But I don’t have time to analyze it for long, because a Little Birdie post goes off. Even though we’re supposed to silence our phones at school, a lot of students end up turning theirsound back on at lunchtime, so the notification alert practically radiates around the room.
Oh, great. What’s it going to be this time?
Like everyone else at the table, I take out my phone and read the post.
Dearest fledglings,
Though it troubles me to force-feed you such a juicy worm as this, feed you I must. For who knows the damage that could be done if this worm were to be left buried?
Just yesterday after rehearsal for Fallbrook’s upcoming musical, an anonymous bystander overheard Carlton Peters and Mabel Evans in a deep, heated conversation. So heated, in fact, that it couldn’t be said whether it was words being exchanged or emotions.
Has Carlton already tired of his girlfriend, our beloved Meredith Evans? And if so, what has led him to set his sights on her own twin sister?
Fledglings, I’m counting on you to watch these two like the hawks I’ve raised you to be. Your wings are ready for flying. This fearless flapper will be on the lookout too. For we could never let our dear Meredith be betrayed in such a way.
Yours truly,
Little Birdie
With my brows raised to my hairline, I glance up from my phone to see the expressions of horror, rage, and confusion on the faces of Rue’s friends. I don’t even have to look around to know everyone in the cafeteria has eyes on this table. I know, because I’ve been in their position so many times. I never thought I’d have a front row seat to the horrible drama I know is about to unfold.
Meredith holds up her phone to Carlton’s face, as if he didn’t already read it himself. “What’s this about? Huh?”
He frowns and shrugs one shoulder. “A lie, obviously. Be cool, Mere. Don’t make a scene.”
“Pretty intricate lie. I don’t believe you.” Turning to her sister, some of the anger falls away from her face like she knows Mabel will tell her the truth. “Sis?”
“We were talking. That’s it,” Mabel says. With a confused frown, she holds her hands out like Meredith is a bear she’s trying to tame.
Meredith’s eyes widen. “So there’s truth in this post, then? It’s not a complete lie?”
Carlton wordlessly props his elbow on the lunch table to rest his forehead in his hand.
Mabel shakes her head. “I don’t understand. No one else was there with us. Carlton would have to be Little Birdie for this to get out.”
That gets his attention. He straightens to shoot her an incredulous look. “Oh, come on. Be real. I never entered myself, so we both know it’syouwho’s Little Birdie.”
Meredith stands and gathers her things. Her eyes are so wild, she’s even scaring me right now. “I don’t know anything about either of you, apparently. All I know is that you pointing fingers at each other tells me it’s all true.”
She scrambles from the table. Mabel gets up to follow her, and Carlton stands as well, but Dot’s voice stops him. “I really wouldn’t, Carlton.”
He winces, then nods.
“Yeah, you’ve probably done enough,” adds Zayne.
Dot elbows him.
I risk a glance at Rue. She’s biting her bottom lip, her brows knitted together like she’s trying to solve a puzzle. She’s been awfully quiet all this time, but that’s not out of the ordinary forher. But still…this is one of those times I’d give anything to know what she’s thinking.
Chapter 18
Rue
From the moment Little Birdie’s post went out, a heavy weight of dread has taken up residence in my gut.
What have I done?
I told myself I was protecting Meredith. That if Carlton really was sneaking around behind her back, she deserved to know before things got worse. But now I’ve done the worst thing possible…I’ve spread hurtful gossip, knowing full well it wasn’t the right thing to do. I took the coward’s way out because I knew confronting Meredith could result in her getting mad at me simply for being the messenger. Or worse, she might not have believed me and accused me of making it up in a scheme to break her and Carlton up.
