only Modessa can. Like, if Violet were writing it out in poem form, with line breaks and other clues to the reader, it would look like this:

OH

(beat)

(beat)

myGOD.

But that’s Modessa, dripping with attitude.

Violet steps closer. So far, the group hasn’t noticed her.

“And these were your friends?” Modessa says to Hayley.

“I know,” Hayley says.

“Some friends!” Modessa says.

“I know,” Hayley says. She looks over Modessa’s shoulder. “Hi, Violet.”

Modessa twirls on her heel. Violet’s insides sink, and then she squeezes her hands into fists.

You are strong, she reminds herself. So be strong.

“Hi,” she says stiffly.

“Violet,” Modessa says, the way another person might say, Gross, a dead roach. “Why are you here?”

“Why are you here?” Violet replies.

It’s not the most brilliant response, and Modessa takes full advantage. “Um, because I am? But you. You’re such a magnet. Everywhere I go, there you are. It’s annoying and pathetic. Am I right, girls?”

Quin and Elena nod. Their heads are attached to invisible strings, because they’re Modessa’s puppets.

“Hayley—” Violet says.

“No,” Modessa interrupts. “Don’t try to steal Hayley away, and don’t follow her around, either. Don’t follow any of us. Anyway, can’t you tell that poor Hayley doesn’t want you bugging her?”

Poor Hayley? Violet thinks. Poor Hayley?!

Modessa very deliberately turns her back on Violet. Done, her actions say. And bye-bye to you. To Hayley, she says, “Well, real friends wouldn’t have done that.”

Done what? Violet wonders. She does feel dumb, standing outside their circle. Should she leave?

But no. Because Modessa is clearly making her bid for Hayley. Violet can’t back down.

“Come to my house, and I’ll do it,” Modessa says.

Violet edges closer. Do what?

Hayley makes a noise that’s neither a yes nor a no. “I don’t know. I’m, like, not sure anymore. That I even want to.”

Want to do what?! Violet’s mind demands.

“I think you should,” Modessa proclaims. “I totally think you should, and I totally think you should let me be the one to do it for you.” She moves closer to Hayley, farther from Violet. Quin and Elena follow suit. “Okay? So will you?”

They’re cornering her, Violet thinks. Then she doubts herself, because Hayley does have legs, after all. And, unlike Elena, she has a functioning spine. Hayley could walk away from Modessa if she wanted to, because unlike Quin and Elena, Hayley isn’t a puppet-girl.

But if Hayley isn’t a puppet-girl, then why is she putting up with the Evil Chicks? And what does Hayley maybe or maybe not want to do, and how does it involve Modessa?

Violet forces herself to step forward. “Modessa?” Her voice quivers, dang it. “Leave Hayley alone.”

Modessa rolls her eyes at Quin, Elena, and Hayley … and all of them giggle.

Even Hayley.

Violet swallows. She’s suddenly uncertain whose side Hayley is on.

“What’s your problem, Violet?” Modessa says, as if even such a simple exchange is exhausting.

“Yes, what’s your problem, magnet?” Quin contributes, sniggering.

Violet glares, shifting her focus to Modessa’s right-hand girl. She pulls herself up and ignores the niggling awareness that by taking on Quin, she’s taking the easy way out. “Shut up, Quin. Anyway, you need to pay more attention during science, because a magnet draws things toward it. So who’s the magnet?”

Quin looks confused. Elena looks confused. Then Elena’s brow unwrinkles, and she says, “Ohhhh.” She turns to Modessa. “She’s right.”

“Huh?” Quin says.

“Modessa’s the magnet,” Elena says.

This gives Violet the courage to glance at Hayley.

Hayley’s expression is impassive.

“She’s not right, and shut up,” Modessa snaps. She pauses. “No, she is right, actually, but not in the way she thinks. I am a magnet, because I have a magnetic personality, just like movie stars and America’s Next Top Models.” She lifts her chin. “So thank you, Violet, for clearing that up.”

Modessa smiles at her. It’s not a real smile.

“Violet’s a very smart girl,” Modessa says. “Don’t you think, Hayley? That Violet’s a very smart girl?”

Violet turns to Hayley, hoping that she will somehow fix things.

“Whatever you say,” Hayley replies.

It’s an answer, but it only leaves Violet with more questions.