“You’ve been?” Gracie doesn’t seem the type to ... well, do whatever “rich-people debauchery” is.
“No. Aster has, though,” Gracie says.
“I’ve known him for years.” Aster frowns. I get the impression that she doesn’t like this Jack guy much. “Jack Gormley is, like, a professional student. Lord knows how many years he’s been working on his BA. His parents bought him a boat last year, and I think he lived on it all summer. Jack’s family is ... Toronto old money. He throws these enormous ragers for only the poshest of the posh. Bailey’s whole crew will be there.”
I frown. I can’t believe this is the same guy who Jay said he was thinking of moving in with. “Hey, was Jay ever at one of Jack’s parties?”
It’s hard to reconcile the guy I watched an old romance movie with last night and thisrich-people debauchery.
Aster nods while taking a bite of her burger. After chewing, she says, “Yep. He and Jack used to be really tight. Actually, to be perfectly honest, I think you should investigate Jack too. I don’t trust him.”
“Why? I thought the people posting on Birdwatcher were allgirlswho Jay had ... wronged. Wasn’t Jack Jay’s friend?”
Aster shrugs. “There’s something about Jack. I don’t know. He got into trouble last year for being behind this other secret whistler Instagram account that aired all these rich people’s dirty laundry. My parents were spared, but he ruffled a lot of feathers. The Birdwatcher Instagram thing sounds like something Jack would do.”
Hmm ... maybe the fact that Jack is the only one from this group who Jay has even mentioned to me means Jackwasinvolved somehow. Because, as I’d recently learned, your closest friends are sometimes the ones who betray you the most. I pull out my notebook and add Jack Gormley to the list of suspects.
“So, can you get us an invite to this party?” I ask.
Aster squeezes her lips together, uncomfortable. Why is she reluctant about this? From what I’ve figured out about Gracie and Aster, they are not a couple, but Aster clearly wishes they were. Maybe Aster doesn’t want Gracie to see what her life is really like with all the rich kids? But I need to go to this party. Jack, Bailey, and Jay’s former friends will all be there. “It would be really cool if you could swing it. Maybe mention it to Jack?”
Aster sighs. “He’ll say yes if I ask him.”
“Will you ask?” Gracie asks.
“Yeah, all right. I’ll get back to you on it.”
Gracie looks at her watch. “I need to run to class. Hey, Aleeza, a bunch of us from East House are going to watch a movie in the common room tonight. You should come.”
I shake my head. “Sorry. I have ... plans.” Jay and I are watchingBack to the Futuretonight.
She shrugs as she stands and picks up her food tray.
“Wait,” I say. “Can you ask around to find out who the anonymous witness who saw Jay that night was?”
Gracie looks at me blankly, then nods. “Sure.”
ELEVEN
Jay is not on ResConnect at eight o’clock like he said he’d be. Part of me is a little worried—I mean, he’s just weeks away from disappearing, so I know he’s in danger. Probably. I wish we could leave messages for each other somehow.
I tackle my schoolwork and try not to check ResConnect too many times to see if his name pops up. But I do check it a lot. He’s never there. I want to ask him about Jack Gormley, and if he thinks going to this party is a good idea, or if Bailey Cressman could be the Birdwatcher. So far this mystery has more questions than answers, and I feel like I’m trying to travel upstream without a paddle. And strangely, the only person really keeping me on course—Jay—isn’t even here.
But the biggest question plaguing me today is why the Jay I know, the slightly goofy, considerate, and nice person, doesn’t match the picture I’m getting from almost everyone else. Maybe the Jay I know from his universe and the Jay everyone else knows from my universe aren’t the same person. The universes are 85 percent similar.Universes.Jesus Christ, what has happened to my life?
I get in bed at around ten thirty, and the moment I turn my lights off, my phone buzzes. Finally.
But it’s not Jay.
Gracie:We’re in! Aster got the three of us invites for Jack Gormley’s party on Saturday night.
Aleeza:That’s great. Thank Aster for me.
Gracie:This will be a whole other kind of crowd. I have no idea what I’ll wear. We should get ready together.
I have no idea what I’ll wear either. In fact, I have no clue what rich Toronto people wear to parties. Hell, I don’t know whatnon-rich Toronto people wear to parties. The only party I’ve been to here was that Halloween party, and somehow, I don’t think a tweed jacket and bowler hat will be appropriate this time. But I don’t want Gracie to think I don’t know what I’m doing.
Aleeza:Nah, it’s fine. I’m not concerned.
