Page 16 of The Prom King & The Ice Queen

He’s silent for a second, his jaw going slack.

I’ve shocked him.

Good. He shocked me too by stepping up and taking the blame.

I stare at the red brick of the house in front of me. Would I have done the same? If Leo hadn’t taken the blame, would I have spoken up to save Vincent from being wrongly accused by Leo’s dad?

Guilt and shame and a million other emotions slither through me, because…I don’t know. I hadn’t decided. I hadn't really been able to think at all while all the drama was unfolding. I’d been reeling in horror and I’d just…

I’d just stood there like an idiot while Leo’s dad pointed the finger at an innocent guy. The only other person at that party whose upbringing might have been as bad as mine.

Would I have come to his rescue?

“Okay then,” Leo drawls in an obnoxious tone. “I mean…you’re welcome? I guess?”

I sag a bit with relief to hear his typical sarcasm and entitled brat voice. It’s far easier to deal with than that concern in his eyes.

Thanks.The word is on the tip of my tongue. I should say it. I know I should. But, man, I hate him so much.

And I know it was April who set me up. I know that. But right now, April and Leo seem like one person. Brittany and Cora, too. And Shane and the other losers in there thinking no one knows that they’re drinking spiked pop?

Yeah, they’re all equally reprehensible. Spoiled rotten, right to the core.

“I told you, you didn’t have to do that,” I say instead of a thanks.

Finally I’m able to whirl around and face him, my chin set high and my eyes blessedly free of tears. “But why did you?”

His brows arch. “Excuse me?”

I swallow hard. I’m being rude, my tone is too aggressive.

Well, tough.

I plant my hands on my hips. “Why…did you…” I draw the words out like he’s a child. “Take. The. Blame?”

He recoils at the patronizing tone, and I can’t say that I blame him. But I’ll take an angry, self-righteous Leo over a concerned, self-righteous Leo any day.

He lets out a huff of amusement as he shakes his head. “Right. Of course. I should’ve known you’d somehow twist this to be my fault.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“It means, heaven forbid the almighty Savannah actually admits that she’s mortal.”

I roll my eyes, my shoulders relaxing even more. This…? This is normal. This is us.

I take a deep breath.

Right now, I’m desperate for normalcy. That had been too close a call. I’d almost lost everything. Including this. Whatever this is.

I sniff and toss the long white hair of my wig. And yes, I am well aware how lame I look in this getup. But I figured out a long time ago that you can own just about anything and make it seem cool.

Or, at least, terrify people enough that they don’t openly laugh at you.

I try not to call attention to my job, but it’s a small town and Leo and his rich friends are some of Mrs. Messner’s best customers. It was easier last year when Mrs. Messner’s son was still in high school. The star football player was one of us, which made it impossible for anyone to laugh.

I think there was a time there when April might’ve even been a little jealous because I got all up-close and personal with the big man on campus thanks to work.

But now Leo is the big man on campus, and…well. Here we are.

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