Empire High Elite (Empire High #2) - Ivy Smoak Page 0,114

my heart. He looked so sad when he said James wasn’t his friend. “But it wasn’t him either.”

Matt made a farting noise with his mouth.

“Put that away, I’m trying to talk to you.” I tapped on his tongue, which just made him lick my hand. “Matt!”

“Brooklyn!” he said in a high-pitched voice that probably matched my own.

I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing. Which just made him laugh too. Which somehow ended up with him pressing his lips to mine. For just a second we stood like that. Remembering what it felt like to be us. But then he proceeded to make the farting noise again against my mouth.

“Hey.” Mason wrapped his arms around Matt’s shoulders, pulling him away from me. “I think I should get you home before you start doing something embarrassing like making farting noises against your girlfriend’s mouth.” He winked at me.

“But I was just talking to Brooklyn. I need another minute.”

“Trust me,” Mason said. “You’ve probably done enough talking. Let’s get you home.”

Matt nodded. “Okay. I’ll see you tomorrow, Brooklyn. Don’t sleep with someone dumb tonight. I love you.”

I laughed. “I love you too.” The words fell out of me. I meant them. I did. I just wasn’t sure why my chest ached when I said them.

Matt smiled at me over his shoulder as Mason walked him toward the ballroom doors. “You are not my dirty little secret!” he sang as Mason opened the door. Mason elbowed him in the ribs to make him stop which just made both of them laugh.

I wanted to go after them. I wanted to go to sleep in Matt’s arms and tell him everything I’d done wrong. All the mistakes I’d made. I wanted a fresh start.

But Kennedy bumped into me, almost toppling us both over. I grabbed her to steady her on her feet. Mason would take care of Matt. And I needed to get Kennedy home. But where the hell was Miller?

Chapter 36

Saturday

“I’m sleepy,” Kennedy said with a huge yawn. But she continued twirling in a circle. It looked like she was going to fall over.

“I know.” I grabbed her around the waist to try to support her. “I think we should call it a night. Let’s go find Miller so he can take us back to the Pruitts’.” I looked over toward the doors. Seriously, had he gone on a walk or something? I thought he’d be right back.

“You can catch a ride with me, chicas,” Isabella said. “Kennedy taught me that fun word.”

Kennedy laughed. “The elephants are coming!”

“The elephants are coming!” Isabella yelled back.

What the hell do they keep going on about elephants for? It didn’t make any sense. The elephants weren’t even our mascot. I hated that Kennedy had an inside joke with Isabella. The thought of the two of them being friends made me feel sick to my stomach.

“I was just heading out anyway,” Isabella said. “I pronounce this dance officially dead. Let’s all go home and hang out there instead.”

Hang out? As in the three of us? That sounded like my worst nightmare. Isabella had her own friends. Why was she trying to steal mine?

“Yes!” Kennedy said and stumbled forward.

Isabella grabbed the other side of her to keep her up straight.

“It’s okay, Isabella,” I said. “I got her. We’re gonna go find Miller.”

“Don’t worry about Miller. Donnelley will drive us home. And I’ll have him text Miller and let him know you’re safe with me.”

Safe and Isabella weren’t two words that made sense in the same sentence. “I don’t know…”

“Come on, it’ll be fun,” Isabella said and started walking toward the doors, dragging Kennedy and me with her. “We can stop for milkshakes. I know how much Kennedy loves milkshakes.”

“Oh, I do love milkshakes!” Kennedy said. “They bring all the boys to the yard.”

“That’s one of my favorite songs!” Isabella said.

“Me too!” Kennedy squealed. “Kelis is a lyrical genius. I bet she’s going to have a million more hits.”

“Absolutely,” Isabella said.

I hated this. I hated tonight. I hated the fact that I didn’t know Kennedy loved milkshakes or Kelis songs. And that I didn’t know what the elephants are coming meant. “Really,” I said as we pushed through the ballroom doors. “We’re just going to look for Miller. I’m sure he’s here somewhere.” I looked both ways down the hall, hoping Miller would just be leaning against one of the walls, but he was nowhere in sight.

“But milkshakes,” Isabella said.

Kennedy turned toward me. “Please, Brooklyn. I really want a milkshake.” She