Page 47 of Slumming It

But these days, even their lips were the same, courtesy of God-knows-how-many injections of collagen or whatever. I didn't know how much they'd paid to get those movie-star lips, but Ididknow that their lips hadn't been nearly so full back in high school.

My own lips were the same as ever. Sure, I didn't look like a movie star, but I'd inherited those lips from my mom, who'd inherited them fromhermom – my Hungarian grandmother whose smile had warmed all of us until the very end.

I liked my lips just fine as-is, thank you very much.

But this was a cold comfort as Morgan smiled nice and wide before calling out from the driver's seat, "So, are you having any luck?"

I knew exactly what she meant. It was a joke. And it wasn't any funnier this time around than it had been the last time she'd said such a thing – back near the Ferris Wheel when I'd been wearing that overly skimpy dress.

When I didn’t dignify her question with a response, Nikki called out, "Shemeanshave you picked up any tricks?"

Oh, please. Even if Iwerea streetwalker, this stretch of road would be an incredibly stupid place to ply my trade considering the lack of traffic.

In the driver's seat, Morgan gave a little huff and turned to face her passenger. Sounding slightly miffed, she said, "It's notfunnyif you explain it."

"It is,too," Nikki said. "And I was just helping." She gave a dramatic sigh. "Ihadto. I mean, I don't think she got it."

My shoulders tightened.Oh, I got it, alright.But I didn't say so as I glared at the two chicks who'd been a combined pain in my ass for as long as I could remember. I despised both of them, and the feeling was more than mutual.

Even so, I was debating doing the unthinkable – asking them for a favor, meaning a ride back to town.

Would it really be so bad?I mean, they were already here, and I had already been suitably humiliated.How much worse could it get?

Right on cue, Morgan called out, "So, are you flossing your ass or what?"

Damn it.Yes, Iwas, in fact. Or at least it sure felt that way. Still, I glared in defiance. "Excuse me?"

"Your shorts," Morgan laughed. "They're so far up your ass, you're gonna need a crowbar to get them out."

It was vintage Morgan. She couldn't even see my ass, not now, anyway, considering that I was facing her head-on. But she had obviously snagged a good eyeful of my backside just before I'd whirled to face her.

This had taken only a split second, but Morgan had always been quick on the uptake, especially when it came to blunders in fashion or anything else that didn't truly matter.

I resisted the urge to reach back and yank at my shorts yet again as I replied, "So, you've been checking out my ass, huh?" I forced a smug smile. "Jealous?" Yes, it was a pathetic comeback, especially considering that Morgan had a figure to die for.

Against all laws of nature, she had a tiny ass and big boobs – notfreakishlybig, but all-natural and early arrivals, too,considering that Morgan had starting filling out in the sixth grade, back whenI'dbeen as flat as a board.

In the passenger's seat, Nikki called out with a laugh, "Why would she be jealous ofyoursorry ass?" Speaking of asses, Nikki's was just as tiny as Morgan's even if Nikki's boobs were slightly bigger.

But unlike Morgan, Nikki had acquiredherperfect boobs from a cosmetic surgeon in Southfield right before she'd headed out to Michigan State for a degree in bitchiness.

Okay, fine. It wasbusiness.But the point remained. Nikki wasnota nice person. And neither was Morgan. If I never had to see their bikinied boobs on the beach again, it would be far too soon.

But why was I thinking of their bodies at all?My own body was freezing even though I tried like crazy not to show it – not in front ofthem, anyway.

With a snicker, Morgan called out, "Yeah, if I'm ever jealous ofyou, just slap me, alright?"

My fingers flexed.Oh, don't tempt me, sister.

One time, I actuallyhadslapped her, but only because she'd called my mom the c-word in front of twenty other girls. This had happened during our tenth grade gym class when a game of volleyball had been getting just a little too competitive.

And yes, that week in detention had been totally worth it even if my mom thought otherwise.

In the passenger's seat, Nikki turned to Morgan and hissed, "You shouldn't say that. Not toher."

Morgan frowned. "Why not?"

"Because she just might. She already slapped you once, remember?" Nikki jerked her head in my direction. "That whole family's fucking crazy."