Best Friends for Never by Lisi Harrison Page A

were the first ones out there. “It's what the Hilton sisters would have wanted,” Heather said before they took off.
    “Do you think anyone will ask me to dance in this stupid Powerpuff Girls costume?” Claire asked as she bobbed her head to the beat.
    “See!” Layne shot her finger straight into the air like she had just made a brilliant discovery. “That's exactly why I didn't want you to invite the boys. If it was a girls-only party, you wouldn't care
how
you looked in your costume. You'd be dancing already.”
    “Yeah, and if it was girls only, I wouldn't have come,” Claire said. “I've seen what these girls do for fun around here and it usually involves torturing
me
. So, if you won't introduce me to any boys, I'll do it myself.”
    “Oh, right.” Layne smiled, amused, as if Claire had just told her she was swearing off gummies. “Better yet, why don't you ask your co-host to introduce you? I dare you.”
    Claire bit her lower lip.
    “If I do, will you promise to stay and talk to the boys with me?”
    “Totally,” Layne said. She obviously didn't believe Claire would go through with it.
    “Fine,” Claire said. “I guess I have nothing to lose except my life, which isn't worth very much these days.”
    Layne rolled her eyes at Claire's melodramatic comment and playfully nudged her in Massie's direction.
    Massie was standing by the bloody swimming pool, surrounded by a group of girls who were gushing over Bean's Dirty Devil costume. Four boys lingered on the outside of their tight circle, awkwardly punching each other.
    Claire walked quickly at first but took smaller, slow steps once she entered Massie's force field.
    “Hey there, co-host.” Claire smiled as she nudged Massie's arm. She knew that was probably a bad idea as soon as she did it.
    “S'cuse me,” Massie said to her guests. She backed away from the circle and yanked Claire with her.
    “What?”
Massie barked when they were alone. The thick coating of black lipstick around Massie's mouth made her look so evil, Claire wondered if she was really in hell.
    “Sorry to interrupt you, but I was wondering if—”
    “Kuh-laire, do we look like a pair of boobs?”
    “What?” Claire asked. “No.”
    “Then stop trying to hang beside me,” Massie said.
    “I was, uh, wondering if you could introduce us to a few of the Briarwood boys?” Claire pointed to Layne, who was watching from the azaleas.
    Massie straightened the horns on her head before she spoke. “Why don't you ask the couch poo? She knows the same people as me.”
    “She's shy,” Claire said. “Besides, our moms were probably expecting you to help me out since they think we're such good friends and everything. Right? Isn't that what you told them when you asked if we could throw this party
together
?”
    Claire prayed that her voice was trembling. “How upset do you think they'll be when they find out you've been telling everyone this is
your
party?”
    “Why guess?” Massie asked. “Why not tell them right now?”
    Claire's insides froze. That was not the answer she was hoping for.
    “Fine, I will.” Claire turned and headed down the path toward the main house. She looked down at her patent leather Mary Janes while she walked and prayed for a miracle. She had no idea what to do next, but she marched ahead like a girl with a serious plan.
    “Okay, wait,” Massie called after her.
    Thank you, God!
    “Meet me in the out-of-order bathroom in five minutes. I'll bring over two guys that I think will be perfect for you and Layne.”
    “No LBRs,” Claire said. She knew she shouldn't abuse her sudden power over Massie, but it was hard not to. “And no funny business or I'll talk.”
    “Done,” Massie said.
    As Claire walked back to Layne, she wondered if any boy was actually worth this kind of trouble.

WHEN HELL FREEZES OVER PARTY
OUT-OF-ORDER BATHROOM
    8:22 PM
    October 31st
    The out-of-order bathroom was a tight squeeze for Layne and her oversized costume, so Claire