10

Audrey’s friends waited for her while she had her school paper meeting after school—all three of them. A full-on ambush. They’d stopped her outside as she walked to her car.

“Hey!” Audrey said, forcing a smile. “What are you all doing here so late?”

“You wouldn’t respond to our texts,” replied Melicia as Rachel held up her own phone.

“Okay, sorry.” Audrey made a so what? face. “I’ve been swamped all day. Haven’t even looked at my phone. What’s going on?”

“You tell us,” Rachel said.

Audrey re-slung her schoolbag over to the other shoulder. “What is this?”

“What did you tell Kramer?” Melicia asked.

“Kramer?” Audrey’s face scrunched into a tight, angry ball. “Nothing. Just like we said.”

Rachel cut her off. “Kramer claims you were ‘looking into this.’ Maybe going to write a story or something.”

“Oh, please.” Audrey frowned. “She’s so pathetic. Is that what she told you?”

“It’s what she told him,” Melicia nodded her head at Bryant. Bryant looked away.

“So what?” Audrey said. “I’m not writing any story. I told Kramer I didn’t know anything. She keeps acting like I’m out gathering information on all of this or something.”

“Are you?” Rachel asked, taking a weird sort of half step forward, almost menacing.

“Are you crazy?” Audrey snapped back. “Gathering info on what? On us? I told her I didn’t know anything. End of story.” Anger rumbled in her gut. “What’d you tell her, Rachel? You were in there an awfully long time at lunch.”

“Don’t even.” Rachel crossed her arms and looked away. “I’m the one who wanted to keep blogging, remember. I’m not the one who’s freaking out.”

“Well, blogging again is a horrible idea,” Melicia said.

“So you’re taking her side now?” Rachel snapped.

“I’m not taking anyone’s side,” Melicia said and shot Rachel a look. “So how about you bring it down some.”

“Jeez, guys,” Bryant laughed nervously. It wasn’t a good sound. “How about everyone relax?”

Rachel spun on him. “Yeah? ‘Relax’? You’re the one she’s gonna get first. All your drawings look exactly the same.”

“Easy now . . .” Bryant held up his hands. “One, they don’t. Two, I didn’t say anything to anyone at school and won’t. And, three—”

“Stop it!” Audrey yelled a little louder than she had intended. All three of her friends looked at her, a little startled. “Listen to us. I thought this was over. We put it behind us, blah, blah, blah.”

“Well, Kramer does know we’re all friends,” said Melicia.

“And she’ll put it all together,” Rachel said. “The four of us having something to do with it. She clearly already suspects us.”

Bryant shook his head, looking genuinely angry for the first time. “You said it was foolproof, Mel. You said we were safe.”

“We are.” Melicia shook her head. “Everything’s fine.”

“Right, it’s all fine. Which is why you ambushed me,” Audrey said sarcastically. Then, for good measure, she added, “But if you’re so concerned about Kramer, why are you talking to me here in front of the school? Her office is right there.” Audrey nodded back to the front of the school. “And there are cameras everywhere. They can see us, you know.”

Her friends looked back at the school, a combination of realization and panic on their faces.

“What the . . . ? Seriously?!” Audrey tossed her head back and laughed, even she was startled by how mean the sound was. “Look at you! I was joking. Who cares if we’re talking? Seriously, come on. When did everyone get so paranoid? I thought we were good.”

“We’re good,” said Rachel. “We were making sure you are.”

Audrey narrowed her eyes. “Yeah, I’m good. And I’ll try to get over the fact that the three of you don’t trust me.”

“That’s not true,” said Bryant.

Audrey turned to him. “You know it is. Thanks a lot, dear friends.”

“Hey, Audrey,” Melicia reached out and gently grabbed her arm. “Look, we didn’t mean anything by it. We just—”

“I gotta go.” Audrey opened her car door. “See you later.”

Audrey plopped down in her seat and started the car. Her three friends walked away together.

The car was still parked, and she gripped the steering wheel to stop her hands from shaking.

“Everything is okay,” she said to herself out loud.

But that had been another lie. I’m just tired, she thought.

And angry. And hurt. And confused.

Audrey’s phone buzzed. A message. She sighed and dragged the phone from her backpack.

No name again. But there was a number this time.

Still, Audrey didn’t recognize it.

She opened the message anyway. And then gasped.

I know you wrote it. Was it fun to mess with someone’s life like that? Hope so . . .