The Clique_ Charmed And Dangerous_ The Clique Prequel Part 1

The Clique_ Charmed and Dangerous_ The Clique Prequel.

by Lisi Harrison.

For the Clique fans who supported me along the way, even when I had type-os. I ah-dore you all.

WESTCHESTER, NYTHE BLOCK ESTATEFriday, December 31st6:01 P.M. P.M.

"Bonne anneeeeeee!" Kendra Block trilled into the phone with gushing enthusiasm. Kendra Block trilled into the phone with gushing enthusiasm.

"Happy New Year, darling!" Ma.s.sie's father added over swirling laughter, clinking champagne flutes, and strains of "Auld Lang Syne." "We love you!"

"I love you tooooo!" Ma.s.sie shouted back. But from the stillness of her crisp navy blue and white bedroom those words sounded hollow, lonely, forced; like whoo-hooing on a private riding trail after a blanketing snowfall.

She eyed the swamp green screen on her Motorola flip phone.

Was it really midnight in Paris?

It was like her mom and dad had ridden a time machine six hours into the future. Even though they were parents, Ma.s.sie envied them. They already knew whether their night was magical: whether their outfits would inspire copycats... whether their jokes were LOL-worthy... whether their conversation topics were charming... whether their New Year's Eve story had a happy ending... whether- "Where are you?" Kendra asked, oozing giddiness.

"M'room." Ma.s.sie plopped onto the edge of her navy duvet and flexed her toes. Was silver polish fun or done? Cla.s.s or cra.s.s? Mature or manure? Gawd, if only there was some kind of list that told girls what was in and what was out.... Was silver polish fun or done? Cla.s.s or cra.s.s? Mature or manure? Gawd, if only there was some kind of list that told girls what was in and what was out....

"Open your door." Kendra giggled.

"Huh? Why?"

"Go!" Kendra insisted with mock frustration.

Ma.s.sie slid off the edge of her bed, her gold silk kimono sparking and snapping with static electricity.

"Does she like it?" William asked in the background.

"Shhhhh," Kendra hissed. "She hasn't seen it yet."

Ma.s.sie squeaked with burst-at-the-seams impatience.

"Is the door open? Are you there yet?" Kendra asked.

"Almost." Ma.s.sie padded across the white wool rug, heart revving. Was it the tiny black pug she had been begging for? Oh, puh-leaase make it the tiny black pug she had been begging for! With a big red bow atop her mini head and a diamond anklet with a bone charm. Was it the tiny black pug she had been begging for? Oh, puh-leaase make it the tiny black pug she had been begging for! With a big red bow atop her mini head and a diamond anklet with a bone charm. That would semi-make up for her mother's holiday "surprise" where she'd transformed Ma.s.sie's three-shades-of-pink boudoir into a showroom for Tommy Hilfiger. Blue, red, and white everything. It put the That would semi-make up for her mother's holiday "surprise" where she'd transformed Ma.s.sie's three-shades-of-pink boudoir into a showroom for Tommy Hilfiger. Blue, red, and white everything. It put the nawt nawt in nautical. But she decided to put up with it because the decorator a.s.sured her it was "fresh" and Ma.s.sie's best friends agreed. in nautical. But she decided to put up with it because the decorator a.s.sured her it was "fresh" and Ma.s.sie's best friends agreed.

"Okay, I'm here." She gripped the bra.s.s anchorshaped doork.n.o.b.

"Yayyyyyyyyy!" screeched Kendra. "Openit! Openit! Openit!"

Turning the anchor slowly, so as not to startle the pup, Ma.s.sie cracked the door and peered out. Expecting a nose full of new-puppy smell, she inhaled deeply. All she got was the sharp floral scent of Crabtree & Evelyn's Spring Rain home spray, her mom's favorite.

Ma.s.sie lowered her gaze, ready to make contact with a pair of moist black eyes. Eyes that would pulsate hearts for her new master and- "Ew!" she blurted at the sudden appearance of a woman's bare feet. Size nine. Calloused. Dry. Neglected. she blurted at the sudden appearance of a woman's bare feet. Size nine. Calloused. Dry. Neglected.

A plaid flannel nightgown skimmed the woman's ankles and tented her stocky body. Strands of long black hair, freed from their tight bun but contorted from hours of captivity, clung to the glistening Pond's cold cream slathered on the side of her face.

"Inez?"

"Happy New Year." She held a Tiffany box in her palm and smiled warmly.

Ignoring the housekeeper, Ma.s.sie peered left, then right. Was the pug hiding? Was she part two of her parents' guilt gift? Was the blue box a red herring?

But, as usual, nothing in the hallway seemed out of place. The only panting came from Inez, who must have been instructed to run up the winding staircase before Ma.s.sie opened the door.

"Do you love it?" her mother asked.

"Does she love it?" her father echoed.

Sensing Ma.s.sie's paralyzing disappointment, Inez opened the box for her. "Beauuuutiful." The housekeeper dangled the glistening gold charm bracelet under Ma.s.sie's jutting chin.

