Every detail. Natalya listened, frog-eyed, chewing her nails, as I described how Ella and I had used Elizabeth to snare Julian. I told her about the party at Meri’s, Julian’s black eye, my apology, Ella’s midnight ultimatum phone call, the Avenue Cheese catering prank, and, finally, where I’d been last night. On the subject of Julian, Natalya had been surprisingly grim. “He obviously confronted Ella, and now she’s after you. It’s just too bad he never thought about how Ella would retaliate.” “Maybe I could get him to help me.” “You could try,” she said. “From what you’re telling me, it sounds like you two majorly hit it off. And he’s the one person who’d be able to scare her.” “Right.” Though it made me feel squirmy inside, especially considering Julian’s recent teasing me for being a nerd and an outsider. Asking him to defend me against Ella seemed pitiful. Maybe I could just take care of it myself. “Anyway, this’ll all die down soon,” said Natalya.
