Page 31 of Broken Princess

“It’s a research project on a family heirloom.”

“Since when do you have family heirlooms?”

No one knows about Pepper, and I’m going to keep it that way, since I’m not entirely sure if spending a lot of time with the person offsetting my scholarship is a conflict of interest. “Since we finally started going through some of my dad’s things we had in storage.”

She moves her finger over the track pad a few more times before passing my laptop back. I’m done researching for now. Having her here kind of broke me out of my groove. I close the lid, placing it on my bed, and lie back against my pillows. “You said you were calling my name. What’s up?”

“Nothing. Never mind.”

“Come on, roomie. Spill it.”

“I was thinking of inviting some friends over, but I changed my mind.”

“Because of me? Kassidy, you don’t have to distance yourself from your friends in solidarity. Or stop entertaining here. This is your room too.”

“I know. I just wanna make sure you’re cool with it. Some of them are the same people from last semester.”

“Lemme guess, they’re BP sympathizers.”

“Yeah.”

“Call your buddies and have fun,” I say jumping off the bed. “Besides, I’m heading out, anyway.”

“You are? Where are you going?”

“To the Monday Night Marauder Party.”

“How do you even know about that?”

“Dixon mentioned it in class, and Noel’s posting about it on his Prospectus wall.”

She climbs off the bed shaking her head. “And you’re going?”

“Uh, yeah. So you’ll have the whole dorm to yourself. Just stay out of my room and off my bed.”

“As if I would ever do anything on this pristine white comforter.”

“You’d fold it up and put in a corner first?”

“Exactly.”

I blow her a kiss as she leaves the room, and grab my towel off the back of my closet door, heading towards the shower to get ready for the evening.

Twelve

Jordanna

I’ve made two laps around the living room of the frat house and still no sign of Dixon or Noel. When I get to the kitchen, I spot Sterling leaning against the wall with a beer in his hand. Finally, a familiar face. I’m here looking for leverage on Logan and his friends, but I feel like a sitting duck without Kassidy here supporting me.

“Hey stranger,” Sterling says, pushing away from the wall.

“Sterling, hi. Have you seen Noel?”

He shakes his head and slips his arm across my shoulder. “I’m sure that joker’s around her somewhere. Let me get you something to suck on until you find him.”

“I’d love a drink. Thanks,” I say ignoring the innuendo.

“All right, all right. I know. You’re still one of the cutest girls I’ve seen when you get all flustered and blush.”

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