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I have only fleeting gli roo ti for twelve, a sideboard with fake fruit on it Fake! Then a kitchen, spotlessly clean, blue and white tiles A kind of den, again with French doors on two sides, and a wide-screen TV in front of another leather couch, this one in avocado green On the TV is a Debbie Reynolds movie Tammy and the Bachelor, I think On the couch is a basket of yarn and a bottle of Absolut Mrs Allington doesn’t h the only door in the den that doesn’t lead to the terrace and find myself in a bedroom, a dark bedroom, all the curtains pulled shut over the French doors The bed is king-sized and unle at one end Another wide-screen TV, this one tuned to a talk show, the sound off There’re a pair of black briefs on the floor Chris’s room? But Chris lives in the law school dortons sleep in separate rooms Scandal!

There are no ton’s bathroo doors and screa like a banshee I look frantically around the room for a weapon, and co in the --I’ll think about that one later--there isn’t even a la under the bed, hiding behind a set of those damask curtains, but I know she’ll find me Can I talk my way out of this? I’ve talked my way out of worse jaht now, but I’ into the roo as her eyes adjust to the sudden darkness I stand on the opposite side of the roo not to be distracted by

"Look, Rachel," I pant, talking low and fast "You don’t have to kill me Or Sarah, either I son’t tell anyone about this It’ll just be our secret, between us girls I totally understand where you’re couys jerkto jail for--"

"I won’t be going to jail, Heather," Rachel says "I’ll be organizing yourI’ll be sure to play all of your greatest hits at both That is, if there’s more than one Weren’t you kind of a one-hit wonder, anyway? Such a shame I wonder if anyone will even show up at your funeral After all, you’re already a has-been at--how old are you, anyway? Twenty-five? Twenty-six? Just an ex-pop star who’s let herself go"

"Twenty-eight," I say "And fine Kill me But not Sarah Come on, Rachel She’s just a kid"

"Aw" Rachel sing for Sarah’s life like that When in real life, I kno irls like you, Heather You’re too nice You have no killer instinct When the going gets tough, you cave You’re born with all the advantages, and you just throw theo, your o down the toilet Jesus, you even let your own mother rob you blind And yet you’re still so…nice about it I mean, you and Jordan? Still friends You can’t stand Sarah, and here you are, pleading with me not to kill her I bet you still send your mom Mother’s Day cards, don’t you?"

I gulp And nod

Well, what else a to say?

"See," Rachel says "Now that’s just sad Because nice girls, they always finish last I’ll actually be doing the world a favor by killing you It’s natural selection, really One less blond to watch go to waste"

With that, Rachel coun first

I whirl around and throw back the curtains I unlatch the first set of French doors I reach and hurl myself out onto the terrace

31

Wake up, look around

Everybody’s got their feet

On the ground

No way I’ll do the same