Brody just laughed. “Oh yeah, like it’s so rough to be the prettiest girl in school.”

Eve didn’t know what to say. It was rough. It wasn’t what he thought. But maybe he just thought it was a great thing, and that’s why he’d written the list. To make her feel good. And then, the thought of him really liking her that much freaked her out.

“I guess,” she said slowly, “someone put me there because they thought it was nice.”

“Oh, hey, I see my dad.” Brody jumped up and headed toward a sleek black SUV that swerved a few feet from where they were sitting. Eve watched as his dad gave him a thumbs-up and wondered if that was about her, or if that’s just how they greeted each other. Weird.

As Brody and his dad drove away, Eve texted the Choir Room Trio, He’s not going to admit anything to me.

You ready for me to call my mom for pickup? Nessa texted back right as she appeared beside Eve. “Hi.” Nessa patted her back. “Bye!” She waved to Lara Alexander.

Nessa took a seat next to Eve on the bench.

“Ooh, Brody kept it warm for me.”

“Yeah, call your mom,” Eve said.

MAJOR FAIL Sophie wrote back to the group.

We will figure it out! We have until winter break for me to find his password or see something at rehearsals! Loads of time. As Nessa texted she said to Eve, “Sophie is really losing it, huh?”

No! you think we have that much time? by then, the list will be set in stone. he will get away with it. dont you want it back to normal? eve, see you at lunch tomorrow. its your first day to sit with us. hell come in the middle after his guys are done eating.

ok ok, Nessa wrote back.

“Just be careful around him, okay?” Nessa bounced a little in the cold.

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, don’t fall for whatever performance he gives you. He’s not a good guy. Don’t forget the things he’s said before.”

Eve didn’t know if Brody was good or not, but she knew that he wasn’t as bad as she’d thought before they spoke. And she also knew that all this phoniness exhausted her.

“Don’t you look nice,” Nessa’s mom said to Eve as they hopped into the car.

Eve tied her hair into a messy ponytail. “Thanks.”

“Come on, Brody is the worst, right?” Nessa turned toward Eve from the passenger’s seat.

“He’s…,” Eve began, trying to figure out what exactly he was.

“Oh no.” Nessa raised her hands to her forehead and wailed, “You’re falling for the whole handsome thing!”

“Nessa, stop the drama,” Nessa’s mom scolded as they pulled out of the parking lot, the rainbow rosary clattering against the windshield.

“It’s not the handsome thing! He’s just not as bad as I thought he’d be!” Eve insisted.

“Oh no,” Nessa repeated. “Handsomeness wins again.” After a beat she added, “And so does cluelessness.”