Double Date
said nonchalantly as she pulled open a drawer that was really a fridge, pointing to the drinks inside. “She’s got a design firm downtown. Norton’s Interiors. Maybe you heard of it.”
    â€œYeah. Maybe.” Devon reached for a Coke.
    â€œSo here’s what I’m thinking for the dance,” Amanda said quickly. “I want it to be elegant. Formal. I’m thinking red and white.”
    â€œRed and white?” Devon was confused.
    â€œAll the girls’ gowns must be red or white.”
    Devon considered her auburn hair and pale skin. “I don’t look good in red or white.”
    Amanda studied her briefly. “No, you probably wouldn’t. How about this? Red, white, and green.”
    â€œGreen?” Devon nodded. “That works.”
    â€œOkay. Red, white, and green. Although I want it to be elegant and formal, we should keep it simple so there’s not too much work. Of course, we need a photo booth.” Amanda started shooting out ideas, as if she’d given this plenty of thought.
    â€œSo, you got all that?” Amanda asked as the doorbell rang.
    â€œI guess so.” Devon grinned. “Anyway, I know you do.”
    â€œBecause I want you to back me,” she said as she went to get the door. “You can pretend like some of the ideas are your own too. This will keep things much simpler”—she gave Devon a sly grin—“than if we let the others try to take over. You know?”
    â€œAbsolutely.”
    Before long their committee was settled in the family room, munching on pizza, and Amanda, with Devon’s help, was tossing out ideas. Whenever others—like Tristin or Sienna—questioned anything or tried to go another direction, Devon spoke out in support of Amanda. Did she feel a bit like a puppet? Sure. But maybe it was worth it. Who better to pull her strings than someone with the kind of influence Amanda Norton had?

8
    E mma loved the direction that the Christmas ball was going, and she was happy to help on the Project Santa Sleigh committee. But as Cassidy drove her home afterward, she felt uneasy.
    â€œYou’re awfully quiet,” Cassidy said as she pulled up to Emma’s house. “Something wrong?”
    â€œSort of,” Emma confessed.
    â€œDid I say something to offend you?” Cassidy asked.
    â€œNot this time.” Emma made a stiff smile.
    â€œWell, that’s a relief.” She turned to peer curiously at Emma. “What’s wrong?”
    â€œI keep thinking about Felicia,” Emma admitted.
    â€œOh?” Cassidy frowned. “I feel bad for her too. I even put her on my prayer list. I’ve been asking God to turn her life around.”
    â€œWhat if her life doesn’t need to be turned around?” Emma challenged her. “What if Felicia’s the victim here?”
    â€œHuh?”
    â€œI studied those MyPlace photos, supposedly of Felicia—before they were removed, that is. Something about them just seemed fake to me.”
    â€œHow so?”
    â€œThey were just so cheesy looking, Cass. And the words—it was like someone was trying to set up something that looked really disgusting without crossing over a line, you know?”
    â€œWhat kind of line?”
    â€œLike a legal line. Like in case they got caught. It couldn’t be called pornography. Just really bad taste.”
    â€œI don’t get it. Why would someone do that?”
    â€œI have no idea, but I want to find out if it’s true.”
    â€œHow is that possible?”
    â€œI’m going to visit Felicia.”
    â€œSeriously?”
    â€œUh-huh. I’ve tried to text her and call her, but I think her phone’s disconnected.”
    â€œDo you even know where she lives?”
    â€œI know where she used to live. We used to be in Girl Scouts together. Sometimes Mom and I gave her a ride.”
    â€œOh . . .” Cassidy looked concerned.

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