Page 11 of Wanted Beta

“Wow, Beth, that dress …” she says as I approach the car.

“Is it too short?” I ask, doing a little spin.

I had to leave a bit of length to cover my backside properly so it’s not quite a mini.

Girls with some junk in the trunk need a little more fabric back there. I don’t want to flash my crack at anyone who might take it as an invitation. I mean, unless it’s Rourke. I don’t think I would mind giving up my V-card for him, even if it wouldn’t make us a couple.

“It’s perfect,” Annie calls out from the passenger seat. “Get in!”

As usual, she’s freaking out about arriving a minute late and missing the whole thing. We’re always late, and we never miss anything important, but Annie always gets like this anyway.

Carla rolls her eyes at me, and I get in the back seat, dropping my sneakers onto the floor.

“Get going,” Annie moans at our driver.

“Don’t get your panties twisted,” Carla protests. “The door hasn’t even closed.”

I close it and belt up. “Now, we can go.”

So, of course, Carla stalls the car.

Sighing, Annie pushes her head back against the headrest.

“Sorry, okay?” Carla says. “I don’t drive well when I’m rushed.”

“You don’t drive well, ever,” Annie mutters under her breath.

Oh my God. Please don’t tell me these two are going to fall out.

Not tonight. Any night but tonight.

I clear my throat. “No one turns up to these things on time, so it doesn’t matter how quickly we leave. Let’s just relax, okay? It’s our first big party. We’re supposed to be having fun.”

Carla makes an irritable sound. “I drive you two around like a chauffeur, and I get nothing but shit for it. I’m not starting the car until Annie apologies.”

“Ugh! Fine. I’m sorry,” Annie mumbles, crossing her arms and looking out of the window.

“We appreciate you, Carla,” I add, leaning forward to touch my friend’s shoulder.

She lets out a sigh. “Do you guys really think this is a good idea?”

“Uh, what?” I ask, wondering where this is coming from. “Why wouldn’t it be?”

“All the popular kids will be there,” she says, as Annie turns back toward her.

“So will everyone else,” I remind her.

“Yeah,” Annie says. “It’s not like we were mysteriously invited for no good reason. The new guy made it an open invitation to everyone.”

“It just feels kind of weird, you know?” Carla turns in her seat, giving me a worried look.

“Annie’s right,” I tell her. “We’ve not been targeted for some kind of humiliating prank. He invited everyone.”

“I know,” she mumbles. “But why?”

I look at Annie. She shrugs.

It’s a good question, and I don’t have an answer.

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