The Similars (The Similars #1)(57)

“I’m standing right here, you know,” I say, finding my nerve. “You don’t have to talk about me like I’m not here.”

Maude turns to face me, her features stern. “I suppose you think you’re going to tell the whole world about us, then,” she says. “About our capabilities. All of it.”

“No,” I answer. “I wouldn’t. There’s only one thing I care about, and that’s finding out who attacked Pru. She deserves justice. And—and I want Levi to get his life back to normal.”

“Normal,” says Maude. “That’s something none of us will ever know, though it’s sweet of you to suggest it. Love can do that to a person. I get it. When I fell in love with Jago, the rest of my friends didn’t speak to me for a month. They said I was impossible to be around.” She smiles at Jago, who laughs and walks over to kiss her. But I barely process any of that—I’m too mortified as I look over at Levi, embarrassed by what Maude’s implied. Only he’s leaning close to Theodora, talking to her. No, not just talking to her—he has his arm around her. After a moment, they look over at the rest of us, as though they’d forgotten we were here.

I stare at Levi and Theodora. No one says a word, especially not me.

“Emma and I—we got caught up in the moment,” Levi finally explains. “The kiss, it didn’t mean anything. We don’t even like each other. Right, Emma?”

I stare at him and Theodora. He’s still got his arm around her. I’m so confused I can hardly speak.

“Right,” I say. They’re standing there, so close, like a couple. Like a couple. That’s exactly what they are.

A couple.

Levi and Theodora. Tessa’s look-alike. She and Levi have some kind of history. They’re an item. I’d always thought their relationship was platonic, not noticing there was anything more there than familial love. But Maude and Jago are a couple. Why shouldn’t Levi and Theodora be one too? I look from Levi back to Theodora. I can’t believe I didn’t see it, that I never realized.

Then why the hell was he just kissing me?

“Can we wrap this up?” Pippa offers, and I’m so relieved to hear her say this, it’s all I can do not to hug her. “Emma isn’t going to tell anyone what she knows about us. I trust her.”

“Thank you,” I mouth to Pippa.

“Fine,” says Maude. “Let’s go. You coming, Levi? Thea?” Maude calls in their direction as she turns and starts walking back toward the dorms.

Levi sighs and starts after her, holding Theodora’s hand as they walk. He doesn’t even glance in my direction. Pippa shoots me one last look before following the other Similars, and I am left behind, feeling like a fool.





The Rally


For the next two weeks, I avoid Levi. How could I have felt close enough to him to let him kiss me, yet have had no idea that he and Theodora are a couple? That kiss was a mistake, I remind myself as I stuff my feet into my slippers and shuffle to the window, staring out at Dark Lake.

Then why did it feel so entirely wonderful?

I don’t let my mind go to the million places it wants to—like wondering how long he and Theodora have been dating, wondering why I was so clueless, and if Levi ever planned to tell me.

It’s not only him I want to avoid. It’s all of them. I can’t deny I felt like prey, the Similars ringed around me, so troubled, so melancholy. And I’ve never been as mortified in my life as when they caught me and Levi kissing.

Thankfully, I have studying for winter exams to distract me. And though I dread going home for the mandatory winter break, I make plans to interrogate my father about Albert Seymour and John Underwood. Even in my humiliation over what happened with Levi, I can stay focused on figuring out what Oliver was trying to tell me, and proving Madison’s guilt.

The last day of school before vacation, I’m bussing my tray when Levi and the Similars walk into the dining hall. I hurry toward the door. I don’t want to risk seeing Levi and Theodora with their arms around each other.

“He didn’t mean to hurt you,” Pippa says before I can escape.

“I know that,” I respond, even though I don’t. Not really. But I can’t talk to Pippa about that. Not now or maybe ever. “I’m going home tomorrow,” I say as the Similars call her over. She starts to walk off. “Pippa, wait. About Pru…”

She turns. “What about her?”

“Jaeger left a note for me the day he visited. In that book he gave me. He said… He said I should stop looking for her.” I feel tears pooling in my eyes and don’t try to stop them. “I still don’t know what he meant, but I thought… I thought you should know.”

“I have to go,” she says, giving me a quick hug, “but thank you. For telling me.” I watch her walk off, then run smack into Archer and Ansel on my way out of the dining hall. Archer’s clapping Ansel on the back, telling him how psyched he is about Ansel’s first Christmas in California.

“It’s going to be sweet, dude. My dads have a Malibu crash pad. It’s sick.”

“And you’re sure they want me there?” Ansel asks.

“’Course. You’re one of the family now. Look, let me give you a couple of tips. My dads are exercise freaks, so bring sneakers. First thing we do Christmas morning is hike up to the Hollywood sign. Ansel, buddy. Don’t look so worried.”