much quiz I e-mailed you?”

“Yeah,” Claire said. She twirled the phone cord around her finger and wondered if she was the only person in Westchester younger than eighty-five who still used a land line.

“How did you do?”

Claire turned to her computer and clicked on the quiz.

“I only scored a fifteen. According to the results, that makes me a ‘Mopey Dick.’”

“Why so low?” Layne asked. “I got a perfect thirty. According to the quiz, I'm ‘Happy as a Clam.’ What did you pick for number four?”

Claire scrolled down.

IF YOUR LIFE WAS A RIDE AT SIX FLAGS, IT WOULD BE …

(A) THE JESTER

(B) HURRICANE HARBOR

(C) THE SCREAM

“C.” Claire sighed. “You?”

“A,” Layne said. “What about the next one?”

Both girls read silently.

IF YOUR BEST FRIEND WAS ABDUCTED BY ALIENS, WHAT WOULD YOU MISS THE MOST?

(A) LAUGHING MY ABS OFF

(B) HANGING OUT WITH SOMEONE WHO GETS ME

(C) MISS?

“I picked A and B,” Layne said. “I'd miss you for both reasons.”

“Me too.” Claire thought it was better to lie than to hurt Layne's feelings. If she had been with her Orlando friends, she would have answered A and B. But for now she picked C. She liked Layne but still secretly longed to be a part of Massie's fabulous foursome, just like everyone else at OCD. Massie, Alicia, Dylan, and Kristen went to every party in town and wore the coolest clothes, and everyone at school referred to them as the “Pretty Committee.” So what if they threw smoked salmon at her a few weeks earlier? She would be willing to put it behind her if they would. Fitting in with them meant fitting in with everyone, and who wouldn't want that?

“What about the last one?” Layne said. “Once again I picked A.”

Claire scrolled down to the final question.

THE HOT NEW GUY SITS BESIDE YOU IN SCIENCE LAB (OMG!). HOW DO YOU DEAL?

(A) INVITE HIM TO EXPERIMENT WITH YOU AFTER SCHOOL

(B) FLASH HIM THAT “COME-HITHER” SMILE YOU'VE BEEN PRACTICING IN THE BATHROOM MIRROR. THEN WAIT FOR HIS MOVE

(C) SWITCH SCHOOLS. HE'S MORE DISTRACTING THAN A REAL WORLD MARATHON

“What difference does it make?” Claire said. “It's not like we even have boys at our school.” She wound the phone cord tightly around her index finger and watched her skin turn from pink to purple.

“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.”