“It’s true,” I say, still chuckling as I check my own hair in the mirror. My rose-gold hair is perfect, since I’ve been designated the yellow, lemon-flavored macaron. We’re all wearing necklaces made of real cookies, and our perfume is coordinated to our specific flavors. Actually, we make a pretty cute little group. “So … we do the whole school thing,” I start, referencing the academy sponsored party in the gym, “and then how do we get to the cemetery? I doubt sneaking the cars on campus is going to work.”
“We’ll have to walk,” Miranda says with a groan, sticking her tongue out at her heels which, by the way, cost almost a thousand bucks. I bought my own shoes this time at an outlet store for thirty-five big ones. These are by far the priciest shoes I’ve ever purchased for myself. Zack, Miranda, Andrew, and Jessie all offered to get me something else, but I refused.
Despite what Tristan, Zayd, and Creed think, I am not a charity case.
“I can always carry you, if your feet hurt too much from dancing,” Zack says, and the way he’s holding his face, the purr in his voice … it’d be sexy if he didn’t look so ridiculous in an ill-fitting dress with his massive muscular shoulders showing. Andrew actually looks sexy as hell. If I were into girls, I think I’d be into him the way he’s dressed now. Even Miranda whistled appreciatively when he came out of the bathroom for his big reveal.
“Thanks, but I think I can manage walking,” I reply, forcing a smile and running my palms down the front of my glittery yellow gown. “Shall we?” I hold out my arm for Andrew, and he takes it. I notice Zack looking longingly at us, but technically, we’ve decided that Miranda and Jessie are a couple for the night, and I’m going with Andrew.
Zack is … going stag.
Good for him.
The Halloween party looks much the same as it did last year. Only the first-years seem actually excited to be here. Everyone else is simply making an appearance and waiting for the real event to start. Amongst the cheesy disco balls and streamers, it’s easy to spot the Idols at their table near the stage. They all stand out like sore thumbs, sucking the life from the room.
Well, at least that’s how it feels to me.
As soon as we walk in there, all eyes are on us. The Bluebloods continue to glare as we scout out a table, grab some snacks, and sit down to chat. Their gazes in particular feel like they’re burning into the back of my head. Freaking Tristan, Creed, and Zayd. Ugh. The girls have come at me plenty since heading back to Burberry, but I have yet to see those assholes make a move.
That scares me.
“Harper’s nose is still swollen,” Miranda whispers, and I grin, just before she drags me out on the dance floor and makes me work for it. Jessie joins us a while later and steals my dance partner. Andrew, meanwhile, is off dancing with some cute first year guy, and I’m left to grind it alone for a while.
That is, until Zack shows up. I pause in my movements, my heart pounding so loud that I can hear it over the thumping bass of the music.
“Hi,” I say, and he smiles. It’s a nice smile, too, one of the truest emotions I’ve ever seen on his face. When the administrators asked me into the principal’s office after the game and asked if I knew who had sent the video, I played dumb. Outright lying isn’t my thing, but they in no way suspected me, so it was easy to dodge their interrogation. What they had asked me was if I felt unsafe with Zack Brooks attending Burberry Prep.
I’d had to answer that direct question with a direct response.
No, I don’t feel unsafe.
“Hi,” he says back, and the music switches to a slow song, one that makes me feel like that swarm of butterflies is taking off inside of me again. I’m all aflutter. “May I have this dance?” I suck my lower lip under my teeth, and decide that even if he is a bit goofy in that green wig, he’s still handsome. Closing my eyes, I remember dancing with Zayd at that party last year, how our bodies had seemed to meld together. Will I ever feel that way with a guy again?
I guess I could at least try to find out?
I let Zack take my hand in one of his while the other falls respectfully to my waist. The floor clears of dancers, leaving only a few couples left to sway with the music. I giggle at first, because Zack in makeup just isn’t the sexiest combination, but as we begin to move, I start to forget. All I can see is the deep brown of his eyes, and the way he looks at me.
