Jenny Lee - Anna K Away

The author and publisher have provided this e-book to you for your personal use only. You may not make this e-book publicly available in any way. Copyright infringement is against the law. If you believe the copy of this e-book you are reading infringes on the authors copyright, please notify the publisher at: us.macmillanusa.com/piracy.

For every teenager who had their school year, prom, graduation, and summer vacation disrupted because of the global pandemic

(in order of appearance)

BEATRICE D.

Seventeen, rising senior at Greenwich Academy. Cousin of the late Alexia Vronsky.

CLAUDINE C.

Sixteen, Beatrices girlfriend or ex-girlfriend (depends on who you ask).

ANNA K.

Seventeen, rising senior at not sure yet. Sister of Steven, love of Alexia V.s life.

ALEXIA V. (AKA VRONSKY)

Forever sixteen. Dead and buried.

NATALIA T.

Eighteen, high school dropout. Kimmies best friend, former girlfriend of Dustins late brother, Nicholas.

DUSTIN L.

Eighteen, graduate of Stuyvesant High School, deferred a year at MIT to stay in the city. Best friend of Steven, boyfriend of Kimmie.

TIARE A.

Nineteen, dropped out her senior year and got a GED. Santa Barbara surfer chick. Love interest of Beatrice.

STEVEN K.

Eighteen, graduate of Collegiate School, soon to take a post-grad year at Deerfield Academy. Annas older brother, boyfriend of Lolly.

LOLLY S.

Seventeen, rising senior at the Spence School. Girlfriend of Steven, older sister to Kimmie.

KIMMIE S.

Sixteen, rising junior at Eleanor Roosevelt High School. Lollys younger sister, girlfriend of Dustin.

CHANG-RI P.

Twenty-two, assistant producer on a music show. Annas new friend in Seoul.

QUENTIN L.

Twenty-one, lead singer of the K-pop group The NowNows.

KIRIL V.

Twenty-one, rising junior at Wesleyan University. Alexia Vronskys older brother.

DEAN J.

Seventeen, rising senior at South Dillon High in Texas. New kid at Interlochen Arts Camp.

JAMIESON T.

Seventeen, rising senior at Tacoma School of the Arts in Washington. Lollys theater camp bestie.

Its a cruel, cruel summer.

Leaving me, leaving me here on my own

BANANARAMA

When Shakespeare wrote parting is such sweet sorrow, he never had to say good-bye to a melodramatic French girl in an airport. This was what Beatrice was thinking as she stood in front of Claudine, who was barely keeping it together. Her pillowy lips quivering as she tried and failed to harness her emotions. Are you sure you dont want me to come to LA with you?

Babe, my internship starts on Monday and Ive gotta spend the whole weekend with my Uncle Chadwick at a trs boring third wedding of some B-list Hollywood actress. This was the truth, but then Beatrice added a lie. She was so good at lying. Her lies always felt true as soon as she said them. I tried to get a plus one to bring you, but no dice.

No dice? Claudine repeated in her breathy French accent, brow furrowing.

Beatrice leaned forward and kissed Claudine softly. Its a gambling expression. It means were out of luck.

But you never take no for an answer. Claudine pulled her face into a petulant pout, which Beatrice knew was a last-ditch effort to get her to change her mind. Beatrice hated to be told no and would rarely let it stand if she wanted something. But what she truly wanted, no, what she needed, was some time alone. And a summer in LA was the exact change of scenery she required. Bringing her girlfriend (if that was what they had to call it), no matter how exquisitely sumptuous she happened to be, wasnt the fresh start Beatrice had in mind.

All she knew was that she needed to get away. Everything in Manhattan reminded her of Vronsky. She saw him on street corners, walking away from her before disappearing in a crowd. She heard his laugh coming up through sewer grates. She turned her head at the vroom-vroom of every motorcycle. She even listened to his voice mails when she was feeling really desperateYo Bea, Queen Beatrice in the house, Stop screening my calls Bea-yatch! Her beloved cousin was everywhere around her, as though her memories of him had escaped her mind and now flitted about the city like ghosts.

Just tell your uncle how sexy I am, and hell let me come, Claudine pleaded.

Beatrice was moments from bringing out her cat claws. But that was not how she wanted to bid farewell to Claudine. Beatrice knew her fuse was short lately. It was understandable in the wake of her cousin Vronskys death, but because she cared about Claudine, she was trying to bid farewell on a positive note, even if it was a false one. Claudine was the daughter of her aunt Genevives best friend, so she also had filial piety to consider.

Beatrice gave her a deep tongue kiss, pushing her watermelon Trident gum into Claudines mouth as a parting gift. Claudine had once done the same thing to her, and Beatrice had found it hilarious and strangely hot. Now, she copied it symbolically as a sign of things having come full circle.

Claudine smiled and started chewing the gum. Youll text, she said, not asked.

They had spent the last five weeks together, rarely if ever apart, and Beatrice knew Claudine was depressed by the idea of being away from each other. Ill do better than that. Easier to string her along than get in a fight and have to make up over the phone, Bea thought. Ill ravish you tonight in our dreams, she said.

Claudine giggled with delight, her cheeks reddening. Beatrice was the only person who could make Claudine blush. She hooked Claudines belt with her fingers and pulled her close, giving her a long slow kiss good-bye. Why did the crazy ones always taste so good?

Walking away, she could feel Claudines eyes on her back, willing her to turn around, but Beatrice resisted the impulse to feel anything. Love was a luxury she didnt get to indulge in anymore. Not with Claudine. Not with anyone. Not since Vronsky Beatrice adjusted the monogrammed LV duffel strap on her shoulder as she approached the JFK airport VIP hostess, who had been waiting to walk her through security. Normally Beatrice flew private, but her parents were using the G5 this weekend, so she had to fly commercial like one of the terminal people, as she snobbishly thought of them.

This way, Ms. D., the hostess said, taking Beas bag. Bea put on her Chrome Hearts sunglasses, feeling safe behind the dark tint of the lenses.

Initially Beatrices mother had refused to pay the extra three thousand for Beatrice to be ushered through security, seated in her own private room, and waited upon until boarding. She had recently read in Oprahs magazine that saying no to your children from time to time would better prepare them for real life, so Beatrice charged it on her own card, knowing full well her mother hadnt looked at a credit card statement in over two decades.

Is she still back there? Beatrice asked the hostess, who stared at her blankly. The hot French chick. Is she still there? Look, just dont be obvi about, it kay?

The host turned and looked at Claudine.

I just said dont be obvi about it!

Sorry, I, uh She is. Yes. Standing there. Still.

Shes not crying, is she? Bea asked.

Hard to tell no, yeah she just wiped her nose. Definitely crying.