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What had happened to Bridget was appalling, but, as I had predicted, the college was offering her a full scholarship, and Cartwright Records had topped it by offering to pay full tuition and rooe she wished to attend

Muffy Fowler had been philosophical when I’d congratulated her at lunch earlier in the week for et out of the press

"No one wants to write about an underage girl as mentally tortured by a psychotic stalker that the police can’t see over her habitual tuna-salad wrap "And they can’t mention her naetting that one squelched They were thrilled to write instead about how that stalkerand participate in our summer session for weeks and none of us noticed I don’t knoe’ll ever live this one down" She bit into her sandwich "On the bright side, though, at least no one’s talking about Pansygate any to play up the Rock Off angle as much as possible That’s the only positive developht The fact that Tania as well as all the girls and their mothers were so determined to put on the cae in the tristate area (if he hadn’t yet found his way to Canada) had touched and even charmed the media, and the network had been inundated with requests for press passes to the event Everya reporter, and as a result, with all the girls’ fa on co too, every seat in the auditoriuirls--especially the extreo on with the show in the first placeand also the reason why I was so ready to be rid of the roo, I’d overheard Mallory say, "Hey, you guys, I forgot to tell you I got a text fro"

"A," said several of the other girls But not, of course, Cassidy

"Knowing her, shefor real"

"Oh, Cass, get over yourself," Emmanuella had said "You’re just jealous because you know if Bridget were here tonight, she could beat you, vocal nodules or not"

"Yeah," said Mallory "It’s lucky for you she got those and had to be put on complete vocal rest, or you’d have to beat me and her"

This brought laughter froet vocal nodules," Cassidy said, her voice rising "She stole that idea frouy over in Wasser Hall, probably that sauy--"

"Cut" Stephanie’s voice had sounded sharp "Girls, real department has said that anyeliminated from the show Is that what you want, Cassidy?"

"No, ma’am," Cassidy said, but there was still resento back to how you got a text fro supportive about her Cassidy, you can say so bitchy, just don’tabout reality shows "not being very real" that got her sent down the hall by Stephanie "to cool off"

A little while later, when I went to the ladies’ roo at her own reflection, circles under her eyes Stephanie no longer wore cute suits and Louboutins to work Instead, she wore jeans and Uggs and a pained expression

"How’s it going?" I asked her, even though I knew the answer

"I’ children," she answered bleakly