The last person Camilla expected to see as she walked through downtown Edwardsville was Ava, yet there she was, sitting on a bench not far from the café where Camilla planned to meet André. Camilla stopped in the middle of the sidewalk, debating crossing the street instead. Before she could, Ava's gaze flicked up from her phone.

As if expecting her, Ava did not seem to react. She stood and approached Camilla, inquiring, "What are you doing here?"

Camilla plastered on a smile. "I'm just going to a café," she said.

Ava retrieved her hands from her pockets and rolled her wrists. "Alone? I didn't take you for an introvert."

Chuckling humorlessly, Camilla shook her head. "You don't know me."

Ava stepped closer, now within arm's reach of Camilla. "I know that you want to date André Garcia."

Camilla raised a brow. "Is that so?" She could only assume that Ava knew through the cheer team.

"I also know that he would never entertain someone like you if he knew what accusations were out there."

Camilla leaned back, thinking, So, she knows about the allegations, but she doesn't necessarily know if they're true. Where did she get her information from?

"Who's to say André doesn't already know?" Camilla asked. "Maybe he just trusts me more than some wild rumors."

"He doesn't know." Ava's face became flushed. "If he did, I can fucking guarantee he would never speak to you again."

Does Ava know André or something?

"You act like you know him so well, but you just moved here. What the hell do you know?"

Ava's dark eyes flashed with fury. "More than you."

"Camilla!"

She did not have to look up to recognize André's voice. He waved at her from across the street and began crossing.

Camilla turned back to Ava, saying, "You may want to leave now. I don't want you to cause a scene in front of your friend."

She said it to get a reaction out of Ava, which seemed to be effective. Ava's face clouded with anger, but as André reached them, she masked it with a pleasant expression.

"Jaywalking, André?" Camilla asked. "Really? I didn't take you for a criminal."

He raised his hands. "Don't call the police."

Camilla laughed, and Ava butted in, saying, "I'm sure Camilla doesn't want any more involvement with them."

"Oh, have you met Ava?" Camilla questioned, drawing away from the topic. "She just moved here. She's going to be a senior at EHS."

Ava beamed and fluttered her lashes as she looked up at André. "It's nice to meet you, André. I heard your name way too much last night during the game. You did amazing."

"Thank you," André replied with a grin. "I try."

"You don't even have to try," Ava continued, lightly touching his arm. Camilla rolled her eyes. "I'll be cheering you on once I join the cheer team, just you wait."

"Can't wait to have you on the team," Camilla lied. She wedged between the two, clasping André's bicep between her hands. "We're going to go now, so I'll see you later."

Ava's smile became forced as she stepped away. "Alright, I'll see you soon, Camilla."

With a giggle, Camilla faced André again. "Everything okay?" he asked.

Her fake smile fell. "Yeah, I'm fine," she responded. "Why do you ask?"

He shrugged. "She was a bit touchy. I didn't really think you were the jealous type, but I thought I'd check."

Camilla shook her head. "I'm sure that's just the way she is. It doesn't bother me."

From what she could assume, Ava had only flirted with André to irritate Camilla. Little did Ava know that Camilla couldn't care less about André. He was a fun distraction from people like Ava. But it was difficult to be distracted when Ava had promised to see Camilla soon. She didn't know what that entailed, and she didn't want to know. She was tired of dealing with new enemies every day.

André guided Camilla into the café. "I suppose not getting jealous is a good thing," he noted as they found a table against the wall.

Camilla took a seat, asking, "Is a jealous girl your ideal type?"

André sat across from her. "It's not necessarily that." Camilla raised a brow and he sighed. "The most important quality is that I'm valued by whoever I'm dating. I haven't always experienced that in the past, so now it's a priority."

Camilla stifled a laugh. In his attempts to find a girl who cared about him, André had unknowingly become entangled with a girl who would not shed a tear if he died. It was quite likely she would fantasize about such scenarios as their relationship went on.

"Well, I can't promise to be jealous of a girl I hardly know," Camilla said, "but I can promise to value you."

André smiled, warmth lighting up his face. He seemed mostly reserved when Camilla interacted with him before, so she could assume he was opening up to her. Only Camilla knew that was a mistake. She could promise him anything, but she would never uphold it. Not only was she careless about the feelings of those around her, but she was too unpredictable to stay loyal to one person. Zach and Jared were proof of that.

The pair ordered food and returned to their table. They delved into each other's personal lives a bit more. Although Camilla had no interest in his life, she had nothing better to do but wait for her turn.

