“What’s this?” he asks.
Not sure what he’s talking about, I look down. He’s holding the necklace made out of my mother’s wedding diamond. I struggled with the idea of wearing it because I still don’t want to slide into Lydia, but I switched the chain and am careful to keep the stone from touching my skin. It makes me feel closer to my mother, wherever she is.
“It reminds me of her,” I say simply.
I don’t have to say who. That’s the great thing about me and Rollins: We never have to explain ourselves. It’s funny—after Zane, I wasn’t sure I could trust anyone again. Zane made me doubt my own feelings. Was it really love? Did that even exist? But then I realized that the problem was that Zane and I didn’t even really know each other. It was insta-love, totally fleeting. We bonded over our losses, and we experienced something intense, but it wasn’t real.
Rollins and I, on the other hand, have built our relationship on something solid—the truth. He knows everything there is to know about me, and I’m learning more about him every day.
We are best friends, but we are so much more.
Rollins lowers his face to mine. Our lips meet.
And I know this is for real.
Acknowledgments
Thanks to:
Donna Bray, for helping me piece together the puzzle (so much fun!).
Sarah Davies, whose support I am beyond lucky to have and who is always there when I freak out about something dumb.
Julia Churchill, for sending me a YouTube video of tiny baby gerbils taking a bath when I was having a bad day.
Noukka Signe, for a stunning photograph, and Alison Klapthor, for designing another beauty. Yay, pink!
Brenna Franzitta, Emilie Polster, Caroline Sun, Viana Siniscalchi, and everyone at Balzer + Bray and HarperCollins, I kiss you!
Megan Miranda, with whom I can easily exchange fifty emails a day, debating important topics like whether we should have mac ’n’ cheese for lunch or just some Fritos. Oh, and sometimes we critique each other’s work. *fist bump*
My husband, for boosting me up and never letting me down. I love you like our son loves Lil’ Crunchies.
My daughter, whose chest puffs up every time she spots “Mommy’s books” at a store or on a shelf. Maybe someday she’ll be old enough to read one of those books.
My son, who forced me to consume half a zillion Oreos while I simultaneously grew him in my belly and wrote this book.
My mother, for hating all the people I wanted her to hate (in my books, I swear). And, ya know, for being awesome in general.
My father, who says my books rock.
My sister, for being my biggest fan.
My brothers, for going into a career that will forever provide me with new story ideas.
My in-laws, for being pretty much amazing in every way. Thanks for all the help you’ve given us over the years.
My students, for inspiring me to write stories that teens will want to read.
My former teachers, who taught me that it’s improper to call them my old teachers. I’m sure I’ll appreciate that in a couple of years.
Officer Teahen, for letting me again borrow his name. I hope you enjoy this one.
My Secret Sliders, who tweeted and Facebooked and blogged about Slide until their fingers probably almost fell off. And especially those who were so enthusiastic about my Slide Day shenanigans (you know who you are).
Diet Pepsi. You are the devil, but I still love you.
About the Author
JILL HATHAWAY grew up in lowa and received her MA in literature from Iowa State University. She is also the author of SLIDE, the first book about Vee Bell. A high school English teacher, Jill lives with her husband and children in the Des Moines area. You can visit her online at www.jillhathaway.com.
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Credits
Cover art © 2013 Noukka Signe Photography
Cover design by Alison Klapthor
Copyright
Balzer + Bray is an imprint of HarperCollins Publishers.
Impostor
Copyright © 2013 by Jill Hathaway
All rights reserved under International and Pan-American Copyright Conventions. By payment of the required fees, you have been granted the nonexclusive, nontransferable right to access and read the text of this e-book on-screen. No part of this text may be reproduced, transmitted, downloaded, decompiled, reverse-engineered, or stored in or introduced into any information storage and retrieval system, in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of HarperCollins e-books.
www.epicreads.com
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Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Hathaway, Jill.
Impostor / Jill Hathaway. — 1st ed.
p. cm.
Sequel to: Slide.
Summary: High school junior Vee Bell realizes that someone knows about and shares her ability to slide into other people’s minds when she suddenly finds herself in strange and very dangerous situations, but her sister, Mattie, best friend, Rollins, and an aunt she never knew provide insights.
ISBN 978-0-06-207798-1
EPUB Edition FEBRUARY 2013 ISBN 9780062078001
[1. Psychic ability—Fiction. 2. Sisters—Fiction. 3. Best friends—Fiction. 4. Friendship—Fiction. 5. Aunts—Fiction. 6. Secrets—Fiction. 7. High schools—Fiction. 8. Schools—Fiction.] I. Title.
PZ7.H2827Imp 2013.
2012028326
[Fic]—dc23.
CIP
AC
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13 14 15 16 17 LP/RRDH 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
FIRST EDITION
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Impostor Page 19