Page 48 of Tell Me Softly
“When you were little, you were obsessed with her.I want to be a grand duchess, you used to say. You even made us call you Anastasia one whole summer.”
It was true. Blame Meg Ryan: she did the voice of Anastasia in the movie, and I used to want to watch it over and over. I got mad when someone told me it was mostly made up and that the real Anastasia had been murdered along with her whole family in an attack by the Bolsheviks.
“If you want, I could help,” he whispered in my ear.
“I doubt you’d really be much help.”
“Hey, I know all kinds of stuff about Anastasia. Like howmost of her servants hated her because they said she was picky and annoying.”
“That’s a lie,” I responded softly. “Lots of them said she was brilliant and she made jokes that used to crack everyone up.”
“She was a spoiled brat.”
“She was different.”
“Is that what you used to tell yourself when you’d cry because we wanted to play one game and you wanted to play another?”
It was true. My tantrums had been legendary, even if I’d never admit that aloud.
“Are you callingmespoiled, then?”
“I’m calling you precious.”
His answer surprised me, and he knew it. And because it was dark and nobody would see, Taylor reached over, grabbed a lock of my hair, and tugged it softly. He whispered to me again, but his tone had changed—it was deeper, more intense, more bewitching.
“Since yesterday, I haven’t been able to stop thinking about that kiss we almost shared, Kami. I want you…” His lips were so close to my neck, I started to tremble.
I thought of how he looked at me, how he had always protected me as a kid, and I knew he was someone who would never hurt me, who would take care of me and make me happy. I knew it—I could feel it in my heart. He was the same guy as always, the guy who always made me feel safe.
“Taylor…” I began, but I had no idea what in the hell I was supposed to say. And I didn’t get the change to formulate the words because he kissed me before I could stop him.
I felt a tingle inside like champagne bubbles. He felt strong, resolute. Before I knew it, we were making out in the middle of class, with everyone around us and the teacher just a few feet away. And each kiss stretched on like an eternity…
He reached between my legs, and I trapped his hand with mythighs, grabbing his shoulders and pulling him close. His tongue twisted around mine. I could hardly breathe as his fragrance overwhelmed me. I couldn’t believe it. I was kissing Taylor Di Bianco. So many things passed through my head just then: my mother, his mother, how we were friends, my ex, Taylor’s brother…
“Fuck,” I murmured as his lips glided over mine and his hand rubbed my thigh. I tried to stop him before it got out of hand, but before I could, the lights came on and the teacher was standing there staring at us.
“Taylor and Kamila, go straight to the principal’s office.”
Shit.
Chapter Eighteen
Taylor
We just stared at the principal with no idea what to say. He’d been pissed about the fight, but that was nothing compared to this. I thought he was going to lose his mind.
“This is unacceptable!” he shouted for the third time.
I glanced over at Kami and tried as hard as I could not to laugh. She was glowing red. I nodded. But I’d already said I was sorry and didn’t know what more I could do. So I repeated myself: “We’re sorry, sir. It won’t happen again. I promise.”
“I should expel you two,” he said, tapping his pen against his desk. “But first, I’m going to talk to your parents. At the least, you’re looking at another week of detention. If I wasn’t worried about this having unfair consequences for your classmates, I’d be overjoyed to tell you both not to go to Falls Church this weekend. But I’m serious: one more screwup and you’re out of here. I’m not kidding. I’ve heard you say you want to go to Yale, Miss Hamilton, and Mr. Di Bianco, you told me you want to go to Harvard. Well, I can promise you both can kiss those dreams goodbye if you mess up again.”
Kami was terrified. I could sense it, but I didn’t want to lookover at her. I ground my teeth and looked straight ahead. That was a low blow, him talking about where I wanted to go to college. I should never have said it, and I had to suppress the urge to tell him where he could stick his threats.
“Now get out,” the principal said, turning to a document he was working on and not even looking up at us.
I opened the door and let Kami through first. Once we were in the hall, the first thing she said was, “Harvard?” She stopped me, seemingly unable to believe it.
