Part 26 (1/2)

PERSONALBLOG.

HAPPY2BME.

NOW SHE KNOWS WHAT IT'S REALLY LIKE TO BE POPULAR. EVERYONE WANTS A PIECE OF YOU. AND SOME PEOPLE WANT YOU IN PIECES. I HAVE NO PROBLEM WITH THAT. I'M READY FOR ANOTHER KILL. THIS TIME I'LL LET EVERYONE JOIN IN ON THE FUN!

CHAPTER TWELVE.

”What is this?” Sylvia shrieked.

Hazel had just come from her locker to get her chemistry lab workbook. She hadn't slept well again.

And now...disaster.

Sylvia had one hand wrapped around Lakshmi's arm. The other one clutched the purple scrunchie Hazel had given her.

”I found it,” Lakshmi said miserably. But it was clear even to Hazel that she was lying.

”You stole it!” Sylvia shrieked.

”No!” Lakshmi said.

It was a bizarre redux of Breona and the carnation. Hazel was aware of people stopping, watching. Eyes widened, mouths broadened into eager smiles.

A strange thought crept into Hazel's head: was Breona the crazy one in the cheerleader-PLD dynamic? Or was it someone else?

”It's just a scrunchie,” Lakshmi said.

”Oh, don't even pretend with me.” Sylvia sneered. ”I know you'd sell your soul to have one of these.”

”Leave her alone,” Hazel spoke up. ”It's not her fault. I gave it to her.”

”You what?” Sylvia stared at Hazel. She shook the scrunchie in her face. ”Doesn't this mean anything to you? Don't you know who your friends are?”

Hazel stood there, silent. Sylvia threw the scrunchie down, turned on her heel, and walked away.

At midday, Hazel trudged across the quad. From the corner of her eye, she caught Sylvia approaching with Megan and Carolyn in tow. Hazel braced herself for another onslaught, but Sylvia's expression was kind.

”We need to talk,” she said softly. ”Come on.”

They walked past administration to the ROTC building.

”Listen. I'm sorry for before. We're all going crazy with everything that's happened,” Sylvia said as they turned a corner. ”But what I meant to say was-”

”What the-” Megan stopped short, and everyone followed her gaze.

Brandon was dead ahead, standing with his thumbs in the loops of his jeans.

He was talking to Ellen.

They were both smiling. And standing very close together.

Sylvia marched up to the two of them, her pale, perfect complexion growing red. ”Brandon! What the h.e.l.l do you think you're doing? Why don't you give it up? Ellen has had it with you.”

Brandon looked from Sylvia to Ellen.

”Um, Sylvia is right,” Ellen said, staring at the ground. ”We're through. So go away.”

Brandon reached out a hand. ”Ellen, you don't have to do this. Why don't you just tell them the truth?”

Ellen looked shocked; she glanced over at Sylvia.

”Tell them,” Brandon urged. He whirled to face the PLDs. ”We've been dating for weeks. She's been keeping it a secret because you're all completely messed up!”

”Get the h.e.l.l away from her!” Megan said, taking Ellen's arm. ”She doesn't want you!”

”I swear to G.o.d, Megan. You'd better let her go.” Brandon's voice shook with fury. He glared at each one of the PLDs in turn, his gaze finally resting on Sylvia. ”You are so manipulative. So insane. Why can't you just leave us alone?”

”Because you don't deserve her. Because you're just like your friend, Stephan,” Megan argued.

”That's not true! I-”

”Enough,” Sylvia said in her most composed tone. ”Megan, Brandon's right.”

”What?” Megan asked, wide-eyed.

”It's not my business. I'm was.h.i.+ng my hands of this entirely.” She regarded Brandon and Ellen coolly. ”You two do whatever you want. I won't interfere.”

Ellen's face lit up. ”Oh my G.o.d. Really? Are you serious?”

Sylvia nodded. ”I'm serious. If you want him, Ellen, go for it. You two deserve each other.”

”Sly,” Ellen whispered, her voice full of emotion, ”thank you.”

”No problem.” Sylvia turned to the rest of the group and motioned for them to follow her. Hazel fell into step next to her and heard her mutter, ”No problem at all. Just don't come running to me when this whole thing turns into a car wreck.”

Hazel got in her car and drove. So much was happening-so many thoughts swirling through her head. She couldn't go home. Not yet.

She cruised down the streets of Brookhaven, through downtown and past Avenida Escondida. All the while, she wondered about Sylvia. There were times when she seemed like two people at once-the one who cared for her friends and did her best to protect them and the other Sylvia, the one who manipulated everyone for her own gain and amus.e.m.e.nt.