Page 70 of Didn't See That Coming

We spend the hour coming up with the game’s poster and overall logistics, and I’m surprised to find Jonas actually participating instead of sitting back and sulking. He still makes remarks like “Can the spacesuit be tighter?” and “What about having the main character be a guy so it would appeal to everyone?” but other than that, he’s not actively trying to impinge on our progress, so I’m taking this as a win.

By the time the period ends, I’m actually in high spirits. I believe in our game design. I’m proud of it. I can’t wait to share it with my classmates.

“Great job, everyone,” Liam says.

Peishan beams at him. I try not to grin as widely as she does. I feel like I’m intruding on a moment between the two ofthem. Jonas wiggles his eyebrows at me, and my smile disappears. God, Saturday cannot come fast enough.

The rest of the week is barely bearable, and only because I am constantly reminding myself that I have just six more days to endure as Jonas’s girlfriend. Then it’s five more days, then four. The girls invite me to go dress shopping, which is a huge surprise because they’d stopped inviting me for coffee. I would’ve said no, because I don’t find the prospect of dolling myself up for Jonas appealing, but Cassie reminds me that Liam is also going to be at the dance, so I might as well look gorgeous.

We go to a local boutique that specializes in gowns. The whole store is luxe, with crystal chandeliers hanging from the high ceilings, illuminating satiny gowns and soft chiffon dresses. Triss and Zoelle squeal and immediately start going through the racks. I linger behind, because even the sight of these beautiful dresses isn’t enough to take my mind off the fact that my date is—ugh—Jonas. I notice that Peishan isn’t diving in either. In fact, she’s looking at me and biting her lower lip. Uh-oh.

“Hey, Kiki,” she says.

I immediately start sweating. “Yeah?” Did that come out as easygoing as I hope it did?

“Um, I just wanted to apologize again for how I treated you when you first moved to Xingfa.” Her mouth presses into a thin line for a second. “I was kind of a bitch to you.”

“What? No, you weren’t.”

“Kind of. But you turned out to be pretty cool, and a great friend. And thanks to you, we came up with a project I actually like.”

“You mean you weren’t into Jonas’s big-boobed, gun-toting main character?” I joke.

Peishan laughs. “It was awful! But see, I questioned myself too much. I thought—well, I don’t play games. Jonas does. So he’d know better what the audience wants. But now I know to trust my instincts more. And I have you to thank for that. So. Thanks.”

I manage to choke out, “No worries.” Guilt and gratitude fight for space in my gut. On one hand, I’m so happy that we’re sharing this moment. On the other hand, I feel so freaking guilty, because we like the same guy and she doesn’t know it. I can’t deal with the guilt, so I break eye contact abruptly and take her hand, leading her to the nearest rack. I grab an emerald-green dress, almost at random, and say, “I think this would look amazing on you.” Fortunately, the dress turns out to actually be really great—a knee-length satin number in a rich shade of green that contrasts beautifully with Peishan’screamy pale skin.

Peishan’s eyes widen. “Ooh, that is gorgeous.” She sighs happily. “I’m so excited. This is the first year my parents are actually letting me go. The past few years, they said I was too young to go to a dance with”—she lowers her voice dramatically—“boys.”

I place my hand over my heart in mock horror. “With boys! What next?”

“I know, right?” She laughs. “They’re always, like, ‘Nextthing you know, you’re a pregnant teen and have made all of us lose face!’ I do love that they have so little faith in me.”

“I wouldn’t take it personally. They sound like every Chinese Indo parent I know.”

“Yeah.” She sighs. “Anyway, have you found a dress yet?”

I shrug. Now that I’m actually talking to Peishan, it feels slimy to want a pretty dress to charm Liam. “I’ll probably just borrow something from my mom.”

“Does she have an entire closet full of custom-made dresses that she wore once for a wedding and then never wore again?”

“Yes! Exactly.” Mami’s closet is bursting with beautiful, expensive gowns that she can never wear again because being seen in the same dress twice would make us lose face.

“Well, you’re going to look amazing, I’m sure,” Peishan says. “Jonas is going to die.”

“If only,” I mutter. Then I feel bad for being so evil. “I mean, figuratively.”

She laughs, then hesitates. “Um, what’s going on with that, by the way? I mean, I totally respect your dating choices, but how did you and Jonas get together?”

My breath releases in a hiss. Oh god, how do I explain this? I give her a stupid little smile and say, “It was just one of those things, haha.” Lord, do I ever hate this situation that I’m in.

Luckily, Peishan just nods and moves on. “Come on, I’m gonna try this on. You’ll have to tell me if it looks good ornot.”

I smile weakly, feeling like the world’s biggest shit. Just three more days, I remind myself. Then, even if I can’t bring myself to tell Liam how I feel, I would at least shake off Jonas, which is definitely not nothing.

CHAPTER 18

Mami insists on taking eight billion pictures of me and Jonas, clucking over how “dashing” and “princely” he looks in his tux. I mean, I would have to be blind not to admit that Jonas does look really good in a tux. His hair is slicked back, and the tux highlights his broad shoulders and strong jaw. It’s kind of hard not to admire the whole effect. Not that it changes the snake he is underneath the good looks and the expensive outfit.

---