“I do that from time to time,” Luna said, before ducking back into her scarf.

“I’m Jade online, but you can call me Nicole,” she said with a dizzying smile full of perfect teeth.

“We know,” Alex said with a grin, and thank God he did. Luna probably would have said something Not Great™ in response. “So, that must make you StreetcarBouvier?”

“I prefer Stella. At all times.” Her tone didn’t leave room for argument, questions, or anything. Stella spoke like a judge with a demented sense of humor, smiling while sentencing you to death. She still hadn’t posted anything besides the introductory diary entry on Golden Rule, so Luna hadn’t been sure what to expect. There hadn’t been any worthwhile theories on the forums either—Stella was still the mystery guest of the weekend.

“Have you guys been waiting long?” Alex asked.

Stella exchanged an amused look with Nicole—right over the top of Harlow’s head.

“Not me. I got here like ten minutes before y’all did,” Nicole said, grinning just enough for a wicked dimple to appear in the center of her left cheek. Her round cheeks and chubby face softened her a little, made her look younger than she most likely was, and judging by her videos she knew exactly how to use that to her advantage.

Luna moved closer to Alex.

“Speaking of chaperones,” Stella said.

“No one said that.” Harlow looked confused.

Stella shushed her. “Where’s yours?” she asked Luna. “You look a bit—small.”

Nicole added, “I would’ve said young. Aren’t you, like, fourteen?”

Luna’s ears began to burn, face flushing from the hearty hellfire of embarrassment. “I’m fifteen. Not that it matters.”

“Your parents let you come here alone?” Nicole asked.

“Yeah. Um, well, my sister did?” Oh no. The questions were starting. She breathed through her scarf. Why couldn’t the words that came out of her mouth ever match the tone in her head?

“Your sister is your legal guardian?” Harlow asked, curious.

Luna nodded. Tasha had been worried about her leaving, but ultimately let her go.

Alex said, “And she’s not alone. I’m here.”

“And you are?” Stella asked. “Brother? Boyfriend?”

“No,” Alex and Luna said in unison before looking at each other.

“Ooh, someone has a miscommunication plotline going on.” Stella laughed. “Those can be fun. Or annoying. To each their own, I suppose. Personally, I prefer a more direct approach.”

Harlow sighed. “Why do I get the feeling you wouldn’t know how to be subtle if it whispered exact directions in your ear?”

“Look at you, being all witty,” Stella said, proud and complimentary, but it didn’t last. Her Judge tone returned as she said, “Try it again. Let’s see what happens.”

Harlow didn’t respond, but Alex laughed nervously. “Remind me not to get on your bad side.”

Stella grinned. “Not possible. I don’t have a bad side.”