"So you're from Chicago," she began. "How long did you live there for?"

"Maybe a year," André replied, "but my family tends to move around a lot."

"What's your family like?"

"It's just me, my mom, and my older sister. What about yours?"

Camilla shrugged. "My dad's not home much. He's the founder of an investment company in St. Louis, so he's usually busy there. My mom works as a psychiatrist here."

"Any siblings?"

She shook her head. "I used to have some pets, but they died."

André winced. "I'm so sorry."

With a swallow, Camilla looked down. "Oh, it's alright. It's been years."

"I'm sure you still miss them."

"I do," she lied, scratching the back of her neck.

Camilla thought back. She had all kinds of animals throughout the years-fish, hamsters, a cat, and a dog. Her mother was always so hopeful that Camilla would become excited or attached to them, but every new pet was a bore. She didn't understand why Susan kept trying, especially since Camilla neglected to take care of them. They continued to die, but new animals would be introduced soon after. Susan became more irritating, encouraging Camilla to play with and care for the pets she never asked for.

"Why don't you play with Patches?" her mother asked one day.

10-year-old Camilla eyed the lethargic hamster with distaste. "If he wasn't so boring, maybe I would." With barber shears, she snipped more dark hair from her doll until it barely covered the scalp. "Dolls are hardly any more fun, but at least I can imagine they're real. Look, her haircut is so ugly."

Susan grimaced and crouched down. "I think she looks beautiful. You did a great job."

"She's not supposed to be beautiful." Camilla rolled her eyes. "I want her to look like my classmate. She has the dumbest haircut-hey!"

Her mother snatched the doll away and pulled it from Camilla's reach. "We don't talk about our classmates that way. Now, you can either play with that hamster, or you can sit and do nothing."

Susan slammed the door. Camilla shouted and kicked in a fit of rage. She gripped the shears, storming towards Patches. The hamster nibbled aimlessly on a blade of straw. As Camilla lifted the cage's lid, Patches froze. His breathing stopped and his wide eyes, staring up at Camilla, dilated. She grunted and slammed the shears down towards him. Patches sprung up, scurrying across the cage and behind the water feeder.

Camilla chuckled. He couldn't possibly hide from her.

"Which was your favorite pet?" André asked, dragging Camilla from her reminiscing.

She blinked rapidly. "Oh, I like dogs."

Hamsters are too easy to kill, she thought, and the cat was too difficult. The dog was easier and more satisfying.

André responded, but Camilla was too lost in her memories to listen. She eyed her hands and arms, recalling the nasty scratches she had to clean up from the cat. Even after it escaped her, the marks stayed for weeks.

Camilla's fingers ascended her skin, grazing over the more recent cuts along her forearm. They were a faint purple that she concealed with makeup every day since River's attack. Within weeks, they would form scars. It seemed that humans, too, left lasting marks.

Humans, she thought, are the most satisfying to kill.

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The date passed in a blur. Camilla told vague stories, mainly speaking of herself. When André told his own, she hardly paid him any attention. Still, she pretended to care enough that he maintained a smile as he walked her back down the street to her car.

"We'll have to do this again sometime," André said, pausing by the side door.

Camilla grinned, replying, "We should. I want to get to know you better."

His gaze fluttered down and back up. "I'm glad to hear that." He took her hand and leaned forward. "I'll see you Monday."

Camilla's jaw clenched and she tilted her head. "See you later."

As André departed, Camilla released her breath. She swung the car door open, tossing herself inside with a huff. She rolled her eyes. Being in a group was enough of a task, but engaging with someone one-on-one was much more difficult for her. When multiple people spoke, it was easier for her to partially feign interest without exhaustion. With only one person, however, she became irritable.

Camilla barely caught her breath before her passenger door flung open. Her head snapped to watch a small framed woman entering.

"What the hell are you doing?" Camilla asked.

"I told you I'd see you soon," Ava sneered, "so here I am."

Camilla glared. "Get out of my car."

"How long do you plan to lie to André?"

"How long do you plan on harassing me?"

"I'll leave you alone as soon as André finds out the truth. But you don't want that, do you? You know you'll lose your beloved André the moment he realizes what's being said about you."

Camilla cackled. "If you think you're going to get anything out of me by threatening my relationship, you're wrong. I don't give a damn about André or what he thinks of me."

"Oh, really?" Ava spat. "Then why have you been fawning over him ever since he got here?"

"You really don't know a thing about me."

"I know so much more than you think I do."

"Like what?" Camilla shook her head. "Like the rumors being spread? The whole school knows, so what makes you think I care anymore?"

