ds that she hadn't walked in twenty-five years. The smell of bacon and maple s

into the

He looked younger, his hair still peppered with black, his shoulders broad and unbent by grief

ad," Dad mumbled w

d her arms around her mother from behind. She buried her face in the c

then laughed softly. "Whoa, carefu

ling the solid reality of her

said, her voice thick.

brows. She pressed a hand to Chelsea's

burying her face in his flannel shirt. He smelled like Old Spice and coffee. She w

had wo

en Dad offered to drive her to school, she shook her he

ce. She needed

ave her time to settle into her skin. When the bus hissed to

nt to old money and pretension. Students milled about th

en she

e reserved parking spot closest to the

tta

her blonde hair over her shoulder. S

her court-girls who wanted to be

es. The urge to walk over there and snap Brittany's neck was so strong it made her

up with that trademark smile-the on

!" she s

king on the pavement. She th

ook every ounce of her acting training to not shove Brittany aw

voice sounded flat, but

Chelsea's. "You didn't text me back last night

trance, her grip tight on her arm. It

her eyes, softened her jaw. She became the Chelsea Bri

u and your headaches. Anyway, we have a plan for lunc

sea asked, p

." She squeezed Chelsea's arm, her nails digging in slightly. "Bennet says sma

et s

st laughed.

said. "I'll

r." She checked her reflection in a window they passed. "Oh,

e bell rang, a shrill sound tha

said, gently extricating her arm fr

nd, a flicker of suspicion crossed her face. Us

. "Don't be late. We sit

sashayed into

le dropping from her face insta

ssing the large bulletin board i

e. Exactly where she had kept herself so she wouldn't outshine Brit

the glass ov

ore," she