Birthday Vicious (The Ashleys, Book 3) Read online

  Things should get pretty interesting around here...

  Warily,

  Lauren Page

  246

  JOURNAL DOC

  I've tried everything to get a hold of Max, but even though I'm off my electronic probation now, he won't take any of my calls, texts, or IMs. I can't believe he would listen to those Slytherin sluts over his girlfriend. There has to be something I can do!

  You can't just break up with someone over a little misunderstanding, right? Over a silly thing like a camping trip? So what if I don't like to go camping and Max does? We have other things in common, don't we? Don't we? Why can't I think of anything?

  For now, I'll just go log on his band's MySpace page again. He looks so cute in the video for their song "Uptight Girl." I wonder who inspired it?

  Yours in mystification,

  Lili

  247

  MEMO: FILE: DIARY: ALIOTO, ASHLEY DON'T KNOW IF WHAT TRI SAID IS TRUE. IT'S BEEN BUGGIN ME. RIGHT NOW ASHLEY IS STILL MY BFF. TRI N ME R BACK 2 BEING BFFS.

  ALL IS BACK TO NORMAL, [Image: Smile.]

  MAY-B I SHOULD ASK ASHLEY ABT WHAT TRI

  TOLD ME?

  248

  I can't believe we still have to keep this stupid journal. Let's see. What is there to report? I have the most amazing boyfriend in the world. I couldn't ask for a better birthday gift. Or a better birthday.

  Okay, so maybe after the party was over there was so much trash and glitter and debris all over the house that it looked like New Orleans after Mardi Gras and we had to spend the weekend at the Four Seasons just to get away from it all. It was still worth it, even if the tigers totally tore up the lawn and none of the staff who were shot out of the cannons will ever get their hearing back (which is why I'm so glad I found this dictation service).

  Cooper was totally blown away by the whole extravaganza. That night he said he had something really, really important to tell me, but we got distracted when one of the fire-breathers came a little too close. By the time I finally shooed the guy away and asked Cooper what it was he wanted to say, he just smiled and said nothing.

  That boy can be so maddeningly mysterious sometimes! Can you believe I still don't even know his last name? Oh well, maybe we should spend less time kissing and more time talking. Oh no--is this TMI? I think it is, so I'll sign off now!

  249

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  T hanks again to the fabulous Team Ashleys: Emily Meehan, Courtney Bongiolatti, Carolyn Pohmer, Paul Crichton, Matt Schwartz, Lucille Rettino, Richard Abate, Richie Kern, Melissa Myers, Paula Morris, Christina Green, and Adam Parks.

  Love to everyone in my family, especially Mike & Mattie. As always, big kisses to all my readers, who make writing the books worthwhile.

  250

  ABOUT THE AUTHOR

  Melissa de la Cruz always expects to celebrate her birthday with hundreds of friends, glittering celebrities, and a seven-foot-tall cake with sparklers. She has yet to make her entrance on a trapeze, although she has made one on a Vespa, driven by a cute Italian model.

  She has written many books for teens, including the best-selling series the Au Pairs, Angels on Sunset Boulevard, and Blue Bloods. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband and daughter.

  Check out her website at www.melissa-delacruz.com and send her an e-mail at [email protected].