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Finally, a topic came to me. “Did you do that on purpose? Rose-gold roses?”

Juliette unclasped her chain and held it out to examine it. “Huh. I didn’t even think of that. Rose gold.”

“Double the rose power,” Niamh said. “Even better.”

“What do they stand for?” I asked.

“Female strength,” Juliette said. “It was the symbol of Venus.”

“Not love?” I asked.

“Who needs love when you can have passion?” Larasaid. She brought the chain up over her jaw and clenched the metal between her teeth.

“I like them,” I said.

“Too bad they don’t sell them anymore,” Lara said. “Limited edition, you know? That’s why we don’t let new girls into the group. It’d ruin the theme.”

Before I spent too long floundering for a response, Juliette jumped in. “Hey, finish your drinks now anyway, guys. We should probably head over soon.”

The house was an anthill. Everyone at the party seemed to know each other—everywhere I looked was arm-clapping, and lip-reading from across the room, and people putting silent hexes on each other with angry, narrowed eyes. The temperature soared by at least twenty degrees as soon as we walked into the living room, and the air smelled like warm beer and Axe body spray.

Lara had to shout to make herself heard over the music. “I’m gonna go scout.”

With that she was off. To scout for guys, I guessed? Or alcohol? Juliette hesitated, then held a finger up in a “one second” gesture. “I’m going with her. We won’t be long.”

And then there were two. Niamh and I glanced at each other, basking in the awkwardness. How did you start a conversation again? I was about to settle forso, you like stuff?when she saved me the severe embarrassment by speaking first. “I know we’re only at the start of the year, but what are your plans for after school? Got any colleges in mind?”

A group of guys pushed past me to get to the front door, and we moved to the wall to get out of the way. “Notreally. I’m not even sure if I want to go to college. I was hoping to figure that out sometime this year. How about you?”

Niamh brightened. Something told me she’d had this answer ready for some time. “Actually, college is my backup. Ideally, I’ll move to New York and get into modeling.”

“Oh, seriously?”

“Yup. There’s an agent up there who’s pretty interested in some of my pictures, so I’m hoping to build my portfolio a bit and go for it.”

“That’s awesome. You could have a real shot, too. You’re crazy pretty.”

Niamh glowed, and shrugged. “Well, obviously we don’t have to beat around the bush, I’d be doing plus-sized modeling.”

“I’m not beating around any bushes. Youarecrazy pretty.”

“Thank you.”

“You have the thickest eyelashes I’ve ever seen. Like, are they false?”

Niamh laughed. “Nope!”

“If I was a girl I would want to look like you. Yourhair.”

“Oh… you’re laying it on a bit thick, now.” Niamh grinned, but it was an uncomfortable one.

“Yeah, no, sorry. That’s fair. I, uh… I’ll stop.”

I’d been doing well for a second there, too. A part of me suddenly understood why people drank at parties. It wasn’t to have fun. It was to forget how much of an idiot they made of themselves.

Niamh shifted, and then shook her head. “Come on, let’s go find the girls. Lara’s probably getting into trouble.”

“What kind of trouble?” I asked, following after her asshe stalked into the backyard, which was as crowded as the house.