The Ashleys by Melissa de La Cruz

Author:Melissa de La Cruz [Cruz, Melissa de La]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction, Girls & Women, Social Issues, Friendship, General
ISBN: 9781442490338
Google: nYoyAQAAQBAJ
Amazon: 1442490330
Publisher: Aladdin
Published: 2014-06-03T04:00:00+00:00

Chapter 19

ONE OF THESE THINGS IS NOT LIKE THE OTHERS

So this was what having friends was like. Lauren felt warm and cozy as she sat wedged in between Lili

and Ashley, not quite believing she was finally in their company at last. They were sharing a tub of

buttery, salty-sweet kettle corn, eyes glued to the screen where the dazzling hero of next summer's huge

blockbuster was saving a screaming girl from several monstrous beasts. A. A. finally returned from the

bathroom. Lauren was glad. A. A. had been gone for so long she was worried that she'd fallen out of the

plane or something.

"Doesn't he look just like Billy Reddy?" Ashley asked, during a lull in the movie.

"Totally," agreed Lili, her cheeks full of popcorn. That girl was small but she could eat, Lauren thought.

"A bit," A. A. said, a faraway look in her eye. "Or maybe Dex. Don't you think he kind of looks like Dex?"

Which was an odd thing to say, since the star onscreen was dark-haired and dark-eyed and looked

nothing at all like Dex. But Lauren could spot a Dexaholic a mile away. The girl was definitely smitten.

Too bad Dex already had a girlfriend and didn't mess around with jailbait.

"A. A., you're delusional as usual," Ashley snapped. "We should call Billy," she suggested. "Tell him what

he's missing. You guys are such good friends, right, Lauren? You should have invited him to join us

today."

Lauren froze. "We can't use our cell phones up here," she said quickly. "And Daddy doesn't like us to use

the air phone. I could get in trouble. Besides, Billy doesn't like to shop." Lauren had no idea if that was

true, but she figured most boys hated shopping, so it was a safe assumption.

Ashley pouted but didn't push it, and Lauren felt relieved. For a while there, when she and A. A. had

bonded over their love for dark chocolate and Lili had complimented her on her shoes, and even Ashley

had made a point of sitting next to her, Lauren had felt that maybe they really liked her. But Ashley's

question brought that fantasy crashing down to earth. They were hanging out with her only because

Ashley thought she would introduce them to Billy Reddy—a prize Lauren intended to keep dangling just

out of reach.

Once Ashley met Billy, Lauren had the distinct impression that Ashley would have no more use for her

and would kick her off the top of the social ladder. Besides, what if she took them to his lacrosse game

and Billy had no idea who she was? Sure, he'd invited her to come see him play. But maybe he invited

anyone he met. He was probably just being nice. She would have to stall their meeting for as long as she

could.

"What's Billy's favorite movie?" Lili wanted to know. They had lost interest in the onscreen adventure once

their favorite topic of discussion came up.

"Uh . . . Nightmare Before Christmas," Lauren said, because it was Dex's favorite movie.

"Aw. That's so sweet." Ashley sighed. "Quick Q. Do you think he'd prefer strawberry or mango?"

Lauren shrugged and thought it was safe to say she had no idea.

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