The Pretty Committee Strikes Back Read Online Free PDF Page A

don't think he's responsible enough, so they're making him prove himself with this stupid barking robot.”
    Layne bit down on her Altoid and reached for Claire's hair again. First the pinch, then the squeak, and then Todd kicked open Claire's bedroom door with the heel of his L. L. Bean boots.
    Layne screamed and jumped, just as the scissors bit down on Claire's hair.
    “Have you seen Aibo?” Todd shouted.
    “NO!” Claire wailed.
    “Nice hair,” said the freckly redhead. He chuckled into his hand and slammed the door behind him.
    Claire pushed Layne aside and looked in the mirror. Most of her bangs were perfect … except for the part above her nose, which was two inches shorter and crooked. Claire immediately flashed back to the third grade when her front teeth were missing and she spoke with a lisp. She'd wanted to cry every time someone asked her what her last name was, because it came out sounding like
Lyonth.
Eventually she'd dropped the
s
and referred to herself simply as Claire Lyon until her big teeth grew in.
    “I can't believe this.” Claire's ears started ringing and her vision became narrow and a little blurry around the edges. “It looks like I got a haircut in the Leaning Tower of Pisa.” She thought of the hair clips, the gels, the endless tugging and training that had gone into getting her blond bangs to finally reach behind her ears. Now, one mistake and they were gone. Just like that.
    Just like Cam.
    Layne knelt down on the floor and quietly started putting her things back in the Sunshine Tours bag.
    All Claire could do was stare at her crooked bangs and wonder who she wanted to kill more, Todd, Layne, or herself.
    The ding of an IM lifted Claire out of her daze. She hurried toward her gray Dell computer. Was Cam finally ready to forgive her?
    “Is it him?” Layne jumped to her feet and joined Claire. “I knew the bangs would work.”
    “It's only Massie,” Claire moped.
    “Only
Massie,” Layne teased.
    They both knew six months ago a friendly IM from Massie Block would have made Claire's life. That fact wasn't lost on Claire; she was just too depressed to acknowledge it.
    MASSIEKUR: U CAN'T EVER LET ALICIA KNOW U KISSED JOSH HOTZ. WE'RE ON THE PHONE NOW. SHE'S BEEN TALKING BOUT HIM 4 LAST HOUR.
    Claire immediately positioned herself between Layne and the screen. But it was too late. She could feel the heat of Layne's minty breath on the back of her neck while she typed her reply message.
    CLAIREBEAR: CALL U L8TR. TALKING 2 MOM.
    Claire hit send and turned off her computer. “So, what time do you have to be home?” She avoided Layne by straitening up the mussed comforter on her bed.
    “You kissed Josh Hotz?” Layne dove onto the comforter and rolled around until she had undone all of Claire's tidying. “Why didn't you tell me? When did you become such a big slutburger with everything on it?”
    “That's why.” Claire bit down on her thumbnail.
    “I'm kidding, I don't think you're a slutburger. I used to make out with Eli all the time in his laundry room.”
    “You did?” Claire finally looked at her friend. “Why didn't you tell me?”
    “I didn't want you to call me a slutburger,” Layne said.
    Claire wanted to laugh, but all she could manage was a weak smile.
    “Does Cam know?” Layne asked.
    Claire plopped down on her bed and shrugged. She ran her fingers along the clear stitching on her comforter, willing herself not to cry.
    “Wait, is
that
why Cam dumped you?” Layne slapped the bed.
    Claire shrugged again.
    “Come on, tell me. I hate that Massie Block knows more about your life than I do.”
    Claire tried to smile again but couldn't.
    “Pleeeease.” Layne clapped her hands. “I'll tell you something totally embarrassing about me.”
    “Only if you promise not to think I'm lame.” Claire lifted her head.
    “Promise.” Layne held her palm in the air and crossed her heart.
    “Fine.” Claire leaned in toward Layne just in case her eavesdropping brother and his