Sophie Littlefield
Banished
The first book in the Banished series, 2010
For Sal.
Growing up is hard, but you are doing a beautiful job.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This book was touched by many hands along the way, and I am grateful to you all.
Barbara Poelle, my agent who employed the roadside-assistance-phone-call and cocktail-napkin methods to develop my idea,
Claudia Gabel, who took a chance on me,
And Stephanie Elliott, my editor, who worked tirelessly to help me shape the story.
Writing this book reminded me of a time when I was doing my best to grow up, and I would like to thank the friends who were there. Bob-first and foremost. Mary. Julia, Sonja, Anne, and MaryAnn. Joellen and Margaret, and Ellen and John. And of course Kristen and Mike, who are always there.
PART ONE: GYPSUM
PROLOGUE
JUNE 1995WAKING UP HURT. Her head pounded and there was something in her eyes, something sticky and warm that made it hard to see.
She blinked hard and her eyes cleared, and she realized she was in a car.
Not just any car-her boyfriend’s car. It was a pretty white Celica, and she brushed her hand against her lap, feeling smooth, silky fabric, and remembered-it was prom night, and they were driving out to Boone Lake and he’d brought champagne, a bottle on ice in a cooler. She had slipped into the girls’ bathroom to fix her lip gloss and dab on a little extra perfume before they said goodbye to all their friends, to the school gym decorated with streamers and helium balloons, to the teachers, who smiled and nodded at them because they were nice kids, kids who got good grades and didn’t make trouble.