“Yes. But it has to be objective. Like, you can’t put Jake first.”
“Well, what if I think Jake is the cutest?”
Olivia considers this. “That’s fine, I guess. So we’d have Jake, Ben, obviously, Rob. Definitely Matt—” Charlie looks revolted at the mention of her ex, but Olivia continues. “Char, come on. It’s true.”
“Who would you put down?” Charlie asks me.
“Rob, I guess.”
Olivia nods, writing. She looks up, kind of sheepish. “You know who else I’d put?”
“Hmmm?” Charlie hums, pulling apart her sandwich.
“Len.” Olivia bites her lip and looks at Charlie.
“Len?” Charlie balks.
“You’re kidding,” I echo.
Olivia squints at the entrance to the cafeteria. Len is standing there talking to Dorothy Spellor. I wonder if they’re dating, but I doubt it. Somehow he doesn’t exactly seem like the boyfriend type.
“That’s nauseating,” Charlie says.
“I just don’t see it,” I say. “His hair is greasy.”
“Exactly,” Olivia says, eyebrows raised. “It’s sexy.”
“Are you attracted to the drive-through guy at McDonald’s too?” I ask.
“Funny.” Olivia looks back down at her list. “There’s just something interesting about him, you know? Like there’s more to him than meets the eye. Stuff we don’t know about him.”
“He’s an idiot,” Charlie says. “That’s really all I need to know.”
I glance back at Len. He’s juggling two apples, then tossing one to Dorothy. She smiles.
“Hey.”
I turn around, and Juliet is standing there. She has changedoutfits since I last saw her, or maybe it’s just that she now has a bright pink cardigan over her white dress. She’s balancing a tray with a sandwich and an apple. I’m happy she decided to join us. Maybe it’s a first step.
“Here, sit.” I gesture next to me, and Olivia reluctantly moves over.
Charlie gives me a sideways glance with her eyebrow arched—Who is this girl?The only people who ever eat with us are Jake and Ben and Rob, and maybe Lauren, but generally only if SAC’s afternoon meeting has been canceled or we have business to discuss. Charlie would say inviting a stranger to sit with us without checking with the others first is not appropriate courtyard behavior. But Juliet’s not a stranger. She’s my cousin.
“Hey,” Olivia says. She lifts her hand off the table and gives a small wave. “How’s your first day going?” Her words are a little slurred. She has her lunchtime apple stuck in her mouth.
Charlie clears her throat, and I interrupt. “Sorry. This is my cousin, Juliet. Juliet, this is Charlie.” I flip a casual hand in Olivia’s direction. “You guys met this morning.”
Charlie smiles coolly. “You’re from LA, right?”
“Yeah,” Juliet says. She doesn’t question where Charlie got her information, but why would she? Her move was announced on the front page of the paper. I’m sure she’s used to strangers knowing her life story.
She plays with the edges of her napkin, and everyone goes back, more or less, to eating.
“So what’s the deal with the guys at this school?” Juliet asks.
“Do you have a boyfriend at home?” Olivia says.
“Not really. My parents think I do. Some intern from my dad’s office.” She waves her free hand around like even the idea is ridiculous. “His name is Paris. Can you imagine?”
