Page 106 of For Your Own Good

One at a time.

Then all at once.

Fallon bolts upright in her chair, the same way she used to when she had the right answer in school. When all the pieces fit just right, the answer is easy.

Poison a bunch of people at the same time, including yourself. Hide your real target.

The headmaster.

65

Party at the Grove, 1pm.

Lucas’s text arrives one hour before the party starts.

Zach hasn’t been to the Grove since he left Belmont. Lucas has been sending out texts for daily parties ever since Belmont shut down, but today is the first day Zach has shown up. First, because he’s sick of spending so much time alone.

But also to celebrate, because Courtney is getting out of jail.

The news came from her father, who called first thing this morning to let him know. Zach was still asleep—another good thing about not having school at eight in the morning—and it took a minute for him to get what Mr.Ross was saying.

“Did they make an announcement?” he said.

“No, they called and told me,” Mr.Ross said. “But it doesn’t matter. She’s coming home.”

Zach sat up in bed, wondering if this was a trick. “They’re dropping the charges?”

“Yes. The charges are dismissed without prejudice. Which technically means they could charge her again if they want to, but her lawyer says that’s just so the DA can save face.”

“Because they screwed up,” Zach said.

“Yes.”

So they were admitting it without admitting it. Typical.

Zach was one of the first to arrive at today’s party. Now, the place is packed with all the Belmont kids who haven’t transferred to a new school. BYOB&D is the name of the game, and the Grove is now filled with bottles, cans, Solo cups, and the smell of weed. At one time, the Grove was an orchard. Now abandoned, it belongs to the teenagers.

Zach is both high and buzzed, a good combination on any day, and it helps. So does the girl who keeps looking at him.

Lana. No, Lena. That’s it. Lena just transferred to Belmont this semester, when her family moved out from California. Bad luck for her.

She catches him watching her and smiles.

Lena’s cute in that wholesome way. Since Zach doesn’t have a particular type, wholesome works for him as well as any other. He smiles and walks over to her.

“Hey,” he says.

“You’re Zach Ward,” she says. “Right?”

“Right. And you’re Lena.”

“Do you know my last name?” She shifts her weight from one leg to the other, a finger tracing the edge of her beer bottle.

“If I say no, will you hate me?” Zach says.

She thinks about this. “Probably.”

“Then it’s a good thing I know your last name is Holliday.”