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else at Meadowlark, including Drew, seemed to fall for.
Madison squared her shoulders like she was preparing for
battle, and scoped out the terrain. The vast room was filled to
the max women in Prada dresses and men in suits or tuxedos
pushed up against the brightly colored walls. Mad hated the
feeling of squeezing into a room and the huge bouquets of
field flowers and lilies that dominated every surface didn t help
her feel any less claustrophobic either. A few pretentious art
snobs with total assitude prowled the room in their all-black en-
sembles, complete with paint smears (at least she hoped it was
paint) on their tight, black pants. Eeew. Madison shuddered del-
icately. It looked like the entire population of Williamsburg had
thrown up most of its inhabitants directly onto the turquoise-
and-white op art carpets of the Van Allens living room. Maybe
they d all have an unprovoked art-attack en masse, and scurry
back to their dingy studios like cockroaches. And why did artists
always have to be so gross and unwashed?
She sighed with annoyance as she scanned the room looking
for Drew, Phoebe, or Sophie, who were, of course, nowhere to
be found. For lack of anything better to do, Madison walked
over to a long, white-draped table filled with delicious-smelling
appetizers, and popped a piece of bacon-wrapped shrimp in her
mouth as she looked out the sliding glass windows to the Van
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Allens terrace which was, unfortunately, just as crowded as
the apartment. As she chewed the delicious, salty, bacony good-
ness, Madison caught sight of a mop of yellow hair at the far
corner of the terrace, and pushed slowly through the crowd to
get a better look. And what she saw made her swallow hard
then completely lose her appetite.
Drew and Casey stood close together on the terrace as the
last streaks of light faded from the sky. She watched through
the glass in horror as Drew reached up and tenderly pushed a
stray curl from Casey s face, stopping to caress her cheek with
his index finger, smiling softly. Oh. No. She. Didn t! Madison
felt her blood begin to churn as the little green monster inside
of her rapidly expanded to Incredible Hulklike proportions. In
fact, her little green monster made the Jolly Green Giant look
like a total pussy. And WTF? Why the hell was Casey wearing
the dress she d given Edie to donate to charity two months
ago? She d know that dress anywhere. It was a one-of-a-kind,
for starters, and the hem in the back was coming down slightly
from where she d caught it on a chair at some stupid benefit
Edie had dragged her to at the Met last spring. Not that any-
one would ever notice the slight tear but her. Well, she thought
smugly, she certainly is a charity case all right. And if the dress
fits . . .
Madison opened the terrace door and walked out into the
humid evening air, just as Drew put both hands on Casey s
shoulders, leaning in to whisper into her ear. That s about
enough of that, Madison thought, her sandals clicking confi-
dently on the Italian marble tiles that Drew s crazy mom had
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shipped over from Florence. She stopped right in front of
their oblivious faces, staring at each other with lust-crazed eyes
that made her want to hurl up her undigested shrimp at their
feet in a fishy-smelling puddle.
Well, she said, her lips, painted with MAC Lacquer in
Fanplastico, curling into a sneer. Don t you two look cozy.
At the sound of her voice, Casey and Drew jumped apart like
they d been struck by lightning. In a minute, they re going to wish
they had been, Madison thought with no small degree of satisfac-
tion as she took in the panicked expression on Casey s face.
Better to be feared than loved that was for sure. It gave you so
much more what was the word? Ah, that s right leverage.
Madison crossed her arms over the sleek fabric of her dress. It
was weird how close crying and complete and utter rage really
were at the end of the day. If she wasn t so angry right now she
knew that she d probably start blubbering away like an idiot. It
wasn t fair. People in her life just kept disappearing first her fa-
ther and now Drew.
Madison, Casey s voice shook slightly as she spoke. We
weren t sure you were coming.
Oh, I wouldn t miss it for the world, Madison said airily,
looking Casey over with a practiced eye. But tell me, she
said, moving closer, reaching out to grasp the material of the
dress in her fingertips. Wherever did you find my old dress?
Have you been playing in the garbage? Madison turned to
Drew, her green eyes cool and impassive.
You see, I gave that dress to my mother to donate to charity
two months ago, Madison sneered, relishing Casey s obvious
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embarrassment as she turned bright red, then looked at the
floor, unable to meet Madison s gaze. Come to think of it,
Madison went on, placing one perfectly manicured finger
against her chin, it seems like ever since you moved here you ve
been interested in everything that belongs to me, haven t you?
Madison watched with satisfaction as Casey looked up,
opening her unglossed lips, and then rapidly closing them. She
looks like a fucking guppy, Madison thought triumphantly. And
what would Drew want with a loser fish who can t dress and has
incredibly unfortunate hair when he could have me? She smiled
smugly, her eyes like frozen jade chips as she reached over and
twined her arms around Drew s neck, pulling him close.
Drew s face was a mass of confusion as she wrapped her body
around his, pulling his face down for a kiss as her tongue
snaked into his mouth. At first his lips were tense and hard as
they touched hers, but as she held on she felt his body give way
and melt into hers. And before she knew it, he was opening his
mouth and kissing her back. Madison opened her eyes and
stared at Casey, who had gone suddenly white, as if a vampire
had swooped down onto the terrace while their eyes were
closed and drained her of all her blood. Serves you right, Madi-
son gloated as she closed her eyes again. You messed with the
wrong girl . . .
I m so sorry I m late, baby, she purred when they broke
apart, reaching up and smoothing Drew s hair back with her
fingers. But I m here now.
I should . . . Casey stammered, her eyes darting wildly
from Drew to Madison, then back again. I should. . .
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JENNI FER BANASH
Go? Madison deadpanned, one arched eyebrow raised,
her lips curled into a smirk. Good idea.
I ll go, Casey said, her voice shaking slightly, but I want
you to know something first. Ever since I moved here, I just
wanted to be your friend I didn t plan . . . this. She gestured
at the space between herself and Drew with one hand. It just
happened.
Nothing just happens, Madison answered back, her
green eyes like slits. Everyone here has an agenda even you.
If that s true, Casey said, a tear spilling from her right eye
and sliding down her cheek, then I guess you do, too. Before
Madison could respond, Casey turned and walked quickly
back toward the Van Allens apartment, tripping on Sophie s
wedge heels and the slickly tiled patio, twisting her ankle and
falling to the ground. Madison giggled, rolling her eyes as she
watched Casey pick herself back up, blood running down her
leg from a skinned knee before she ran inside, fumbling with
the huge sliding doors. Madison turned back to Drew, smiling
expectantly. Thank God she d come along and saved Drew
from the hell of trying to date some uncoordinated, totally
spastic freak who couldn t even run away without falling.
Whatever, Madison thought as she reached over and took
Drew s hand, I m sure he ll think of a way to thank me later . . .
Now, she purred, her green eyes flashing. Where were
we?
228
the
big
blowout
What the hell are you doing, Mad? Drew pushed
Madison away, stepping back and crossing his arms over his
chest. His face felt strange and tight with an uncomfortable
mix of confusion and fury. The look on Casey s open, freckled
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