Page 44 of Fostering Chemistry
“Gown?” I echoed, as he grasped my arm and led me back into the living room. “Gown?” As in one of those floor-length formal dresses? Just how fancy was this party going to be? But Aaron looked so pleased that I didn’t have the heart to question him more right now.
Diego looked impatient when we returned. “We have to hurry.” He was doing this for Aaron’s sake, not mine, and it looked like he was eager to get it over with.
That made two of us. “I’m ready.”
I gave Cody a small smile and then followed the others out.
Adventure awaited the ballerina and the referee. But exactly what kind of adventure, I didn’t know.
Aaron wishedus luck and parted ways with us at the far end of the quad near the courtyard. There were a couple dozen teams gathered—most in far more elaborate Halloween costumes than we had. But they’d probably had more notice.
Quite a few of the teams were same-sex, likely roommates. I guessed that’s what Diego and I were too, technically.
And then I saw another set of roommates, and my heart sank.
"Oh, crap," I muttered.
Diego, looking oddly authoritative in his referee uniform, raised an eyebrow. "What’s wrong?"
"My friends are over there."
He bit back a laugh. "My god, that’s horrible."
"Stop," I said. "It’s just that... Okay, see that couple over there dressed like Robin Hood and Maid Marian? That’s Tori and Jayden. And Jayden knows every inch of this campus."
Diego studied them. Jayden had on a tunic and green leggings with a bow slung over his shoulder. Tori had on a somewhat old-fashioned looking dress, but it ended above her knee, and she was wearing sneakers. “So that’s the crack team that’s going to beat us?" he asked.
"Yeah."
"They don’t look so tough."
As he said that, Tori looked up—though she couldn’t possibly have heard us—and spotted me. She shrieked, grabbed Jayden’s hand, and pulled him over.
Diego had a pleasant smile on his face as they approached, but suddenly my heart stopped completely, horror filling me.
Tori and Jayden knew who Diego was.
They were the ones who had found me at the party and pulled me off him—otherwise, who knows what might’ve happened.
Panic filled me. Theyknewhe was the guy I made out with.
Oh shit, oh shit, oh shit.
Diego noticed my discomfort. "Hey, we’re just here to have fun. Doesn’t matter if they win, or anyone else."
"Yes, you’re right,’ I said stiffly. As if that’s what I’d been worried about.
Then a glint sparked in Diego’s eye. "Although, if you do want to win, I know the perfect strategy."
The sly grin he gave me cut through some of the panic and made my pulse increase for a different reason.
"We’re not allowed to kill off other teams," I said. “Even if a referee could take out Robin Hood.”
"We’re not going to kill them," he replied. And then he gave me a grin that was downright devious. "We’re going to follow them."
14
DIEGO
