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Jude held out the shopping bag “I bought the dress for you ”

“I can’t accept that,” Lexi said “It’s too much ”

Jude saw Lexi’s gratitude, but there was soirl’s blue eyes, a dark, smoky shame that broke Jude’s heart “You’re part of the family, Lexi You know that Let o to the dance Let Zach take you ”

Lexi looked down at the tile floor The hair behind her ear fell free again, shielded her profile from Jude “Okay, Jude,” she finally said, softly “If Zach wants to take o with him But…”

“But what?”

Lexi shook her head; her hair shimmered at the movement “Don’t be surprised if he says no ”

Five

“Okay Open your eyes,” Jude said, putting her hands on Lexi’s shoulders

Lexi drew in a deep breath and did as she was told In front of her was a big hts For a split second, she saw a stranger—a girl with sleek, glossy black hair, layered now around her face, and perfectly arched eyebrows Carefully applied violet eyeliner had enhanced her blue eyes, given her a sh cheekbones She was almost afraid to smile, in case it was an illusion

Jude leaned closer “You’re beautiful ”

Lexi slipped out of the chair and turned around “Thank you,” she said, hugging Jude tightly

Later, on the ferry home, she and Mia sat in the backseat of the Escalade, with Jude in the driver’s seat Lexi kept sneaking looks at herself in the mirror She wanted to believe it would make a difference somehow, this transformation, that Zach would finally look at her and think she was pretty But she knew better

Tonight was not going to go well Honestly, she couldn’t fathoreed to take her to the dance—probably because Jude and Mia had pressured hi was always true: Zach hated to disappoint his sister

If only Lexi hadn’t almost kissed him None of this would be a probleht Or if she’d told Mia the truth If only … if only It was a list that went on and on, and she’d reread it so many times in her mind that she felt sick to her stomach

It had been a week since the party—since the hilltop Lexi had repeatedly intended to tell Mia the truth, but she hadn’t She couldn’t, and now, for the first time, when she saw her best friend, Lexi felt like a liar And every time she saw Zach, she ran like a track star She was terrified that she’d ruined everything, that when her secret came out, she’d lose Mia’s friendship and Jude’s respect Everything that mattered to her