Page 1 (1/2)

Prologue

Ruby

Fifth grade

It’s a truth universally acknowledged that litt

le girls know by fifth grade whether they’re bitches or not

Okay, I just made that up based on the intro to Jane Austen’s Pride & Prejudice I don’t really know if it’s a universal truth or not, but in Oakville, our tiny bedroom community of Charleston, it was real clear the day Serena Whitehead erade class

A lot of farated to Oakville from Charleston for the small-town schools and the perception of safety, so ere irls Still, we’d known Serena since Kindergarten…

“My h school” Her voice co like him”

She’s right

My father, proeon Kenneth Banks, is tall, with light brown hair and flinty blue eyes

Stepping back, I s his round eyes, thinking how they look disappointed even in charcoal “Myclass”

“Where was that? Suzy Wong Manicurist Acadehs, and I turn to face her

Bitches don’t scare me

“Cle”

I leave out how she then ave it all up to stay home and raise her family, also known as me

“You are so good at portraits” My best friend Drew’s voice is a sweet interruption, and the fist in my chest relaxes

“I’ainst hers, I speak quietly “Your technique is good—”

“They just never look like the person I’”

Serena isn’t done “What a pair,” she quips “The fallen princess and the daughter of a geisha”

My jaw tightens, and I turn quickly, stepping right into her face “You’d better watch your mouth, Serena Whitehead”

“Why, banana brains?” Her eyes flash, but I don’t flinch

“My fae of seven, I’ve perfected the Five Finger Heart Exploding technique”

Serena’s green eyes narrow slightly “What the hell is that?”

“Piss me off, and I’ll show you”

“I’hes you threatened me”

“I’hes you’re a foul-mouthed bully”

We glare at each other as the second-hand ticks, one… two… three…