Page 128 of Inception

“Okay,” I agreed, feeling the turn of events had finally swayed in my favor. I smiled over at Trace and then said my goodbyes to Gabriel as the Limo pulled up to the house.

Spring Fling was being held in a ritzy Hotel Ballroom on the outer edge of Hollow Hills. Strobe lights crisscrossed each other high in the sky as rows of limousines and other overpriced cars made their way up to the entrance. Weston Academy's finest were out in droves, decked out in lavish gowns and expensive tuxedo's that cost more than most people made in a month.

The air was thick with fog and the moon hung low above us, oversized and blurring at the edges with the haze that covered this town like a dirty secret. Somehow it felt right. Like I belonged here amongst the torrid chaos and fog. Like this was exactly where I was always meant to be.

“Trace! Over here!” squealed a familiar voice as we made our way inside the lavish ballroom. Nikki stood at the center of her two minions wearing a gold sequin dress, with matching stiletto shoes. It killed me to admit it but she looked great.

Trace walked over to greet her as the rest of us moved to find our table at the far end of the dance floor. Caleb, who looked quite handsome in his black tuxedo jacket, moved ahead of me and pulled out my chair before taking the seat beside me.

“You look great,” he said, tipping into me. “I didn't get a chance to tell you earlier with everyone around.”

“Thank you,” I smiled and took a sip from my water glass as I glanced around the ballroom, taking it all in.

The room hummed under the soft purple light, its gilded ceilings crowned in decadent crystal chandeliers that sparkled brilliantly above us. Everything was draped in white, right down to the white peony centerpieces and floor-to-ceiling curtains.

“Care to dance?”

I glanced out at the barren dance floor that took up nearly half the ballroom and cringed. “No one's dancing.”

“We can easily fix that,” he smiled.

“Maybe later, but thanks.” The last thing I wanted was a room full of eyes on us. Besides, I was here with him for a reason: to find out what's going on between him and Nikki.

Trace pulled out the empty chair on the other side of me and sat down. To my dismay, Nikki quickly followed, filling up the seat next to him as though she were his date.

Come to think of it, maybe she was. Maybe they decided to go together at the last minute. As friends.Or friends with benefits. The thought of it made me queasy.

Taylor and Carly sat down beside Caleb accompanied by their dates, senior twin brothers Aiden and Finn Gallagher, with Ben and his date taking up the remaining two chairs. Morgan and Hannah were at another table with their own dates. Frankly, I was surprised they were allowed to leave Nikki's side at all.

“Do you want something from the bar?” asked Caleb. “A Coke or something?”

“A coke would be great.”

“I'll come with you,” sang Nikki as she stood up from her chair and adjusted her dress. “I need to powder my nose.”

“Sure thing,” smiled Caleb. He offered his arm and the two of them strolled off across the dance floor.

I watched with suspicion as Nikki leaned into him and whispered something private in his ear. Caleb nodded in return, never missing a step as they continued on side by side.

“What's up with those two?” I asked, turning to Trace.

His eyes and attention were both fixed on me. “What two?”

“Nikki and Caleb.”

He shrugged unaffected.

“Doesn't it bother you that your date just walked off with another guy?” I was trying to get to the bottom of this whole Nikki and Caleb thing—not to mention this whole Nikki and Trace thing. You know, two birds, one stone.

“No, it doesn't,” he said calmly. “And she's not my date.” He paused for a minute and then leaned in closer. “Does it botheryouthatyourdate just walked off with another girl?”

“I can't say that it does,” I answered honestly, smiling as my eyes lifted to meet his. “I'm pretty content right where I am.”

“I’m pretty content with where you are too.”

I gave him a playful shove but he caught my hand mid-air and held it, lacing our fingers together as though we were each other’s missing piece. My skin hummed under his touch.

“People can see us,” I reminded him, despite myself.

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