It was just getting dark as Emily slid into Ben’s green Jeep Cherokee. “Thanks for convincing my parents that my punishment starts tomorrow.”
“No prob,” Ben answered. He didn’t give her a hello kiss. And he was blasting Fall Out Boy, who he knew Emily hated.
“They’re kinda pissed at me.”
“I heard.” He kept his eyes on the road.
Interesting that Ben didn’t ask why. Maybe he already knew. Bizarrely, Emily’s father had come into her room earlier and said, “Ben’s going to pick you up in twenty minutes. Be ready.” Okay. Emily had thought she was grounded for life for denouncing the Swimming Gods, but she had the feeling they actually wanted her to go out with Ben. Maybe he’d talk some sense into her.
Emily heaved a sigh. “Sorry about practice yesterday. I’m just under some stress.”
Ben finally turned down the volume. “It’s all right. You’re just confused.”
Emily licked her just-ChapSticked lips. Confused? About what?
“I’ll forgive you this time,” Ben added. He reached over and squeezed her hand.
Emily bristled. This time? And shouldn’t he say he was sorry too? He had, after all, stormed off into the locker room like a baby.
They pulled through the Kahns’ open wrought-iron gates. The property was set back from the road, so the driveway was half a mile long and surrounded by tall, thick pines. Even the air smelled cleaner. The redbrick house sat behind massive Doric columns. It had a portico with a little horse statue on top and a gorgeous all-glass sun room off to the side. Emily counted fourteen windows on the second floor, from one end to the other.
But the house didn’t matter tonight. They were going to the field. It was set way off from the property by high, British-racing-green hedges and a stone wall and went on for acres. Half of it housed the Kahn horse farm; on the other side were a huge lawn and a duck pond. Surrounding the whole yard were thick woods.
As Ben parked the car in a makeshift grass parking lot, Emily climbed out, hearing The Killers blaring from the backyard. Familiar faces from Rosewood climbed out of their Jeeps, Escalades, and Saabs. A group of immaculately made-up girls took cigarette packs out of their little chain-link quilted bags and lit up, talking on their tiny cell phones. Emily looked down at her worn blue Converse All-Stars and touched her messy ponytail.
Ben caught up with her and they cut through the hedges and across a secluded stretch of woods and entered the party zone. There were a lot of kids Emily didn’t know, but that was because the Kahns invited all the it kids from the area’s other private schools, in addition to Rosewood. There were a keg and a drinks table by the bushes, and they’d set up a wooden dance floor, tiki lights, and tents in the middle of the field. On the other side of the field, near the woods, there was an old-school photo booth lit up with Christmas lights. The Kahns dragged it out of their basement for this party every year.
Noel greeted them. He wore a gray T-shirt that said WILL FLEX FOR FOOD, ripped-up faded blue jeans, and no shoes or socks. “What up.” He handed them both a beer.
“Thanks, man.” Ben took his cup and started drinking. The amber beer messily dribbled down his chin. “Nice party.”
Someone tapped Emily on the shoulder.
Emily turned. It was Aria Montgomery, wearing a tight, faded red University of Iceland T-shirt, a frayed denim mini, and red John Fluevog cowboy boots. Her black hair was pulled back into a high ponytail.
“Wow, hi,” Emily said. She’d heard Aria was back but she hadn’t seen her yet. “How was Europe?”
“Awesome.” Aria smiled. The girls looked at each other for a few seconds. Emily paused, wanting to tell Aria she was glad she’d ditched her fake nose ring and pink hair stripes but wondered if it would be weird to make a reference to their old friendship. She took a sip of her beer and pretended to be fascinated with the ridges on the cup.
Aria fidgeted. “Listen, I’m glad you’re here. I’ve been wanting to talk to you.”
“You have?” Emily met her eyes and then looked back down.
“Well…either you or Spencer.”
“Really?” Emily felt her chest tighten. Spencer?
“So, promise me you won’t think I’m crazy. I’ve been away for such a long time, and…” Aria made a puckered face that Emily remembered well. It meant she was considering her words carefully.
“And what?” Emily raised her eyebrows, waiting. Maybe Aria wanted all her old friends to have a reunion—of course, being away, she wouldn’t know how far apart they’d grown. How uncomfortable would that be?
“Well…” Aria looked around warily. “Was there any more news about Ali’s disappearance while I was away?”
Emily jerked back, hearing Ali’s name come out of her old friend’s mouth. “Her disappearance? What do you mean?”
“Like, did they ever find out who took her? Did she ever come back?”
“Um…no…” Emily chewed on her thumbnail uncomfortably.
Aria leaned into Emily. “Do you think she’s dead?”
Emily’s eyes widened. “I…I don’t know. Why?”
Aria set her jaw. She looked deep in thought.
“What’s this about?” Emily asked, her heart pounding.
“Nothing.”
Then Aria’s eyes focused on someone behind her. She clamped her mouth shut.
“Hey,” said a gravelly voice behind Emily.
Emily turned. Maya. “Hey,” she answered, nearly dropping her cup. “I…I didn’t know you were coming.”