Page 35 of Ruthless Rose

Chapter 21

On our way out of the cafeteria Wednesday afternoon, Scarlett, Max, and I get waylaid by a wall of cheerleaders blocking our exit. This causes a backup of immense proportions, not to mention draws a ton of attention to us, considering there are only two sets of doors out to the hallway. I cringe, silently praying for them to let us through and leave us alone.

No such luck. Our classmates pile up behind us and have begun to wonder aloud what on earth is going on. And the second they sense drama about to unfold, everyone pauses. No one is going anywhere now, despite the fact that there is another exit.

From beside me, Scarlett huffs out a breath as she locks eyes with Aria. “Could you let us through? We’re going to be late for class.”

One look up at Max and I see he’s scowling pretty hard, trying to assess what’s happening here and how we can make our escape. I take a half step to the side, partially hiding myself behind him.

Because I’m totally silent. I wish I were invisible. I don’t want any part of this. None at all. I’d rather tunnel through the floor at my feet and dig my way underneath them than find out what they want. What Alora wants, if I’m not mistaken, though she hasn’t said anything yet.

Aria and Scarlett are still studying each other when Scarlett raises her voice to be heard over the commotion developing behind us. “Look, I don’t know what the problem is, but could you call off your dogs, please?”

Aria’s eyes glitter with some unknown emotion, then she flicks her long blonde ponytail behind her as she looks all of us over. Her brow quirks up as her gaze shifts to Alora. With an eye roll, she refocuses on Scarlett. “I don’t control them. Peace out.” She makes an abrupt about-face, sashaying away and leaving several of the cheerleaders looking after her, confused. There’s a good amount of anxious rumbling through their group and even more noise from the crowd of students behind us.

Alora crosses her arms over her ample chest, sniffing like she smells something terrible. “You know what’s coming up, Daphne?”

My head whips up, my hand clutching the sleeve of Max’s blazer as I peek around him. With as much confidence as I can muster, I firmly say, “I don’t, and I’m guessing I probably don’t care.”

One of the girls to the left of Alora gives a startled laugh, surprised at my tone, if I have to guess.

“Who’s your date to homecoming?” When I don’t immediately answer, she smirks and continues, “Tickets are on sale this week—which you’d know if you’d been at the committee meeting. I guess you’ll have to buy your own and go all by your lonesome, sorry, little self.”

My mind whirs. She’s right. I don’t have a date to homecoming—but that’s because I’d never intended to go in the first place. Honestly, it never even crossed my mind. It’s not my scene. “I—”

Max puts his arm around me, resting his hand on my hip. “She won’t be buying her own ticket because I’ve already asked her to be my date.”

I look up at him with a soft smile, not even surprised in the slightest at the blatant lie that fell from his lips. Max always comes to my rescue. I blow out a relieved breath. No one would dare accuse him of telling an untruth. He’s one of those guys who is genuinely likeable. And there’s one thing I’ve known since the first week I arrived at Rosehaven Academy: Max always, always has my back.

It doesn’t hurt that he’s five foot ten and seriously nice to look at with wavy sandy-brown hair and dreamy hazel eyes. He’s not quite as brawny as the football playing crowd, but he can hold his own. And the most laughable part is that if Alora thought he had any interest in her at all, she’d be all over him.

She looks him up and down. Her lips twist as she aims her sick smile at me. Not a single person says a word as she considers which needle to jab into me next. “So, the only guy willing to go with you is Max? I’m sure there are a few people who will be disappointed that he didn’t ask them instead. Tell us, do you have a teeny, tiny dick that he’s interested in, Double D?”

There are a few murmurs and stifled laughs behind us. We stand stock-still, a united front, Scarlett and Max lending their support on either side.

Scarlett gives Alora a disgusted look. “You’re honestly the biggest bitch I’ve ever met. Daphne’s never done anything to you.”

Alora shrugs and narrows her eyes on me. “Well, good for you, Daphne. At least you’re going to the dance. I have to say, I’m kind of impressed. I thought you’d be spending the night alone with your books and, you know, maybe a cat.” She wets her lip, her eyes boring right into mine. “I guess I’ll see you there. Micah asked me last night.”

My throat goes as dry as the desert and my heart takes a tumble into my stomach. He left me at the coffee shop to ask her to homecoming?

Scarlett snorts, shaking her head. She gives me a reassuring look. I can tell by the set of her jaw, she’s about to go to war for me, and she’ll do it gladly.

But if there’s one thing I know, I can’t let her. I have to fight my own battles. I hold my hand up to Scarlett and cock my head to the side, studying Alora. I put on the best damn act I can. “What about Beau? How exactly do you, Farrah, and Danica decide who gets which guy for the night? Does the short straw have to stay home like a loser? Is one of the guys going to take turns with more than one date?” Fuck, maybe I should have joined the drama club.

Scarlett covers her mouth, a laugh bursting from between her lips. Max hugs me to his side and winks.

The crowd of students behind me snicker. Apparently, more than one of them has wondered the same thing.

Alora holds her head high, but daggers shoot from her eyes as she says, “I can only speak for myself, but Micah and I always attend events like this together. You can ask him. He’s right back there.”

Slowly, I turn my head just enough to see Micah furiously whispering something to Beau. When he sees me looking in his direction, he straightens up before running a hand through his hair. With a shake of his head, he stalks toward Alora, grabs her by the arm, and pushes through the doors behind them.

The look he throws me on the way out the door seems … almost apologetic.

Max tucks his head down next to mine. “You okay?”

I nod. “She’s such a—”

“Cunt.” Scarlett clamps her lips together for a second. “I hate that word, but that’s exactly what she is.”

Max nods in agreement. “But you won that round.”

“Did I?” She’s going with Micah to homecoming. Part of me wants to throw up. Another part wonders why it bothers me so much. And the final part knows exactly why.

I wish he’d asked me.

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