Disclaimer: I do not own "The Clique". I sing the blues and swallow them, too.

Just got the new book! Lisi Harrison sure knows how to whip up one hell of a surprise ending.

Sorry for the delay.

Backroom

8:19 P.M.

Friday, April 21st

All girls turned to see the famed bassist-frontman Pete Wentz rubbing his left eyebrow. "Damn! That hurt!

Massie smiled at an extremely shocked Rue before dashing over to the ailing Pete. "Ehmagawd! Let me apologize for her! She's SUCH a SPAZ sometimes… or all the time. Maybe you should put ice on that." Massie proceeded to do something that brought on six different gasps (exact sources unknown) and reached up to the rock star's injury, trying not to think about the fact that she didn't have to reach up that far.

The second Massie's finger reached touchdown, he turned away to face the other girls. "I've had worse. Thanks, though. I just came in here to say that the show is being delayed a bit for 'technical difficulties', AKA a roadie dropped a speaker. Sorry." He tugged on the bottom of his blue-and-green striped hoodie. "So, you can watch TV or something, I guess." With that, he left, leaving the girls speechless.

Suddenly, out of nowhere, an onslaught of giggles rose. Dylan first spoke to Massie. "Ehmagawd times three hundred fifty nine! YOU TOUCHED HIS FACE."

Massie was looking off in the distance with her fists on her hips. "Yup."

"What'd it feel like?" Alicia giggled.

"An eyebrow," Massie shrugged.

"Were you nervous?" Shannon asked. The Beauty Elite had crowded around Massie but no one seemed to notice.

"Nope. I just went with my instincts."

"Does he smell like 'Axe'?" Taylor asked.

"No. I didn't smell him."

"Did you-" Rue was about to ask Massie a question, but her smile faded and she stepped away. And just like that, the rest of the Beauty Elite followed.

And just like before, everyone did their own separate thing. Dylan grabbed a fistful of M&Ms from a bowl (which, Massie made a mental note of, had no discrimination of colors). Ana texted with rapid speed, looking slightly teed as she did. Michelle helped herself to a second Dr. Pepper. Claire sat on the couch and turned on the little black TV on the counter. Kristen sat on the leg of the couch, not paying attention to the television. Shannon and Taylor were looking at multiple posters of unknown bands Massie could not care less about if she tried.

Bored with the awkwardness and loud silence, Massie took out her Razr and the rest of the Pretty Committee followed.

ALICIA: Why is it so quiet all of the sudden?

MASSIE: Because we've reached a lull.

DYLAN: A lull?

MASSIE: NM

CLAIRE: When's the show starting

KRISTEN: Apparently after either the dropped speaker gets fixed or the incompetent roadie gets fired.

DYLAN: LOL

"Excuse me, I have to meet someone," Michelle got up to leave and put the rest of her soda on the counter.

"Instead of the band?" Kristen asked, raising a dark blond eyebrow.

"We do that AFTER the show!" Michelle rolled her dark eyes. "I'm sure you'll be able to see me from the angle you have backstage."

Alicia glared at her and turned back to her cell phone.

ALICIA: That girl better not be going to see Josh!

MASSIE: Claire? Care to contribute?

DYLAN: Earth to Claire. Come in, Claire Bear. Over.

KRISTEN: Ksshkt

DYLAN: LOL

ALICIA: …

MASSIE: We're waiting on you, Claire.

CLAIRE: Sorry! Was watching TV

MASSIE: You and your TV…

ALICIA: Yeah, RLY

CLAIRE: Did you know that Tony Hawk co-produced an animated movie?

KRISTEN: Oh goody! I love useless trivia!

CLAIRE: (:

MASSIE: Moving on…

KRISTEN: Is it any good?

MASSIE?

KRISTEN: Not U, Claire

CLAIRE: Uh, kinda, there R carnies

ALICIA: Ew.

MASSIE: SHUT UP ABOUT THE MOVIE ALREADY!

KRISTEN: Sry

ALICIA: Sry

CLAIRE: Sry

MASSIE: You should be. (: But forgiven.

DYLAN: Someone's at the door.

There was a slight shift in movement as every girl in the room took the second they had to straighten out their hair and pull out any wedgies.

When the door opened, Massie automatically stepped forward. "Hi, I'm Massie!"

The woman stared at her. "Hi, Massie. I'm Chris. I'm on this tour to make sure the guys on the tour don't die of malnutrition and pure disorganization."

"Great," Massie forced a smile. "So uh, where's, uh, Pete and… the others?" Massie instantly wanted to kick her own perky butt with her black riding boots. Why, oh why, had she not done ANY research on the band at all to the point where she didn't know the names of anyone but Pete?

"Getting ready. The concert is in a few minutes. Just thought you'd like to know." She left.

Massie wasted no time in whipping around to face Alicia. "Leesh! Hurry! What's the names of the rest of the band?"

Alicia widened her almond-shaped eyes in a new fear. "Ehmagawd! I thought you knew!"

