I snorted, even though I didn’t doubt she could beat me. After all, she had years of training on me. She slowed at a red light, and a bunch of pedestrians crossed the street. Excitement that it was almost the weekend wafted off most. One girl didn’t seem as thrilled as the rest. She kept darting looks around her as though worried someone was following her. I checked the sidewalks but didn’t notice anystalker.
As she passed in front of the Mini our eyes locked, and recognition hit me dead-center.
Megan.
Everest’sMegan.
I powered my window down and called out hername.
“You know this girl?” Sarah askedme.
Megan quickened herpace.
I unstrapped myself and leaped out just as a motorcycle swerved into the lane next to ours, almost bowling meover.
The biker yelled at me, but I didn’t respond. I just took off running afterMegan.
“Megan! Waitup!”
She didn’t wait up. Instead shespedup.
So I did too. She turned a corner. Why wasn’t she stopping? When I rounded the corner, I found myself face-to-face with a giant woodencross.
“Don’t come any closer!” she screeched. “Or I’ll call thecops.”
I backed up, frowning at the wood and the girl beyondit.
“I know what you are!” sheyelled.
Obviously she didn’t if she thought a wooden cross could keep me away. But I let her think she had me figuredout.
“You don’t go to UCB,” I said, getting to the heart of the matter. “Everest told me you were a student there, but you’re not. Why’d you lie aboutit?”
“I never claimed I was a student at UCB.” She pushed her shoulder-length dirty-blonde hair behind her ear, fingers trembling. “Your cousin’s aliar.”
“Was.”
“Huh?”
“He’sdead.”
The cross came down an inch, then another, as though it suddenly weighed too heavily in herhand.
“Yes, and I’m sorry if I startled you backthere.”
A car squealed to a stop next to me. And then Sarah flung open her door and stalked toward me. “Ness?”
Megan’s knuckles whitened on the wooden cross. “You’re that . . . that socialitedeejay.”
“And you are?” Sarah sniffed theair.
“No one.” Megan took a step back. “I’m noone.”
Sarah cocked an eyebrow. “What’s up with the giantcross?”
Megan didn’t answer. She just kept backing away, gaze bouncing from me to Sarah. “I’m sorry for your loss, even though I’m not surprised. Everest was acreep.”
“What do you mean?” Iasked.
