Popularity Takeover by Melissa de La Cruz Page A

Cass Franklin. Girls who would never be picked for the fashion show in a million years. And why not? As Lauren and Sadie had shown, a little makeup and a lot of tan made anyone more attractive.
    Lauren suddenly got a brain wave. She had to get Daria, Guinevere, and Cass chosen as models forthe show somehow. If she really wanted to break the power of cliques in the school, she would have to do more than just sneak into one. She would have to try to encourage real social change. Show them that with the right look and the right opportunity, anyone could be an Ashley.
    Of course the Ashleys would protest, but she could make them think it was the S. Society trying to sabotage one of their events.
    â€œWell, I’m not going to stand for it anymore,” Sadie said, with a toss of her newly golden locks. “At our Congé meeting, I told Miss Charm that the fashion show was just another example of clique dominance at Miss Gamble’s, and she totally saw our point. She promised that there are going to be some major changes at the fashion show this year.”
    â€œReally,” Lauren said. The Ashleys would not like the sound of that. “So . . . what else happened at the meeting?” she asked, pretending to look through a rack of clothes, her heart fluttering.
    â€œWe have the best thing ever planned. I’d tell you all about it, but . . .”
    â€œBut what?” Lauren was almost breathless with excitement.
    â€œLook at this!” Sadie exclaimed, clutching a bright yellow Isabel Marant tunic dress. “How cute! Maybe I’ll try it on.”
    â€œSure,” said Lauren. “But you were about to say—”
    â€œEek!” Sadie was checking her Rolex. “What time is Dex picking us up?”
    â€œIn about fifteen minutes,” Lauren said, her heart sinking. “But he won’t mind waiting.”
    â€œI don’t want to keep him waiting.” Sadie giggled, and Lauren wanted to slap her. If she thought Dex would ever fall for a ninny like her, she was seriously deluded! “Listen, I’ll try this dress on while you go buy the sweaters. You know, I’m not sure if I should get a gray sweater or a black one.”
    â€œHow about both?” Lauren asked wearily. If she could buy Sadie’s friendship, maybe then Sadie would talk some more about Congé in the car. And maybe, she thought, stalking over to the cashier’s desk, Sadie would end up marrying Dex one day, while pigs flew in the sky over San Francisco Bay.
    Whatever the S. Society was planning for Congé, Sadie had no intention of blabbing—not yet, anyway. Lauren would have to come up with a better plan.

8
    THE ASHLEYS SHOW THEIR TRUE COLORS
    THAT SATURDAY AFTERNOON ASHLEY SUMMONED the other Ashleys to the elegant Huntingdon Hotel to get mani-pedis at the Nob Hill Spa, their current day spa of choice. It was impossible to think clearly when your nail polish was chipped.
    After some deliberation—that is, about five minutes, in the car on the way to the spa—she’d decided to restrict the invitation to Ashleys only. Lauren was number three on Ashley’s speed-dial, but just as she was about to press the button, she hesitated.
    Sure, Lauren was one of them now—she had the right shoes, the right bag, even the right boyfriend, but then, it took more than the right accessories tobe an Ashley. It took loyalty. During the weeks leading up to her birthday party, Lauren had been hanging out with her old dorky pal Sadie while thinking the Ashleys hadn’t noticed. Maybe Lili and A. A. hadn’t noticed, but few things escaped Ashley’s finely tuned social antenna.
    Maybe it was just a coincidence that Sadie had appeared at Ashley’s party all dolled up and looking like Selena Gomez giving Justin Bieber a taste of what he was missing, but somehow Ashley didn’t think so. She thought that maybe Lauren had something to do with it. She didn’t