absolutely make fun of her for kissing up to the queen drama bee as soon as we were alone. What was with her and Rose, anyway?
Did Rose have the same effect on girls? Did she make her friends swoon just like she did with guys?
Was Rose some sort of evil sociopathic genius?
Her gaze returned to mine and she was all sweetness and light as she nibbled on her lower lip.
Okay, probably not an evil genius. Still, she was too charismatic for her own good.
“I was hoping to get your help, too.” She shifted from foot to foot. “I could really use you.”
I straightened, my chest puffing out a bit because—me necessary. Ugh, even my inner voice turned into a caveman when she looked at me like that. “Whatever you need, babe.”
I caught Simone’s sidelong look at my use of the endearment, but Rose didn’t so much as blink.
“Great,” she gushed. “I have big plans for this fair. We’re going to have all kinds of food, and games, and a band—”
“Say no more,” I cut in. “My band would love to perform.”
Her eyes widened. “You have a band?”
Simone let out a squeaking noise as she muffled a laugh and I tried not to let my smile falter. Rose…didn’t know I had a band?
I mean, not to brag but…everyone knew about my band. We were kind of a big deal. For a high school band, at least. We played at the local club and we’d had a demo made and—
“That’s so cool!” She gave my shoulder a playful little smack. “If you want to play at the fair, that’s totally fine by me.”
I blinked because…what just happened? I was the one offering to do her a favor, how come it suddenly sounded like….
Like she was taking pity on me.
“Okay great,” I found myself saying.
“But actually…” She took a step forward. “I was hoping to enlist you and your friends for something else.”
She was doing that thing. I knew she was doing that thing, but that didn’t stop me from playing right into it. “Oh yeah? What’s that?”
She bit her lip like she was shy. Ha! As if Rose could ever be shy.
And yet, even knowing that, I found myself moving toward her as if to help her. Save her from having to say whatever it was she was embarrassed to say. “Whatever it is, we’ll do it.”
Man, this chick was good. Too good.
But I was better, I reminded myself. I knew her games and I was one step ahead of her.
She smiled. “Great. So you and your friends will be in the kissing booth then?” She clapped her hands together like a little kid before I could respond. “That’s awesome. The other girls will be so happy to hear it.”
“Wait, what—”
She leaned forward and kissed my cheek so suddenly, the words died in my throat. The heat of her breath on my cheek, the feel of her soft lips…
I’d have pink lipstick on my cheek, and I didn’t even care because the world stopped turning for the second it took for her to kiss me.
On the cheek, but even so…
She’d kissed me.
And I…
I forgot what we were talking about.
I forgot that this was all part of the game.
I forgot my freakin’ name.
“Thank you so much, you really are a sweetheart.” She patted my cheek and suddenly I was twelve years old.
“Um…” I said, trying to figure out how I could regain the upper hand which I’d somehow lost in spectacular fashion.
“I’ll see you after school?” she said to Simone.
Simone nodded. I didn’t have to look at her to know she was smiling. Simone was loving this.
The traitor.
I almost didn’t recover in time, but I moved forward just as Rose was about to walk away from me looking like a lovestruck fool. “Wait up,” I said as I snagged her hand.
She froze but she didn’t try to pull her hand away. She looked down at it though, like she was confused by what was happening. When she glanced up, her eyes were impossible to read. She was totally blank.
Vapid. Just like I’d said.
“Yes?” she said.
“There’s a party this weekend,” I said. “At Tim’s grandparents’ lake house.”
She blinked. “And?”
Right. Of course she knew that. Tim was one of her conquests who was still stupidly pining away for a round two, no doubt. Of course he’d invited her. “Are you going?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t decided.”
Crap. I didn’t let go of her hand when she tried to turn and walk away. “Let me rephrase that.”
She tilted