Three Black Swans Read Online Free

together and everything. But
needing
to see each other—no.
    “Annabel Griffin,” said Missy. “The long-lost identical twin. It’s perfect.”
    “And when your buddy Rick, who obviously has the brains of a canned pea,” said Claire, “asks how I found you, or where I live, or who adopted whom—do you have answers ready?”
    “Of course I do. Hoaxes are all about clever answers. My middle name is clever. Remember, we have to fill only a minute, Clairedy. How much can go wrong in sixty seconds?”
    *  *  *
EARLY MORNING
Thursday
    C LAIRE’S FATHER PULLED into a visitor slot at Missy’s high school. It had not crossed his mind that his sweet little girl would lie to him and so it did not cross his mind to quiz her. “I’ll just sit in the truck with my coffee and my paper,” he told Claire. “If it’s going to take longer than fifteen minutes, phone me. I’ll come in, and that will hurry things up. I know how Missy can chatter.” Her father fussed with the sip opening on the lid of his take-away coffee cup, which refused to snap into place. He didn’t pick up on Claire’s anxiety.
    She headed toward the front doors, leaving her book bag and purse in the truck. She felt naked without them, as if she had no business being here.
    And I don’t, she thought.
    She had never been in this building. Missy’s school system had only tenth through twelfth grades in the high school, and it was only six weeks into Missy’s sophomore year. Claire had not yet attended any of her cousin’s school games or activities.
    The front steps were imposing but shallow. Claire stumbled, which demolished her poise. The years leached away, and shefelt like a newcomer on the first day of seventh grade, wearing the wrong clothes.
    It was 7:37.
    At 7:45 would come the Pledge of Allegiance followed by the announcements, presented by Rick.
    Claire paused on the last step.
    There was something dreadful about hoaxes: the perpetrator planned to make suckers out of her very own friends.
    I can turn around, she thought. Go home. Text Missy so she has time to cancel with Rick.
    Claire could not imagine letting Missy down. Furthermore, she could feel Missy’s excitement. She and Missy were already breathing in synchrony. She even knew that Missy’s panting was from eagerness while she herself was gasping from worry.
    I don’t
know
, she reminded herself. I just know Missy well enough to guess.
    How odd that Missy had even noticed the hoax assignment. Missy did not care for biology. She did not care about Mrs. Stancil. Why was Missy going to such trouble?
    The glass-walled foyer faced south and had collected the heat of the sun even at this early hour. Claire was immediately uncomfortable in her pink cashmere sweater. It was too dressy. She had a flicker of surprise that Missy hadn’t thought about this, because Missy had excellent fashion sense. Then she thought, Missy wants people to see clothing instead of us. Helps the hoax along.
    Claire threaded through strangers, unpleasantly aware of her hot clinging sweater.
    “Hey, Missy!” came a shout.
    Oh, good. Her cousin had come to get her. Claire looked around.
    A total stranger was waving and smiling. “You finish your essay, Missy?” he called.
    Missy was not in the foyer. Only Claire was in the foyer.
    The boy was laughing now, and two girls standing near him began to laugh too. “Yes, you, Missy,” said one of the girls. “Love the sweater. You going somewhere special?” The girl walked up to Claire and hugged her lightly.
    Missy and this total stranger were close enough friends for hugs? How could such a friend be so clueless? How could she literally touch Claire and still not know she wasn’t Missy? “There is a special event coming up,” Claire said nervously.
    “We’ll want to hear all about it,” said the girl. She and the other two students drifted away.
    Maybe Mrs. Stancil’s hoax assignment was not so stupid after all. People needed to pay attention. Ask