Shoes. They were one of the most important things to me. Not just because I appreciated the panache of a Christian Louboutin, the elegance of a Jimmy Choo, or the flair of a Manolo Blahnik, but because they told you everything you needed to know about a person. You could wear a nice dress, contort your features with makeup, and pretend to be something you're not, but your shoes will tell who you really are. People may adorn themselves, but often they forgot about their shoes.
Which is why whenever I meet a new person, the first thing I look at is their shoes. For example, Autumn's ratty sneakers told me that she didn't care about fashion, she fancied herself an artist since her shoes had paint splatters on them, and she was… economically disadvantaged since she kept cavorting around in shitty sneakers that were probably from Payless.
Mia's Miu Miu kitten heels and Payton's Ouch Ouch Pretty Feet platforms told me that we would be the very best of friends, and I was right.
But this time, the minor details had made me realize something: Koh, our classmate, had been framed. She wore black combat boots, and the person framing her had worn white sneakers.
"So, do you know who it is?" Julian asked me anxiously.
Mentally, I analyzed the evidence and sifted through a long list of enemies. "Done," I announced. "Mia, what do you normally wear to cheer practice?"
Mia gave me an are-you-kidding? look. "My cheer uniform, duh."
"What else do you wear?" I snickered. "Hint: you wouldn't be caught dead wearing them out of cheer practice."
"My—my cheer sneakers," Mia's eyes widened in realization. "You can't seriously think I'm the one that did it! I was with you all day!"
"Mia?" Julian cried. "How could you?"
"Both of you, shut up," I gave them a pointed look. "Obviously, it's not Mia. Who else do we know that wears cheer sneakers and has a grudge against our school?"
Mia's eyes narrowed. "Kara. Why am I not surprised?"
I thought back to the first time I had met Kara. My school had just opened, and Max and Kara were waiting out for me in the school parking lot. I remembered dissing her clown makeup and the scowl on her face afterwards. But before I had even started talking to them, I had looked at their shoes. Max was wearing swamp green and yellow athletic sneakers, and Kara had been wearing white cheerleading sneakers.
"It's time to confront her," I snickered.
