Clique Bait - Ann Valett Page 0,20

saw me exit William’s shiny BMW.

The thought was exhilarating.

I couldn’t sit still in math class. The integrals on the board blended together into an intricate pattern that I didn’t understand, or even care to understand. I was consumed by my plans and the scraps of information I’d uncovered.

Sophie’s mystery guy.

Maddy’s affair with Francis.

Lola’s claim that she’d slept with William.

I mean, the idea didn’t seem that far-fetched. William was no Francis when it came to power, but he was good-looking and available. Was she his mysterious ex-girlfriend? The one Sophie had mentioned at Jermaine’s?

I shook my head, hoping to clear my mind at least a little. For now, I needed to know how to integrate by parts, not how I was going to infiltrate their group.

After class, I was surprised to be greeted by Claire’s chirpy voice.

“Hi, Chloe!”

“Hey, Claire,” I said kindly as I gathered my pens from the table.

“I, um, I heard about you and William. I just wanted to say you make a great couple,” she said.

“Oh, thanks,” I said, feeling a weird creeping sensation across my skin.

“You guys seem super into each other. I was wondering how it started? Come on, we have class together. We can walk.”

I was startled when Claire’s arm linked with mine, pulling me from my seat, her fair skin flushed with excitement. Taking a breath, I struggled to answer her question. “Um, I guess we just started talking and it went from there.”

“How sweet!” Claire said, letting out a sigh. “I saw you sitting with him at lunch today. You two are so cute! And I know I’ve already said it—but you look so good this year. I mean, you were never ugly or anything, but you look gorgeous! Did you lose weight?”

I’d never understand why girls put so much energy into scrutinizing one another. I’d known image would be a huge factor in my quest for Level One, but it just seemed so . . . unnecessary.

“Uh, thanks,” I said, increasing my pace in an attempt to end the conversation as quickly as possible. Lunch with Level One had turned me into a person of interest. My plan was working.

“Anyway, do you want to sit together?”

I gave her a smile. “Sure.”

My feet were still damp from my shower as I propped them gingerly onto the scales the following morning.

I sighed in frustration. I couldn’t afford to slip back up a clothing size. My stomach looked bloated, bringing a wave of insecurity. The last thing I wanted was to stand out beside the girls at the lunch table by contrasting with their Victoria’s Secret–model standard of beauty.

A murmur from the hallway distracted me from my train of thought, and I took a step closer to the bathroom door, wrapping a towel around my body in the process.

“Friday?” I heard Mom say. Her voice was barely audible over the whirring of the bathroom fan. “Richard, you know we have dinner with the Thompsons on Thursday night.”

There was a pause, and I heard Mom pacing the hall.

“Can’t you attend the meeting online and come home after tomorrow? I swear you spend less time on our family than you do the company, and don’t even get me started on the example it sets for Chloe—”

Her footsteps accelerated as she walked past the bathroom door again.

“I’m not using her to manipulate you, Richard. It’s just . . .” There was a sigh and a light thud as she closed a door, cutting off the rest of the conversation.

My breath hitched as a hollowness opened deep within my chest. Sometimes I really hated this house.

I pulled on the clothes I had laid out for the day, pinning my hair back with the golden pin Monica had left with me. Working on my appearance helped to distract from the twisting frustration I felt when I thought about my parents.

William was idling on my street as I stepped out into the unseasonal LA rain, pulling the hood of my coat over my head and letting out a half-hearted yell to my mom that I would see her tonight.

“Morning,” he said, with a tone much more perky than the one he usually greeted me with. His knitted sweater looked much more comfortable than the drenched coat I was wearing. I’d only walked twenty or so yards, but it was enough to soak me.

“Hi,” I said, taking a deep breath as I tried to slip into my Level One character for the day as opposed to the Chloe I became at home.