People Like Us(27)

“I don’t.” I wished she hadn’t used those words. “Liking is one thing. Dancing is another. Just ask.”

Cori smirked. “That was more than dancing.”

“Then ask for more.”

She laughed loudly, a hoarse, hearty laugh. Cori’s laugh is so distinctive, it drew Tricia and Tai out of the building, Tai carrying her apothecary in her oversize purse and Tricia still dancing. Tai crouched down and opened her bag of refreshments.

“Sounds like time to power up. Chocolate vodka shots?”

“God, no.” I turned my head toward her and the stars trailed along. “Give me something that fizzes.”

“Prosecco. With notes of grapefruit and honey.” She poured me a mini flask, but I gave it back to her and took the bottle.

“Should we begin to wander toward the lake?” Tricia lifted the bottle and took a long drink.

I pulled myself to a sitting position. “Where’s Brie?”

“Probably in a dark corner with some other poor loser,” Cori said and giggled.

My stomach turned. She wouldn’t do that to Justine. And if she did, it would be with me. I would be the one. She would be winding her arms around me, twisting her fingers into my hair, our lips pressed together as we pulled each other close and up and around over the crunching leaves, laughing the cold away. It should be me. It should always have been me. I suddenly felt dark and bothered and like the night had been a waste.

And then she was there, towering above us, breathless, disheveled, her eyes bright and wild with alcohol. “Change of plan. Let’s split up now and meet in thirty minutes. Back to our dorms, ditch valuables, do what has to be done, meet at the edge of the green. I have a surprise.”

A mischievous grin played on the corner of Tai’s lips, but I wasn’t in the mood anymore. “What kind of a surprise?”

“It’ll be worth it.” Brie started running toward the dorms and glanced back over her shoulder. “Thirty minutes.”

“Oh yeah,” Tricia said. “She’s definitely been in a dark corner somewhere.”

“Looks like she’s off to finish whatever she started,” Cori whispered, and the others roared with laughter.

I glared at them. “You guys are like frat boys.”

“We’re the ones frat guys prey on, Kay.” Tai took a long drink and burped into the back of her hand, and the others laughed uncontrollably. “Innocent little us.”



* * *



? ? ?

I SKIP MY afternoon classes to go for a half-marathon run around the lake and attempt to cool down with a yoga session in one of the private meditation rooms at the athletic center, but I can’t slow my pulse or stop my mind from racing. Dinner is no better. Mealtimes have become increasingly surreal since Jessica’s death. On the first night, I sat by myself across the cavernous hall from my friends as Tai tried to poison them against me. The next day, Tai was gone and Tricia sat with the rugby team after the memorial. Tonight, there’s no sign of Tricia. Cori and Maddy sit at our usual table, and I drag Brie to a deserted corner in the back. I decide to keep Tricia’s secret. It’s not for me to tell, even to Brie.

“Have you seen Tricia?” Brie asks as I elbow a first-year out of the way to block the table off for ourselves. She gives me a shocked look and Brie shakes her head at me, frowning, and apologizes to the girl, who looks like she’s about to cry.

“Sorry,” I say, distracted. “I totally didn’t see you.”

“She’s not answering her phone.”

“Who?”

“Tricia.” Brie feels my forehead. “Are you sick?”

“They suspect me,” I say. My whole body feels ice cold. “Me.”

“They can’t. You have alibis.”

“Not for the entire night. Not for that window between the dance and the lake.”

Brie places her fork down slowly. “I told you not to tell them about that.”

“She cornered me. That woman is like one of those sharks that clamps down and doesn’t let go.”

Brie closes her eyes and her expression turns serene, but I can tell she’s beginning to panic. She gets strangely calm when things are going wrong. “She’s going to know we all lied. We could be arrested for obstructing justice.”

“Relax. I only told her that I was alone. Not the rest of you. I said I went to my room to change. Which happens to be directly below Jessica’s room. Then the detective asked specifically if I was in there, and it seemed like she was implying that she thought I was. No one can prove I didn’t kill her and then meet up with you.”

“No one can prove you were in her room because you weren’t. And you have no motive.”

“Jealousy is the oldest motive in the book.”

She scoffs. “Over Spencer? If they knew him, they wouldn’t even consider it.” She takes a bite of spaghetti.

I think for a moment. “You were already wrong once, Brie. The detective said it wasn’t a suicide.”

Brie frowns. “Yeah. It seems like public opinion is swinging that way, too.”

I glance across the dining hall and see Nola gliding out of the kitchen with her tray and I wave her over. She hesitates for a moment and then approaches and sits. “Nola, do you know Brie?”