"It has all of your favorite things on it," Kendra explained. "A high-heeled shoe, a dollar sign, a horse, a diamond-encrusted bell-for the diamonds, obviously, not the bell-and a pig."

"A pig pig?"

"Yes, you wanted one for Christmas, only we've had the hardest time finding housebroken breeds so we-"

"Mohhhm, I wanted a pug pug, nawt a pig pig."

Kendra gasped in horror. "William," she called into the party noise. "She wanted a pug pug, not a pig pig!... I know... huge huge relief!" Her lips returned to the mouthpiece. "Those are so much easier to find, darling. We'll get one as soon as we return to the relief!" Her lips returned to the mouthpiece. "Those are so much easier to find, darling. We'll get one as soon as we return to the etats-Unis etats-Unis."

"Yay!" Ma.s.sie pinched the bracelet off Inez's finger and slid it on. It was a little loose, but nothing she couldn't have Mr. Novick, the family jeweler, fix after the holidays. She examined her wrist from all angles, studying the way the light reflected off the chain. Aside from the mistaken-bacon it was actually kinda cute. And no one else had one... yet.

Fireworks soared and popped on the other end of the call. Ma.s.sie felt like exploding right along with them. She was finally going to get a puppy! A confidant. A real best friend. A sibling.

"Oh, and we got you a tiny gold Eiffel Tower. It's ab-so-lutely chaaarming." Kendra giggled at her corny pun.

Ma.s.sie's phone beeped.

The swamp green screen flashed AHNNA.

Her palms began to sweat.

One last firecracker whistled in the background, then fizzled out.

The phone beeped again.

Ignoring the call would mean violating Ahnna's strict "talk or walk" policy, an offense that would put Ma.s.sie in social solitary for an entire weekend. No phone calls, e-mails, IMs, or gossip alerts. She had to act.

Now.

"SoundsgreatMomIcan'twaitHappyNewYearIloveyouseeyoutomorrownightbyeee."

Click.

"Hullo?" Ma.s.sie answered quickly. She wave-thanked Inez, then shut the bedroom door.

"Vicky and Sheldon'll be pulling up in five," barked the girl on the other end.

The line went dead.

With quaking thumbs, Ma.s.sie set the stopwatch on her Motorola, then tossed it on her bed. Thankfully, her dark, glossy hair had been professionally twisted into a loose chignon hours ago. Cheeks were tinted to a flirty blush. Lips shimmered with rose-scented gloss. And the faceless mannequin in the corner of her bedroom looked festive times ten in an Agnes B. dress, with a shiny black ticket lodged between her thin porcelain fingers.

Ma.s.sie slid the gold charm bracelet onto her model's stiff white arm and stepped back to evaluate. Head c.o.c.ked, she finger-tapped her chin.

"Hmmmmmmm." She sighed. "Something is awf. Not awful, just awf."

The black minidress stamped with silver metallic triangles hung like couture. Gunmetal gray Prada wedges and black cashmere kneesocks would add just the right amount of funk to the function. And the coveted ticket to famed talk-show host Merri-Lee Marvil's celebrity-studded New Year's Yves New Year's Yves broadcast-where a one-of-a-kind Yves Saint Laurent beaded clutch would drop at midnight like the Times Square ball-was the perfect accessory. broadcast-where a one-of-a-kind Yves Saint Laurent beaded clutch would drop at midnight like the Times Square ball-was the perfect accessory.

Soooooo... chin-tap... chin-tap... chin-tap... What was it? What was putting the "out" in her outfit?

The soft yellow light from her bedside lantern reflected off the charm bracelet and winked at her. The new kid was trying to tell her something.

Ehmagawd, GOLD!

The gold charm bracelet clashed with the silver triangles on the dress and gunmetal gray shoes. It was like chewing mint gum and drinking Diet c.o.ke. It was a bitter combination. And the last thing she needed was for people in India or Cairo (or wherever) to be watching Merri-Lee Marvil's celebrity-studded New Year's Yves New Year's Yves broadcast and saying that some American was mixing metals. And if broadcast and saying that some American was mixing metals. And if they they noticed, Ahnna would noticed, Ahnna would definitely definitely notice. notice.

Ma.s.sie glanced at her phone-00:02:16:23.

Ehmagawd! Only two minutes, sixteen seconds, and twenty-three whatevers left!

She could ditch the bracelet, but it was new. And gold. And totally enviable. It could start trends or, at the very least, conversations. But rethink the Agnes B.? At this this hour? Impossible. hour? Impossible.

Anxiety ravaged her flesh like razor burn.

Whattodo? Whattodo? Whattodo?

