Accidentally Evil by Lara Chapman Page A

today, working on research. There were a lot of people in there. I’ve never seen the library so crowded. Have either one of you started your research?”
    â€œFocus, Dru,” I say. “Gossip first. School second.”
    Wait. Did those words come out of my mouth? I’ve always said school trumps everything. Even gossip. And especially boys.
    â€œRight,” she says, giving Jo another look. My nerves prickle. This must be really good.
    â€œWe’re working, and I started hearing someone’s conversation,” Jo says. How Jo can hear some conversations but tune out others is a mystery to me.
    â€œYou’re so lucky,” Ivy says. She’s exasperated that her gift isn’t stealthier.
    Jo shakes her head. “Hardly.”
    â€œAnyway . . . ,” I say.
    â€œAnyway,” Jo continues. “I realize it’s Kendall and Zena.”
    My stomach clenches. Nothing good comes from those two.
    â€œWhat were they talking about?” Ivy asks. “Their next plan to take over the world?”
    Dru is too antsy to let Jo finish. “It was about Cody.”
    Everyone in the room freezes.
    â€œWhat about him?” I ask in my best why-should-I-care voice.
    â€œIt turns out your boyfriend—” Dru says.
    â€œHe is not my boyfriend.” I’m so emphatic, spit shoots from my lips.
    â€œRelax, Hallie,” Ivy says.
    Jo finishes telling us about the conversation she overheard. “Zena said Cody is in line to be the next High Priest of Riley.”
    Stunned silence.
    Until finally Ivy says, “Oh. My. Gosh.”
    â€œDid they say anything else?” I ask, my voice strained. Why did I have to get involved with this guy? Of course he’s going to be the next High Priest. I finally let myself like someone, and he’s untouchable. He’ll have his pick of any girl.
    â€œJust that he’d take over when he turns twenty-one. I couldn’t hear the whole thing. There were too many people in there, and I had trouble picking out their voices after a while.”
    â€œHallie, do you know what this means?” Ivy asks.
    â€œIt means nothing,” I say. I’m dying to read Cody’s e-mail now. “It’s just gossip. I don’t even know what a High Priest does. Or a High Priestess for that matter. If Zena said it, I refuse to believe it.”
    They look at me like I’m crazy. And I probably am. But I don’t want to consider things like Cody being a High Priest and what that means for me.
    I cross my arms in defense. “Really. Since when do we trust a single word that comes out of Zena Fallon’s mouth?”
    No one has a decent comeback. “Exactly,” I say. “Since never. It’s just Zena trying to make herself look important. Zena cares about one thing. One person. And absolutely nothing else. Not even Kendall.”
    â€œI don’t know,” Jo says. “I mean, what if she’s right?”
    â€œWhat if she is?” I ask. “It changes nothing. Not for the four of us and not for me and Cody.”
    â€œDon’t you want to know if the guy you’re crushing on is Riley royalty?”
    â€œRoyalty? Let’s save the melodrama for Kendall and Zena.”
    What would Kendall and Co. say if they knew I talked to Cody all summer? And not just once or twice but every day? Then they’d really be excited about this gossip.
    There’s a tap at the door before Miss A walks in. “Howdy-ho! How are my favorite girls doing?”
    My anxiety weakens just by having her here. It’s like she knows I need her.
    Then I look at her and she winks. Of course she knows. She practically lives in my head.
    â€œI decided to have an impromptu meeting to discuss our contribution to the Third Harvest celebration. Let’s meet in the Crafter Chamber. End of the hall. Last door on the right. Be there in fifteen minutes.”
    In a snap she has bustled out of our room and