"You care enough not to tell him."

"So you tell him. If you want him to know so badly, be my guest."

Ava sucked her teeth. "I'll only tell him if you don't let him go."

Camilla raised a brow. "Why do you care that we're together? It's no concern of yours."

Lunging forward, Ava clasped Camilla's shirt collar. She tugged her down, close enough to be at eye level. Rage boiled in Ava's face. She cranked back an arm, fist poised to strike.

"I'll beat the shit out of you!" she barked.

"Woah," Camilla said, inching as far as she could from Ava with raised hands, "what is your problem?"

Ava threw a punch, which Camilla narrowly caught in her palm. "Back off!" Ava snapped.

"What did I do?"

"If you think you can keep him, you're dead fucking wrong."

"Keep who? André?" Ava's jaw tightened at the name. "Are you serious?"

Ava snatched her fist out of Camilla's grip. "I've spent too long watching and waiting for André to notice me. I'm tired of waiting. You don't deserve him. I do."

As Ava's grasp pulled more firmly, Camilla shouted, "Woah, wait. This is not worth it for either of us."

"I'll do anything, anything at this point."

"No, I'm not even in your way. I couldn't care less. You can have him."

Ava's grip loosened. "What?"

"I said what I said. He's yours. You can have him. I don't need him, and I don't want to deal with you."

Pausing, Ava squinted and leaned closer. "Don't lie to me."

"I have nothing to lie to you about. I do not want André. Our date didn't even go well because he wouldn't stop talking about himself."

"Don't insult him."

"We just weren't compatible. Is that better?"

Ava scoffed and released her hold on Camilla. "I could've told you that much before the date. Would've saved you some time."

Camilla massaged her aching palm. "What are you still doing here?"

"Waiting for you, of course. Like I said, I'd see you-"

"I heard you the first time. What were you doing here before you ran into me? It's like you were waiting for me to show up."

"Oh, I was."

Camilla eyed her and cleared her throat. "How did you even know I was here?"

"I just happened to overhear. And again, I'll do anything to be with André. So you'd better not stand in my way."

"I don't intend to. I'll break things off on Monday, not that there's much to 'break off' anyway."

"No, you're breaking it off today."

Camilla frowned. "That's quite an ask. What do you have to offer me for it?"

"A painless drive home."

Camilla tilted her head. "I'm not sure André would like to hear about that. Maybe you should try again." Ava released a heated breath. "What do you have to offer me?"

"I'm not sure why you're asking me. Clearly you have something in mind."

With a sigh, Camilla fell back into her seat. She had one idea, but it would be difficult for her explain without revealing her true intentions.

"Evidently, you've heard the rumors being spread about me," Camilla said. "Do you happen to know who is spreading them?"

"Many people, I'm sure," Ava began. "The alleged witness, other students, the newspaper-"

"Right, exactly. The newspaper. They've had a vendetta against me since River disappeared, maybe even before then."

"A vendetta? Their articles seem unbiased."

"Their interviews aren't."

Ava blinked. "I read the most recent article; it didn't say shit against you."

"That's what confuses me. The article is so neutral, yet the interview was accusatory. It's like they're waiting to reveal everything, and I don't know why."

Ava crossed her arms. "So you want me to find out why? That seems easy enough."

Camilla paused. "I need you to find out from the inside."

"What?"

"You need to join the newspaper committee and get information from them. Then, you'll report it back to me."

"Do you really think they won't know I'm working with you? I mean, I'm going to be on the cheer team with you."

Camilla chuckled. "Girl, I thought you were working with them before today. You seemed to have the same vendetta as they do, but I was wrong. At least, I hope you don't think their claims from the interview are true."

"What did they accuse you of?"

"Oh, you know, the usual." Camilla waved a hand. "They think I killed Amy."

"And you didn't."

"Was that a question or a statement?"

"A bit of both, I suppose."

"You'd sit in a car with someone you think could be a murderer?"

Ava shrugged. "I'll take my chances."

Camilla shook her head. "No, of course I didn't kill her. And I didn't kill the other girl they accused me of killing two years ago."

"Who?"

"I guess you'll find out once you infiltrate. Speak with them on Monday. Make sure you find out what they plan to do with the information."

Ava leaned in. "As long as I promise to do so, you'll break things off with André today?"

Camilla extended a hand. "And as long as you continue to gather information from them to give to me, I'll leave him to you."

Grasping Camilla's hand with a firm shake, Ava said, "Deal."

Camilla smirked. "I look forward to working with you."