Page 80 of Murder on the Upper East Side

‘Whatever.’ Madison sounded smug. ‘I was looking out for you. You deserve better.’

A thin huff of breath. Theo’s. ‘Then why this pactat all? Break up with Elle, then no dating senior year. You and me, single together. If you really believe I deserve better, shouldn’t I be putting myself out there?’

Madison and Theo made a pact to be single? Maybe Alex and Ami had this all wrong.

‘No, absolutely not. You have all of college for that.As we discussed, this year was supposed to be about focusing on the future. But then you didn’t break up with her, did you? I had to move things along.’

‘That’s one way to put it.’

‘Whatever. Gemma deserved everything she got, and you needed a little nudge.’

‘That’s what you call starting the rumours thatIwas the guy in the photos with Gemma?A little nudge?’

Hannah’s eyes widened. That Madison had been Gemma’s biggest bully after the photos came out was no secret. But the revelation that Madison had been the one to start the Theo rumours was nevertheless shocking.

It probably shouldn’t have been, though. Really, it was just like Madison. Manipulating her friends to get her way. For whatever reason – she didn’t believe the altruistic excuses Madison had given – she’d wanted Elle and Theo split apart. And she’d made sure it happened.

‘I did what it took,’ she said flatly. ‘Elle broke, and you broke up with her. We didn’t have to do it the hard way, but that wasyourchoice.’

‘You’re insane. Certifiable.’

‘Anyway, I’m not the one who broke the pact. You started seeing Colette—’

‘Claudette.’

‘Whatever.Claudettein Paris over winter break. I know you never broke things off.’

It sounded like Theo was the one in a secret relationship, not Madison. Hannah’s legs were starting to cramp. She stretched them out, then pressed her ear against the wall again.

‘And you’re seeing Bradley Fairfax. Two long-distance relationships. We’re both even.’

‘Oh please, Bradley was a bit of fun over winter break. We’re not together, and we never were. Your thing with Mademoiselle Frenchy is entirely different.’

‘Give it up, Madison. You’ve been in a relationship all spring, don’t even try to deny it. I heard you on the phone last week, out in the courtyard. Maybe it’s not Bradley, but you’re seeing someone.’

Hannah’s breath caught. This was it.

Madison’s voice had turned shrill. ‘Whatever you think you heard has nothing to do with Bradley Fairfax. And it’s none of your concern.’

Theo laughed, short and sharp. ‘You’re such a hypocrite, Mads. You never had my best interests at heart, or Elle’s. Say what you want, but our relationship made you crazy. It gave Elle social capital, enough to make her serious competition for you, and you couldn’t stand it.’

Ah – there it was.

Theo wasn’t done. ‘I let you manipulate me, let you drive a wedge between us, and that’s on me. But don’t even dare say you drove us apart for our own good. And don’t get me started on poor Gemma Phipps.’

‘Fuck Gemma Phipps!’ Madison snarled. ‘And fuck you too.’

For a moment, there was only silence on the other side of the wall. Hannah’s heart pounded.

‘You’re a child,’ Theo said finally. ‘I should have done this months ago, but better late than never. The pact is over, and so is our friendship.’

Madison laughed cruelly. ‘Nice try, Theo, but you can’t hurt me. Now that the year is almost over, I was going to reveal the true identity of Gemma’s paramour toThe Upper Edge, but now I don’t think I will. Your name will stay tied to Gemma forever, where it belongs. The scandal won’t die at graduation. I’ll make sure it follows you to college, that—’

Without warning, the door flew open, banging against the wall, and Hannah stiffened beneath the blanket.

‘Shut up,’ Theo said. ‘Youknowwho was in the pictures with Gemma?’

‘Of course I do. But now I’ll never tell.’