I hated it, but she thought like me. And she was right. Monet still wasn't talking to me, and I needed all the friendly encounters I could get.

Chapter 22.

The dinner with my former boyfriend and my archrival was a success. The rumor mill had done its job and spread the word of our amicable outing at Wicked Jack's.

I had convinced everyone that Connor and I were buddies again. And there was a bonus, because after watching him fawn all over Angie, I realized that I no longer had any feelings for him. But I did feel something for Dev.

As soon as I was done with my cla.s.ses, I was going to go tell Dev how I felt about him.

But first, my best friend.

"Can I talk to you?" I waited at Monet's locker again, just like I had for the past week, but she clearly wouldn't even look at me. She slammed her locker shut and walked off.

I trailed after her, determined to apologize fully, even though she clearly didn't want to hear it.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you what happened between Dev and me," I continued.

Olivia Kaplan made a beeline for us, elbowing a couple of people out of her way to get to the scoop. I wasn't going to let her stop me. If she wanted to tell everyone what I said to Monet, let her. It was more important that I salvage my friendship.

Monet increased her pace, but I persisted. "I didn't tell you because I knew you would be mad. I didn't plan it, I swear. And I definitely didn't do it just to become popular again, no matter what your brother thinks or what rumors are floating around."

She stopped. "Why should I believe you?"

"Have I ever lied to you before?"

She shook her head.

"Monet, honestly, I'm sorry. It won't happen again."

She gave me a level stare. "Are you telling me that you're not attracted to my brother?"

It was a test, I knew. I had to decide which was more important, my pride or my best friend. It was an easy decision.

"I am attracted to Dev," I admitted.

"I knew it!"

"But I didn't realize it, not until he kissed me."

Olivia soaked up every word. Monet turned to her. "Don't you have something better to do?"

"Not really," she replied.

"Really?" Monet said. She smirked at her. "Because I hear you have someone better to do. So you'd better scamper unless you want the whole school to hear, too."

Olivia took off like a bolt of lightning.

I looked at Monet in awe. "What was that all about?"

"Let's just say that Olivia just confirmed a suspicion and leave it at that," she answered. "Now, about my brother-"

"It's over. I promise."

For the rest of the day, I was so happy to be friends with Monet again, I smiled at everyone I met. And they smiled back.

"You're awfully chipper," Monet commented.

"I know," I said.

We exchanged grins.

"Hey, Hannah, I love that top." I beamed at her. "Quincy, nice article in the paper."

I ignored the "What's up with her?" and the "Is she running for Homecoming queen or something?" and even the bewildered "But she never talks to me."

At lunch, we were back at our usual table, only now, Scott and Ava and a couple of Ava's friends joined us.

"Whew," Ava said. "I'm glad you two finally made up."

"Me, too," I said. "Although it was nice hanging out with you. I'm afraid now you're stuck with me. With us, really, because Monet and I are a team."

Monet reached over and squeezed my hand hard, which meant that I was truly forgiven, but also meant "Don't you dare start any of your c.r.a.p."

"While you two were fighting," Ava confided to Monet, "the girl was so miserable, I could barely stand to be around her."

We all laughed, but it was true. I'd learned my lesson, and if it meant I had to give up Dev to keep Monet's friendship, then I'd do it.

"So what's the current status of the Dev and Sophie saga?" Ava said.

I shot a quick glance at Monet. Her face was expressionless.

"Uh, maybe we should talk about something else?"

"It's okay," Monet said. "But, everyone, please remember, he is my brother, so please, no gory details."

"There aren't any gory details," I protested.

Monet raised an eyebrow.

"Sophie's blushing!" Ava crowed.

"Cut it out, you guys," I said. "Dev's not even talking to me right now. And besides, I promised Monet nothing else will happen."

She smiled at me. "Actually, I hereby give you permission to date Dev. With the caveat that you don't become one of those annoying couples who are all starry-eyed all the time."

"You mean, like you and Scott?" I said.

Now it was her turn to blush.

The lunch bell rang.

"Saved by the bell," Ava said.

I linked arms with her and Monet. "Did I ever tell you that Saved by the Bell was Monet's favorite television show when we were little?"

"It was not," Monet said. She squirmed when we giggled.

"It was, too," I said. "You had the maddest crush on Screech."

Ava erupted into laughter. "That explains so much," she said.

"How did the ex dinner go?" Monet asked.

"You're not going to believe it," I said.

"Try me."

"Angie wanted to bury the hatchet."

"My brother seems to be under the impression that you and Connor are back together."

"Why would he think that?" I said, then remembered the scene in the hallway. I stopped walking. "Oh, no."

I explained to her what happened. "What am I going to do?"

"Tell him the truth."

"But I don't even know if he likes me," I replied.

"He'll be getting in a couple of laps at the school pool before rehearsal," she said. "Go find him then."

So after my last cla.s.s, I went in search of Dev. I was glad that I had talked to Connor. I didn't need him in order to be happy. In fact, to tell the truth, I'd been much happier without him. Only my pride had been hurt, not my heart.

At first, I thought the pool was deserted. There wasn't anyone in the water. Then I noticed Dev, sitting at the edge at the far end. But he wasn't alone. He was with Angie, talking and laughing.

I swallowed back the anger and turned on my heels and went home. It was all her fault, I told myself over and over on the drive home. She'd stolen Connor, and now she was trying to take Dev, too. It was the last straw. The war was back on.

Chapter 23.

I couldn't get the image of the two of them out of my mind. It seared my brain as I threw my backpack down in our hallway and stomped to the kitchen. It was about a hundred times more painful than when Connor dumped me.

I stood in front of the cupboard and surveyed my mother's spices.

I'd read something about a beauty contest being sabotaged when someone put chili powder or something in the contestant's clothing. It had made her itch and sneeze, and I was hoping to find something to do the same to Angie.

"Honey, are you home?" Mom hollered from the front door. "I need help with the groceries."

"Coming, Mom," I yelled back, but I didn't move.

I hesitated, hand in the air, but then the image of Dev smiling at Angie flashed into my mind, and I grabbed the cayenne pepper and put it in my backpack.

I told myself that it didn't have anything to do with the fact that I'd seen her flirting with Dev. It was about the play.

Still, as I helped Mom with the groceries, the hurt feeling wouldn't go away. It was much worse than when Connor had betrayed me. I didn't think Dev would be fooled by a pair of pouty lips and fake eyelashes, but apparently, he was as weak as all the rest.

I was going to put my plan into motion at school the next day. I cut my last cla.s.s and snuck into the costume closet. The lighting was dim in there and the room felt unbearably stuffy.

Angie's outfit was hanging right in front. It was almost too easy. I started to sweat but managed to turn her costume inside out. I whipped out the spice jar and sprinkled the powder all over her gown.

The dismissal bell rang and I threw the jar into my backpack and slipped out before cla.s.ses emptied out into the hall.

A few minutes later, I strolled into rehearsal. Monet and Fanelli were the only ones in the room.

"What's with you?" Monet said. "You're never here on time."

"I cut cla.s.s," I said, without thinking. Mr. Fanelli gave me a dirty look and I added quickly, "I wanted to go somewhere quiet and prepare."

His frown faded, but he still had to give me a lecture. "Sophie, I don't approve of skipping cla.s.ses."

"I won't do it again," I promised rashly.

My answer seemed to satisfy him, because he only grunted and went back to his clipboard.

Monet said, "We have a couple of minutes before we start. Want to get a soda?"

Perfect. An alibi.

We headed to the vending machine outside.

"I'm really proud of you, you know," she said.

"Why is that?"