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"Your school is exactly likeinto the roo in the scenery "It’s only a school play, but they treat it like it’s opening night on Broadway"

"Seriously," E Kelsey a shaky s Kelsey here, but when Kelsey had asked what Eotten so excited "I love Macbeth!" she’d said "Can I co, "You should know that Spencer is playing the lead Will that be weird?" Kelsey said it wouldn’t, and Eht be weird for Spencer What was she supposed to say? Spencer thinks you’re our new psychopath text-er?

They moved past the hostess stand, and lo and behold, E bashfully at Mrs Eckles, a ninth-grade English teacher A streak of nerves went through her, but she straightened up and took a deep breath "I’ll be right back," she said over her shoulder to Kelsey She needed to explain to Spencer why she’d brought Kelsey before Spencer randoether and freaked Maybe if she leveled with Spencer, Spencer would understand And maybe, if they all talked rationally, Spencer would realize that Kelsey wasn’t A

Eh the crowd and tapped on Spencer’s shoulder Spencer’s expression soured "Oh"

A sick feeling washed over Emily "I can explain," she blurted

Spencer pulled her into a little nook that held a trolley for forks, spoons, and other utensils Her face was pinched and angry "You toldout with Kelsey any her to ritted her teeth "Kelsey’s nice, Spencer She even said she wanted to see your performance"

"She wanted to ruin ed

"Of course she is!" Spencer sla the utensils jump "How many times do I have to explain this to you? Does what I say not matter anymore? Have you become the kind of person who flat-out lies when asked a question?"

"I’m sorry I lied when you asked if I’d seen Kelsey," Emily said in a small voice She’d panicked when she’d texted with Spencer after the incident on the trail It had been easier to say Kelsey hadn’t been there "But you’re not seeing things clearly Kelsey doesn’t want to hurt us In fact, she has no idea what you did to her And the other day, when someone pushed me down the hill, Kelsey was there But she was the one who ran down the slope and helped h? She was probably the one who pushed you in the first place!"

E weary Some of the drama extras blew strarappers at one another and chanted the witches’ lines fro of the play "Kelsey isn’t A," she said "Ali is I think I saw her at the top of the hill, and I keep seeing flashes of blond hair everywhere"

Spencer groaned "Would you stop it with Ali? She’s gone"

"No, she’s not!"

"Why are you so convinced?"

A sour taste welled in Eht Tell her what you did But her mouth wouldn’tsome forks and knives from the console, and she lost her nerve

"Kelsey is A," Spencer repeated "She’s got the perfect ood college--at life And this is how she’s getting her revenge"

"She doesn’t know you did that," Eued "But while we’re on that subject, don’t you feel bad about what you did to her? Don’t you think you should coize?"

Spencer backed up until her butt hit the little silverware caddy "Jesus, whose side are you on?"

A group of parents cackled nearby, sipping frolasses of red wine Three sophos off the bar and took quick, covert swigs "This isn’t about picking sides," E She’s right over there" E, but she couldn’t see her anyh the thick crowd

"She’s here?" Spencer stood on her tiptoes and looked out at the et us killed?"

"Spencer, you’re--"

Spencer held up her hand, stopping her Realization flooded over her face "Oh od Are you in love with her?"

Emily stared down at the terra-cotta-tiled floor "No"

Spencer clapped her hands "You are! You’ve fallen for her just like you fell for Ali! That’s why you’re acting like this!" A desperate look flashed over her face "Kelsey’s not into girls, Euys last suut "People can change"

Spencer leaned against the wall, looking incredulous "Like Ali changed? Because she really loved you, Eirl"

Tears pricked Emily’s eyes "Take that back!"