thinking she might still have a chance to sneak away, when
Ariadne spotted her and waved her over.
During that uncomfortable lunch, Ariadne was as nice as could
be to Helen, and even though there was a brittle quality to Cassandra?s
smiles, there were plenty of them. Despite this genuine attempt
at friendship, Helen was so agitated by the insufferable presence
of the Furies hovering just outside the corner of her eye that
her testy behavior earned her several scandalized looks from
Gretchen and a few worried ones from Claire. As they left the cafeteria,
Claire pulled Helen aside.
?Would it kill you to be nice?? she asked.
?You have no idea how hard I?m trying,? Helen replied though
tight lips.
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?Try harder. You?re coming off like a total snob, and I know
you?re not one so don?t even start.? Claire continued over Helen?s
protestation: ?I can tell there?s something weird going on. Something
that you?re not telling me about. I?m fine with that. But
you have to start pretending you like them or people like Gretchen
and Zach are going to make sure that your life here is miserable
until graduation.?
Helen nodded submissively. She knew she was getting good advice,
but her life was already miserable enough without cozying up
to the Delos family. Still, the next day she did her best to make an
effort and smiled at Ariadne and Jason as she passed them in the
hall. The attempt wasn?t pretty?it came off more like a toothy
grimace than a grin?but it was well received by the twins.
Hector was a different story. Apparently, he didn?t share in the
opinion that they should all try to get along, and after another harrowing
day of forcing herself not to flinch when she saw Lucas,