THE LIMITED
DRESSING ROOM NO. 5
2:12 PM
October 25th
“I have about two minutes before my mother gets suspicious, so I'll make this quick,” Massie whispered. “Remember that bet I told you about? Well, it's killing me—I have nothing to wear.”
“Why don't you just admit defeat?” Alicia said. “It's only a bet.”
“Because then she has to wear her old snowsuit to school for a week,” Kristen said.
“It's two weeks,” Dylan said.
“No, it isn't, it's one week,” Kristen said.
“Ehmagod, will you guys please stop fighting already? I need your help.”
Massie reached into her red Coach clutch and pulled out her Visa.
“Take this and buy me some cute tops. I would love a purple scoop neck and maybe something in winter white and then whatever else you think I'll like. I'll take care of our costumes if you do this for me.”
“Don't forget I lost five pounds, so I probably went down a size,” Dylan said.
“Got it,” Massie barked. “Now go!”
The girls stormed out, eager to complete their mission.
Massie breathed a sigh of relief. She fixed her hair, reapplied her lip gloss, and adjusted her tie belt before unlocking the dressing room door. She had just saved her dying wardrobe, and she felt at peace for the first time all day. Her next stop would be The Espresso Bar for a celebratory chai latte.
Massie was greeted by a mob of impatient shoppers holding armfuls of clothes, waiting for her to leave. But her victory was too sweet to be soured by a bunch of Limited customers, and besides, it wasn't like she'd ever see them again.
She held her head high and walked out of the dressing room, managing to avoid eye contact with everyone.
“I heard you.”
Massie knew the voice but kept going.
“I know what you're doing.”
Don't look back. Left foot, right foot. Left foot, right foot. Keep moving. You're almost out!
“Massie, STOP,” Claire said. She was at the front of the line, holding a periwinkle blue sweater and a few other items from the sale rack.
“What did you hear?” Massie said.
“I don't want to fight.” Claire's voice was patient and kind. “I know this has been hard for you, so I'll give you another chance. You can either call your friends to tell them you've changed your mind. Or you can wear the new sweaters under your old snowsuit.” Claire had an evil grin on her face. It gave Massie goose bumps.
Massie lifted her phone out of her bag and flipped it open.
“Darn,” she said, and snapped it shut. “Battery's dead.”
“Here you go,” said a girl with dreadlocks who happened to be in line behind Claire. She handed over her red-gold-and-green Nokia. “You're Massie Block, right? You go to OCD, right?”
Massie waved the phone away and accidentally inhaled a mouthful of patchouli.
“Yeah,” she said. “Who are you?”
“Brianna Grossman.”
“Are you new?” Massie asked.
“No, we've been in the same class for two years,” Brianna said, looking confused. “You invited me to your Halloween party.”
But Massie didn't respond. Instead she used her thumb to open her cell phone and her middle finger to flip Claire off.