Belles
Page 27
“God, no.” Mira tried to smile. “Teen Vogue called this morning and offered Izzie and me a fashion layout in the magazine.” Savannah’s eyes widened, so she kept going. “They want to know the real story, not the silly rumors people are spreading.”
“Teen Vogue?” Savannah repeated slowly, almost tripping over her own words.
Mira nodded. Was it her imagination or did Savannah look jealous? “I am meeting our publicist to discuss whether we’re going to take it.” She looked at Lea’s surprised expression and laughed to herself. “I mean, who knew Justine and Teen Vogue would be fighting over us? We might do People, too.” She made a mental note to call Callista later and persuade her to get them in a magazine. Any magazine!
“Wow, you do sound busy,” Savannah said, pushing the cheer back into her voice. “So busy that you probably don’t even miss having a boyfriend like Taylor. Did you hear Taylor officially asked Millie out?”
“He gave me this.” Millie thrust her arm at Mira, showing off a thin silver bracelet with a dangling starfish. Taylor had given her one just like it when they started dating. “Savannah helped him pick it out.” Savannah’s smug smile returned.
Mira had to hand it to Savannah. She knew how to twist the knife. For a moment, Mira thought the boyfriend talk and the bracelet would make her crumble. Instead, she quickly recovered. “Cute, Millie! I’m surprised Savannah helped him pick that one, though.” She frowned. “The one Taylor got me tarnished quickly.” Millie paled, making Mira feel slightly bad, but she couldn’t back down now.
The saleswoman handed Mira the credit-card slip, and Mira turned away from the girls to sign. “Speaking of jewelry, I’ve been meaning to buy myself something nice to wear for all these magazine interviews. I just have to find the time. My publicist said Teen Vogue needs days for an interview and photo shoot. They even want me to paint a picture for them to put in the story. Can you believe it?”
“No, I can’t,” Savannah said without thinking. When Mira turned around again, she noticed Savannah’s posture was stiff as a board.
Mira collected her bags and walked past her. “See you at school!”
Savannah looked jealous! Mira thought with glee as she hurried down Main Street toward Corky’s before Savannah could retaliate. She couldn’t stop replaying their conversation in her head. The look on Savannah’s face when she mentioned Teen Vogue, Millie’s reaction to what she said about Taylor’s bracelet… those moments were priceless! Her friends had made her feel as worthless as a cockroach the past few weeks, but now she felt like she could take on the world. Who needs those girls, anyway?
You do, a small voice inside her head said. Maybe you don’t need Savannah, but you do need some friends, the voice reminded her. Mira’s run slowed to a crawl. Since their big fight, she hadn’t had anyone to talk to or hang out with. She shopped alone, avoided parties, and spent most of her nonschool hours in her room. That wouldn’t do.
She and Izzie had made strides in the friendship department, but Izzie still wasn’t someone who would go for manicures or sit with her and gush over a picture of Taylor Lautner’s abs in Us Weekly. She missed doing that stuff. How are you going to survive cotillion without friends or a date? the voice taunted. Your debut is going to be ruined.
Other novels by Jen Calonita:
The SecreTS OF MY HOLLYWOOD LIFe series:
Secrets of My Hollywood Life
On Location
Family Affairs
Paparazzi Princess
Broadway Lights
There’s No Place Like Home
SLEEPAWAY GIRLS
RealityCheck
Contents
Welcome
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Acknowledgments
A Preview of Winter White
Other novels by Jen Calonita
Copyright
Copyright
This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.
Copyright © 2012 by Jen Calonita
Excerpt from Winter White copyright © 2012 by Jen Calonita
All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.
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ISBN 978-0-316-20216-9