Page 51 of The Pawn

To my surprise, Holly smiles. "Again? Good for him. Maybe it'll stick this time."

"I thought Georgia was your friend."

"Ah." She picks up a two inch section of my hair and wraps it delicately around the thick barrel of her curling iron. "Georgia and I are friends the way you're friends with anyone you grew up with for years and years. We've known each other since we were kids. Our parents summer together."

"Oh."

"But if you ask me, she's bad for Tanner, and he's bad for her." Moving through my hair, she transforms it from limp to bouncy and full of body. "The things Cole has told me... you wouldn't believe the wringer that girl has put him through. She once sent him a video of her giving another guy a blowjob."

She rolls her eyes, and even I'm shocked a bit, despite everything I've seen Georgia say and do.

"Tanner says he doesn't care who she fucks, but it's obvious he does, because we both know she does it just to spite him. It's not like she's some polyamorous girl looking for a triad or something. She just likes to keep him down so he comes back to her, and he always does." Looking at my reflection in the mirror, she adds, "But maybe this time he won't."

Staring at what I see, I have to admit that she has a point. Soft, lightened hair, big highlighted cheeks with cheekbones carved out of them with contour, and plump pink glossy lips greet my eyes.

I don't see Brenna Wilder, the girl from Wayborne, in the mirror.

But I do see a girl who might be able to bring a senator's son to his knees.

Chapter 26

The entire campus, a little over three hundred students, has turned out for the ice cream social organized by both the Rosalinds and the Lovelaces. I watch, standing next to Holly, Sasha, and the senior girls as rich kids turn out for something as simple as free ice cream.

But, as I remind myself, it's not the ice cream they're here for any more than the education. We greet them as they line up, give them samples of whatever flavors they choose, scoop ice cream for them and sprinkle toppings on. It's harder work than I expected, getting rock hard ice cream out of the freezer the administration set up, which is running off the same generator that keeps the art tent cool during class.

"The first shift will be over before you know it," Holly reassures me as I step back from scooping to take a break, letting one of the senior girls, Ada, take over. "You'll be on your date in no time."

Looking around at the crowd, I comment, "I don't see him yet."

"That's because he'll be fashionably late. Cole too." Elbowing me, she smiles and adds, "I can't wait for the two of us to be dating best friends. We can go out on double dates and everything."

Somehow I don't see that happening, but I give Holly a little smile like I'm picturing it too. It's more likely this ends in blood and tears than double dates—just the way the Elites want it.

But first, a taste of lust to grease the wheels. I want to know more about Tanner Connally, want to see what pushes his buttons—and even better, what makes him weak. And as everyone knows, the best way to a man's heart is through his crotch.

I get my chance soon enough. We change shifts, and Piper takes over my ice cream scooping station. Georgia replaces Sasha soon after, shooting daggers in my general direction.

"He's not here, you know," she says. "So good luck getting your claws into my man."

"I heard he's notyour mananymore."

"He always comes back." She smirks at me, ever the spiteful girl. "You'll see soon enough."

Her words only make me want to snag him from her even more. Moving through the crowd with my own serving of ice cream, I listen to the band change songs from soft acoustic music to louder pop and rock as the sun sets and the evening wears on. There are so many students here milling around, flirting and gossiping, talking to their friends.

Friends. I barely know what that feels like. I have the Rosalinds, sure, but that feels more like a ticking time bomb than a group of friends. Whatever friendship I have with Holly has an expiration date, Sasha is too distant and weird, and Piper and Georgia despise me. I get along well enough with Chrissy and Tricia whenever I see them, but Chrissy cares most about the latest gossip, while Tricia seems to mostly want someone to talk to who isn't Chrissy.

Maybe I'm expecting too much of my first few weeks here at Coleridge. But I thought by now, especially with my new makeover, I would have at least onerealfriend at my side. Another outcast like me, a girl here on a scholarship who has worries other than the next Louboutin sale ending early.

The other students here on scholarship have hid themselves well, though, and they're nearly indistinguishable from the pack—no stolen credit cards required. I'm the one who sticks out like a sore thumb, scars on both my hand and my heart.

I've gone around the outdoor space three times now and found no sign of Tanner. He told me that I'd be able to find him here, to meet him in the middle of the crowd, but Georgia wasn't lying: he isn't here.

"If you're looking for Tanner, he's probably getting a blowjob in the bathroom." The voice startles me, and I whirl around and stare into cold brown eyes. "You'll have to wait for him to get his rocks off before he'll show up long enough to honor whatever stupid date you let him rope you into."

"I don't see how it's any of your business." I raise my chin and stare Blake down. "Unless you're planning on attacking me because you're jealous."

He doesn't react to my barb. "And if I do? What're you gonna do, retaliate?"

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