Survival of the Fiercest Read Online Free PDF Page B

piece of white linen hanging down, revealing her Speedo wedgie. She squeezed out of the room and flew down the staircase, not stopping until she was out on the street in the warm September air.
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    TO: Lola Childs
FROM: Ayana Bennington
DATE: Tuesday, 6:36 p.m.
SUBJECT: Pacific Sunwear casting call?
ATTACHMENT: Gutter and Light
    Hi Lola,
    I just heard from the Pacific Sunwear reps, who told me you failed to show up to the casting today. If I take the time to set up an appointment for you, I’d like you to take the time to actually go. I’m disappointed you missed it.
    Assuming you’re still interested in modeling, on Thursday I’d like you to meet with Gunther Gunta. He’s in town for a few weeks looking for a new face for his next campaign. It’s high fashion—but you’re definitely in line with Gunther’s aesthetic.
    All the information is attached. It’s essential that you be there. Gunther is extremely agitated by no-shows.
    All the best,
Ayana

ASHES TO ASHES, DUST TO DUST, FROM NOW ON THEY’RE DEAD TO US
    S tella sat in front of the fireplace in the living room on Tuesday night, working on a drawing of Heath Bar. He was curled up on the chaise lounge with her grandmum, who had fallen asleep reading her romance novel Heating Up the Arctic . The cover featured a man embracing a woman on the snowy tundra, his parka unzipped to reveal a shiny, waxed chest.
    â€œNow don’t move,” she whispered to Heath Bar as she used the edge of her charcoal pencil to shade his fur. The giant tabby cat’s eyes were half closed, his chin resting on his front paws. After the run-in with the Beta Sigma Phis today in gym, some relaxation time was just what Stella needed. She and Cate had spent the afternoon at Café d’Alsace, drinking cappuccinos and trying to figure out who was going to be the third member of their sorority. Cate had run down the short list: Celia Reynolds was sufficiently popular, but she didn’t go anywhere without her best mate Benna Matthews. Benna wore Sally Hansen acrylic nails and sometimes spoke in a fake British accent, which wouldhave driven Stella insane. Amy Klentak was cute and funny, and didn’t belong to any one clique. But according to Cate, she had “major control issues.” They could talk about Chi Sigma and plan as many bloody meet-and-greets as they wanted. It didn’t matter. For now, it wasn’t a sorority. It was just Cate and Stella.
    â€œThis is all of it!” Cate announced, strolling into the living room with a cardboard box. It was overflowing with old clothes, photos, and a poster that said CATE SLOANE FOR PRESIDENT. Seeing Cate, Heath Bar jumped off the chaise lounge and ran out the door, his back hunched in fear.
    Stella put down her sketchbook and sighed. A blank circle stared out at her, right where the cat’s face was supposed to be. Cate set the box down next to the fireplace and opened the grate. Then she began pulling items out with black iron tongs. “What is all that?” Stella asked.
    â€œThis,” Cate said, stabbing at a black and white Nanette Lepore scoop-neck top and tossing it into the fire, “is the shirt Priya got me for my birthday last year.” She watched as it burst into flames, the silk igniting instantly. “At least, it was the shirt Priya got me for my birthday last year. I’m purging.”
    â€œWhat?” Stella got up from the couch, her stomach tight. Cate was holding a stack of old pictures that looked like they had been taken over the last ten years. One was of her and Blythe dressed up as yellow chicks for Halloween. They looked about six. “You’re not going to—”
    But before she could go on, Cate threw all the pictures in the fire. A photo booth strip of the Chi Beta Phis curled and twisted, turning to ash. “It’s the dawn of a new era. All this stuff is badkarma.” She ripped the poster into pieces and