And as Eve slunk away and out of her sight, Sophie stared at her hard enough to let her know that she would never, ever get away with it.

7

EVE

Text message, walking into lunch, a new unknown number:

u r so perfect. Go to haloween dance w me or no?

its curtis

Text message, five minutes later, same number:

sorry about yesterday u mad?

8

SOPHIE

Sophie couldn’t wait for school to end, for blessed track practice, where she could run and run and just keep running, faster than everyone else, and win the race. It was also her only time away from the Sophies. She’d convinced them long ago that they shouldn’t join the team. At first Hayley had resisted, but Sophie informed Hayley it might conflict with swimming practice and the swim team was sure to get into regional competitions that year. Sophie had breathed a sigh of relief when Hayley bought that argument. Track was Sophie’s thing.

At lunch, her whole table sat quietly. At one point, out of nowhere, Rose Reed, who had somehow popped up only a few seats away from Sophie, turned to Sophie and said: “Hey, don’t worry. First is the worst, second is the best, right? We’ve been told that, like, forever!”

“Did I say I’m worried? What are you, ten? It’s been a whole day, and we’re all moving on, okay?” Sophie snapped before returning to her mashed potatoes. They gave huge portions at school. It was awesome. You didn’t even have to worry about making a big dinner if you ate your whole lunch.

God, who would put Rose in the top ten? She wore capris in the winter with high socks. It was like a joke! Maybe that was exactly it. Maybe if Eve wasn’t behind the list, then someone wrote it as an actual joke.

But the problem was that the rest of the school had to see it that way.

She tried not to look at Eve, practically glued to her theater friend at their corner table, but she couldn’t help it. And she felt a strange satisfaction at seeing Miranda Garland stand by Eve, pestering her with questions. Miranda had always done everything Sophie did—copying her clothes and hairstyles nearly day by day. It was almost amazing to see her do it to someone else.

And then it wasn’t. Because what would that mean for the next day? And the year ahead? If no one copied Sophie, then there were no more Sophies. And then there was no more Sophie Kane.

The boys joined them midlunch, as always, but, once again, Brody didn’t put his arm around her. And Sophie wasn’t stupid. Sophie saw clearly that within only a day, everything had changed.

9

EVE

Text message, after fifth period, unknown number:

i know you stuff your bra

10

NESSA

Nessa knew that life was about waiting for the right moment—your moment. Not every moment could be yours, but then when it came, it was so sweet.