suspicion within our audience. But it was futile. My muscles were frozen in shock.
His lips were sweet and firm, warm and in control.
Stealing my first kiss.
I took a step back, my mind finally winning over my body—the part that was secretly indulging in the feeling of his lips against mine.
William looked just as shocked as I did. His hands reached out to stop me; I hadn’t even registered that I was already walking backward. This would look terrible for our image, but I just needed to get away. Rage began to fill me so deeply that my breathing came in gasps.
I didn’t know what to do. I didn’t have anyone to confide in. Monica wasn’t here. She couldn’t hold me and tell me it would be okay. I paced mindlessly down the hall, wanting to cry out in frustration at the things I’d done just to get in with Level One.
I finally passed the door to the study. Inside, it was eerily quiet. I closed the door behind me, sliding one of the wooden chairs beneath its handle to ensure William wouldn’t follow me. My lips still tasted sweet as my tongue ran over them.
This wasn’t supposed to happen. I felt used and hurt. Despite how much time we’d spent together, how much we’d talked about, he chose her over me. Despite never agreeing to a kiss, he still took one from me to make her jealous.
He still stole my first kiss to hurt her.
Forgetting the makeup lining my eyes, I wiped a hand over them in frustration and buried my fingers in my hair. My head was aching. On top of that, my sobering mind was beginning to process exactly what I’d done. The possible hell I’d subjected Stephanie Griffith to.
Looking up, I saw a glint in the darkness. A sparkling pouch on the desk.
Opening it revealed the deck of cards Lola had offered to us earlier. She must have left it in here after she and Francis argued. I began sifting through them, my eyes barely making out the writing.
Remove a piece of clothing for each time someone asks you for a selfie
Double-tap on your crush’s Instagram photo from at least two years ago
Collect a Richmond Prep boy’s nudes
Seduce someone’s boyfriend/girlfriend. Bonus points for pics.
I pulled out my phone from my purse and began snapping each one, the flash lighting up each piece of evidence captured. On their own, they were useless. There was no link to prove they actually belonged to Lola Davenport. But if I collected enough damning evidence, it would contribute to Level One’s downfall.
I returned the pouch to where Lola had left it, before ordering an Uber, ready to be as far from this party as possible.
Sunday was spent in my room surrounded by textbooks and blasting my favorite music through my headphones, fast guitar riffs and loud vocals. It helped drown out my thoughts. I didn’t know what happened to Lola after I left, or her reaction to William’s grab for her attention.
It kept playing through my mind, the feeling of his lips on mine, one of his hands raised to my cheek, his fingers lingering in the roots of my hair while the other held my waist. His overwhelming scent and the heat of his body still felt as if it was enveloping me.
And on top of that, the most trivial, unnecessary thought of all: What did he think of it? Did he feel the same pull toward me that I had felt toward him? Or were his thoughts dominated by Lola?
What bothered me most was that tomorrow I’d have no choice but to resume normality. I knew this wouldn’t be easy, but I hadn’t anticipated that William Bishop would cause so much trouble.
Facing him was inevitable, but for now I could ignore him. Well, until my phone chimed on my bedside table.
I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean for it to happen.
No, I thought in response, but didn’t type. Just leave me alone.
Instead, I pushed aside the weakness of my feelings and reminded myself of my plan.
Don’t forget what’s at stake here, William.
Almost instantly, he responded.
I’ll make it up to you. I promise.
I shoved my phone away, needing a day to stop pretending. To just be me. I didn’t go to the gym or plan my outfits for the week like New Chloe would have been doing to keep her place on Level One. Instead, I abandoned my homework and headed downtown, strolling the streets and window-shopping. The more I walked, killing