31
JILLIE
Let’s see if this works.
I admit I’m a little nervous. This could go all sorts of wrong. It could backfire. It could have Ella putting that video out for everyone to see… and there’s no doubt it’d go viral real fast.
I’m sitting on the edge of the fountain in front of the same church where we met Damon… only this time I’m waiting for Ella. She’s late. I resist the urge to fidget. Instead I inhale deep, then let it out slowly.
“Are you gonna puke?” Audrey asks in my ear. I’m hooked up to some wire and camera contraption Brent’s dad had. Turns out Brent’s dad is a cop. Crazy that he throws parties at his house, right? His dad told him it’s better to party there than somewhere else and have drunk drivers out on the road. That’s a good perspective—one most parents don’t see.
“No, I’m not going to puke,” I whisper trying not to move my lips. “I’m just a little nervous, and it’s hot.” No lie, I’m baking in this brutal sun. “She’s late.”
“She’s always late,” Audrey informs me.
“Oh. Well…”
“Here she comes,” she whisper-shouts into my ear. She’s way too excited about this. I stiffen and brace for impact.
I don’t think Ella’s human. I’ll admit it. She’s got great fashion sense, and she always looks fresh and perfectly made-up. Here I am melting while she looks like model perfect. Lovely.
I’ve got a broach with a camera inside pinned to my off-the-shoulder top. I really, really hope this all works. If not, my naked bits are going to be spread across the world.
“Jillie,” Ella says as she sits. She sounds so put out I want to sneer, but I don’t. Her nose is still in the white split and both eyes are black and blue with some grotesque green and yellow mixed in. I want to feel sorry for her, but I can’t.
“Ella,” I reply. I should go with Ellen, but she’d be suspicious.
“It’s Ellen.”
I wave a hand. “That’s what I said.”
She huffs. “What do you want? I have things to do this afternoon.”
I turn to face her, so the camera picks her up. “Look, I know we got off on the wrong foot, but that’s mostly my doing.”
“No kidding,” she mutters, doing something on her phone.
“It’s mostly because of Leo.”
This gets her attention. She looks at me with her brows raised.
“I was interested in him. I’m not going to lie. I thought he was interested in me. Turns out it was just a one-nighter—twice.” I cringe.
“Hmm. Go on,” she urges.
“But I see now that he’s with you—I meanreallywith you so why should I bother? Besides, I met that Damon guy, and he’s kinda rough but in his own way really nice.”
Her eyes narrow, and her brow creases.
“We’re going out tonight. I think pizza and a movie or something. So, I won’t interfere with you and Leo. It’s obvious he wants you, not me,” I tell her, lying and trying to hold back the vomit that’s rising.
“Damon’s bad news,” Ella tells me, concern in her voice.
“What do you mean?”
“He runs with a gang and everything’s about that, no matter the cost.”
I look at her confused. “I saw the tats and met some of his friends—”
