“That’s like something that would happen in my school in L.A.,” Rose said. “Lunch was out of control there.”
“Yeah, well, it’s not normal here. That was Darcy, the one I warned you about, and her boyfriend, Brandon. Those two really push the envelope. Disruptive behavior can get you demerits, you know. The teachers don’t look happy.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“Do you see your sister?”
“What? Where?”
“She’s sitting right there,” Emma said, nodding toward the table Darcy had fled from.
Rose following Emma’s gaze and saw Bel, who was fully ensconced, chatting and smiling like she’d known those people forever.
“Oh. That’s where she went.”
Rose was actually relieved to see Bel in the lunchroom. At least she wasn’t off in the woods somewhere, ditching school. But Emma apparently didn’t see it that way.
“Like I was telling you last night,” Emma said, “those seniors are bad news. You need to do something.”
“What should I do?”
“Go over there, talk to her.”
“Now? Really?”
“Yes, really. She’s your twin sister, right? It’s on you to look out for her reputation. If Bel gets in trouble, it’ll reflect badly on you.”
That was a new concept to Rose. Back home, the school was big and impersonal, and nobody cared who your family was, unless they were rich or famous. But what Emma said made sense. At Odell, everybody knew everybody. Heck, her ancestors’ names were carved on the wall. And she didn’t want Bel to get in trouble. She wanted to be a good sister, and help her find her way here.
“You’re right. I’m going to say something,” Rose said.
Rose got up and marched across the dining hall toward the senior tables. Bel saw her coming, and narrowed her eyes, shaking her head slightly to tell Rose to keep away. Rose hesitated. She didn’t want to embarrass her sister in front of the seniors, but she was also conscious of Emma and the other Morelanders watching to see what she would do. She had to do something, right? Emma had said so. She strode up to the senior table.
“What are you doing?” Bel asked, looking alarmed.
“What are you doing?” Rose replied.
“What does it look like? I’m eating lunch.”
“Come sit with the sophomores.”
“Why? I’m happy here.”
“You shouldn’t sit at a senior table. It’s not done.”
A tough-looking girl with wavy red hair looked at Rose with a bemused expression. “Who is this chick?” she asked Bel.
“My sister,” Bel said.
The redhead reached over and patted Bel on the head playfully. “It’s cool, sis. Darcy said Bel could sit with us. She’s like our new mascot.”
Mascot? That sounded a bit condescending, and yet, Rose felt a tentacle of jealousy stir. She met her twin’s eyes pleadingly.
“Bel, come sit with me, please. I need to talk to you about something.”
“Get lost, Rose. I’m busy.”
In front of strangers, no less. Bel was probably just showing off for her new friends, but still, that really hurt. Rose was only trying to help. Couldn’t Bel see that? Why didn’t she just come along, instead of turning this into a scene?
“You don’t have to be so nasty,” Rose said.
“Hey, is that my sweater you’re wearing?” Bel said.
“Yeah, it’s cute. I borrowed it.”
“Without asking?”
“Since when do I have to ask?”
“Since when do we share clothes? We don’t like the same things. We’re not the same size. Give it back.”
“Fine, I’ll give it back tonight,” Rose said.
“She means now,” the redhead said, in a snarky tone. “You are big, sis. You’ll stretch it out.”
Rose’s cheeks burned. This nasty girl had just called her fat in front of a table full of seniors. Not only did Bel not rise to her defense. She actually smirked.
“Screw you, Bel. I don’t want your skeevy clothes anyway.”
Rose tore the sweater off and threw it in her sister’s face. The look of shock in Bel’s eyes gave Rose a sick thrill as she turned on her heel and fled back to the Moreland table. Rose had always been the loving sister, had always looked out for Bel. Come to think of it, she didn’t get much in return, did she? Bel never repaid the favor, never invited Rose to hang out with her cool friends. To the contrary. She’d been willing to humiliate Rose in front of the seniors.
The Moreland girls had left already, which came as a relief. Hopefully they’d missed the conclusion of that awful scene. Rose’s tray sat alone on the table, the half-eaten taco swimming in a pool of congealing orange grease. She bused her tray, worrying kids would gossip about her now. Her fabulous first day of classes had been ruined; and her self-confidence, which had been soaring this morning, was now in tatters. All because of Bel. As much as Rose loved her sister, she would struggle to forgive her for this.
Transcript of Witness Interview conducted by Lieutenant Robert Kriscunas, State Police—Major Crime Unit, and Detective Melissa Howard, Odell, NH, PD, with Miss Emma Kim.
Kriscunas: Miss Kim, I’m confirming for the record that your parents have given us permission to speak with you, and that you’re being interviewed solely as a witness. You’re not a suspect, target or person of interest in this case.
Kim: I should hope not.
Kriscunas: That’s just something we say for the record. Okay, let’s get started. Can you tell us, how well did you know the Enright sisters?
Kim: Pretty well. We were in the same grade. Bel was my roommate, although we weren’t exactly friends. Rose, I was quite friendly with.
Kriscunas: When you say you weren’t friends with Bel, do you mean that you didn’t get along with her?
Kim: I get along with everybody, Detective. But with Bel, we moved in different crowds, and to be honest, I didn’t always approve of her behavior. I kept my distance.
Kriscunas: Yes, and we want to go into detail about Bel’s bad behavior. But for now, let’s stick
