“That would infer we’re friends, and I’m not sure we are. But he’s been walking around school like someone stole his favorite toy.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Let me guess, Celeste is a fan of The Row and their special brand of bad boys?”
“That’s not fair,” I said, my hand drifting to my throat.
“No, you’re right, it’s not. I’m sorry. I didn’t—”
“It’s okay.”
“You keep saying that but it feels like a lie.”
I stared up at him and whispered, “Sometimes if you lie for long enough it starts to feel like the truth.”
“Touché, Maguire. Tou-fuckng-ché.”
“Hey, you guys.” Chloe appeared. “I thought I’d never find you. Doesn’t anyone check their cell phones around here?”
“My bad, I was too busy trying to stick close to Celeste.”
“Where is— Oh, Miles is here. Cool.”
“Yeah, really cool,” Nate murmured under his breath. “Looking good, Clo.”
“Why thank you. Thought I’d better try and at least fit in with the DA crowd. How’d I do?” She spun slowly on the spot, letting me get a full look at her skinny jeans and white cropped tee combo.
“You look cute.”
Her eyes twinkled with delight. “Exactly what I was going for.”
“You don’t go here,” a saccharine voice said from behind us.
Slowly, I turned to meet Angela’s narrowed gaze. She was dressed in her cheer costume: a tight little red and white dress and blonde hair pulled high in a slick curled ponytail.
“Angela, always a pleasure,” Nate drawled, flanking Chloe’s other side.
“Who’s your new friend?”
“I’m Chloe. Chloe Ca—”
“This is Chloe, my friend,” I said.
“You have friends?” She smiled but it was full of bite. “Who knew?”
“Shouldn’t you be warming up or something?” Nate asked.
“You know, Nate, you really should think about the company you keep these days. Marc offered you an in and you threw it back in his face.”
“Excuse me while I go cry into my hot dog.”
“Asshole,” she murmured.
“Bitch,” he shot back, and she snarled.
“Enjoy the game, Harleigh. Although it probably won’t be any fun watching your old team get annihilated by the Devils.”
Chloe went to speak, but I elbowed her in the ribs. “Break a leg,” I called as she walked away.