9781250209153

Which is why I’m so confused Charlotte is approaching us. Before I can
make sense of it, she pushes a homemade Rice Krispies Treat into my hand.
“Er—what—?” I try to say.
“Happy Homecoming,” she says, her smile impossibly bright. “I hope
you’ll consider voting for me for Queen.”
Neither the boys nor I reply; Charlotte Pascal is disarmingly gorgeous,
and I’m pretty sure none of us has ever spoken directly to her before.
Danielle looks at the three of us and snorts. She squints up at Charlotte
and says, “You know canvassing for votes isn’t allowed, right?”
“Don’t spoil the party,” Charlotte says, wrinkling her nose. “It’s just a
little Homecoming treat.”
Against my will, I look across the courtyard, where Irene and her pack
have been lounging. She’s watching Charlotte with narrowed eyes, her arms
splayed across the bench, her henchwomen lurking around her in pleated
skirts. Irene and Charlotte’s friendship turned enmity has been the source of
gossip for almost a year now, and it’s only intensified since Irene pulled that
“Class Inseparables” stunt during senior superlatives. Based on the way
she’s looking at Charlotte now, I’m surprised she made a joke about it at all.
Kevin is the first to regain his voice. “Thanks for the treat,” he tells
Charlotte. “Good luck with Court.”
Charlotte gives him a flirtatious smile, glances over the rest of us, and
walks away. I notice she makes a point of avoiding Irene’s corner of the
yard. It’s like feral cats delineating their territory.
“She is very … um … yes,” Gunther says, gulping.
“She’s stunning,” Kevin says, and Danielle stiffens, “but she scares me.”
“I swear I get a vibe from her,” I tell them. It’s a theory I’ve brought up
before: that Charlotte gives off some queer energy. Tally was the only one
who ever agreed with me, but she was more fixated on Charlotte’s
popularity than her possible sexuality.
“I doubt that,” Danielle says. “She’s been going out with that
Candlehawk dude for, like, a year.”
“Doesn’t mean she can’t be queer,” I say.
“Whatever her deal is,” Gunther says, “Charlotte’s definitely more of a
Lady Macbeth than a Homecoming Queen.”