Part 13 (1/2)

He looked down at her incredulously. The old Nikki? What are youYou know about it?

Sure, she said, tugging affectionately on his pinky for him to come sit next to her on the couch. He resisted of course. We all do. Well, me and Brandon. We even went and kidnapped Nikki from the hospital after it first happened. She didnt like it. But we thought shed been a victim of al-Qaeda! Or the Scientologists. Only it turned out it wasnt either of them. The old Nikki was just gone. And this new one was here to take her place. We decided we like her better than the old one, though. At least I did. I dont know about Brandon. Why? Lulu looked from one to the other of us. Is that a problem?

Steven just shook his head. I need an aspirin, was all he said.

But he let Lulu pull him down onto the couch beside her, where he sat with his head sunk into his hands. He looked like a man defeated. I didnt really blame him.

Do you need a neck ma.s.sage? Lulu was asking him. Even though he didnt reply, she was already reaching over to rub his neck. I give totally good neck ma.s.sages. They just about turn Nikki to Jell-O. Our housekeeper, Katerina, taught me how. And she was trained at some of the best spas in Gstaad. Its all about getting the tension out right here.

I know a guy, I whispered. I was desperate to make the situation right. Although I wasnt sure how it could ever be right again. His sister was dead, even though he didnt seem to want to believe it.

And, of course, somehow I felt like it was all my fault, even though I knew it wasnt.

Steven looked up.

You what? he asked.

I know a guy, I repeated softly. Softly enough, I hoped, for none of the bugs in the loft to pick up. A guy whos really good with computers. He says he can find your mom.

I didnt want to say that this guy was the fourteen-year-old cousin of someone Id been crus.h.i.+ng on since, like, the seventh grade. Steven looked suicidal enough. He stared at me while Lulu kneaded his neck. Weirdly, Lulus neck ma.s.sage didnt seem to have the same effect on him that all neck ma.s.sages had on Nikkis body.

How? Steven asked. How can he find her when the police couldnt?

I dont know, I whispered. He just says he can. Look, I dont see what we have to lose. Except everything, including my life, when Steven found out this guy was an adolescent.

When can we go? Steven asked without further hesitation.

I felt my heart lurch. I hadnt expected him to agree so quickly. What was I doing to Christopher? To Felix?

On the other hand, if their plan worked, maybe thered be no Stark to come after us later Yeah. And maybe Nikki Howard was going to be the next president of the United States.

Um. In the morning, I guess, I said.

Great. Steven nodded. Lets do it.

Lulu looked pleased. Fantastic! she said, applying her elbow to his trapezius muscles. And you know what? Youre feeling less tense to me already!

Thanks. Steven gave her a brief smile, then got up and started heading toward her room. Im really beat. IllIll see you both in the morning.

When he got to the door to Lulus room, he paused, however, and turned to look at me.

What should I call you? he asked.

My voice sounded almost unnaturally soft in the large loft, after our shouting match. The traffic sounds from the windows were loud, even though it was so late at night. We lived, after all, in the city that never slept. On the stereo speakers, Lulu was making noises like a cat. Whatever Stark was picking up of this conversation, it was bound to be confusing them.

Nikki, I said to Steven. Its my name now.

He stared at me for a full ten seconds. I couldnt have begun to read his expression if Id tried.

Then he turned abruptly and disappeared through the door, closing it quietly behind him. I glanced at Lulu.

Well, she said, with a big smile on her freshly scrubbed face. I think that went well. Dont you?

I collapsed onto the couch beside her with a frustrated moan. It was going to be, I knew, another sleepless night.

FIFTEEN.

THIS IS SO EXCITING, LULU KEPT saying.

Its really not, I a.s.sured her. I couldnt figure out why shed insisted on coming along. Well, actually, I was starting to get a good idea. I just couldnt believe it. I was pretty sure it had to do with the six feet of manliness striding along the hallway beside us, doing his best not to let steam blow out of his ears at the realization that he was, of all places, in a Manhattan high school.

Worse, a Manhattan high school at seven forty in the morning. With one of the nations leading teen supermodels, who was smuggling her miniature poodle in a Louis Vuitton tote, as her best friend, the celebutante daughter of one of the countrys most celebrated film directors, struggled to keep up alongside her, despite the fact that she was wearing a pair of five-inch heels. It wasnt like anybody was staring at us or anything as we tottered down the hall beside one another. Much.

What I couldnt believe was that she was being so obvious about it. Lulu, and her obsession with Nikki Howards brother, I mean. I was glad shed at least dressed somewhat normally, in vintage Jordache jeans and a leather bomber jacket over an Alexander McQueen s.h.i.+rt (I had to wrestle the Chloe s.h.i.+rt and Citizens of Humanity jeans I wanted to wear away from her. Which was ridiculous because Im about a foot taller than she is, so I dont know how she thinks she can get away with wearing Nikkis stuff).

But still. Up this early, for a guy? I guess I shouldnt talk. When the dinosaur sticker thing had failed, in the first few weeks Id come back to school after my surgery, Id done some pretty stupid stuff myself, I guess, in hopes a certain boy would admire meEvery morning, Id given myself a thirty-minute blowout Christopher had never even noticed, worn a surprisingly painful (Stark brand, of course) push-up bra that, ditto, hed never even glanced below my chin to admire.

I guess I know what its like to be in Lulus designer shoes.

But excited to be at TAHS? Believe me, there was nothing exciting about being at Tribeca Alternative High School, as Steven had already pointed out. It was actually the opposite of exciting, if you asked me.

But then, Lulu had never been in a real American high school before. She was looking at all the students as we pa.s.sed by them (and they ogled us in disbelief, whispering, Isnt that?), going, Oh, my G.o.d, shes so cute! or Isnt he sweet! like she was talking about puppies and not actual real-life fifteen- and sixteen-year-olds. It was as if she didnt realize these people were just a year or two younger than her.

The truth was, because they hadnt been as gifted genetically as she was, they did look almost as if theyd descended from another species.

But that was no excuse for Lulus behavior.

Especially when she saw Frida hanging out with a group of junior varsity cheerleaders by one of their lockers, and cried, Oh, my G.o.d, look, Nikki! Theres Frida! Hi, Frida!

Frida freaked when she saw usparticularly Lulu. Her friends jaws all dropped as well. Theyd dined with me upon occasion in the TAHS cafeteria, where haute cuisine extended as far as hamburger and no further. So Nikki Howard was no longer quite the big deal she once might have been.

But Frida had bragged to them that she knew Lulu, and I was pretty sure none of them ever believed her.

But here was Lulu Collins”who had graced the red carpets of so many movie premieres, and the covers of so many magazines, and the arms of so many skeevy rock-and-roller boyfriends she really should have thought twice about dating (but who was I to criticize, seeing as how Nikki Howard dated some of Lulus boyfriends as well, behind her back?)”in person, strolling down the hall toward them and greeting Frida. They stared at her in total awe.

Oh, my G.o.d, Lulu, Frida cried, looking as if she were about to wet herself. I-I cant believe youre here. And Nikki! This is amazing! I was just talking about the two of you. You know, about your party?

Oh, you have to come, Lulu said. You should all come. Its tomorrow night. Its to die for, really. Everybody will be there. Marc, Lauren, Paris. They love it. Its the best.

I could see the girls doing quick mental calculations in their heads”Marc Jacobs, Lauren Conrad, Paris Hilton. I said, under my breath, to Lulu, Lulu, they cant come. Theyre in high school.

Well, Lulu said, looking blank. So are you.