"Christov! Let's go!" she shouted. "This hunk of metal isn't going to drive itself!"
"Yes, ma'am," the handsome driver said.
He hit a button over his head and a tinted window slid up, shutting him off from the rest of us. Natasha lifted herself up to mess with a stereo that was set into the ceiling. Two seconds later, party music filled the car. This was definitely a whole new brand of kidnapping.
"Here you go, Reed. Drink up," Noelle said, handing me a full glass.
"Is someone going to tell me what's going on here?" I asked.
"We're taking you for a spa day!" Taylor cried, downing her champagne in one gulp.
"Kiran knows this exclusive place in Boston," Ariana explained, smoothing her slim skirt. "Only models and movie stars are allowed."
"And a few politicians," Kiran said, sipping her drink. "As long as they're dating models or movie stars."
101
"We got Suzel to pull a few strings and get us all day passes," Noelle said with a smile. "Love her!" she trilled.
"To Suzel!" the girls cheered, clinking glasses and sipping their champagne.
"What's a Suzel?" I asked.
"Suzel. Susan Llewelyn. Board member. Former Billings Girl. Love her," Kiran sang.
"To Suzel!" the girls all cheered again. Another clink. Another sip.
"Suzel thought you deserved a day of distraction," Ariana said. "So this is it."
I found it interesting that Suzel had an opinion on what I might deserve, considering I'd never met the woman.
"Your day," Taylor said with a smile.
"To get your mind off things," Natasha told me, looking me in the eye.
"Exactly! We're here for you, Reed," Noelle said. "Massage, facial, manicure, pedicure. Whatever you need to make you feel relaxed. It's all about you."
I looked at her in her perfect jeans and cozy turtleneck sweater, her thick hair washed and shining and giving off a rich, clean scent. Meanwhile, I smelled like I needed a shower, and I knew I looked ridiculous, my feet sticking out of my pajama pants in my sneakers. I could only imagine what my hair was doing-- probably being greasy and knotted and frizzed.
"Really? So what was the kidnapping thing all about?" I asked.
102
"Oh, that? That was payback," she said, taking a slug from her glass.
"Payback is her favorite pastime!" Kiran said, lifting a glass toward Noelle. Everyone else lifted theirs as well, as if this, too, was something to celebrate. Everyone other than Natasha, who had reasons not to rejoice over Noelle's mind games.
"You didn't really think you'd get away with yesterday's little performance without any repercussions, did you?"
Noelle smiled teasingly, and somehow I found myself smiling back. Love her or hate her, this was Noelle. And as I was being whisked off campus in a limousine on my way to a day of beauty at an exclusive spa, I decided to choose "love her."
For now, anyway.
103
PAMPERED
"London is not getting a reduct," Kiran cried, pushing herself out of her cushy chair as her aesthetician finished her facial. She walked over to a slatted-wood counter, where twelve fresh mimosas were lined up, and grabbed one. "That girl lives for those double-D's."