The Perfectionists

Chapter 17

AT EIGHT O'CLOCK ON FRIDAY night, Evie rushed into her bedroom. Mal was sitting on Evie's second twin bed, painting her nails chalkboard black. Adele crooned from the iPod dock, and the sound of rain pattered on the window outside.

"I'm so glad you're here. You'll never believe what just happened," Evie said, flashing her phone at Mal.

On it was a text from Doug. U like sushi? Was thinking of checking out Maru's. Tomorrow?
Mal scanned the phone and handed it back. "Are you going to say yes?"

"You know my rule. No boyfriends." Mal shrugged. "Live a little. A date is not the same as having a boyfriend."

"I know." Evie rocked on her mattress. Goose pimples ran along her arms from the chill, but she barely noticed. "But god, can you imagine what would happen if Doug found out about my mom?"

Mal shrugged. "It's nothing a little damage control can't solve. You just have to spin the story."

Evie shook her head. "That's easier said than done. Think about what happened to Audrey." Even though Audrey was smart and pretty and popular, it'd been easy for Ben to taint her reputation, even if everyone knew deep down he was full of it.

"Or even you," Evie added, looking at her friend. Mal had been the most admired girl in school before her dad attacked her. Even as a freshman, she'd been on almost every page in the yearbook. But now, just because her dad had gone to jail, just because there were scars on her face, she was persona non grata.

If their reputations had been so easy to damage, Evie didn't stand a chance. Suddenly, Katy Perry's "Firework" came blasting out of her cell phone. She jumped, then picked it up and frowned down at the caller ID. Speak of the devil. Audrey was calling. As soon as Evie picked up, she could hear Audrey saying "oh my god, oh my god" over and over. She glanced nervously at Mal.

"Hey, what's up?" Evie said tentatively. Audrey stopped oh-my-god-ing. "I think Jay killed Ben."

Evie froze, her fingers clutching the phone. "Our teacher Jay?"

"I'm almost sure of it." Audrey's voice was hushed and trembling. Evie motioned Mal over, then put the phone on speaker.

"I was in his house," Audrey went on. "He offered to help with a paper, although that was bullshit—he's a complete perv. I shouldn't have gone, but that's another story. Anyway, I found . . . pictures. On his phone . . ." She trailed off. It sounded like she was crying.

Slowly, Evie was able to get out of Audrey what the pictures were of. Then Audrey told her about the Ben video where he'd threatened Jay. Evie's heart gave a lurch in her chest. "That's probable cause," she said slowly. "But you really think he could have done it?"

"He wanted to kiss me when I left today," Audrey explained. "And when I said no, his face—" She broke off and sobbed. "It was awful. And he has an Oxy prescription. I saw it in his bathroom."

"I can't believe you went to his house," Mal blurted. "I know how it looks," Audrey wailed. "But I was just trying to get help with my paper. Honest."

"We believe you," Evie insisted. She stood up off her bed and started to pace. Jay had seemed so nice. So...supportive. It was shocking that he could be such a jerk. She thought back to the day in his class once more. Could he have overheard?

Uma had leaned forward across the desk excitedly. "Oxy. Everyone knows it's his drug of choice," Uma had said. "Or cyanide. He'd be dead in minutes."

Evie had cleared her throat, her gaze drifting to Ben across the room. He was in a group with Aria; Audrey's boyfriend, Chad; and a meek girl named Renee Foley, and they all looked miserable. "We are just kidding, right?" she asked nervously.