Free Bitter Demons by Sarra Cannon

a long table. Several guys were standing around her. Her legs were crossed and her palms rested firmly on the table. It reminded me of a modern-day version of that scene from Gone With The Wind when Scarlet O’Hara goes to the barbecue at Twelve Oaks. The boys around here were transfixed.
    I walked over to say hello. In truth, I was curious to see whether Meredith would know it was a trick. Would she recognize the fact that the person in front of her wasn’t really her sister?
    “Hey,” I said. “Having fun?”
    Meredith shot me a look of hatred, as if I had interrupted the most important moment of her life. “Why are you talking to me? Can’t you see that I am having a serious conversation with these gentleman?”
    “I just wanted to hang out,” I said. “See what you were up to.”
    “Oh god,” she said, dramatically rolling her eyes. “Boys, will you excuse us for a moment?”
    I expected her to hop down off the table to come talk to me in private, but instead it was the guys who walked away. They scattered at her command, leaving us alone together, Meredith still high on her mock-throne.
    “What have I told you about always trying to hang out with me in public?” she said, shaking her head. “At parties in particular?”
    I shrugged. “I don’t remember?”
    She sighed, making an aggravated scratchy noise in the back of her throat. “Seriously Caroline, don’t be such a brat. You know I can’t stand it when you act like this. Just leave me alone, okay? Go play with your own maggot friends and stop trying to embarrass me in front of everyone.”
    Her words stung. Is this the way she really talked to her sister? There was no sign of recognition on her face. Not even the slightest bit of indication that she realized something was different about her sister.
    I could think of a million different things I wanted to say to Princess Meredith right about now, but I didn’t want to get Caroline in any kind of trouble. I didn’t completely understand the dynamics at play here, so it wouldn’t be fair to risk getting her sister or her mother angry with her over something I said.
    Instead, I bit my tongue and walked away. Within seconds, Meredith’s horde of boys was back and the sound of her tinkling laughter could be heard above the pounding bass of the music.
    I stepped into the dining room and grabbed a plate of snack food. Strawberries. Chocolate chip cookies. Chips and salsa. I’d barely eaten a bite at dinner, and my stomach was rumbling. I stood in the doorway of the dining room, looking out toward the expansive living room, and ate.
    It was fun to watch people, but while crowds thronged around Meredith, hardly anyone at all spoke to Caroline. I caught people looking my way, but except for the perky cheerleader who brought me another drink - this time vodka free - no one really said more than two words to me most of the night. I wondered if Caroline really had any friends.
    Across the room, a familiar face came into view. My face. Caroline in Harper’s clothing, so to speak. It was so weird to watch myself talking and laughing all the way on the other side of the room. Lark and Allison stood next to her and the three of them would all look in the same direction, then burst out laughing. I knew that game. It was Lark’s favorite party game. Hot or not. She liked to point out people’s clothes or whatever and ask the group if they thought the person was hot or not. Most of the time, Lark’s comments were crazy funny.
    For a moment, I envied her for having so much fun and for having friends. Then, I realized it was me over there. I was the one with the friends, while Caroline was the one with all the responsibility and none of the perks or prestige associated with being a future. I kind of felt sorry for her.
    A hand touched fake Harper’s shoulder. She turned. I followed her eyes and my breath caught in my chest. Jackson. Oh god, what if he tries to kiss her or something?
    I nearly shot across the