Famous by Jessica Burkhart Page B

off-the-shoulder sweatshirt with ragged edges.
    I grabbed a brush, ran it through my hair, and slid my feet into black ballet flats.
    Brielle was going to beat me!
    I hurried out of my room and almost collided with two other girls coming out of the common room. I peered inside and Brielle, sitting on the couch, gave me a Cheshire cat smile.
    â€œFour,” she said.
    â€œYou’re fast and you look fantastic,” I said, taking in Bri’s outfit.
    Like me, she was in leggings, hers gray paired with a bubble-gum-pink V-neck long-sleeve shirt. A long necklace—big aqua strands mixed with silver—hung around her neck.
    â€œI got my speed from waking up five minutes before I had to leave for school,” Bri said. “My fashion sense came from you, dear LT.”
    I put my hand across my heart. “Aw. You are my bestie.”
    I walked around to the kitchen and filled the teakettlewith water. This chat with Bri was going to be so short, we probably wouldn’t even finish our tea here.
    â€œCan I make you a cup?” I asked her.
    â€œPlease,” Brielle said. “Whatever you’re having.”
    In minutes I had two steaming mugs of white tea with blueberry.
    â€œThank you,” Bri said as I handed her a mug. “It looks like you picked this one out just for me!”
    I smiled. “That’s because I did!”
    I’d chosen a white mug with an aqua heart in the center. My mug was coffee brown with pink dots and a matching top with a space for a straw.
    My tea was too hot to sip, so I set it on a yellow Kate Spade coaster with gold polka dots. Christina had gotten the house the coasters as a gift for doing well after our first week on campus.
    â€œThis is going to be the silliest talk we’ve ever had,” I started. “I seriously can’t believe I even went this far with it, but like I said, it’s to stop this insane chatter.”
    Bri’s eyes widened. “Ooh, but aren’t we fans of insane chatter?”
    â€œNot this kind,” I said. “This insane chatter is driving me, well, insane .”
    â€œWhat’s going on?” Bri asked. She mirrored me and sether cup in front of her on a coaster. She tucked her legs under her.
    â€œFirst, I wish I didn’t have to say anything. You’re my best friend, and I trust you like no one else. I don’t want what I’m about to say to ruin your growing friendship with Clare.”
    Bri raised an eyebrow. “Um, okay.”
    â€œClare’s just looking out for me, but she’s going to the extreme and sees something that’s not there. She went to Khloe about it, and they both ganged up on me. Normally, I wouldn’t cave to peer pressure. You know me.”
    Bri nodded. She didn’t look worried at all. That made me feel even more confident that what I was about to say would be confirmed as a total misunderstanding.
    â€œClare said that she’s noticed something ‘off’ with you lately. Like something’s up and you’re not telling us. She insisted it was true all weekend, and I told her that first, you’re my bestie and you’d tell me, and second, I didn’t see what she did. If anyone were to pick up on something ‘off’ with you, it would be me.”
    I picked up my mug and took a cautious sip of tea. It was the perfect temperature, and I took two more swallows before putting down the mug.
    Brielle swallowed. But not tea.
    â€œI just want Clare to stop looking for things, and that’s why I asked you to meet me. I wanted to sit down, just you and me, and ask if there’s anything going on that you haven’t talked to me about or want to tell me. If not, I totally get it and Clare was wrong. I’ll tell her we talked and there was nothing up with you, and then she’ll back off.”
    Brielle’s mouth opened, but no sound came out. “I—,” she started. “Nothing is going on with