Deceitful (Rules of Deception 1)

“You couldn’t have known what would happen.” I took her hand. “So did Franny take the tragedy very hard? She doesn’t look like someone who lost a friend a few months ago.”

“She broke down crying when she found out and wasn’t in school the following week, but when she returned she acted like nothing had happened. She’s trying to keep up appearances. I don’t know how she manages. I was a wreck while you were in the hospital. I’m so glad I didn’t lose you.”

But you did. I looked down at the table top. “Did you tell the police what you just told me?”

“Yeah, but not in that much detail. They asked about you and Ryan but it wasn’t something that seemed very important to them.”

“Why not? Shouldn’t an ex-boyfriend make the top of their suspect list?”

“You would think, but I guess it’s because of the other murders.” She gnawed on her lip, her eyes becoming distant. “It really doesn’t make sense. Why would someone do this?”

My cell phone buzzed. I pulled it out of my backpack. It was a text from Ryan, asking if I’d gotten his letter and if I was going to meet him. When I looked up, both Ryan and Devon were staring at me, but after a moment Devon followed my gaze to glare at Madison’s ex. Ryan didn’t notice. He only had eyes for me, his expression hopeful. I almost felt sorry for the poor guy.

“A text from Ryan?” Ana asked.

I looked up, startled. “Yeah, he really wants to talk.”

She bit her lip. “It’s up to you, but I think you should listen to your brother.” I typed a short reply, telling Ryan that I got the note, but I couldn’t make it. I wanted to see how he’d react to my rejection. If it made him angry, or if he’d only try harder to talk to me.

The moment everyone’s attention shifted, I knew Alec had entered the lunch room. He scanned the rows of tables and our eyes met. He was wearing the Chucky shirt. I hadn’t noticed it before. It was physically painful to pretend not to know him. I wanted to wave him over but someone else was faster.

Franny rushed over to him, a saccharine smile plastered on her face, and suggestively touched his arm. Paws off, Franny, I thought. But to my surprise Alec actually followed her to the table with Madison’s former friends.

Jealousy burned in my stomach. I knew he was only trying to gather information from them, but I didn’t like it, especially the way Franny half shoved her impressive chest into his face.

Ana leaned in and whispered conspiratorially. “That’s the new guy. He just moved here with his mom. His name is Alec.”

I was glad that Major had decided to let Alec keep his name. That way at least I wouldn’t call him the wrong thing by accident. People seemed to believe his and Summers’ story. Maybe Summers had also seen to it that the police didn’t insist on interviewing me right away.

I crammed the crust of the pizza into my mouth, though I wasn’t even hungry.

“He’s watching you again,” Ana said.

I hoped she was talking about Alec. Swallowing the gooey clump, I asked. “Who?”

“Phil. Why can’t he get a grip on himself?”

But when I turned his way, he buried his face in a book.

I decided to talk to Franny after our last class of the day, but on my way out of the school, I came across none other than Phil, who was waiting in front of the doors.

He straightened the moment he saw me and his face reddened. I stopped, unsure of what to say.

“I’m glad you’re back,” he said, shuffling his feet. He held out a large round tin with a picture of a goose painted on its lid, still staring at the ground.

I took it. “For me?”

“My Grandma baked brownies for you.”

“Why?” I asked. Was he the secret guy Madison had been seeing? His skin flushed an even deeper red as he glanced up, his watery gaze meeting mine. “Your mother told my grandma you’d be back in school today. You know, neighborly chitchat.”

“You live with your Grandma?” I asked. Only after I’d said it did I realize that it might have been an awkward question.

He looked away. “Yeah. I have to go. It’s good to see you, Madison.” Before I could say another word, he hurried over toward the idling school bus. I bet the other kids gave him crap for taking the bus.

I spotted Franny in the parking lot and made a beeline toward her. For once she wasn’t surrounded by her enormous group of friends. I didn’t want them around, least of all Ryan or his replacement girlfriend, bob-haired Chloe. She’d given me the evil eye for most of the day. Maybe she knew that Ryan still carried a torch for Madison. It was better if I cornered each of them individually.