Beware That Girl by Teresa Toten

seemed to love Olivia at least as much as he did me. He was an equal opportunity lap-sitter and face-licker. It was a kick to see Olivia so happy with him, but still, he should love me more.

    I’d taken to getting up in the night to feed him secret treats.
    Kruger was busy noting it all down and smiling as she did so. She was definitely smiling a lot. “And Mr. Sumner?”
    “He’s cool, and apparently relieved big-time. He’s gone, like, most of the time, and that’s the way it’s going to play for most of the school year, you know?”
    She put down her pen. “I’ve scheduled a short meeting with Mr. Sumner when he’s next in the city. I want to tell him how proud the school is of you—about your character—to reassure him about this decision.” She looked up, anticipating my pleasure.
    I stopped breathing.
    “I understand that you’re having a strategy meeting with Mar…er, Mr. Redkin to review student funding participation and the photo shoot for the Christmas mail-out.” She waited for an appropriately Kate-like response.
    It felt like my head was filling with sand.
    “Kate?”
    “Yeah. I mean, yeah, a Wonder meeting. Looking forward to it.” Get a grip, get a grip. I couldn’t. “Look, Dr. Kruger, the, uh…well, you know how critical that, uh…”
    Concern displaced the good-natured smile.
    “No one can know, all right? No one! I mean, yeah, we’ve talked about this, and you said…but still, like, I…it freaks me out that…” My mouth dried up. “No one can ever know. My parents…it would ruin me totally. Destroy everything, like all the other times. I mean, the point of the whole name thing and…”

    “Kate”—the smile returned—“I’m aware of that more than anyone. I fully concurred with the process.” She shut the file folder. “I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again. I will say it as often as you need me to say it.” Dr. Kruger got up, took the folder, placed it into the file cabinet and locked it. “It’s privileged.” She stood by the cabinet.
    My heart was still pounding in my head.
    “Only me and Ms. Goodlace—absolutely no teachers, no staff and certainly not anyone’s father. I promise, Kate. Feel better?”
    I got up as well. “Yes, ma’am. Thank you.”
    “Okay, then. Same time next month for assessment, but I expect to see you in here a lot for your exit thesis topic.” Kruger walked around her desk. Before she opened the door, she leaned over. “You can bank on it, Kate, a hundred percent. Trust me.”
    I nodded and rewarded her with my most winning smile.
    I trust no one.

The city had been bleached by an early winter. Bare branches scraped against an ash-gray sky. The muted browns and muddied grays of November comforted Olivia. The winter soot of New York mirrored her soul. She knew it shouldn’t be so, wished it wasn’t. Normal people—people who were not… dulled in some way—loved the other seasons. But spring, fall and summer with their garish, show-offy colors seemed to mock her.
    Olivia knew where she stood with November.
    She and Bruce padded away from the window. She had to get ready. Kate and Olivia had agreed to meet the rest of the Wonders for dinner at the Tent, one of the dozens of restaurants and clubs owned by Serena’s father. Olivia would rather have stayed home with Kate and Bruce, but Kate insisted, and Kate was good for her. Besides, she’d find a way to tell Mark all about the dinner when she saw him at school. She’d work it and make it amusing. Mark. He had invaded her dreams, her thoughts. He did things in the dreams, ignited her. As Olivia got ready, she pretended she was preparing for him.
    —

    The Tent was entirely draped in saffron silks. The glow cast from the candles and the draping made the diners look way more attractive than they had any right to. Course after course of Indian fusion was specially prepared for Miss Serena’s table. “It’s scrumptious! Absolutely the best, Serena!” she assured her