Chapter 26

OPHELIA I glance around the empty parking lot, certain this is where Dr. Underwood said for us to meet. A feeling of unease settles over me, but I breathe a sigh of relief when a lime-green Dodge Charger turns in and is followed by a second car. I shield my eyes from the glare of the headlights but still can’t make out the features of the person who climbs out of the passenger seat of the Charger until they get closer. My stomach lurches. God, how could I have been so stupid? “Hi, Opeelia.” Penelope says my name in her annoying singsong voice, and it’s like nails clawing down a chalkboard. I wince and take a step back, noting the guy standing beside her, preening in his football jersey and backward hat. Must be the driver of the flashy car and, if I had to guess, her latest boy toy. “What do you want, Penelope?” “I heard you were talking shit about me, Pee-pee. Telling people what a horrible bully I was to you back in high school.” She tilts her head and juts out her bottom lip, lookin