Be the Girl(27)

“Oh my God, she still texts you?”

“Like, every day. She texts me and tags me on stupid pictures of mangy dogs on Instagram, too. I hate dogs! And if I don’t respond, she keeps texting! It’s so annoying. I don’t know why Emmett’s parents let her have a phone in the first place. Someone’s always with her and it’s not like she has friends.”

“What are you talking about? You’re her best friend.”

Holly scoffs and Mandy cackles viciously.

“I swear, if I’d known that I wouldn’t be able to shake Cassie off, I would never have gone through her to get to Em. I could’ve met him some other way. Hey, no one’s in here, right?” Holly suddenly asks, quieting.

Panic flares inside me. I hold my breath and pull my legs up, thankful that I chose the corner stall.

A moment later, “Nope.”

“Cool.”

I let out the slowest sigh of relief.

“So, what’s the story with that Aria girl, anyway?” Mandy asks.

“I don’t know, but she’s weird.”

My stomach clenches.

“Right? And she joined cross-country because of him?”

“And made up some story about winning provincials or something. I’m telling you, I’ve seen her run at our practices and there is no way. She’s so slow.”

My teeth grit together.

“Why did Emmett bring her to Zach’s?”

“He felt sorry for her. She has, like, no friends. She and her mom moved in with that old, grouchy man next door. Emmett said her parents divorced. They probably have no money.”

We have loads of money! I want to yell, my eyes burning with the cutting words. My mom’s been a lawyer for twenty years. All she ever did was work.

And did Emmett say that? That he felt sorry for me?

“Do you think she has a thing for him?”

“Oh my God, for sure she does. Who doesn’t though, right? He’s, like, the hottest guy here. And he’s all mine.” Holly cackles. “She can have his sister. They’re perfect for each other. Both weirdos.”

“And Jen Ricci.”

“Ugh! Did you see what that loser is wearing today?” Their laughter is grating.

It’s a moment before I realize the bathroom is empty once again.

My hands are shaking with anger as I shut off the recording and tuck my phone away. I knew Holly was too perfect to be real. I knew there had to be an ugly side. Everyone has an ugly side. It’s only ever a matter of how well they keep it hidden, and what makes it appear.

Has Emmett seen this side of her? Does he know that she used his sister to get to him?

Does she know how she talks about Cassie?

I wait another five minutes to make sure there’s no chance Holly and Mandy are in the halls before I collect my things and head to the cafeteria.

I find Jen and Josie in our usual area. “That took a while,” Jen says, already working on the second half of her sandwich.

I slide into my seat. “Yeah. Sorry.”

She pauses midbite and frowns. “You feeling okay? You look pale.”

“I’m fine. It’s just … it’s nothing.” It’s just that Emmett’s girlfriend is a full-fledged Regina George posing as Miss Congeniality. And she’s got everyone fooled.

“Hey, Aria!” That saccharine voice calls out from behind me.

Tension ripples through my body as I look up to find none other than Holly and Mandy standing over our table. I swallow against the lump in my throat. “Hey. What’s up?” Did she somehow figure out that I was in the bathroom, recording her as she exposed her toxic underbelly?

She shrugs. “Just wanted to say hi. You looked great at practice today, by the way. We’re so happy to have you on the team.” The way her eyes crinkle, the way her smile takes up her whole face … it’s like she’s practiced her deception in the mirror for months, she’s that good at appearing genuine.

But I know better now.

I offer her a tight smile. “Thanks.”

“See you later. Bye, Jennifer!” They don’t even acknowledge Josie before strolling away to the other side of the cafeteria, their heads dipped toward each other conspiratorially, laughing about something. I no longer have to guess at what.

“Why don’t you tell her that you go by Jen? That you don’t like being called Jennifer,” I mimic, unable to hold the accusation from my tone. Someone needs to confront Holly about something. Anything.

Jen chews slowly—much slower than usual—which tells me she’s stalling to answer. “She knows,” she finally says, gulping down her Pepsi. She hesitates, then glances over at their table. “I’ve known Holly since I was six. We both used to live in Klemptville.” Those owlish, gray eyes regard me for moment before she shifts her attention to her sandwich in her hands. “Holly is really good at pretending to be nice. But she’s not. She’s mean and competitive, and jealous of anyone who does better in school or sports than her. She made kids cry. She made me cry, and I’m a year older than she is. Called me fat and ugly. She started rumors about me—that I still wet the bed, that I kissed my cousin, Rob.” She shakes her head, her face twisted with dismay. “I was miserable. It got so bad, I didn’t want to go to school.” Jen’s head dips lower as she admits softly, “Some days I wished I wouldn’t wake up.”