Some things in high school never changed, Camille thought. The two of them were the pretty, popular girls, slender and stylish, young women just growing into their beauty. And perhaps getting their first taste of power.

“My parents would kill if I got into a car with a boy,” Jana said.

“Then let’s make sure they don’t find out.”

“We’re supposed to be studying, remember? Coming to the library for last-period study hall is a privilege that can be taken away if we screw up.”

Vanessa sighed. “Okay, whatever. I don’t know what I’m going to do if I fail algebra.”

“You’re going to be forced to go to summer school, that’s what,” Jana told her.

“It’s going to suck so bad, I can’t even.”

“Then just make sure you don’t fail.”

“How am I going to do that? Mr. Bristow is a total Nazi. He gives out four versions of each test so we can’t copy each other. Oh my God, why am I so dumb in math?”

The most beautiful girls were often the most insecure, thought Camille.

“Doesn’t he give tutorials after school?” Jana asked.

“Yeah, but nobody goes to those. They’re so lame. But I’m going to have to do something. I refuse to give up one single second of summer because of algebra. My mom’s organizing a clambake on the beach to celebrate the end of school.”

Camille’s temper did a slow burn. Vanessa was looking forward to a magical Bethany Bay summer, while all Julie wanted was to escape. She hated the thought that Vanessa had turned everyone against her daughter—and that Camille herself had been oblivious to it.

While dating Drake, she’d gotten to know Vanessa a little bit. The girl could be manipulative. When she wanted something from Drake, she played upon his sympathies, reminding him of her sadness over his divorce. And a divorce was sad, but Camille suspected Vanessa knew when to play the broken-family card.

She pulled her attention away from the girls and focused on the books—The Secret Life of Teenagers. Late Bloomers. Bullying and Beyond. Browsing through the tomes, she realized Julie had been showing classic symptoms of a victim of bullying—falling grades, behavior problems, isolating herself from her usual group of friends.

How could I have missed it? Camille wondered, sinking deeper into guilt with every page she read. There was a lot of information to take in. She narrowed her selections down to four books—plus one on villages of the Var, because her father refused to let go of his idea of spending the summer at his ancestral home.

On the way to the desk, she stopped by the table where Vanessa and Jana were whispering behind propped-up math books. “Hello, Vanessa,” she said in a quiet voice. “Jana.”

“Oh, hey, Camille.” Vanessa sat up straight, eyes narrowed in a challenging stare.

Jana shifted in her chair. “Uh, hi, Mrs. Adams.”

“I wanted to let you know that I’m sorry about what happened with your bag the other day,” Camille said. “I assume Julie gave you a check to cover the cost of a new one.”