Chapter 3

The restaurant was on the third floor of the mall.

Chloe arrived before us—white T-shirt, jeans, high ponytail, a little star hairpin clipped in place.

Ryan and Jake both quickened their pace as they entered the private booth. I followed behind, squeezed into the seat by the aisle.

Chloe looked at me and smiled. "Happy birthday, Sarah." As if she'd just remembered I was supposed to be the reason we were there.

Before the food came, Jake pulled a small box from his pocket and slid it to me. "Early birthday present."

I opened it. A silver bracelet with a tiny star charm. Pretty.

I'm allergic to most metals. Last summer I wore a bracelet and broke out in a rash from wrist to ankle—itched for over a week. He'd asked what was wrong then. I told him I was allergic. He'd just said, "Oh."

Ryan pulled a bottle of perfume from a paper bag. "From your brother."

Vanilla. He knew I didn't like it. Once, in his car, the air freshener was vanilla-scented. I sat through the whole ride with a pounding headache. When he asked me about it the next day, I told him I couldn't stand sweet scents. He said he'd switch it out. He never did.

The comments surfaced,

【That star bracelet is a direct match to one in Chloe's saved collection.】

【The vanilla perfume is the brand Chloe always wears.】

【Both gifts—bought with someone else entirely in mind.】

I placed the box and the paper bag neatly side by side and forced a smile. "Thank you. I love them."

Jake glanced at Chloe, then piled a huge chunk of meat onto my plate. "Eat more. You're too skinny. You're not taking care of yourself."

Ryan poured me juice. "Go easy on the spicy stuff. Your stomach's weak."

They competed to heap food on my plate—steak, shrimp, more steak—but their eyes kept sliding back to Chloe.

Chloe didn't spare them a glance. She ate her meal quietly, didn't look up once. The eagerness on their faces dimmed, little by little.

Nobody spoke for the rest of the meal.

When we finally left the booth, Ryan said flatly, "I'll drive you all back."

Jake cut in, "My car's in B2. We're all going to campus anyway. I'll take them."

They both looked at Chloe, waiting.

Chloe pulled out her phone. "No need. You two take Sarah."

And she walked off without looking back.

Ryan dropped his hand, his voice suddenly cold. "Take a cab, Sarah. I've got something to deal with."

Jake snorted and strode off too. "Just remembered I have a date."

The elevator landing was empty but for me. The bracelet and perfume hung heavy in my hands.

I pulled out my phone to order a ride.

"Sarah."

Chloe had doubled back. She leaned against the wall, arms crossed, a mocking smile playing at her lips.

"Picking up what other people throw away—does that make you feel good?"

She didn't wait for an answer. She turned and walked toward the elevator.

I stood there for a long moment. Then the elevator arrived. I stepped in and pressed B1.

Waiting for a cab outside the mall, the vanilla scent drifted up from the paper bag. I set it on top of a nearby trash can. Paused. Then picked it back up—because if he asked later, saying I'd thrown it away felt like too much of a confession.