Twenty-Four: Hanna Let's It All Go.

The following evening, Ali placed the last bowl of chips on the table and stood back for the effect. "Do people even eat Doritos anymore?" she asked aloud, then spun around and glanced at her friends. Too bad Hanna wasn't among them; otherwise, she would have made a snarky comment.

"It looked great, Ali," Emily said, adjusting the daisy behind her ear, which she'd picked from Ali's side yard. Emily had dressed up for the party—for her, anyway—wearing a pair of crisp jeans without any holes in them and an almost-tight T-shirt she'd borrowed from Aria that said Irish Girls Do It Better. Ali was sure that if Emily's mom caught her wearing it she'd be in huge trouble.

"The Christmas lights were a nice touch," Spencer said. She still had her eye on her house next door, probably waiting for Ian, who had a date with Melissa tonight, to show up.

"Thanks," Ali said. Her dad had brought up a box of Christmas lights from the basement this morning and strung them all over the patio—Ali had first seen the effect at a restaurant in Little Italy in New York City. After that, her dad had offered to pick up any guests who didn't have rides and grilled burgers for them. Guilty much? Ali had wanted to snap, not taking the bait. It was obvious he was trying to atone for her twin's arrival the following Tuesday, but nothing could make up for that.

She lit a few more candles and placed them on the tables, then checked to make sure the stereo was cued up to a peppy, dance-friendly playlist and that the deck had been swept clean so everyone could dance. She touched Aria, who was standing in the corner, looking at the texts on her phone. "Everything okay at home?"

Aria paled, glancing around at the other girls on the deck. "Fine." She almost sounded annoyed. "I was just texting my mom what time I'd be back."

Ali flinched. That was what she got for trying to be nice? Fury welled up inside her. Fine. If Aria thought Ali was a bitch, then she would be a bitch. "So do you know who that girl was?" Ali asked, easing closer, barely recognizing her own voice.

Aria's mouth snapped into a tight line. "I don't know what you're talking about."

"Do you think your mom knows? Everyone at Hollis?"

Aria gave Ali a pleading look, then shoved her phone in her pocket and walked away. Ali watched her go, grinding her teeth. She wasn't sure if it was Aria she was really angry at—all she saw, when she shut her eyes, was her mother's hand reaching out to give that slap. But the meanness felt good, right. She felt in control.

She tipped her head to the sky, admiring an airplane flying high above. The night was clear and cloudless, with just a hint of chill, which was perfect for couples who wanted to snuggle up. But that was the only bummer: Even though Nick had asked, he hadn't been able to get the night off work. Maybe it was better that way, though. It wasn't as if Ali had told anyone about him yet—she still wasn't sure where they stood, and she didn't want to tell her friends about him prematurely. And anyway, tonight she had work to do.

The doorbell rang, and Ali darted back into the house and yanked it open. Hanna and Josie stood on the porch, both in similar print dresses that Ali had seen hanging on the racks at Otter. "Welcome!" she said cooly, pushing her disgust and jealously down deep. Hanna had never been twinsies with her.

She stepped aside to let Josie and Hanna in when more guests appeared at the curb. James Freed and the new boy, Mason Byers, spilled out of James's dad's BMW. Kristen Cullen and Lanie Iler, who were always on the fringes of coolness, started up the path next, followed by Sean Ackard. For a few moments, everyone convened in the foyer, Mason meeting Lanie, James giving Kirsten an I-like-you-but-I'm-going-to-pretend-I-hate-you poke, and Hanna skittering away, mortified to be in the same room as her crush. Josie, however, lingered and shook Sean's hand. "What grade are you in?" Ali heard her ask him.

"Going into eighth," Sean answered.

Josie frowned. "Really? You look older than that."

Sean blushed. "People tell me that sometimes. I guess it's because I'm tall."

Ali watched as Josie giggled and pushed a lock of hair behind her ear. Did she...like him? She glanced over at Hanna, who was now talking to Spencer and eating a handful of Doritos, perhaps not noticing that Josie and Sean were talking. Ali steered Hanna to the patio and got her in a conversation with a couple of girls from the junior high field hockey team. Then she went back inside. Josie was still talking to Sean. This was almost too easy.

James cuffed Sean on the shoulder and led him toward the patio, where someone had turned on the stereo. Ali used the opportunity to sidle over to Josie. "It was so nice of you to come," she simpered. "Any friend of Hanna's is a friend of mine."

Josie gave Ali a circumspect look but then shrugged. "It was nice of you to invite me. I don't really know so many people around here yet, but everyone seems really nice."

"Like Brayden, right?"

Josie blinked. "Who?"

"That guy you were just talking to. Brayden." Ali chose a name at random in case Hanna had told Josie about her crush. It was doubtful Hanna had actually pointed him out, as Josie had been flirting, and clearly Sean hadn't told her his name, either. "I think he was into you."

Josie bit the edge of her thumbnail, looking intrigued. "You think?" she asked reluctantly.

