Page 10 of Perfect on Paper

Mr. Elliot jumped in. “Once again, Finn, we are not a cult, and we do not have recruitment targets.”

“But sir, think of the children. Us. We’re the children. We want more friends to play with.”

“Make it sound creepier next time, Finn,” I said, and Jaz snorted from across the semicircle, tossing her hair over one shoulder.

“Does anyone know any queer icons?” Finn pushed on. “I’m thinking a celebrity appearance could really add a wow factor here.”

“Do I count?” Mr. Elliot asked.

“With respect, sir, that’s a hell of a loaded question.”

Right about now, Brooke should be jumping in to steer the conversation back to business. But she sat with a stiffened posture, raising her hand off its place in her lap every now and then, before lowering it, apparently losing her nerve.

Raina rolled her eyes, let out a sigh, and crossed one leg over the other, running her hands down her tight beige riding pants. She had a hard face to begin with, thin lipped and wide jawed, made all the harder by the sleek ponytail she scraped her straight, mouse-brown hair into. Today I was surprised her narrow eyes hadn’t turned Finn into a gargoyle. Finally, she broke. “Okay, thank you, Finn,” she said in a firm voice. “Lily, name a topic.”

Lily blinked large green eyes and blushed a deep red at being put on the spot. “Um… harsher punishments for using queer terms as an insult?”

“Wonderful,” said Raina, and she pointed a finger gun at Brooke. “Brooke, write that down.”

I bristled as Brooke scribbled notes. Rainadidknow this wasn’t student council, right? But Raina continued. “Alexei? Your thoughts?”

“Could we spend a couple of minutes on pronouns and why it’s important to use correct ones?” they asked.

“Perfect, love that. Jaz?”

My phone buzzed in my skirt pocket—helpfully sewn inpost-purchase by Ainsley—and I pulled it out to peek at it surreptitiously. It was from Brougham.

Still on for later?

A feeling of dread flooded through me and clenched my chest. After stressing all yesterday, and tossing and turning all night, I’d finally managed to block out the thought of Brougham and his threats by focusing on school and normality. Now the whole thing came rushing back. I texted a quick reply.

Yup. 3:45.

Without quite meaning to, I leaned my arm against Brooke’s a little, seeking comfort. She didn’t lean back into me, but she didn’t pull away, either.

And so the meeting continued, with Raina at the head, barking orders to Brooke every now and then. Mr. Elliot did look over at Brooke a few times, to see if she seemed upset, I guess, but he didn’t intervene. He didn’t usually unless things got out of hand.

A couple of times I almost,almostsaid something, but I wasn’t brave enough to start an argument with Raina in front of everyone. It didn’t stop me from simmering with a quiet outrage on Brooke’s behalf during the rest of the meeting, though. Finally, the bell rang, and everyone headed back to class. As the leader, it was up to Brooke to stay behind and put the chairs back where they should be. Notably, Raina didn’t take overthisparticular task.

As soon as the room emptied, Brooke let her distress show.

“Did you notice that?” she asked, throwing herself backward to sit on the edge of a desk and folding her arms in a huff.

“Raina’s attempted coup? Yeah, she’s not super subtle.”

Brooke shook her head in disgust. “She thinks just because she’s student council president that gives her authority over everyone, in any context. Next she’ll be overruling the ref calls at football games.”

“She’s always had a big head,” I said. “You get everyone’s attention because they like and respect you. You don’t have to fight for it.”

“What, you think she’s threatened by me?” Brooke asked.

“I don’t think shit. Iknowshe’s threatened,” I said, sitting on the desk across from her.

She pressed a hand against her chest. “Ofme?” Even though she seemed skeptical, I got the feeling she sort of liked the idea.

I nudged my foot against hers. “Yes, of you! You gave her a run for her money during the election. I bet that girl’s never been beaten at anything in her life.”

“Yeah, but Ididn’tbeat her.”

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