"Dylan?" Massie faced Dylan.

"Uh, I think my mom interviewed them once… or something. I can narrow it down for you…" She looked up in thought.

"Thank gawd! Please do!"

"Uh… I think the lead singer's name is Rick…" A pause. "Or maybe it's not…"

"Thanks a lot, Dylan. It's either Rick or it isn't. That narrows it down to every name possible in the entire world."

Dylan shrugged.

"Kristen?" Massie was desperate. "Puh-lease have some info. I'll look like an LBR Pete Wentz fangirl if I don't know the others' names."

Ana laughed.

"You know their names!" Massie got excited and darted over to Ana. "Tell me!"

"Give two reasons why!" Ana said, smiling. Rue laughed, barely able to contain herself.

"Two? Okay… I'll crush you, aaannnd… I'LL CRUSH YOU!"

"Two minutes until the show!" Someone with a deep voice yelled, walking past their door. Massie assumed that he wasn't talking to them, because someone else responded.

Ana spoke quickly. "Negotiate with Rue and I'll tell you their names." She said like a true beta.

Massie turned to Rue and spoke at the speed of the symptoms announcer on a prescription drug commercial. "Look, I'm sick of the fighting. I'll make you a deal. Stop trying to get our Top Spot, and I won't instantly oust you from the school. You can be upper B-List."

"What about if you leave again?"

"WHY WOULD WE LEAVE AGAIN?"

"Dunno."

"Fine. If we leave, you're in. But keep in mind there's always the option it will always be temporary."

"Deal." The alphas locked pinkies. Rue's head was dizzy at how drastically her social life changed in the course of a minute or so. "Go to Ana for enough info. I only got names."

Ana mimicked the same speed Massie's voice was. "Lead singer: Patrick. He always has a hat. Often wears glasses. Conversation pieces: Tell him how adorable or talented he is. Continue insisting when he inevitably shuts you down to his low self-esteem. Or talk to him about his voice. I mean how good it is. Don't talk to him about his double chin. It's just rude."

The sound of a crowd cheering echoed through Massie's ears, followed by the sound of someone shouting in the microphone (Pete?) and inducing even louder cheers.

Claire started to go towards the door, but Massie grabbed her arm. "Wait! This is important information!"

"But, the show-" Claire began.

"You don't want to look like your life exists solely in the pages of J-14, do you?"

Claire stiffened at the thought. "No!"

"Then listen to who's who!"

"Hey!" The door opened and another roadie, this time a strangely tall man, began to guide the girls out. "Didn't you hear? The show started!"

"What? Give us a-" But it was too late. Massie was pushed out and suddenly she was watching a rock show from the side of the stage.

"This is SO cool!" Claire shouted over the loud beat.

"I know!" Kristen and Claire held hands and jumped to the music. It wasn't Fall Out Boy playing, it was some rock band no one in the Pretty Committee knew (or cared about right now).

"Where's Michelle?" Shannon scoped the crowd.

"Where's Josh?" Alicia stomped her foot.

"Oh! I see her!" Taylor pointed. "There she-" Her face changed and she dropped her finger. "Uh, wait… I lost her… damn, there's like, no rhyme or reason to seating arrangements in the crowd!"

Alicia looked at Taylor suspiciously, her almond-shaped eyes narrowing. She looked over to where Taylor was pointing before, and sure enough, Michelle hadn't gotten lost in the crowd. And neither had Josh Hotz.

"THEY'RE KISSING!" Alicia shouted in rage, looking nearly ready to turn cannibalistic. "And not just normal kissing either! TONGUE SPELUNKING!"

Her last shout caused a band member to look her way and get distracted for a second before turning back to his guitar. Alicia gasped and covered her mouth. "Oops,"

Ana turned to Massie one last time. "The guitarist is Joe and the drummer is Andy! You'll see 'em when Fall Out Boy comes out. Have fun!" She left Massie for her group.

"WAIT!" Massie and Alicia were the only ones not moving around to the music. Alicia was too busy seething with fury and a taste for vengeance and Massie was too busy thinking about what she was supposed to talk about to anyone in the band besides Pete. She made a quick list in her head of possible conversation starters developed from pictures she had seen from magazines to evalute...

I hear you're the drummer.

Wow, your hair is long.

I love your tattoos. You sure do have a lot of them.

So… shirts going out of style?

Wow, you sure do sweat a lot.

And for the other…

I hear you're the guitarist.

I like your semi-afro.

Shave much?

Sooo… you're the tallest?

Evaluation time… they were all horrible. Massie would just have to make sure she kept her attention on the lead singer and bassist for now.

Stage side

8:50 P.M.

Friday, April 21st

After what seemed like half an hour or more to Claire, the more familiar faces of Fall Out Boy entered the stage… a welcome change to the completely unrecognized face of bands that were more like openers. Claire and the others had been dancing (except Alicia, who had been scowling) the entire time, but they weren't tired yet.