Ali nodded. "I've been friends with him for a long time. I can tell."

Josie's eyes flicked back and forth. "He was really cute."

"Do you want to get to know him better?" Ali asked.

Josie smiled. "Sure."

Ali nodded. "You know what I'll do? I'll send him back into the sunroom with some drinks so you guys can talk in private." She winked knowingly.

Josie stared at Ali for a few long beats. "Thanks."

"Go in there and settle yourself on the couch," Ali said, gesturing toward the sunroom. To her delight, Josie did exactly as she was told. Then Ali scuttled back to the patio, which was suddenly filled with kids. Spencer and Kirsten were dancing. Aria and Emily were a tone of the tables, talking to Joanna Kirby, who would have been perfect for Ali's clique except for the fact that she was way too obsessed with horses—rumor had it she still played with figurines. Ali spied Sean across the patio with James Freed. Hanna was standing close to him, gnawing on her fingernail, probably contemplating talking to him. Ali swept him up before she could.

And after that, it was easy. Sean, always the gentleman, immediately got two cups of punch and headed for the sunroom. Hanna watched him, confused, but stayed glued to her spot next to the hanging basket of impatiens.

Five minutes passed. Then ten. Hanna wriggled as though she had bugs in her undies. She plunged her hand into the Doritos bowl again and again until there were only crumbs. Finally, Ali joined her at the railing. "What happened to Josie?"

"I don't know," Hanna said anxiously. "I haven't seen her since she came in. What if she thought this was lame and left?"

Ali ignored the fact that Hanna had more or less insulted her to her face and linked her elbow in hers. "Let's look for her in the house."

They walked into the kitchen where the silence was shocking in comparison to the loud voices outside. Ali poked her head into a bathroom, then peered up the steps. "I don't know, Han."

When Hanna wandered toward the sunroom, Ali didn't join her. She didn't have to. She watched as Hanna stopped short in the doorway, the color draining from her face.

"What is it?" Ali asked, coming up next to Hanna.

Hanna peeked in and saw Josie and Sean cuddled up on the couch, clearly almost kissing. "Oh my God," Ali said, grabbing Hanna's hand.

All kinds of expressions crossed Hanna's face. She shook her head, then fled toward the bathroom. The door slammed hard. Ali ratted the knob, but it was locked. "Hanna?" she called out. "Han, please let me in!"

A small, dry cough emerged from inside. Water splashed. The toilet flushed. Ali cupped her palm around the knob. It was deja vu of what had happened in Annapolis in February. She suddenly felt a pang. She had made this happen today. Then again, she had sort of made the Annapolis thing happens, too.

Ali twisted the knob, and it gave—it was almost like Hanna wanted her to come in. The door opened to a familiar scene: Hanna crouched over the toilet bowl, her eyes red. She looked up at Ali not with horror but with defeat. Ali slipped inside and shut the door again.

"I'm really not doing it that much," Hanna blurted.

"I know," Ali soothed. "And seeing what you just saw...oh my God, Han. It's awful."

Hanna nodded. "I told her I liked him. I told her he was going to be here. And she went right for him!"

"Some girls are just like that," Ali said, stroking Hanna's hair. "You know what you need to do? Never talk to that bitch again, starting now. If she tried to talk to you, freeze her out. She's dead to us."

Hanna swallowed a sob. "But she was so cool. And fun. And—"

"You can't let her get away with this," Ali interrupted. "Girls like that will walk all over you if you let him, Han. And if Sean doesn't realize how special you are, that's his problem. I'll make sure that Josie's reputation is trashed at Rosewood Day, okay? I'll even make sure no one shops at Otter. I'm texting Spencer right now to ask her and Sean to leave. And we'll find another boy for you this summer—someone way better than Sean, anyway. I promise."

Hanna wiped away a tear. "You will?"

"Absolutely." Ali slicked Hanna's hair off her face. "No offense, Han, but Sean's too straitlaced for you. You need a guy who's wilder, cooler, a little more fun. I know tons of boys like that."

"Okay," Hanna murmured. And when she looked at Ali, Ali could tell that she wouldn't speak to Josie again. She would do anything Ali asked, especially now.

Then Hanna cleared her throat. "And you won't tell anyone about...this, will you?" She gestured to the toilet.

Ali shifted her weight against the sink. "Hanna, don't you think you should tell someone?"

"No!"

"Not even your mom?"

Hanna shook her head, her flopping back and forth. "Please," she begged.

Ali crossed her arms over her chest, pretending to think about it. "Okay," she said. "best friends have each other's backs—I have yours if you have mine."

"Definitely," Hanna said eagerly. "I'll do whatever you want."

"Perfect," Ali said, and patted Hanna on the head. "That's all I ask."

She got Hanna a cup of water and told her to wash her face. Then she helped her out of the bathroom, Hanna's girth leaning heavily on her shoulder. Even though Ali's clothes now smelled as pukey as Hanna's, she didn't complain.

That was what good friends were for, after all.