which were considerable: Whitney was a bubbly fashionistaâin fact, she designed and made all her own clothesâwith highlighted blond hair, a fuller figure and an obsession with her weight. Sasha was a tall, leggy golden girl, a soccer star and singer/songwriter with long wavy hair and easy, effortless style. The two had become as close as sisters, which they now practically were, and this seemed to annoy Coco, who, as the third in their trio, was beginning to feel left out.
âCoco, youâre just being mean,â Cecily Watson said. Cecily was friendly with Coco but not alwayspart of her inner circle, though she was certainly pretty enough to be one of the elite: tall, dark-skinned and graceful, with a funky sense of style.
âAnd besides, Whitney,â Coco finished, ignoring Cecily, âyouâre the only one of us who doesnât have a boyfriend down in the Caribbean having an orgy with swimsuit models. So you can keep your mouth shut until we figure this out.â
Whitney obediently held her tongue, and no one else came to her defense. Everybody knew Coco well enough to know that it was no use reasoning with her when she was this worked upâit would only invite her wrath. And no one wanted to be the object of Cocoâs unbridled ire.
âSomehow, I have a feeling Mia is behind all of this,â Sasha said as she flicked through the photos. Mia Delgado was a Spanish supermodel who had spent some time at Hillsdale High chasing after her ex-boyfriend, Spanish exchange student Sebastian Bodega. Sebastian had decided to spend the term in Spain, claiming they couldnât bear another cold New Jersey winter. But, as far as anyone knew, theyâd both be back come spring.
âThat would be the absolute last straw,â Cecily said.
âWhy isnât Matt Graham in any of these pictures?â Whitney asked. âIsnât he one of Spencerâs best friends?â Matthew Graham was a bad-boy buddy of Spencerâs from his boarding school days. Theyâd bothbeen kicked out, and now Matt went to Ridgewood, Hillsdaleâs rival school.
âI think Matt and Spencer are on the outs,â Coco said. âAnd besides, Mrs. Eton refused to invite Matt. She thinks heâs a bad influence on sweet little Spencey. If only she knew! Sheâs going to lose it when she sees these pictures.â
âDo you think sheâll punish him somehow?â Haley asked.
âWho knows?â Coco said. âI donât care if she does or not. I donât leave punishment to amateurs.â
Haley glanced nervously around the room, and caught the other girls doing the same. Coco could be a little scary when she decided to go for blood.
âMaybe you think the boys have some excuse for these pictures, some logical explanation?â Coco ranted. âYouâre in denial, girls! Look at these pictures. Really take them in. Think of all the awful things our boyfriends did with them! Look at them! Would any guy in his right mind be able to resist them?â
âWhat about a blind guy?â Whitney asked. Coco glared at her, nostrils flaring. âNever mind,â Whitney said. âIâll shut up.â
âThink about it,â Coco went on. âRight now itâs midnight down there, New Yearâs Eve. The guys are at a beach resort without their girlfriends. There are hot models in every direction, wearing practically nothing but a piece of dental floss. Itâs not onlysocially acceptable to kiss at midnight, girls, itâs practically the law! What do you think is going to happen once those boys lock lips? Do you think theyâre going to stop right there and say, âOkay, happy new year, I better get to bed now, good nightâ?â
There was silence for five full minutes while the girlsâCoco, Haley, Sasha and Cecilyâstared at the proof of their boyfriendsâ betrayal. Coco focused on the nightmarish Spencer pictures,
Skeleton Key, Konstanz Silverbow