The Clique: Confessions of an Upperclassman

Orange Theory Thursday, September 1st 8:57 AM

"Breathe in."

Massie followed her Pilates instructor's order and inhaled. She was at the end of her early morning, advanced level class, and while her body was properly worn-out, her mind still raced. The past few weeks had been spent blissfully traveling across Europe, and while her parents were more focused on visiting the Louvre, Big Ben, and the Roman Coliseum, Massie had used the trip to score exclusive fashion from designer stores across the map. It was as good of a summer as Massie could have asked, but it had all come slowly crumbling down on their way back to Westchester.

It all began at the Starbucks in the London Heathrow Airport. While waiting for her skinny vanilla oat milk latte, Massie noticed a group of girls who seemed to be international students sitting at the largest table available. Laptops and notebooks were spread across the table with intricate diagrams of the human body and pages of text with pastel highlighted phrases. Normally, this scene would have bored Massie, but the girls at the table drew her attention. Their bags were designer and stuffed with their planners and pens. Their glasses and ponytails looked haute rather than nerdy. Massie made a mental note of the academic aesthetic of it all and grabbed her drink.

Later, after the almost 7-hour flight back to New York, her parents raved to her about the professor they were seated next to. Apparently instead of getting beauty rest, enjoying the first-class meal, and watching Clueless (again) like her, Massie's parents had discussed universities, majors, and applications with the stranger.

The last straw happened back at the Block estate. Massie had no sooner set her bags down on the marble floors than Inez, the housekeeper, handed her mail that arrived while she was away. Looking through the shiny envelopes, Massie saw not one, not two, but three college brochures practically begging her to join them. The signs were too loud to ignore- it was time for Massie to think about her future. And that scared her.

"Breathe out."

Massie exhaled, wondering how long she had been holding that breath.

"Great work today, ladies!" The instructor beamed, "Be sure to go nourish your body and mind and I will see you next class!"

Massie rolled up her pink yoga mat and tucked it into her Beis tote. She took a moment to sip from her lululemon water bottle and re-apply her lip gloss before strutting out of the studio on her way to find some other solution to her current crisis.

Outside, her driver, Isaac, was waiting in her Range Rover. Massie slid into the cool leather back seat and sighed.

"Where to?" Isaac asked, eying her through the rearview mirror.

"I have no idea." Massie admitted. After a moment of silence Isaac shifted the car back into park and folded his hands in his lap, waiting for more. "To be honest, I haven't given much thought to where I'm going beyond OCD. Being alpha of the school has been my goal for so long I'm not sure what to aspire to next. And the problem with deciding is that I could be great at anything! CEO, editor-in-chief, lead neurosurgeon. Actually, scratch that last one- I am nawt dealing with gross blood and brains."

Isaac chuckled softly. "No, I can't picture you doing that."

Massie smiled despite her frustration. "What can you picture me doing then?"

Isaac was quiet again while he thought. "Well, you always have been good at leading. I suppose it's just up to you what, or who, to lead."

It wasn't a straight answer like Massie was hoping for, but it did give her a bit of direction. She would have to think over it more. "Take me to the stables, please."