Chapter 4

I mumbled something to Chloe and slipped away from the table, needing air.

The music and laughter faded as I walked down a quiet hallway inside the mansion.

I leaned against a cool wall, trying to breathe.

Then I heard voices from a nearby den. Ethan's voice.

"...so clingy, man. I had to tell her I failed my SATs. Can't have her following me to Stanford. Tiffany would flip."

His friends laughed.

"She actually believed you?" one of them snorted.

"Maya? Yeah, she'll believe anything I say. Sweet girl. A little too trusting."

My stomach churned. Sweet. Trusting. Clingy.

I pushed myself off the wall and walked back towards the party, my mind a blank.

Chloe found me near the drinks table. "You okay?"

Before I could answer, Tiffany materialized, a bright red soda in her hand.

"Oh, Maya, hi!" she chirped, a little too brightly.

Then she "tripped."

The entire cup of soda drenched the front of my dress. It was a thrift-store dress, one of my favorites, now ruined.

"Oh my god, I am SO sorry!" Tiffany gasped, but her eyes were glinting with triumph.

"You did that on purpose, you witch!" Chloe snapped, stepping forward.

Ethan was there instantly, his arm around Tiffany' s waist.

"Hey, calm down, Chloe," he said, his voice hard. "It was an accident."

He looked at me, my ruined dress, my shocked face.

"Maya, seriously? Don't make a scene. It's just a little soda."

"She's not making a scene, Ethan! Your psycho girlfriend just-" Chloe started.

"Enough, Chloe," Ethan cut her off. He turned to me, his expression cold. "You're embarrassing yourself. And me. You're supposed to be my friend."

My friend. The word felt like ash in my mouth.

"Apologize to Tiffany," Ethan said. His voice was low, commanding.

I stared at him. Apologize? For what? For existing?

"No," I said, my voice surprisingly steady.

Tiffany sniffled, pressing herself against Ethan. "It's okay, Ethan. Maybe she's just upset about... you know... Stanford."

Her fake sympathy was sickening.