And then, in a stroke of brilliance, Ma.s.sie pinned her gold M M brooch to one sock, and a gold brooch to one sock, and a gold B B to the other. The initial pins were a perfect way to tie the whole thing together. After a quick digital picture of the outfit-to avoid duplication in the future-Ma.s.sie tore the clothes off her body double and speed-dressed. Just as she was sliding the bracelet up her thin wrist, BMW tires crunched the gravel on her driveway. to the other. The initial pins were a perfect way to tie the whole thing together. After a quick digital picture of the outfit-to avoid duplication in the future-Ma.s.sie tore the clothes off her body double and speed-dressed. Just as she was sliding the bracelet up her thin wrist, BMW tires crunched the gravel on her driveway.

Her alarm beeped-00:00:00:00.

Inez's voice came over the white intercom on her nightstand. "The Pinchers are here."

Ma.s.sie smoothed her dress. "Nine-seven," she rated herself out of ten, docking point three for her pale December skin. Satisfied, she turned away from her otherwise flawless reflection.

Racing down the stairs Ma.s.sie blinked back the cyclone of questions twisting through her brain. Would Ahnna approve of her clothes or turn up her nose? Would she make memories or enemies? Would mixed metals set trends or disgust friends?

Ahhhh, to be in France and already have all the answers.

WHITE PLAINS, NYWESTCHESTER COUNTY AIRPORTFriday, December 31st7:56 P.M. P.M.

"Stop!" Ahnna shouted.

"What?" Mr. Pincher slammed on the brakes.

Ahnna, Lana, Shauna, Brianna, and Ma.s.sie lurched forward. They slammed into the tan leather seats and then busted out laughing.

"What happened happened?" Mr. Pincher turned to face Ahnna, his white cashmere scarf swaddling his cleft chin. "Is everyone okay?"

A stunned Mrs. Pincher gripped her pearl choker and glared out the windshield.

"Okay? Uv'korse we're oh- Uv'korse we're oh-kay." Ahnna lowered her window. Bitter cold wind blew her b.u.t.terscotch blond curls around like the fur of a goldendoodle on an air-sniffing joy ride. "This is gonna be the coolest party evv."

Ma.s.sie nodded in agreement while ma.s.saging her cramped calf. Squeezing into the back of a Beemer with three other girls hardly said New Year's Eve New Year's Eve; more like hitchhiking to the nearest town for gas. .h.i.tchhiking to the nearest town for gas. She'd offered Isaac, her driver, and their new Lexus LX 470 with the stocked fridge, killer speakers, and heated seats (to keep dresses from wrinkling). But Ahnna had flat-out refused.

No shock there. When Ma.s.sie suggested it, Ahnna turned it down.

They drove under a NEW Y YEAR'S Y YVES sign made of silver and gold Swarovski crystals and entered the packed parking lot. Normally reserved for private planes and helicopters, the tarmac had been transformed into what looked like a luxury car showroom. sign made of silver and gold Swarovski crystals and entered the packed parking lot. Normally reserved for private planes and helicopters, the tarmac had been transformed into what looked like a luxury car showroom.

Rows of just-washed luxury sedans glistened with pride, awaiting their drivers' return. Or were they glistening with sweat sweat? Sweat from knowing that with a new year comes a new model, and they were days away from being traded in?

Ma.s.sie's insides sank under the weight of her sympathy. She knew that you-could-be-replaced-in-a-heartbeat feeling all too well.

"Stawp!" Brianna smacked Shauna's arm. "Check out the license plate on that Bentley."

Shauna repositioned her cherry red Moschino gla.s.ses. "It says J-Lo!"

"Stawp!" Lana squealed.

"M'gawsh!" Ahnna clenched her fists.

"When did 'stop' stop meaning stop stop?" Mr. Pincher tapped the gas and inched toward the valet attendant.

"I hear it's even better on the inside," Mrs. Pincher told them as they pulled past the snaking line of ticketless wannabes hoping to convince the bouncers to let them in.

"Eeeeeeeeeeee!" Ahnna, Shauna, Lana, and Brianna shook their hands as if drying manicures. They did it every time they were excited times ten. Ma.s.sie, however, refused. It didn't look hot-it looked like they were on fire.

"You guys should really calm down," Ma.s.sie whispered from the side of her glossy mouth. "You're acting like you've never been to a TV event before."

Ahnna pulled her head inside the car, her windblown curls now a wild mane. "And you have have?"

"No," Ma.s.sie mouthed, eyeing the sprawling airplane hangar, which by now probably contained half of America's A-list, and most of Britain's. "But they they don't know that." She waved her hand toward the wannabes and-"Oops!"-her bracelet accidentally slid off her wrist, landing on the car carpet with a jingle-thud. don't know that." She waved her hand toward the wannabes and-"Oops!"-her bracelet accidentally slid off her wrist, landing on the car carpet with a jingle-thud.

"What was that that?" Shauna thumb-pressed her red gla.s.ses against her nose and scanned the floor.

"My new Tiffany Tiffany charm bracelet." Ma.s.sie scooped it up and slid it back on. charm bracelet." Ma.s.sie scooped it up and slid it back on.