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And teeks later, when Pandy ran into SondraBeth in the bathroom at that black-tie event, SondraBeth did as well

The incident occurred at a benefit hosted by Peter Pepper—PP, she thought in disgust, re what SondraBeth had said about how he didn’t approve of their friendship He needn’t have worried, she thought ironically when she spotted four bodyguards holding back a crowd that threatened to engulf the head table The focus of all the attention was, naturally, SondraBeth Schnowzer, who, thanks to the success of Monica, couldn’t go anywhere without being mobbed by fans

With a sharp ache that nearly made her cry out in pain, Pandy remembered how much she’d loved SondraBeth, and howhad said about SondraBeth hating her Was it really true? For a second, Pandy considered approaching her, but the prospect of being turned away by the bodyguards was too e to consider, especially since she ith Jonny

Halfway through the evening, Pandy snuck off to the ladies’ roo up her lipstick when there was a knock on the door; in the next second, a bodyguard pushed open the door

“Excuse me?” Pandy demanded

“I’m sorry, ma’am, but I need you to vacate this space”

“Why? Has so happened? Is there a fire?”

And then she heard SondraBeth’s voice co from behind him “Really, Julio This isn’t necessary”

The bodyguard stepped back to let her pass Before Pandy had tiure out how to react, there was Monica herself, less than five feet away

Her hair was teased up into a gorgeous golden puff with the shine of a glazed donut A scattering of rhinestones were arranged like stars across the dark navySondraBeth—Monica—ain a car accident It took Pandy a couple of seconds to comprehend that the situation was real; the subsequent rush of adrenaline caused her hands to shake as she tried to nonchalantly replace the cap on her lipstick and drop it into her bag For a moment she was sure SondraBeth was equally distressed, but then her face relaxed into that impenetrable mask of eternal happiness

“How are you?” SondraBeth asked pleasantly, as if she and Pandy were casual acquaintances who had run into each other at a party

“I’reat,” Pandy said fir Not knowing how to proceed, she added quickly, “I’uy I really, really like”

SondraBeth’s sht?”

“That’s right” Pandy nodded aardly

“Are you…” SondraBeth unexpectedly faltered “Is it serious?”