Still, it was better than eating alone.
"Thanks," I said.
I managed to keep my chin up as I followed them to their table in the far wing, away from the
center of the room where the Billings Girls held court. I refused to look to see if Noelle and the
others were watching. Wouldn't give them the satisfaction. But I felt as if I were under a harsh
spotlight as I walked, and when I finally fell into a chair at Diana's table, I felt exhausted.
"Nice table," I said, forcing a smile for Diana and her friends. "Very private."
They all smiled in a self-conscious way, but no one replied. Ooookay.
Trying to act as if everything was perfectly normal, I picked up my bottle of apple juice, shook it
up, and popped the top. As I took a sip, I realized that Diana and her two friends were all
communicating with one another silently, darting looks and nudging shoulders. Sour apprehension
filled my stomach.
"What?" I said, lowering the bottle.
53
"You didn't actually kill Cheyenne Martin, right?" Sonal asked. She was big-boned with dark skin
and black curly hair and had a slight Hindi accent. Her dark eyes were wide behind her glasses.
"Sonal! God!" Diana said with a scoff, her cheeks turning pink. She shot me an apologetic look as
she buttered her bagel. "Of course Reed didn't."
"No, of course I didn't," I echoed quietly.
This seemed to appease both Sonal and Shane. I saw their shoulders visibly relax.
"So, what's it like to live in Billings?" Shane asked, crunching into an apple. The juice sprayed all
over the place. She was a tall, athletic type with plain brown hair and plain brown eyes.
My heart twisted at the question. "It's... uh..."
"Is it true you each have your own personal maid?" Sonal asked, scooting forward in her chair.
"No. Where did you hear--"
"But you do get an allowance every week from the alumni, right?" Shane asked. "Everyone knows
that."
"Well, not exactly. We don't--"
"Do you guys really have champagne parties every Friday night?" Sonal demanded. "I mean, did
you? And were guys really allowed to come?"