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my chest. “Come on, Cait. Spill.”
    Caitlin looked at me glumly, then nodded her head to the right. I turned to look, my mouth dropping open in shock as my eyes fell upon something I would have sworn I’d never, ever see in the history of sight.
    Becca. My best friend, the one I’d shared everything with since I was seven years old, was currently standing with the Boarder Barbies. A clique led by none other than Olivia herself.
    I turned back to Caitlin, my eyes filled with questions. My roommate shrugged. “She’s one of them, now,” she informed me.
    Last year, before my accident, Olivia had formed this so-called secret club, which, of course, she then made sure everyone knew about. It was invitation only, and while I never did quite figure out what they did during their “secret” meetings, it seemed as if the club’s sole mission was to make sure everyone not in the club was clear on the fact that they were not in the club for a reason.
    Not like we cared. In fact, I remembered spending lunches with Becca, laughing so hard that food shot out of my nose as we made fun of the girls who would kiss Olivia’s butt for the remote chance of getting invited to join her stupid club. We both agreed they were mindless little lemmings, ready to jump off a cliff for their fearless fashionista in a manner I previously thought reserved for bad teen movies.
    So what in the world was Becca doing hanging out with them now? No, not only hanging out, but laughing out loud at something Olivia said. As if it were even remotely possible that my archnemesis could say anything the least bit humorous.
    It was then that I noticed Becca’s outfit. The tomboy who swore she’d never be caught dead in anything but a Boston sports team T-shirt and a pair of baggy jeans was currently dressed in a belted tunic top and leggings with sparkly flats on her feet. And was that actually lipstick on her lips?
    â€œThere’s got to be some explanation,” I said to Caitlin, trying to swallow down the bile rising to my throat. “Like, maybe she’s there on recon? Finding out their pathetic little secrets to use as blackmail later on when she needs extra points at the snack bar?” My bestie did love herself a bonus bag of Skittles or two. . . .
    But Caitlin shook her head. “She was recruited back in February,” she explained, her normally cheerful face looking a little sad. “And she spends nearly all her time with them now. She even sits with them at lunch.”
    My heart sank. Ever since that first day at school, when Becca had shared her chocolate milk with me, the alleged cootie victim, we’d never missed a lunch together.
    â€œMaybe it’s just ’cause I was gone,” I suggested, knowing I was starting to sound a bit desperate and ridiculous. “Maybe now that I’m back . . . ?” But even as I said the words, doubt started creeping through me. Suddenly I remembered all the times I’d tried to get in touch with her over the last year. She’d been busy or with no cell phone access or out of the country or could only talk for a second before dinner. All along I’d accepted her excuses—all of them—because we’d been such good friends for such a long time. But really, when was the last time we’d actually talked? I wasn’t sure I could remember.
    I watched as Becca reached out and poked Olivia playfully and laughed.
    Could Olivia really have not only stolen my future—but also my best friend?

CHAPTER FOUR
    T here’s my little Golden Girl!”
    My father’s eyes lit up as I pushed open the squeaky front door and walked into the repair hut after lunch, giving him a small wave. The place was a mess, just as I’d remembered it, stacked floor to ceiling with bindings and boards, lug nuts and leather straps, screwdrivers and saws. The folks at Hoarders would have had a field day. But that