The rest of the week flew by without warning as it was now Saturday morning, and I was soon riding with Macey and accompanied with Grandma (Grandpa volunteered to join Dad and the Dermotts for a round of golf to Brookstone Square Mall, a mega-boutique mall that almost all of the teens frequented and was home to some of the designer labels that almost everyone admired yet could never afford. "Unfortunately, we're going to actually spend a good bit of shopping time so we can keep our cover story solid," Macey explained as she pulled her Jaguar sedan to the VIP parking lot before a valet eagerly came up and helped us out. "Something told me that we're going to need to keep our guards up if you guys are going to expose those Beautiful People as liars and thieves."

"Understandable, given that Dad made sure that I got an early-morning swim in before getting ready," I replied. "Not only that, I had to really pull off the "love-smitten nerd" as Marcel made sure to sneak in kisses and cuddles when he stays over at night. I swear to you all when I say that he's acting like a giddy schoolboy."

"Well, as long as you know the mission and the endgame before you make plans to leave town and never come back when the time comes," Macey commented as we trotted through the crosswalk before ducking inside. "Kyle, you should know that everyone has eyes on you and nothing as what it seems. One second to let your guard down will end in total disaster."

"Right," I hummed.

"Where's Miss Velasquez?" Grandma wanted to know, looking around to see everyone walking around and observing the designer label boutiques. "Isn't she supposed to meet with us here?"

"She will, but she'll be here later since she's also working at Pinkberry," Macey explained. "Right now, we got some shopping to get through."

And so for the next two or three hours, we spent our time making sure my wardrobe was currently updated, the store clerks making sure that I got myself private dressing rooms as they quizzed my lifestyle choices (with some of the clerks knowing my true style while knowing what my plan was) and ensured that I would get the top designer labels available. We made stops at Nordstroms, Neiman-Marcus, Bloomingdales, and Saks Fifth Avenue as I was taught the art of the new fashion trends. I was soon given many shopping bags that would make their way to Macey's Jaguar sedan and also delivered to my house. We also made sure that I got a new haircut and a full-on glow up at a high-end salon and spa that left my body and face tingling. Of course, Grandma also made sure to treat herself to some new purchases while also doing the same for Grandpa's wardrobe.

After a stop at the Nike Outlet Store, we soon arrived at a boutique store called Sadia's as we saw a dressed-down Christina waiting for us. I almost didn't recognize her with her honey-blonde wig. With the guise of making purchases (which was necessary since I still had a cover story to keep), I headed for a designated dressing room while Christina took another room. Once I began to start accepting a selection of clothes, my phone rang. Placing it on speaker, I knew who it was. "Talk to me," I said.

"We can't be seen together, York, as I fear that I'm being watched," I heard Christina said. "I got someone covering for me, so I can go ahead and talk. Let me just start by saying that you're one brave bastard for going through this, especially when we both know that Marcel and his family run this town with an iron fist."

"How so?" I wanted to know.

"They have deep connections to high levels with people who are in the military," she commented. "I mean, US government level. When I first met him, we were only freshmen and I was mainly on the outside. Even then, I knew that he and the guys are on a higher-level. And when I was friends with Diane and Lita, all three of us were just nobodies. But we met them over lunch and we went from nobodies with nowhere to go to socialites who could rule the world. And when Marcel and I were going steady, I thought I had finally made tbe big time."

"But then, things started to change," I commented.

"Yeah, but I never saw the changes outright. I was playing the role of the quarterback's cheerleading girlfriend to a perfect tee, but it soon wasn't enough. According to Principal Andrew, Marcel thought I wasn't on a true level with everyone else," Christina commented, a bit of bitterness on her voice. During the summer break before our junior year, the Outcasts were soon outnumbering the Populars when more and more nerds took their side over the Populars. And you know that the nerds are the wild-cards. I was gone for a good bit of the summer as I was visiting relatives in Mexico, but even I had a feeling that things were going to be changing...in all the wrong ways. By the time I came back, Marcel had broken up with me over a text and came out as gay. And while I was still a part of the popular crowd, I was starting to lose my edge. I wanted to keep my spot in the group, so I started to convince Marcel that maybe he wasn't as gay as he thought. I wanted to be seen as the cheerleader captain dating the all-American jock. But I made one mistake that officially knocked me off my pedestal. I seduced Kyle at a house party and tried to get pregnant with him by spiking his drink and then tricking him into sleeping with me."

