Page 22 (1/2)

Noel, who sat next to Hanna, stretched his arms behind his head and yawned loudly Hanna turned to hied "This isn’t as iuys" Then a serious look settled over his features "Hey, do you knohat’s going on with Aria?"

Hanna blinked "What do you ed on the sleeve of his Rosewood Day blazer "I thought she’d be into the pro, but it’s alot her the job"

Hanna sat back "You got her that job?" Aria hadn’t told the about why she doesn’t want it?"

Hanna studied her nails, avoiding his gaze "Maybe she just feels overwhelmed"

"That’s what she said, but I think there’s another reason" Noel stared into the crowd "She’s acting just like she did e got back from Iceland"

Every muscle in Hanna’s body went still at Noel’s words What was he getting at? Spencer and Euy, and she’d agreed Well, Noel was a guy A guy who already knew too much because of his association with Aria What was he capable of?

With every passing day, rade, after Scott Chin had inferred that Noel and Ali were getting hot and heavy, Hanna had gotten weirdly obsessed with spying on the the second week of school, when she was supposed to be in music class, she’d looked out theand noticed two heads running toward the playground One of therabbed the bathroom pass and snuck outside What would they do when they kissed? Would they close their eyes, or keep theo? When--if--Hanna ever kissed anyone, she wanted to be ready

But when she’d cli side by side on the swings Ali’s head was down, and Noel had his hand on her back After aIt was eventhem kiss--she’d assumed that Ali had never cried a day in her life

"I can’t believe it’s happening," Hanna had heard Ali say

"It will be okay," Noel had answered "I promise"

Hanna had had no idea what they were talking about at the ti to do with her twin sister? Courtney, Their Ali, was still at the Radley then, but the switch had happened only days later Maybe Ali had found out that Courtney was co back Maybe she’d been worried And

And maybe, just maybe, Noel had promised to help her--in any way possible

Everyone in the auditoriue Hanna blinked hard and snapped out of the irls of the pro fidgety, aard, and out of place next to the s clones to her left Hanna tried to catch her eye, but Aria wasn’t looking in her direction

Appleton took theand Queen"

Hanna’s heart started to haain but still couldn’t find his head of dark hair

Appleton pulled a shiny white envelope from the inside breast pocket of his blazer and sliced it open with his nail He took great care in unfolding it and then had to spend a few seconds adjusting his glasses Get on with it! Hanna wanted to screa" Appleton adjusted the h the speakers "The winner isNoel Kahn!"

Everyone cheered Noel rose and strode toward the podiu everyone his easy, I’lanced at Aria She was clapping, but there was soain about how Aria hadn’t told theotten her the decor chairwoman job Was that all she hadn’t told them?

After the croas placed upon Noel’s head and the applause died down, Appleton faced the students oncefor: prohts "The winner is"

The hot lights beat on Hanna’s forehead A bead of sweat trickled down her back She peered out at the crowd Everyone’s eyes were on the stage A zillion thoughts zinged through her head at once, and none of the to do with A: Did she look flushed and nervous, or poised and a? What if she won? What if she didn’t?

"Hanna Marin!"

Hanna placed a hand over her mouth to control an excited squeal The audience applauded thunderously As she rose to shake Appleton’s hand, her legs treratulations," a voice said "You make the perfect queen"

Chassey’s eyes atering, but there was a wide slad for Hanna

"Th-thanks," Hanna stauard Most runners-up trash-talked the winner It was practically mandatory

She turned and headed to the podium With a snap, hundreds of blue-and-white balloons fell fro and bounced onto her head She batted theirls bea

As Hanna turned around and accepted the crown, the scepter, and even a little faux-fur, royal-blue shrug for her shoulders, all her troubles drifted off For one shining, brilliant second, she was pro else--not a secret-keeper, not a victim, not a framed killer A couldn’t touch her Her life was simple, and charmed, and absolutely perfect