The girl watched as Cameron smoothed the color over her lips. Something about her—maybe it was the way she narrowed her eyes or perhaps it was her catlike stance—reminded Cameron of one of those lions from a show on the Discovery Channel, right before they attack their prey.

When they made eye contact, Cameron stood tall and braced herself for the inevitable put-down. She even came up with a couple of choice lines on her own, as if thinking them first her self would dilute the pain: Are you trying to use your lips to distract us from your nose? It’s so cute when ugly girls still try so hard.

“I’m Lucy Mathers,” the girl said instead, offering a perfectly manicured hand. Her nails were a deep, dark pink and just long enough to be elegant rather than tacky. “You’re new?”

Cameron nodded. “Cameron Beekman.” As they shook hands, Cameron expected Lucy to laugh and make the Beakface connection.

Instead, Lucy smiled warmly. “I love that shade. What’s it called?”

Cameron flipped over the tube and read the bottom. “Um, “Vixen.’ Want to try?”

Without hesitation Lucy took the lipstick and turned to the mirror.

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“I got in trouble for this so many times last year, but it’s not like anyone is going to give me detention on the first day.”

“In trouble for what?” Cameron wondered.

Lucy laughed. “Wearing makeup,” she said. “So rebellious. I like it.”

Actually, Cameron had forgotten about Bel Air Prep’s no-makeup rule, but she wasn’t going to say so.

“You were in my Spanish class just now.” It was a statement, not a question. Girls like Lucy didn’t hedge. They didn’t need to. “I should warn you about something. Know those two guys who kept looking at you?”

“Honestly? I hadn’t noticed,” Cameron lied, running her fingers through her bangs.

“Trust me, they were,” said Lucy. “Tanner and Sanjay are their names, and they just flipped a coin to see who gets to ask you out first.” Lucy rolled her pretty green eyes. “But I’d say forget them both. Sanjay is a total player and Tanner skipped a grade, so he’s only fourteen. You’ll probably want to date an upperclassman, anyway. Or at least someone with a car.”

Too stunned to answer, all Cameron could do was blink. This girl was talking to her like she was normal.

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