"Damn," I hissed, trying on some Tommy Hilfiger jeans.

"Yeah. Needless to say, I was caught red--handed by Philip and my popular status dropped. That's when I started to meet Tamarious and the others, even getting to know Mavis through emails and the like. They all said that they weren't well-received since they accused me of being too cool for the Beautiful People after rebuffing them one time too many. And by then, I made sure that new kids like you needed to stay away from Marcel, even more so when it came down to seeing your parents meet Marcel's over the summer before you arrived."

"Wait, what?"

A pause, then, "Yeah, they've been in cahoots for the longest, Kyle. From what I know so far, you meeting Marcel was planned from the start, though I will say that you being mugged that day wasn't in the plan. All the same, they arrived to you and you were on their radar. I don't know what the hell is going on around here, but I don't think it's pretty."

I hummed, my mind running with a lot of questions. "What's your honest opinion about the real reason why Dad's hyped up on me being friends with them?" I asked her.

"Damned if I know, since I'm still finding out myself. But if anything, I think that you're only falling into something that you're not meant to be involved in. If anything, I think something big is about to down soon. Trust me, Kyle, when I say that you're not meant to be in this town at any costs. For your sanity and life's sake, take your grandparents and leave this town. Should you discover what's not meant to, intentional or no...there's no telling what can happen."

"Right," I said.

She abruptly hung up as I finished playing dress-up, me leaving my dressing room before Macey paid for my outfits and headed for the food court. "Did you get the answers that you need?" Grandma asked me.

I nodded. "But it only means that I only have more questions," I replied. "And from what Christine told me, Dad and Mom know what's going on since they were in cahoots with the Dermotts from the start of summer vacation. And Velaquez truly believes that something big is about to go down soon, which makes it the more reason to expose everyone so we can get out of here."

"Well, I'm for it," Macey commented. "When the shit hits the fan, you cannot be here when it goes down, Kyle. Trust me, once you do find out...who knows what can happen."

And that was the truth.

*****************

Dad smiled widely as I finished putting my new wardrobe in my closet while almost all of my old wardrobe was being set to be taken to the consignment shops. "You're going to make a lot of people happy, son," he said as he stood in the doorway of my bedroom. "The more you put in the effort to change, the more you'll see that this was long overdue. And pretty soon, you'll fit right in with the Berkeley Standards. It'll take a lot of effort and discipline, but you're on your way. Just remember that all eyes are on you. I have big plans for you, son. And soon, you'll be embracing your destiny and ready to claim what's rightfully yours. Eyes on the prize, Kyle. Eyes on the prize."

"Of course, Dad," I said. Deciding to throw him another bone, I added, "Maybe we can invite the Dermotts over for dinner tomorrow. Keep it simple."

"Capital idea," he said. "Nice way to make sure to spend time with Marcel, son. A little more practice, and you're on your way."

He left to make the news to Mom just as I finished packing the last of my old clothes. Just as I was ready to take a nap, my cellphone buzzed with a text message. Mavis.

And the moment I saw the message, my blood began to freeze.

Christina Velasquez is dead. Someone must've followed her. Be careful, Kyle.

Oh...fuck.

Christina's dead?! I bet you didn't see that coming, did you? Well, the next chapter is about to get wilder as Kyle deals with another assault and plans for Homecoming in the works (time skip ahead), so stay tuned. This story right here is about to get WILD!

Dedication: TheOrangutan. Song: "Radar" by Britney Spears

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