Dial L for Loser by Lisi Harrison Page B

They blew air kisses out the window as they pulled onto Santa Monica Boulevard.
    The girls spread out in the back of the spacious Escalade, and Emma sat up front with the driver, making phone calls.
    Massie searched the satellite radio for a good pop station, while Alicia and Claire scoured the fridge. “Look at all this.” Alicia snapped pictures of the soda, cookies, and minisandwiches with her Motorola Pebl, then e-mailed them to Dylan and Kristen.
    “What are these?” Claire wiggled a bright red piece of licorice in Alicia’s face, then took a bite.
    Massie cranked up a dance-remix version of Christina Aguilera’s old song “Beautiful.”
    “They’re called Red Vines,” Alicia shouted over the speedy electronica. “They’re like the California version of Twizzlers.”
    “Much chewier, stickier, and more cherryish.” Claire held out the plastic bag. “Want one?”
    Alicia turned away in disgust.
    “
I am beautiful, no matter what they say
,” Massie bellowed as she rolled down the windows. A rush of sun-kissed air blew through the SUV. For the first time in months, Claire felt warm.
    Iambeautifulnomatterwhattheysay
    Wordswon’tbringmedown.…
    They sang as fast as they could, laughing as they tried to keep up with the accelerated pace of the remix.
    Claire held her mouth open, trying to swallow as much of Los Angeles as she could. The blue ocean was on her left, and straight ahead a ridge of jagged mountains kissed the horizon. Claire thought of Orlando when they passed a row of tall palm trees and thought of Cam when they passed everything else. She reached into her back pocket, pulled out a yellow gummy worm, and gently placed it on her tongue.
    Massie jumped to lower the radio and answered her barking phone. “Hey, Kristen. What’s up? I’m putting you on speaker, ’kay?”
    A chorus of sobs and sniffles filled the Escalade.
    “Is Dylan there too?” Massie asked.
    “Yessss,” Dylan bawled.
    “Why are you guys crying?” asked Claire. “Did something happen with the board? Do I have to go to ADD? Please don’t say I have to go to ADD.”
    “We don’t.” Kristen sniffed.
    “Then what is it?” Massie was annoyed.
    “Why did Alicia send us those pictures?” Dylan blew her nose.
    “I wanted you to see all of the food they have for us.” Alicia grinned. “Isn’t it great?”
    “Were you
trying
to make us feel like LBRs?” Kristen snapped.
    “Puh-lease.” Alicia leaned closer to the phone. “I sent them so you could feel like you were here.”
    Kristen blew her nose.
    “Do you miss us?” Dylan asked.
    “Given.” Alicia rolled her eyes.
    “Do you think they’ve spoken to the boys yet?” Claire whispered.
    “What?” Kristen barked. “Why are you whispering?”
    “Sorry.” Claire tugged on her short bangs. “I just wanted to know if you spoke to Cam yet.”
    “Or Josh?”
    Claire glanced at Massie, expecting her to ask about Derrington, but she didn’t.
How
did she have the willpower to act like she didn’t care about him? Sometimes Claire wished she could act cool and aloof like Massie, even though it didn’t seem like much fun.
    “We’ll see them tonight.” Kristen perked up. “We’re gonna dress up in hats and glasses and sneak into their soccer practice.”
    “Tell Cam I’ve been trying to call him but the time difference keeps messing things up.” Claire’s throat tightened when she said his name. She reached for a gummy worm but opted for the soap instead.
    “I can’t believe one of you will be in
Dial L for Loser
,” Dylan whined. “It’s so not fair.”
    “Weh hea,” Emma announced while she waited for the driver to open her door.
    “Ehmagawd,” Massie gasped. “Gotta jump.” She snapped her Razr shut.
    “Who’s ready to be a star?” Emma asked with a wink and a nod.
    “Me!” Claire shouted.
    But Massie and Alicia shouted louder and drowned her out.

L OS A NGELES
    G ELDING S TUDIOS
    Monday, March 16th
    12:30 P.M.
    The tall gates that