Read Online The Clique by Valerie Thomas - Free Book Online Page B

think so?”
                  Aude giggles. “With the best speech-writer slash campaign manager in the world? Of course you’ll win!”
                  “I wish I could believe you.”
                  “So do .”
                  “Huh?”
                  “Believe me. Choose to believe.” Aude releases the hug.
                  “It isn’t that easy.”
                  “Sure it is. And, if somehow the world ends and you don’t win—“ Aude’s lips curve in a conspiratorial smile “—we can always get completely wasted. Now that you don’t have the dance team to hold you back.”
                  Maddie manages a small smile. “Deal.”
                  I really hope she wins, Aude thinks . For her sake. Elections are on Monday, but the speeches are prerecorded the Friday before that—today—and then played in Advisory. Aude packed Maddie’s speech full of every single promise that a student council candidate was supposed to make. But it’s hard to know whether that will be enough. Part of why Amanda wins every year is because of her unconventional take on the speeches, and her ability to impart a touch of humor even through a projector screen.
                  “Wish me luck.” Maddie says.
                  Kate and Hannah both say, “Good luck.” Aude shakes her head. “You don’t need it.”
                  After a few minutes reading through the speech and repeating a few sentences out loud, Maddie heads toward the room set aside for recording.
                  “Who’s gonna be the one to comfort her this time?” Hannah asks. “When she loses, I mean.”
                  “Don’t!” Aude holds up a warning finger. “Don’t jinx it. She’s going to win.”
                  Hannah snorts. “So I guess it’s you, then.”
                  No one speaks for a few minutes, but then Kate breaks the silence. “Good call breaking up with Devon, Hannah. I heard that he’s like, seriously creeping on some girl.”
                  “Yeah, I know.” Hannah shrugs like it’s no big deal. “Why do you think I broke up with him?”
                  “Uh, Nate?”
                  “Oh, right. That too. But yeah, he’s kind of obsessed.”
                  Kate’s eyes open wide. “Wait, do you know who it is?”
                  Hannah glances sideways, at Aude. “Well, uh, it’s you.”
                  “What?” Aude jerks, stunned by the words. The thought of someone, especially Devon, being obsessed with her makes her shiver. All attention focuses on Hannah.
                  “I didn’t wanna tell you, ‘cause I thought you might worry.”
                  “Damn right!” Audrey puts her hand to her mouth. “Darn right. What do you mean, he’s obsessed?”
                  “Dom said he printed out one of your yearbook photos and put it on the wall,” Kate says.
                  “Yeah. Right by his bed. I asked him about it, and he just made some creepy like, masturbation joke.”
                  Aude feels her face flush. The whole scenario feels like a violation, even though yearbook photos are public.
                  “It’s just a picture.” Audrey can tell Kate’s just trying to make her feel better. “Just try not to think about it.”
                  But it’s all Aude can think about. Maddie winning class president hardly seems to matter, in comparison. “Why would he do that?”
                  “Dom said he had a crush on you,” Kate says. “That’s all. Just an innocent crush.”
                  “No, an innocent crush is like, being unable to talk around someone and every time you see them you