Page 75 of Enemies to Prom Dates
I sent none of them. Just the first one.
Me:Hey what’s up?
And the appropriate follow up.
Me:Hey did you get my text?
Anything beyond that and I would just appear desperate. I would not be desperate for Fitz. I would not allow him to hold that much power over me.
Last Friday night I’d been planning to go to a party with him. Last Friday night he’d been kissing me in the front seat of his car and saying all these suggestive things.
This Friday night I was most likely going to end up alone in my bedroom, purposefully stopping myself from crying by pinching my thigh every time I imagined his stupid fat face coming closer to kiss me.
I slammed my locker as hard as I could with absolutely no satisfaction.
“Fuck,” I muttered.
“I’ll say. We’ve got a new problem.”
I turned my head and saw Reen leaning against the lockers beside me, looking at me with a very serious expression. I pressed my forehead against the cold metal door and closed my eyes because I was just…tired. Tired of all the problems that didn’t ever seem to stop. How much more was I supposed to handle?
Because it really felt I was failing in everything. I couldn’t convince my mother to face reality. Lydia was on the prowl for someone to relieve her of her virginity. Girls were still being emotionally destroyed because of the stupid Freshman Bait List and Fitz…
Fitz was gone. Or so it seemed.
“What now?” I asked. Then I forced myself to stand tall and stiffen my spine. Cowering from whatever it was, wasn’t going to work. The only option was to face it head on.
“You’re on the list,” Reen whispered, leaning in closer.
“What list?” I asked stupidly.
“The. List.”
I blinked a few times. “You’re joking.”
Her lips pressed together. “I’m not. And worse, I think Locke has known about this for a while. He gave me this cryptic clue…anyway it took longer than it should have for me to get someone to fork over the information. I had to flirt with an actual sophomore. So beneath my talents of seduction, but he cracked like an egg. Your name got added to the list after you showed up at the party with Fitz. They’re taking bets on when you’re going to give up your virginity.”
I laughed. Actually laughed. Because last Friday there might have been an actual chance of that happening. But now?
“Wait,” I stopped her. “You said Locke knows this.”
“Yes, the little shit. He wasn’t willing to tell me directly but gave me enough information to start looking for it. It’s like he’s testing me.”
I did a little deduction of my own. Last Friday Fitz was pursuing me full throttle. Then suddenly, my name is added to a betting list. Our last text exchange was Sunday night then by Monday…suddenly, poof. He’s gone.
“That jerk!” I shouted.
“Technically we don’t know who’s behind this, but it’s a pretty good bet Wick wasn’t happy to have his nose caved back into his face. Fitz took you to that party, so Wick might see you as a way to get back at him.”
“I didn’t mean Wick,” I muttered. “But it doesn’t matter. This calls for a new plan of action.”
“What are you going to do?”
Hmm. What was I going to do? Then I smiled.
“Beat them at their own game. But first, I have a little business I have to take care of.”
* * *