Alicia stomped her foot again. "That girl has not left Josh's side at all! It makes me want to barf!"

"Gawd, Leesh, calm down. Just get Josh back later!" Dylan shouted over the music.

"I SHOULDN'T HAVE TO! She totally invaded on my territory!"

"Were you even going out-type going out with Josh?" Kristen asked.

"NO, but I claimed him!" Alicia insisted.

"He sounds like a dog toy," Massie giggled.

"He's certainly caught in one bad tug-of-war game!" Claire said, earning a high-five from Massie (Claire knew it wasn't all that clever, but she never said stuff, so it sort of counted twice).

"But she's just dangling Josh in front of you!" Massie replied. "How long do you think it will take her to drop him if you act like you don't care? Stop scowling!"

Alicia stomped her foot again. Her behavior seemed odd to Claire, considering Alicia was the one who usually didn't have so much of a problem with boys. "Puh-lease! Me? Taking HER sloppy seconds? Uh-uh. Either I steal him or it's no deal."

Massie shrugged in a 'makes-sense' kind of way.

"Well, look. We have backstage passes to meet Fall Out Boy!" Claire enforced to Alicia, facing her and pausing in her dancing. "Just try to have fun!"

Alicia stared back at her blankly. She shrugged and smiled. "I guess so... you're right..." With one last glance at Michelle and Josh, who were getting lost in the crowd, Alicia tossed her black mane over her shoulder and let an devilish grin make its way onto her face. "I'll have fun."

Backroom

9:45 P.M.

Friday, April 21st

Massie's mind was racing with emotions and thoughts... and nothing was winning. Should she be happy she was about to meet celebrities? Nervous about it? Angry that she was doing it with The Beauty Elite? (Again with wondering about happy) Happy that said Beauty Elite shouldn't be a problem anymore?

But she had no time to think about her own thoughts... especially not with nail-bitten hands tugging at her arm.

"Massie!"

"WHAT?" Massie couldn't help but snap. She should be finger-sweeping her bangs to perfection, not playing 'Dear Abby' with Claire.

"What should I do when they come out?"

"Compliment them on their hair,"

"No, seriously!" She stomped her foot... making Massie realize that was the umpteenth time anyone had stomped their feet in the last hour. "Shake hands? Say hi? Mention the movie? Drop a name?"

"Follow my lead," Massie answered, turning to face Claire.

"Then you better start leading," Dylan had overheard their conversation and pointed to four band members walking their way.

Just when Rue stuck out her naturally tanned hand to say hi, Massie stuck hers out farther. "HI! I'm Massie. Massie Block. My father owns the concert hall."

Pete shook her hand. "It's a cool place,"

Massie looked them over as quickly as her eyes could let her. Oh crap. What now? Stop focusing on their heights. STOP FOCUSING ON THEIR HEIGHTS! "And this..." She pointed behind her, making sure her hand waved away from Rue and her friends. "Is Alicia, Dylan, Kristen, aaand Claire."

"Hi, I'm Patrick," Another hand reached out towards Massie.

The hand. The hand. The hand. Focus. On. The. Hand. Imagine he's actually taller than you. "And I LOVED your show just now. Your voice is ah-mazing."

The lead singer showed a smile from under his tilted cap. "Thanks,"

Oh, great. Man of few words. Thanks a lot.

Massie looked to her side, to Rue, hopefully letting her know to pick up on it. Rue detected it easily. "You know, normally I would wait until we do annoying small talk, but I have to ask you right out: HOW did you come up for the concept for your 'A Little Less Sixteen Candles' video?"

Pete was more than happy to start talking. Massie and Rue exchanged another glance. And there must've been another message, if only able to happen between alphas, exchanged through their eyes. Because despite the fact that Rue had rolled over and exposed her belly like the lesser dog, she and Massie still had lingering traces of rivalry. And Rue just couldn't resist doing this one more thing to put Massie on the spot.

Rue suddenly tuned back in to the conversation. "But the other thing I was wondering about was that I heard the two of you-" She pointed to Pete and Patrick. "-do all the lyrics together. Could you explain to me how you do this without letting petty things like bickering get in the way?"

And with another subtle signal, Rue's four loyal friends helped her form a tight circle around Pete and Patrick... the only two Massie and her group could talk to.

Massie turned around and filed (fake smiled) the best she could. She did NOT just leave me with the two I can't talk to. No way. What am I supposed to do now?

Massie turned to Claire, who was smiling nervously. She would be even more nervous, Massie thought, if she had any idea she was about to become 'Plan B'.

Sorry again for the delay, and sorry if there were more errors than usual. I'm not writing the fic from home, I'm on vacation.

And also sorry if the fic seems unrealistic at parts.

And no, I'm not like how I made Massie act, I do know plenty about the whole band.

Tony Hawk producing movie with carnies in it- totally true.

And don't worry, I do plan on bringing the boys in to play.