Ex-Rating (16 page)

Someone must have checked it out
, Mads thought. She went to the librarian’s desk to find out.

“No, the yearbooks are reference,” the librarian said. “No one is allowed to check them out. Which issue is missing?”

’The Rosewood
Garden Gate
, 1972,” Mads said.

“Oh. You know, it’s funny, but we don’t have that year,” the librarian said. ‒The school never gave the library a copy of
it.”

“Do you know why?” Mads asked. The librarian was in her thirties, Mads guessed—too young to have been in high school in 1972.

She shook her head. “No, I have no idea. We simply don’t have it. Maybe the students didn’t issue a yearbook that year? A
lot of weird things happened in those days, especially with students. You know: protests, upheaval, lots of changes. …”

“I read something in an old issue of the
Crier
about a scandal at Rosewood that year,” Mads said. “I was hoping to find out more about it.”

The librarian shrugged. “Well, all I can tell you is, try the school library. Or Rosewood’s records room, in the basement
of the library. They might have a copy of the missing yearbook, or something on file that explains what happened.”

“Thanks.” Mads sat down at a carrel to think about this. No yearbook for one year, and one year only? Could that have been
a punishment for whatever it was that the seniors did that year? It was very strange.

There’s a story here
, Mads thought.
There’s something to this—I just know it. I’ve got to find that yearbook
.

HERE IS TODAY’S HOROSCOPE: CAPRICORN: Someone is bringing out your inner wimp, and it’s not a pretty sight.

J
ulia, I have to talk to you about something,” Holly said. She sat in the Safrans’ kitchen while Julia flipped through her
wedding planner notebook.

“I have so much to talk to you about, too,” Julia said. “Do you think the bridesmaids should wear heels or flats? Deirdre
is pretty tall—she’ll tower over all the ushers in heels—but on the other hand—”

“Julia, wait,” Holly said. “I love helping you with your wedding and everything—”

“Do you? I’m so glad. Because I love doing it with you. Imagine if I had to do this all by myself? I’d lose my mind! But also,
it wouldn’t be nearly as much fun.”

Holly took a deep breath and tried again. “It is fun, but the thing is, I’ve got other stuff to do, and I don’t have much
time to help you now. We’ve gotten a lot done already, and Deirdre and Bethany are here. Don’t you think you could handle
the rest without me?”

Julia was finally quiet, and Holly suddenly wished she’d start babbling again. She stared at Holly with hurt in her round
brown eyes.

“But I’m having so much fun with you,” Julia said. “Aren’t you?”

“Sure, I am,” Holly said. “It’s just that I’m so busy myself. Don’t you remember what high school is like? It’s getting toward
the end of the semester. I’ve got big projects to work on, and one of my best friends just got suspended because of our blog.
I’m getting testimonials from dozens of kids trying to clear her name, and on top of that, there are parties and family stuff—”

“It’s just—I’m afraid,” Julia said. “This is one of the biggest moments of my life. I want you to be part of it. You have
such awesome taste. You always know what you like, and you’re always right. If I have to choose between crab cakes or mini
hot dogs, I get paralyzed. I—I need your opinion, that’s all. Please, Holly—I
need
you.”

Holly simply didn’t want to do wedding stuff anymore. But she didn’t know how to say it without hurting Julia.

“Hello, girls.” Mrs. Safran shuffled into the kitchen in her robe and slippers. “I thought I’d make some tea.”

She put a kettle on the stove and said, “Holly, I’m glad you’re here. I just wanted to thank you for all you’ve done for Julia.
You have no idea how much it means to her, to me—to all of us.”

Holly took a quavery breath. Oh, god.

“I’m sure you’re aware that we’re all going through a—a transition period,” Mrs. Safran said. Holly nodded and looked down
at the table. Julia took her hand. Mrs. Safran took the other hand. “And having you around has been just wonderful. It’s so
good for Rob. And I’ve felt terrible that I haven’t been able to help Julia plan her big day as much as I’d like. But knowing
you’re here with her makes it easier.” She squeezed Holly’s hand. “We all love you so much. It’s like you’re part of the family.”

Holly swallowed.
I’m doomed
, she thought.
There’s no way out
. She managed a weak smile. “I love you all, too. I feel so at home here,” she said.

The kettle whistled. Mrs. Safran gave Holly’s hand a firm pat. “Well, good. Things will pick up for us soon. In the meantime,
we’re grateful to you.”

“And she has great taste, too, Mom,” Julia said.

“She’s an angel.” Mrs. Safran poured herself a cup of tea and shuffled back toward her room. “Good night!”

“Rob, please.” Holly gave it one more shot when Rob drove her home a few hours later. “I can’t take any more wedding stuff!
Julia won’t make a single decision on her own—she leaves everything up to me!”

“I know, she is so bridal,” Rob said. “Like, possessed or something. Believe me, I get it all the time, too. ‘Rob, call the
tuxedo rental place. Rob, make sure Michael remembers the ring. Rob, get a haircut. Blah blah blah blah blah.’” Rob and Gabe
were going to be ushers.

“See? And I’m not in the family. I’m not even in the wedding,” Holly said. “Can’t you talk to Julia for me and get her to
ease up a little? Whenever I try, she pulls a guilt trip on me about how I’m holding your family together single-handedly.”

“But Holls, it’s been fun having you around all the time,” Rob said. “And if I’ve got to suffer through it, it’s so much nicer
to have you suffering with me.”

“How sweet,” Holly joked.

“It will all be over in a couple of weeks,” Rob said. “Until then, think of what you’re doing, you unselfish girl. You’re
making Julia happy, which makes Mom happy, which makes me happy. … You’re helping us through our hard time.” He pulled up
in front of her house and stopped the car. “Without you, it would be torture.” He brushed her hair out of her face and kissed
her. “And now, finally, we are alone.”

“Finally,” Holly said. She wasn’t a big fan of the car make-out session, but she’d take what she could get.

Rob put her seat back until it was almost flat, then climbed over to her side. He pressed against her, and they kissed until
the windows steamed up. She pulled off her sweater, and he nuzzled her through her thin t-shirt.

“You’re so hot,” he murmured, sliding his hand under her shirt. Then his face literally lit up, caught in someone’s high beams.
A car had pulled up behind them. He quickly pulled his hand away. “Someone’s home.”

Holly sat up and squinted into the headlights. It was her father, coming home late from work.

“Okay, that was totally embarrassing,” Rob said.

“I don’t think he saw anything,” Holly said.

“No, just me on top of his daughter in a car,” Rob said.

“Even if he noticed, he won’t say anything,” Holly said. “Or he might, just to tease me. It’s no big deal.”

She straightened her clothes and smoothed her hair. “Guess I’d better go inside.”

“See you at the next wedding meeting,” he said. She frowned. “Kidding,” he added. “Good night.” He kissed her one more time.
The heat was still there.

Oh, Rob
, she thought.
How can I say no to you?

She couldn’t. That was the problem.

Sure, you want to do nice things for your friends, but where do you draw the line? Are you just being a good pal—or is she
taking advantage of you?

1.
Oh, no! Your friend broke her leg. You:

a
visit her every day, bring her treats, and fill her in on the gossip she missed.

b
tell her you’ll see her when the cast comes off—if she ever walks again.

c
volunteer to become her live-in nurse/butler.

2.
Your friend hasn’t finished her history paper—and it’s due tomorrow! She calls you up crying—she’ll get an F! You:

a
encourage her to calm down and get as much done as she can. Maybe the teacher will give her an extension.

b
tell her you’d love to talk, but
The O.C
. is on.

c
stay up all night writing the paper for her.