The Pretty Committee Strikes Back Read Online Free PDF

fake dog were listening at the door. Then, in a hushed tone, she told Layne how Nina had made it look like Cam was over Claire and how that had driven her into the arms of another boy.
    “So Josh told Cam you kissed him?” Layne unwrapped a stick of Big Red gum and stuffed it in her mouth. “What a loser.”
    “No.” Claire shook her head slowly. “Cam saw us.”
    “Brutal!” Layne shoved another piece of gum in her mouth. “But it served him right for ignoring you, right?”
    “I dunno.” Claire lowered her head. “Turns out it wasn't really his fault.”
    “How?”
    “Later I found out Nina told Cam she'd put a Spanish soccer spell on him, that if he ignored me, their team would win the finals. She told him I knew about it, so he didn't think I'd be upset.”
    “Didn't they lose that game?”
    Claire nodded.
    “So after the game, when Cam realized the whole spell thing was bogus, he came to talk to me, and that's when he saw…” Claire's voice trailed off.
    “Why don't you just explain what happened.” Layne chomped on her gum.
    “I tried.” Claire smoothed the foil on one of Layne's discarded wrappers. “He won't take my calls or read my e-mails. Nothing works.”
    “Wow, he actually fell for that Spanish soccer spell thing?”
    “I guess people will believe anything when they're desperate.” Claire tugged on her short bangs.
    “Maybe you should write him a poem,” Layne suggested. “Those usually work.”
    “You think?”
    “Totally.” Layne nodded once. “I sent one to my dad when I wanted a bike and the next week there was a brand-new Bratz Beauty bike in my driveway.”
    “Wasn't that a surprise for your next-door neighbor?” Claire asked.
    “Yeah, but when I told my dad I wanted one just like it, he promised to get me one for my birthday.”
    “And you think that's because of the poem you wrote him?”
    “It didn't hurt. Besides, Cam is a total softy. He's always burning CDs for you and bringing you candy. He's such a poem guy.”
    “Hmmm.” Claire was reluctant to take any more of Layne's advice, but she did have a point. Cam was a total romantic. He was probably waiting for Claire to make an effort, something more than an e-mail or a text message. “Maybe I'll try it.”
    “You should.” Layne stood up and put on her white pleather trench coat. “I better go. Dinner is early tonight because my parents are on some new diet where they can't eat past six-thirty p.m.”
    “Wait.” Claire stood up and ran toward her door. She leaned against it until it closed, then stayed there, blocking Layne. “What's your embarrassing secret?”
    Layne tightened the belt on her coat and threw her Sunshine Tours bag over her shoulder. “Oh, that. It's no big deal. I'll tell you tomorrow.”
    “No way.” Claire pushed Layne away from the door. “You promised.”
    “Fine.” Layne rolled her green eyes. “If you must know, I got my period last month.”
    “No way!” Claire didn't know anyone who'd had her period yet.
    “Yeah way!” Layne said. “And I'm terrified I'll get it again when we're in Lake Placid.”
    “What's it like?”
    “It's like what your nose is going to look like if you tell anyone.” Layne stepped toward the door.
    “I won't,” Claire promised.
    “Look, I have to go.” Layne's face was bright red. “I'll call you later.”
    Claire stepped aside and let her friend leave. She was ready to spend some alone time in front of the mirror anyway, just her and her short, crooked bangs.
    A rush of panic shot through Claire's body when she saw the damage up close. It had taken her four months to grow out her bangs, and now they were even worse than they had been before. How would she face the Pretty Committee?
    She had been right about one thing: the ridiculous haircut was taking her mind off of Cam.
    Claire took a deep breath, reached into the back of her closet, and pulled out her old wood box of hair clips. It had been months since she'd needed them. She took out