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As I watched, spots began to cloudwith you? I heard Laurel say again and again The words rippled out in waves, growing louder and louder Suddenly I saw Laurel sitting in a dark grotto Light danced across her face The corners of herwith you? What’s wrong with you? The words clanged in my head like a clapper in a bell

A tiny flare erupted in the darkness of my mind And then another flare, and then another It was like a line of falling do until I had a fully formed scene from my past A memory

All at once, I could distinctly re with you?" before And that wasn’t the only thing I saw

Chapter 9

IMITATION IS THE HIGHEST FORM OF FLATTERY

"The party has officially started," I call, strutting out froed into a silver bikini My legs are freshly waxed, hts from the resort All eyes are on me

Garrett whistles "You put the hot in hot springs"

I grin "You know it"

Garrett beckonswater of the hot springs at the Clayton resort, a secret spa in the shadows of the mountains We aren’t technically allowed to be here--the spring is strictly for the wealthiest visitors--but that wasn’t about to stopant

"Co," Madeline calls She’s already in the hot spring, too Her hair is swept up on the top of her head in a sloppy bun, her arms are lithe from her million-hours-a-week of Pilates and ballet, and the heat froives her skin a sexy sheen Mads always looks a little bit better than I do, which always pissesclose to Garrett--a little too close Not that I’--both Madeline and Garrett know I’d kill them if it did--but I like to have Garrett all tofor twohim because he’s one of the school’s star soccer players, or because he looks devastatingly gorgeous on top of the lifeguard stand at the W Resort pool, or because his family has a beach house in Cabo San Lucas that they visit every spring But the truth is, I like Garrett because he’s a littledauys around here, living their charmed, uneventful, hereMadeline a cool s my boyfriend up under the water, were you, Mads? I know you have souys apart"

Madeline’s face flushes Not long ago, shortly after Mads’s brother, Thayer, took off, Mads uy from Ventana Prep at a party in the desert After a while, she excused herself to refresh her drink, returned to the designated ainexcept this new guy was blond Madeline didn’t even notice for at least a couple of minutes; I was the only one who’d seen So really hard to do the Lindsay Lohan thing: pretty girl goes rogue, gets wild, and screws up life

I pat Madeline’s shoulder, which is warm from the steam "Don’t worry Your secret is safe withaway the key

Then I sink down into the hot water So little squeals as they expose an inch of flesh to the heat at a tiives e fro a pink terry-cloth cover-up, her hands shielding her pale, pudgy legs We all cheer hello Laurel follows right behind Charlotte, giggling hysterically I sigh and curlhere? I didn’t invite her

Garrett’s cell phone rings et that," heonto the rocks "Hello?" he says in a gentle voice, disappearing into the trees

Madeline rolls her eyes good-naturedly "Garrett’s such a ood reason," Charlotte says in a know-it-all voice She perches on a rock close to the springs "I et in with us this ti to cut Charlotte off before she starts in on another one of her I-knohat’s-best-since-I-dated-your-boyfriend-before-you s away frole "C’ friends? I bet souys find heat hives sexy"

Charlotte twists her mouth and ht here, Sutton"

"Suit yourself" I grab Madeline’s iPhone froather around!"

All of us squeeze into the frareat," I say when I check the result "Mads, you’re doing your beauty-queen face again" I fraive them an all-I-want-is-world-peace smile

Laurel looks over my shoulder "I’m not in it at all" She points out her arm, the only part of her body that made it in the photo

"I know," I say "I planned it that way"

A heartbroken look crosses Laurel’s face Madeline and Charlotte shift uncomfortably After a moment, Charlotte pokes Laurel’s shoulder "Love the necklace, Laur"