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We’d been best friends for a decade--but without a doubt, I was the brains of that operation

I couldn’t have ht, Mel hopped out of her car with surprising speed, raising her straightened arers "That’s how you park a car, bitches" Mel was going through a phase lately where she called everyone bitches

Her uidance counselor at our school, because Mel’s dad had paid for Sterling High’s new library--and because Mrs Warren needed a hobby Most parents figured that if Melissa Warren was a product of her parenting skills, then they shouldn’t putskills

Today Mel wore a crisp navy skirt and a red baby-doll T-shirt that had probably cost half a grand and would never be worn again Her bright Dior lipstick was a classic red to match, her auburn hair tied with a navy bow Prepster chic

In short order, she popped her trunk, dragged out her designer book bag, then locked her keys in the car

With a shrug, she joined me "Hey, look over my shoulder Is that Spencer in the quad with Brand?" Spencer Stephens III, Brand’s best friend

When I nodded, she said, "He’s looking at -like?"

He was in no way looking at Mel

"This year I’ our flirtationship to a new level," Mel inforht direction"

Unfortunately, Mel didn’t kno to nudge She play-punched hard, titty-twisted with impunity, and wasn’t above the occasional headlock And that was if she liked you

In a pissy tone, she added, "Maybe if your boyfriend would--finally--set us up"

Brandon had laughed the last ti, "As soon as you housebreak her" Note to self: Put in another request today

Two of our other friends spotted us then Grace Anne had on a yellow sateen dress that complemented her flawless café-au-lait skin Catherine Ashley’s jewelry sparkled from a mile away

The four of us were popular bowhead cheerleaders And I was proud of it

They smiled and waved excitedly as if I hadn’t seen them every day last week as we’d spilled deets about our vacations Mel had one to Hawaii, and Catherine had toured New Zealand

After I’d repeatedly declaredabout it I was pictureless, had zero ile uploadable

It was as if I hadn’t even existed

But I’d dutifully oohed and aahed over their pics--blurred, cropped shots of the Eiffel Tower and all

Brand’s pics--of hiethers, or on a yacht cruising the Gulf Coast--had been like a knife to the heart because I should have been in all of the, I had been He had an entire folder on his phone stuffed with pics and vids of us goofing off together

"Great dress, Evie," Catherine Ashley said

Grace Anne’s gaze was assessing "Great everything Boho braid, no-frills dress, and flirty, flirty heels Nicely done"

With a sigh, I teased, "If only my friends kne to dress, too"

As alked toward the front doors, students stopped and turned, girls checking out ere wearing, guys checking for a su about our school--there were no distinct cliques like you saw on TV shows, just gradations of popularity

I waved at different folks again and again, much to the bowheads’ amusement I was prettyirl walked the hall with a wardrobe malfunction under my watch I had even shut down the sale of freshman elevator passes on our one-story campus

When we reached the entrance of the white-stuccoed building, I realized school was just what I needed Routine, friends, norhtmares This was my world, my little queendoo silent, like a needle scratch across an old record

No way they’d be the sah school And wouldn’t we have passed the had azed behind me, saw the same five kids from earlier

Noas ready to meld into auto upholstery

Each of the our student body’s ever-present khaki and bright couture, they stood out like bruises

The biggest boy--the one who’d leered at ht up on the side to park The others followed I noticed their bikes all had mismatched parts Likely stolen

"Who are they?" I asked "Have they come to start trouble?"

Grace answered, "Haven’t you heard? They’re a bunch of juvies froh? That was in a totally different parish, on the other side of the levee Basin equaled Cajun "But why are they here?"

"They’re attending Sterling!" Catherine said "Because of that new bridge they built across the levee, the kids at the outer edge of the basin are now closer to us than to their old school"

Before the bridge, those Cajuns would have had to drive all the way around the swaet here--fifty miles at least

Until the last decade or so, the bayou folk there had been isolated They still spoke Cajun French and ate frogs’ legs

Though I’d never been to Basin Town, all of Haven’s farrandmother still had friends there I knew a lot about the area, a place ru o to an eht about how best to accli like that"

I could alo from their Cajun, poor--and adamantly Catholic--parish to our rich town of Louisiana Protestants?

Culture clash, round one

This was actually happening Not only would I have to see the guy who’d shaled me, I’d be in the same school with him

I narrowed my eyes, ie onhis tall fraht, even taller than Brand He had on scuffed boots, worn jeans, and a black T-shirt that stretched tight over his chest

Beside hiirl in a pleather ing her up--

"Wheh-hell," Catherine said, "good to know her panties are hot pink Shocked she’s wearing thehtfully "I finally understand who buys vajazzling kits"

Grace Anne, proud wearer of a purity ring, screwed her face up into an expression of distaste "Surely she’s going to get sent home with a skirt that short"

Not toshirt, which read: I GOT BOURBON-FACED ON SHIT STREET!