wasn’t supposed to with someone not approved,” I answer in a riddle.
Arden grins scandalously. “Oh, you’re fun. I can tell already.”
“She is,” Ashton agrees with a conspiratorial smile. “This year’s going to be cra-zy!”
“As long as we don’t get caught,” I add, the dread in my tone in complete contrast to their animated expressions.
“Don’t you worry about that,” Arden assures me with a wink. “Anyway, I have a couple days free before the first committee meeting. After that, I’ll be completely consumed with Ball prep. So let’s have a party tomorrow.”
Ashton’s eyes light up. “Where?”
“Here. In my room. I know for a fact that Mrs. Seyer will be visiting her ill mother and won’t return until Tuesday.”
“That is perfect!” Ashton nudges me. “See, I told you. SoCom gets access to all the info.”
It takes me a second to understand what SoCom means, but then I attempt to think like Ashton and get that she abbreviated social committee.
“Has your costume arrived for the Ball yet?” Arden asks us.
“Mine will be here next week,” Ashton gloats, her face lighting up. I smile awkwardly when they wait for me to answer. Ashton rolls her eyes. “You haven’t found one yet, have you?”
I shift uncomfortably. “Nope.”
“Please tell me you at least asked Grant to go with you?” Ashton’s eyes grow round, horrified, when I only shrug.
This piques Arden’s curiosity. “Oh. Is this the unapproved someone?”
Before I can utter a word, Ashton gushes, “Prince Philip is the most amazing human being ever created. He’s super nice. Thoughtful. Brilliant. And truly beautiful. And he just happens to be in love with our angry little pixie here.”
She pats me on the head. I glower and swat her hand away.
“Really?” Arden grins wider, completely enthralled. “And you love him too?”
“Uh …” I stand suddenly. “What time are you thinking tomorrow?”
“Where are you going?” Ashton demands, grabbing my hand to keep me from escaping. “Stop being weird.” She explains to Arden, “She has this thing about feelings. She won’t talk about them. Sometimes, she forgets to express them … the happy ones anyway.”
I dislodge my hand from her grip, annoyed. I just met this girl. She doesn’t need to know everything. “Ashton.”
Arden giggles. “Oh, sorry to have spooked you, Lana. But please stay. I promise to stop with the questions. We’ll search for the perfect costume.” Arden removes a tablet from a bag under the table. “Let’s find something that lets everyone know exactly who you are. Your inside worn on the outside.”
Intrigued, I decide to sit back down. Ashton squeals when she pulls up site after site of ideas that cost more than my entire wardrobe.
“I love that you have internet privileges!” Then she notices my ashen face. “Don’t even worry about the cost. My parents have got you covered. Girl, we’re going to make you look fierce!”
Two hours later, they are so very proud of themselves. And for the first time, I may possibly be looking forward to this stupid dance. Except now I need to figure out how to ask Grant to go with me in a non-public way.
Where’s your phone?” Brendan asks, sitting next to me in the dining hall before anyone else arrives.
“Why? Were you not able to find me on your stalker map?” I ask with a smug grin, proud of myself for stumping Brendan with my tinfoil Faraday cage.
He rolls his eyes. “What did you do to the phone, Lana?”
“Hid it from you. Sorry if you don’t know my every move. We may have called a kind of truce, but it doesn’t mean I trust you.”
“You can’t hide from me,” he says, leaning in so we’re eye-level. “I know where you live.” He stares at me with an arrogant smirk, and his eyes glint with mirth.
I shove him just as he bursts out laughing.
“Seriously, Princess. You need to stop being so paranoid.”
“Please don’t make her hate you more than she already does,” Ashton pleads, taking a seat across from us. “She’s my best friend. And you’re my … anyway, it would make me sad if you two killed each other.”
Arden sits next to her. “Who hates who?” Then she takes in my simmering expression and Brendan’s gloating face. “Oh, I get it. Sibling rivalry.”
Ashton laughs so hard, she snorts. “They’re … not …” She can’t finish as she bends over, holding her stomach.
Brendan raises his brows, impressed. I gape like a fish.
Arden leans over while Ashton’s still preoccupied, trying not to fall off her chair. She whispers, “Sorry. Didn’t realize it was