Page 156 of Bookworm

Still, the pieces weren't quite fitting together like they should.

I had to wait until my next class was finished, but after the bell rang, I went looking for answers. Only two people could give them to me. I just hoped I was wrong.

Scarlett glanced up when I approached her, and seeing the look on my face, she frowned.

"Hey Lotte," she said. "What—"

"Did you start the HUBS bet?" I said without pause. When she didn't reply, I added, "Scarlett, seriously. Don't lie to me about this."

Looking defiant, she gave me a shrug. "So what if I did?"

"Why would you do something like that?" I threw up my hands. "And why didn't you tell me?"

Tugging on my arm, dragging us further down the hall and behind a bank of lockers, she said, "Honestly, Lotte? I thought I was doing you a favor."

"Yeah, right."I scoffed.

"Come on. You've been in love with Bo for years, but you were never going to tell him. I thought hearing about the bet might give you a jumpstart."

"And when it didn't, you thought you'd just 'help' Bo along," I said."Is that right?"

She nodded. "Ioffered help here and there, yeah. It wasn't a big deal. Idon't get why you're so upset about this."

"You should've told me, Scar," I said.

"You would've never given him a chance if I did."

"That wasn't your decision to make."

My sister shook her head. "I just wanted you to be happy, sis. And you are…aren't you?"

"I thought I was," I said, watching her expression dim. "Now, I'm just trying to sort out what I'm supposed to feel after finding outthat my sister, my best friend, has been keeping things from me."

"I didn't—"

"See you after school," I said.

Walking away, I didn't look back even as she called my name. It felt like this was a dream happening to someone else. But when I got to mylocker to switchout my books, Bo was there waiting for me. He was leaning up against thelockerbeside mine, and the sight of him usually brought a smile to my face. Today, though, I couldn't find it in me.

Bo noticed my mood immediately.

"What's wrong?" he asked.

The concern in his voice almost undid me, but I kept it together.

With a shrug, I said, "Nothing. I just got done talking to my sister."

His frown didn'trelax. "Your voice sounds off."

"Sorry."

"Why won't you look at me?" he asked.

I took a deep breath then looked up and met his gaze. "Answer me one question, Stryker."

"Okay."

"Have you and my sister ever talked about me?" I said.

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