Free Fake by Francine Pascal Page B

friendship. Mr. Rodke obviously wanted the best for his kids. He’d make sure she got into their social scene. Chris and Liz would have no choice.
    Really, it would be for the best. Down the line they would have eventually grown weary of Gaia’s crudeness, anyway. This way she could be there when they cut Gaia off, and together the three of them could laugh at how messed up she was.
    Megan stopped a few yards from the Rodke building and checked her reflection in her pink Estée Lauder compact. She smoothed the flips in her hair and practiced her high-society smile—warm in a closed, unimpressed sort of way. She had to keep her eagerness in check and prove she was one of them.
    â€œGood afternoon,” she said brightly as she approachedthe doorman. “I’m a representative of the Village School, here to see the Rodkes.”
    He frowned slightly. “Yes,” he said after a slight pause. Then he opened the door and gestured inside. “Seventeenth floor.”
    Okay, that was rude, she thought, stepping into the gleaming wooden lift. Someone should teach him a thing or two about proper deference.
    As the elevator approached the seventeenth floor, a commotion of muffled, yelling voices cut through the steel walls. The doors opened and the volume intensified. Megan stepped out into the vestibule and froze, her artfully subtle smile transmuting into a gaping stare.
    Directly in front of her stood Liz Rodke and Jake Montone in some sort of angry face-off. Liz’s hands rested on her hips, which were cocked up to the right, the same angle as her head. Meanwhile Jake stood in a clenched, pleading stance. Arms bent in front of him, fists pressing against each other.
    â€œHow do you know Gaia slept over at my brother’s apartment? She could be anywhere!” Liz shouted.
    â€œI just know,” Jake replied in a low sizzle.
    Hello. Megan’s smile returned, wider than before. What’s this about Gaia sleeping over at Skyler’s?
    This was turning out even better than she’d imagined.
    â€œWell, there’s no way I’m going to let you go over there and start trouble! Why don’t you just—” Lizpaused, finally noticing Megan over Jake’s shoulder. “Hi!” she greeted, a little too loudly and overly enthusiastic. “You’ve come for the check, right?”
    Megan nodded, still too stunned for speech.
    â€œExcuse me, Jake,” Liz said in mock sympathy. “I’ve got some important family business to attend to. Just a moment, Megan. I’ll go get the check.”
    As she stalked away, Jake slowly crumpled forward as if in defeat. Then, exhaling heavily, he walked over to the elevator and gave the down button a harsh jab.
    Megan stepped up beside him, a morbid curiosity straining at the inside of her chest. “I’m sorry,” she said, putting a hand on his forearm. “I couldn’t help overhearing all that.”
    He tensed at her touch, his cheek muscles doing a rhythmic spasm.
    â€œI hate to say I told you so,” she went on, “but we’ve been trying to warn you about Gaia for a while now.”
    Again he said nothing, his eyes glaring at the elevator doors as if trying to burn through the metal.
    â€œShe doesn’t deserve someone like you. She’s too—”
    There was a loud, inappropriately cheerful ding as the elevator returned to the floor. Then the doors parted and Jake marched inside, wrenching his arm out of her grasp in the process.
    â€œBye, Jake,” she called merrily. “See you at school!” Her view of his slouched form narrowed with the closing doors, then disappeared entirely.
    Gaia and Skyler? she thought, twirling back toward the Rodkes’ posh entranceway. She bounced in her Blahniks, feeling absolutely giddy.
    She really wished Liz would hurry up with that stupid check. Suddenly she had a lot of important calls to make.
    Scum Magnet
    GAIA SHIFTED HER