Over the past few days, everyone had noticed how Monty and the others who used to shamelessly cozy up to Calliope were suddenly bending over backward to be nice to Lisette instead. It felt like things had gone back to how they used to be. And honestly, when Calliope wasn''t around, the group could get a little out of line.


    Calliope walked into the cafeteria with a friendly smile, nodding at people as she passed.


    Lisette and her group hadn''t expected Calliope to be back already. They''d been in the middle of a cheerful lunch, chatting andughing over burgers and fries.


    Suddenly, they heard someone at a nearby table whisper and they whipped their heads around—just in time to see Calliope and Franco heading their way.


    All four of them looked like they''d just seen a ghost.


    Monty shot up from his seat, clearly caught off guard.


    "Callie! When did you get back? You didn''t tell us you wereing in today. We thought you were still out!"


    He nced at his lunch tray, looking guilty about sitting with Lisette, almost like he''d just been caught cheating on a test.


    "Just started back today," Calliope replied, totally unfazed. "Figured I''d just show up. Either way, I was bound to run into everyone eventually, right?"


    She brushed past them and went straight to the food line.


    Franco followed close behind, shooting Monty and the others a long, meaningful look.


    Monty looked like he was about to break into a cold sweat. Horatio and Valerian''s faces had gone pale, but Lisette just looked smug, as if she''d already won some secret game.


    She knew Calliope would be annoyed. After just three days away, the group had already switched loyalties.


    Lisette had always known how to y the Jewell family crowd. She could lose them for a moment, but getting them back was as easy as snapping her fingers.


    If Calliope wanted topete with her, she had another thinging.


    With a soft, almost pitiful voice, Lisette said, "Now that Callie''s back, you guys should go eat with her. If you sit with me, she''s going to be mad. She''s never liked me


    She dropped her eyes, ying the victim perfectly.


    Valerian looked torn. "But if we go, what about you?"


    “It''s fine,” Lisette said quietly. “I don''t want to make things awkward for you guys.


    But... Callie probably won''t see it that way."


    "Lisette, you''re just too nice," they said, looking genuinely moved.


    Despite their sympathy, the group started migrating over to Calliope''s table.


    "Callie, you should''ve told us you wereing. We would''ve picked you up at the airport!" one of them blurted out.


    "Yeah, how did everything go? Need any help?"


    "We were only eating with Lisette because, uh, well, it wasn''t anything against


    you! See, as soon as you showed up, we came right over!"


    They all tried to exin themselves at once.


    vel


    Calliope barely spared them a nce. She just shrugged and started eating her sd, only


    pausing every now and then to say a


    few words to Franco.


    But her mind was elsewhere. If she wasn''t even rted to the Jewell family by


    blood, did she really have to stick around running theirpany?


    She drifted off into thought, ignoring the awkward silence at her table.


    The others exchanged nervous nces. Valerian looked especially anxious. He was still counting on Calliope to give him that fancy new car she''d promised. He wasn''t about to let that golden opportunity slip away.