Chapter 6

The next day, Victor texts and calls me no less than fifty times. I end up having to turn my phone off just so I can focus on trying to find a dress without being distracted every ten seconds.

Slater got too close yesterday. The fact that he hasn’t spoken to me in years, and everything he said to me last night sounded like an accusation. If he knows something, then do other people know as well?

I’ve never even had a boyfriend. Any guy who ever showed interest in the past usually bailed after a few days, once they realized I was super unpopular. I once wondered if Slater was scaring them off, but he’s been gone a couple of years, and there’s still virtually zero interest.

I might not be dating Victor, but I do know that he’s being a little overbearing today. I shake away all of my chaotic thoughts to focus on what I’m doing instead.

This is the fifth dress I’ve tried on, but I’m in love. It’s short, black, and simple. The satin material feels good against my skin, and I won’t need to wear a bra. I do a little spin, grinning like a crazy person. I actually have the money to pay for it too.

Guilt squeezes my chest. I make a mental note to call Victor once I get home. Or at least text him back. I should thank him for the dress money. I would never have been able to come shopping like this without his help. And maybe he’s just calling me because he’s desperate to apologize for last night. He didn’t seem like himself after all.

I snap a quick selfie in case Victor asks to see what his money bought, but hopefully he won’t, and it can be a surprise at the dance. It’ll look better if he can get the full effect with my hair and makeup done anyway.

After I show Lizzy the dress and get her enthusiastic seal of approval, we check out, then head to the food court to grab something to eat before we hunt for heels. I already found the pair I want online, but I need to eat before we continue shopping, just in case Lizzy ends up trying on a thousand pairs.

As soon as we sit, I see Slater walk in with some guys from our school. I didn’t know he was still friends with high schoolers. He’s got an angry look on his face as they walk through the food court, but I notice most of the people he’s with look perfectly happy. Normal. Nicer than the guys he hung around with in school anyway.

I turn away, shaking my head. Lizzy knows he and I used to be friends, but we don’t talk about it anymore. She’s not his biggest fan, and I don’t like bringing up that particular heartache. I won’t lie. I absolutely had a crush on him when he was fourteen, but that completely disappeared when he started to treat me like shit when I joined him at Valley High School.

“Hey Liz,” some jock calls as he walks up to the table, a flirty smile on his face. “You got a date to the dance next weekend?”

Lizzy smiles brightly, but nods her head. “Sorry, but I do.” The smile falls off his face, and he frowns at her.

“Who?” he demands, and I lift a brow at my best friend. This guy sounds awfully jealous. I assumed that they knew each other, but that sounded…possessive.

“Cora.” She nods, and the jock, who I recognize from school, but can’t remember his name, scoffs.

“Cora?” he asks, and Lizzy nods, smiling sweetly. He stands there for a moment, staring at her, clearly thinking something over. “Yo, Jessy!” the jock shouts, and I cringe, because it draws the attention of Slater and his group of friends. Jessy is apparently one of said friends. He jogs over alone, but as soon as Slater sees me, he follows his friend.

Fuck.

“What’s up?” Jessy asks, when he reaches the table.

“Lizzy and Cora are going to the dance together. You wanna go with me, and then the four of us can double-date?” The jock winks at Lizzy, who blushes, and now both of my eyebrows go up. She clearly likes this guy, but she’s never mentioned him to me.

“Sure,” Jessy shrugs, looking at me, and smiling. “I like the quiet ones.”

It makes my skin crawl.

“That’s a fucking weird thing to say,” I grumble, but he seems unfazed, until he frowns at something behind me.

“He likes the quiet girls, because they’re always so much louder when you fuck them,” Slater says, stepping up behind me. “Fuck off, Jessy,” he snaps, and I’m a little surprised when he does just that. Jessy shrugs again, and hustles off.

“The four of us will go,” Slater announces, and the jock, who remains nameless, grins.

“You sure you wanna take the virgin to the dance, man? She’s not gonna put out.” The jock smirks, but Lizzy wastes no time slapping the shit out of his arm. She stands up, pointing her finger at the blond-haired man, and glares furiously.

“Let’s get one thing straight, Andrew. If you ever talk badly about Cora again, I will never go out with you. She’s my best friend, and I love her like a sister. No guy has ever come between us, and you certainly won’t be the first. Watch what you say about her!” Lizzy snaps, sitting back in her chair. I smile. Andrew, apparently, seems sufficiently chastised.

“Shit, my bad. I didn’t mean anything by it, I just…”

“Say really rude shit sometimes?” Lizzy offers, and Andrew nods.

“Yeah, sorry Cora.” He looks me in the eyes as he says it, and I get the sense he actually means it.

“Now go buy her an ice cream cone. Her favorite flavor is strawberry. I’ll take chocolate.” Lizzy points to the ice cream shop across the way, and I hold in a laugh.

“You’ll never get rid of him now,” Slater smirks, as he watches his friend walk off. “He’s got a thing for girls who boss him around and take charge.”

“As long as he isn’t a dick to Cora, I don’t mind the attention.”

“Thanks for sticking up for me, even if he was right,” I grumble, and Lizzy rolls her eyes.

“There’s nothing wrong with saving yourself for the right guy and the right time.”

“Nothing wrong at all.” Slater is still standing there, so I get out of the chair and tell Lizzy I’ll be right back, before I drag Slater away. I can’t believe he just casually joined in the conversation about my virginity like that!

“What the fuck?” I demand, but Slater shrugs. “No, not good enough. You ghost me for years, and then all of a sudden you’re, what? Stalking me?” I demand, and Slater smirks.

“Not all of a sudden.” He lifts a brow, which only makes me frown more.

“What does that even mean?” My mouth gapes open, and Slater steps into me. We’re so close, but not touching. Close enough that I catch the scent of his cologne and have to resist taking a deep breath. He smells really good. Nothing at all like…I shut those thoughts down, quick.

“What does it sound like?” His voice is low and challenging. Daring me to say it. To say what I’m thinking. Accuse him of something completely insane.

“It sounds like you’re trying to say you’ve been stalking me for a while,” I snap, really hating whatever game this is supposed to be.

“It’s more like I’ve been keeping an eye on you. Less stalking.” His words surprise me, and I just stare at him.

“I don’t know what to say to that,” I admit, and he shrugs once again.

“Nothing to be said, Cora. I just got tired of sitting back and watching.”

“Well, I don’t want you back in my life,” I insist, even though that feels like a lie as I cross my arms over my chest and glare at him.

“I didn’t ask what you wanted,” he replies with a sinister grin.

With that, Slater walks away back to his friends, and I’m left more confused than ever.