Clique Bait - Ann Valett Page 0,71

valedictorian titles at any other school.”

He was right. There was a reason politicians and pop stars chose to send their kids here.

“And they mocked me for it. For being the scholarship kid, for having to listen to them. For being powerless. And all I wanted was for them to accept me. I was so awkward and naive back then. I thought I loved Sophie Rutherford because one day after English she told me she liked a poem I wrote.”

Jack’s eyes seemed far away.

“Ice on a sea breeze, like she looked at me, a queen’s scornful smile, worn like silk draped upon her skin.”

I remembered that day, the day everyone had laughed at Jack’s speech impediment as he read to the class. He’d hidden it well since then. It was almost undetectable. Another side effect of being a Level Two: you’d do anything to conform. Like Monica had done when she shed me. Like I had done when I joined them.

“She thought I wrote it about her. How conceited.” He seemed to return to the present, crossing his hands in front of him, all business. “Anyway, point is, they’ve taken every opportunity I should have had, opportunities I worked for. And I’m tired of playing nice.”

“They took Monica,” I added quietly. He was right. We really did have the same motive.

“I’ll give you what I have, if you give me what you have,” he said. “Then we can negotiate.”

Could I trust him? What he said made sense, yes, but also selling me out could elevate his status, giving him the boost he needed.

“I promise I have valuable intel,” he said.

That got me. At this stage, I needed anything I could get my hands on. William wanted this over by the end of the week, and with Maddy out of the way I didn’t know how much longer I’d be able to hold on to my position.

“If you can give me something new,” I said. “Then I’ll tell you where I’m at in my plan.”

“Deal.”

Jack held out his hand. I shook it.

“I hacked into the school’s system and found deleted surveillance footage,” he said. “I gave them a chance, you know. I tried to play nice. But after what Sophie did, kicking me out of that party—it was the last straw. I had to do something.”

“Seriously?” I asked, unable to stop from gaping at him. “How?”

He waved me off, like it didn’t matter.

“I was hoping to find something to use against the school, to blackmail them into doing something. But I found something even better. Someone deleted a video of Sophie sneaking around with someone.”

“You know who Sophie is seeing?” I gasped, my voice a barely contained whisper.

He nodded. “And it’s a scandal and a half.”

At this point, I was almost out of my seat. “Who?”

“Let’s just say she’s been getting anatomy lessons from our biology teacher.” Jack’s lips lifted in a smirk. “Mr. Hammond.”

Twenty-Five

Mon,

How did we get here? Don’t you remember making the promise to go to college together? It seems silly now, forecasting things so far away, especially after so much has changed. I felt safe with you. Maybe too safe. Maybe that’s why I never really bothered making any other best friends. I had you. We had each other.

I have to admit, it’s left me pretty lost now. I used to think that no matter what, I’d always still have you.

Love, Chloe

JACK SENT THE thirty-second clip to my phone. Sophie and Mr. Hammond last Friday. William and I had been leaving the classroom just as they entered. Though the surveillance system was only capturing the hallway, Sophie and Mr. Hammond’s shadows, cast by the afternoon sun, were projected onto the tiled floor through the doorway.

Both figures moved toward each other, their movements showing enough to work out that they were undressing. I guess that was how Sophie maintained a perfect GPA.

In exchange, I’d divulged my side of the plan. Once I’d started, I couldn’t stop, pouring out my secrets. William’s blackmail. His love triangle with Lola and Francis. The games. Desmond’s footage.

“After what they did to Monica,” I said, “I can’t bear it. They deserve to pay.”

Jack looked deep in thought as he propped his chin on his knuckles. “You know, you had me worried for a little there.”

I looked at him questioningly.

“Like I said, I knew you wouldn’t be pining to be part of Level One after Monica. But after seeing you with Bishop . . . I wasn’t sure.”

“What do you mean?” I frowned.

“It’s just, the way