Page 7 of Lilies in Autumn

“I assume you didn’t know she’d be here.”

Serena scoffs. “We don’t talk. I found out she was coming here when my dad asked if I wanted to join his family for lunch after they moved Marina into her dorm.”

Ouch. I didn’t miss that she saidhisfamily, not hers.

“If you want, I can find some Visine to put in her drink. She’ll be shitting her brains out in, like, fifteen minutes, easy.”

Serena looks at me with the first smile since we walked through the door. “Thanks, but I’ll just avoid her tonight.”

“Suit yourself, poison control is just one call away.”

We turn our attention to the clipboards, quickly fill them out and hand them back to the welcoming committee. Lizzie directs us to the dining room, which has dozens of bottles of cheap vodka and tequila along with store-brand soda and juice. I pick up one of the handles of vodka and read, “Lairds. I’m almost positive this is disinfectant, but I can’t be certain.” Serena laughs while CeCe just rolls her eyes and picks up three red cups and a generic cola from the table. “Listen, Ava, it’s free alcohol. Don’t be a snob.” I pour the vodka into the cups and then hand them off for CeCe to pour in the cola before she distributes the drinks.

I take a sip and nearly choke. It tastes like bad decisions and a hangover.

I open my mouth to tell both of them my feelings when we’re interrupted by a shrill voice.

“What the fuck are you doing here, nerd?” Our heads whip around to the nightmare in a purple sequin dress, Marina.

Serena groans and runs a hand through her hair. Before she can respond, CeCe steps forward. “Who the fuck do you think you’re talking to, Barney?” I try to contain my laughter, I do. CeCe shoots me a look before continuing, “I know that you did not just come over here, while we were enjoying ourselves and minding our own business, to harass our girl. I suggest you turn your skanky ass around, get a drink, or better yet, a joint to chill out, and fuck right off.” CeCe flicks her hand in a dismissive gesture. Serena’s jaw is on the floor, but I’m used to CeCe’s mama bear display. She may look like a pint-sized model, but she grew up with fifteen male cousins and learned how to hold her own at a young age.

Marina eyes my friend with a mixture of disdain and fear. “Whatever, bitch.” She then looks at Serena. “Stay out of my way or I’m telling Dad.” With that, she flips her hair and walks back to her group of friends in the living room.

“He’s not your dad,” Serena whispers to her retreating form. CeCe and I look at each other.

“Well,” CeCe begins, “I have to say, that was the most anti-climactic confrontation I’ve ever had. Who was that?”

“My stepsister, Marina. My parents got divorced when I was a kid, and he replaced us with a new wife and daughter pretty quickly.”

“You’re related to that harpy?”

Serena shrugs. “She wasn’t always this terrible, but as we got older, she became more competitive and couldn’t handle me being the smarter one.”

CeCe scoffs at her response. “So she had to make herself the gaudy one? Seriously, who wears purple sequins after elementary school?”

“Forget her,” I urge. “Let’s drink these horrid drinks, shake our asses, and meet some cute boys.”

We spend the next fifteen minutes sipping our drinks, teasing CeCe about how deceptively angelic she looks, and surveying the party around us. We’re drinking our second cup by the time Felicity and Jordan make their way over to us.

“You ladies came!” Felicity exclaims, running over to hug me and CeCe before looking at Serena. “And you brought a friend. Next time, make sure you let us know; it’s an exclusive guest list.”

Serena’s eyes widen and red splotches start creeping up her chest and throat. “Oh, I-I’m so sorry. I can go if it’s an issue.”

Fuck that. “Sorry, Felicity, we didn’t know that we needed to RSVP for a plus one. Our girl, Serena, is with us. If she goes, we go. So just let us know if it’s going to be a problem, and we’ll be on our way.”

Felicity eyes our trio for a moment before plastering a fake smile on her face. “I’m sure it’s fine. We’re going to be heading over to the main party soon, so line up by the door when you’re ready and a sober sister will drive you over. And here, we refer to each other as women, not girls.” With that, she turns her back on us and walks away.

“Well,” CeCe begins, “it’s safe to say that we’re not getting into Alpha Nu anytime soon.”

“Guys, I’m so sorry. I know how interested you were, and I’ve done nothing but cause problems since we got here.”

“Nope, absolutely not. The actions of your stepsister and the snotty attitude of Felicity are not your fault. If you feel uncomfortable, we’re leaving and saying ‘fuck you’ to these assholes.”

I nod my head in agreement. “I’m with CeCe on this. Say the word, and we’ll leave to veg out in our dorm and watch re-runs ofGrey’s Anatomy.”

Serena takes a deep breath, shaking her head. “No, no. Let’s just go to the party. I don’t want to be in this house for another minute.”

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