Sugar and Spice_ An L.A. Candy Novel - Lauren Conrad [61]
“That girl needs therapy. Sophie, don’t talk with your mouth full.”
“Who’s that guy she dated? Justin?”
“Jesse. Yeah, she really screwed it up with him. I mean, he’s super-cute and rich. He’s the son of two of the most famous actors in Hollywood, and he’s a total paparazzi magnet. If he’d been my boyfriend, I would have done it right. You don’t fall in love with a guy like that. You think with your head, not with your heart. You date him, get the press, then end it, preferably with a scandal. And you move on,” Madison said.
“Yeah, makes sense,” Sophie said, nodding. She seemed to be considering something. “What about Gaby? She’s your friend, right?” she asked.
“Gaby’s okay. She’s seems to be in major makeover mode. It’s probably because she got a publicist and thinks she’s super-famous now.”
“What’s a publicist?”
“Someone who gets you into magazines and stuff.”
Sophie frowned. “But . . . my picture’s all over the internet. And I don’t have a publicist.”
“Yeah, well, a publicist can do a lot more of that.”
“Do you have a publicist?”
“Not at the moment.”
“Hmm, maybe I should get one, too.” Sophie picked up her BlackBerry and punched some keys. “So do you just Google ‘publicist,’ or—”
“Sophie, it wouldn’t be a good idea for you to get a publicist,” Madison cut in.
“Why not?”
“It just wouldn’t.”
Sophie cocked her head, her eyes inscrutable behind the dark glasses. Madison had the sudden, sinking feeling that she had just misplayed her hand. Telling Sophie not to do something almost always had the opposite effect. Like that time when they were kids and Madison told Sophie she could play with any of her dolls except for her special ballerina Barbie (and Madison never saw that Barbie again) . . . Anyway, Sophie was likely to go out and get herself a publicist now, which would not only triple the obnoxious amount of press coverage she was already getting (for being a new face on the show? BFD), but might increase both their risks of exposure, especially since Sophie seemed to have a very, very hard time keeping her damned mouth shut.
Madison glanced impatiently at her watch. Where was the PopTV van, anyway? She had to get home and get ready for the party. She really wasn’t looking forward to the night ahead, but there was no escaping it . . . and besides, if she was going to play the bad-girl-slash-social-pariah (again), she might as well do it wearing her hot D&G strapless and her new black satin Loubs.
Just then, a well-dressed young guy approached their table. Madison sat up a little straighter. She knew the drill; she turned down men as a hobby.
But his eyes weren’t on her . . . they were on Sophie. And Sophie was eating it up, smiling coyly and playing with her hair. Madison slid down in her chair and pretended to check her watch again. Ugh. The girl really was an attention whore.
On the other hand . . . maybe Madison was looking at this all wrong? Maybe Sophie reaping so much attention (from men, Trevor, the media) was actually a good thing? Up until now, Sophie held all the cards because Madison had everything to lose. But now . . . Sophie had everything to lose, too. She was starting to get a taste of fame and fortune and the perks that came with them: nice clothes, fancy cars, guys with money, VIP access. She wasn’t an idiot. There was no way she was going to bring Madison down. Because if she did, she was going down, too. In flames.
Madison smiled—not a fake smile, but a real smile, her first one in days.
Chapter 23
Birthday Girl
Scarlett studied the contents of her closet, wondering what she should bring for her mystery overnight with Liam. She had packed jeans, shorts, T-shirts, a bathing suit, pretty lingerie, and toiletries. Just to be safe, she added a simple black tank dress, a cashmere sweater, and a pair of nice sandals. And the silver and turquoise necklace Jane had given her for her birthday last year.
She glanced at her watch. Ugh. She had to be