The Pretty Committee Strikes Back by Lisi Harrison

Author:Lisi Harrison
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: JUV023000
ISBN: 9780749941970
Publisher: Piatkus Books
Published: 2009-04-02T07:00:00+00:00

LAKE PLACID, NEW YORK FOREVER WILD CAMPSITE

Monday, February 23rd 6:47 P.M.

Massie turned on the four battery-powered heaters she had swiped from her cabin and placed them around the igloo. She wanted Claire to feel warm when she arrived for their private kissing lesson.

Earlier that afternoon Mr. Myner had taught them how to build igloos by cutting blocks of snow and packing them to form circular walls. But no one's was as spacious and comfy as Mr. Myner's, so Massie had opted to hold her underground meeting in there. She sneaked out of dinner early to decorate it with sheepskin rugs and beanbags from her cabin. And for ambience, she placed eight red cinnamon-scented candles evenly along the floor near the walls. It wasn't like anything in the ice palace could catch on fire. Igloo decorating had its advantages.

By the time she blew out the last match, the heat was blasting. What had once been a frigid ice hut was now a warm and inviting secret clubhouse. All Massie could do now was wait for Claire and try to stop imagining a hungry family of black bears circling outside, licking their lips.

Finally, dinner let out. The wood doors of the dining pavilion squeaked open, giving way to a swell of simultaneous conversations and laughter. It was break time. And everyone would be going back to their cabins to digest and change into their pajamas before the nighttime bonfire reading of Hatchet—a novel about a thirteen-year-old boy who survived a plane crash and had to learn to fend for himself in the Canadian wilderness. Massie peered out of the semi-circular doorway knowing her survival depended on Claire and her kissing lesson.

Suddenly Massie heard a deep voice. “Uh, hello ma'am, mind if I join you?”

Massie looked up and shrieked. There was a giant moose head in the doorway of the igloo and it was staring straight at her.

“Relax.” Claire giggled. “It's me.” She hunched over and squeezed through the narrow opening, then turned the moose sideways so his antlers wouldn't chip the walls. “Wow, it looks great in here.”

“Thanks.” Massie's heart was still pounding. “What is that?”

“It's Derrington,” Claire said, like it should have been obvious. “You didn't think you'd be practicing on me, did you?”

“No.” Massie didn't know what she'd expected. “Of course not.”

Claire pulled a tube of cherry ChapStick from the back pocket of her classic-cut Gap jeans and swiped it across the moose's bulbous lips.

“Ew, stop that.” Massie burst out laughing. “Why didn't you take the duck or the fish? That moose's head is bigger than my leg.”

“Do you really want to kiss a fish?” Claire smiled. “And duck lips are so thin and hard.” She ran her finger across the dead animal's long lashes. “I thought the moose was the closest thing to Derrington.” She paused and looked into his still black eyes. “Let's name him Doose, like Derrington and Moose combined.”

“I get it.” Massie knocked the ChapStick out of Claire's hand.

A droplet of water landed on the leg of Massie's True Religion jeans.

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