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PROLOGUE

SERENA STOOD ON THE rock ledge twenty feet above the lake, singing in a voice known to bring tears to the eyes of everyone who heard it Everyone except me

"For God's sake, Seri," I said, "just dive already"

Serena stuck out her tongue and shifted closer to the edge, toes wrapping around it She bounced there, blond ponytail bobbing, cheeks puffing Then she dove It was, as usual, an effort worthy of the Olympics, and she sliced into the water so slassy surface

She popped back up, sleek as a seal "Your turn, Maya!"

I flipped her the finger She laughed and dove again

Serena was the swi, really This was the part I liked, just sitting on the rock ledge, bare feet dangling I basked in thein the rich, late-summer air and the perfect view of the crystal-clear lake, the distant snow-capped reens

As Serena swam to thefor a familiar blond head Daniel was supposed to join us

Daniel and I had been friends since I'd moved to Salmon Creek when I was five Then, last year, there'd been a school dance where the girls were supposed to invite the guys, and Serena thought we should draw straws to see who asked Daniel I liked hiaether ever since

As Serena swa my clothes into the bushes below

"Ooh la la," she called "Check out the new undies Did sorown-up stuff?"

"Yes, and she'd better be right about theet wet Otherwise her boyfriend is going to see a lot more of me than she'd like"

Serena laughed "They'll be fine White's your color Shows off your tan"