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Lip Gloss Jungle

Page 16

by Melissa de la Cruz


  Still, it's a lot of pressure. When we walk into school together, everyone stops and stares. The S. Society is yesterday's news. Losing Congé and the bet really too the air out of their push-up bras. All anyone can talk about at Miss Gamble's these days us the Ashleys breakup. They can't believe it. As for me, I can't believe that Ashley and I are still friends.

  Christian says I'm insane, and maybe he's right. Who'd have thought that the Ashleys would fall but that Ashley would still be standing? An that I'd be standing right next to her?

  Lili and A.A. are not speaking to me at all, which is funny because they were always much friendlier than Ashley to me. It's like a parallel universe.

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  Who knows-maybe it's a dream? When we get back from spring break I'll wake up and discover I'm still plain, frumpy, poor, and friendless.

  I hope not! Stay tuned for more craziness

  Lauren Page

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  MEMO: FILE: DIARY: ALIOTO, ASHLEY

  I'M IN BLISS. TRI IS A DOLL. LIFE AFTER ASHLEY IS STRESS FREE. JUST 1 DARK CLOUD. MOM SAYS WEDDING TO MARTY IS A GO. DOES THIS MEAN MOVING TO LA-LA LAND?

  HOW DO I TELL TRI?

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  Hello? HELLO? Ashley here, reporting from the front lines of the war zone. I'm under attack on all sides, as usual. But I'm sure I'll come out the winner. I'm still Ashley Spencer, aren't I?

  A.A. and Lili will have to give in sooner or later. They'll come crawling back. Without me, they're not the Ashleys. They're just two girls with a lot of clothes and no idea how to accessorize.

  In the meantime, while I'm waiting for them to beg for forgiveness, I guess I'll hang with Lauren. She seems okay. She's practically an Ashley, and at least she didn't jump ship and race off with the S. Society when all the other rats were abandoning me. Her family is taking me with them on their trip to St. Barts over break. Her dad just bought a sweet yacht.

  Speaking of ships, I can't stop thinking of Cooper in his hot uniform. I told him I'd love to be his cruise director. I'd be great at telling everyone on an ocean liner what to do. After all, I've seen Titanic a dozen times.

  Later, skaters!

  Ashley

  239

  JOURNAL DOC

  This has been a very disturbing week. Now Max is an ex-preppie, and I'm an ex-Ashley. Hard to comprehend. It feels like I've been an Ashley all my life--literally.

  I've often wondered what not being friends with Ashley would be like. And now I know.

  Life's a little dull, I have to say. A.A. is great, but she's really preoccupied with her romance with Tri, plus she's obsessing over her mother getting married again. I'm not allowed to talk to Lauren. And Ashley is strictly off-limits.

  Weird, but I kind of miss her. Who would have thought??

  Yours in confusion,

  Lili

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  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  Thanks again to the fabulous Team Ashleys: Emily Meehan, Courtney Bongiolatti, Carolyn Pohmer, Paul Crichton, Matt Schwartz, Lucille Rettino, Valerie Shea, Brenna Sinnott, Richard Abate, Richie Kern, Melissa Myers, Paula Morris, Christina Green, and Adam Parks.

  Love to everyone in my family, especially Mike & Mattie. MWAH, MWAH, MWAH to all my readers, who are just so cute and enthusiastic!

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  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  When Melissa de la Cruz was a student at the Convent of the Sacred Heart, she never knew when Congé was going to happen, and she is still a wee bit bitter about all those nights studying for tests that were never given.

  She has written many books for teens, including the best-selling series the Au Pairs, Angels on Sunset Boulevard, and Blue Bloods. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.

  Check out her website at www.melissa-delacruz.com and send her an e-mail at melissa@melissa-delacruz.com.

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  If you thought Ariana was gone for good...you were dead wrong.

  PRIVILEGE KATE BRIAN

  A NEW SERIES OF THE AUTHOR OF THE BEST SELLING PRIVATE

  A new series from the bestselling author of PRIVATE series

  Published by Simon & Schuster

  244

  THE WORD IS OUT! melisssa de la cruz

  IS THE AUTHOR EVERYONE'S CHATTING ABOUT.

  What they're saying about the au pairs

  "Nothing is more glam than a summer in the Hamptons."

  --Teen Vogue

  "A guilty pleasure beach read." -- Seventeen magazine

  "Trashyfabulous." --Papermag.com

  "De la Cruz has a knack for perfectly capturing the dialogue, trials, and tribulations of these young hipsters.' --New York Post

  Don ' t be left out of the loop.

  Check out her two newest series, in stores now:

  Angels on Sunset Boulevard the ashleys

  From Simon Pulse

  PUBLISHED BY SIMON & SCHUSTER

  245

  From bestselling author

  KATE BRIAN ***

  Juicy reads for the sweet and the sassy!

  ***

  seen in COSMOGIRL!

  Lucky T

  "Fans of Meg Cabot's The Princess Diaries will enjoy it." -- SLJ

  Megan Meade's Guide to the McGowan Boys Featured in Teen magazine!

  The Virginity Club

  "Sex and the City: High School Edition." --KLIATT

  The Princess & the Pauper

  "Truly exceptional chick-lit." -- Kirkus Reviews

  FROM SIMON PULSE

  * Published by Simon & Schuster *

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  "Nothing is more glam than a summer in the Hamptons. "

  --Teen Vogue

  -It's all too fabulous for words .

  "--Village Voice

  "Fans of the Gossip Girl series will love this novel."

  --Teenreads.com

  the aupairs

  "A guilty-pleasure beach read"--Seventeen

  A NOVEL BY

  mellisa de la cruz

  "This is Sex and the City lite, where everyone is a little more fabulous, flirtatious, snobby and deceitful than we are--and it's quite all right with us."- Romantic Times Book Club

  "The ultimate summer."

  --YM

  Published by Simon & Schuster

 

 

 


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