Stuck With The Four Hotties

The Monday after our trip into town is Parents’ Week.

Dad shows up as usual, but he’s skinnier than when I last saw him, and he’s definitely got less hair. That stresses me out to no end, but I push through the emotions, spending as much time with him as I can, having picnics in the gardens, inviting him to watch the cheerleading routine we’ve been working on, and letting him listen to the harp solo I’ve been practicing.

He gives the boys wary looks, but he doesn’t say anything, and I do my best to show him that I’m doing okay here, that I’m happy.

We steer clear of the ex-Bluebloods and their families. It’s not hard, considering I’ve got Kathleen Cabot around most of the time, making conversation with Dad, and generally putting up a barrier of don’t mess with me vibes. The woman is a legend, and the richest person at the school. Nobody bothers her.

For the third year in a row, Zayd’s dad doesn’t come. He seems resigned to it at this point, but I make an effort to invite him to spend some time with me and Charlie. What’s really interesting is that William Vanderbilt doesn’t show up either. I would’ve thought he’d be here, harassing his son.

“He’s probably thinking of the best way to punish me,” Tristan says with a scowl, his hands tightening into fists. He stares toward the front of the property, gray eyes dark with anger. If William treated his son so poorly before, when he was more or less doing what he wanted, what’s going to happen now?

My heart aches for Tristan, but I’m not sure what, exactly, I can do.

William Vanderbilt is a billionaire-or former billionaire if the rumors about the family’s money running out are true-and I’m just a high school student with a notebook, a list of rules, and a crush.

On Friday, we attend the big game, and this time, I don’t sabotage Zack, I cheer him on. He carries Burberry Prep to their greatest victory of the season, and a chance at the playoffs. When he comes off the field, all sweaty and streaked with dirt, throws his arms around me and kisses me in front of everyone, I let him.

That’s how the rumors start.

By Halloween, they’re full-blown.

“Your name, with the word slut, is scrawled all over the bathroom mirrors,” Miranda says, chucking the lid of her shoe box against the wall in frustration. “I used the emergency line to report the graffiti, but Ms. Felton says the staff is already aware of it, and that they’re actively working to clean it up. When I challenged her and said that, no, I was just in there, and they weren’t, she told me that it’s in every single student restroom on campus.”

Miranda huffs, and throws back sheets of shiny white-blond hair over her shoulders. She’s so mad that she’s shaking.

I’m almost disturbingly calm, examining my outfit as it sparkles on the bed.

I’m going as bubblegum this year. Yep, literal chewing gum. Doesn’t sound so glamorous until you see the pink sparkly dress, shimmery silver heels with little gum wrapper bows, and the fancy hair piece I made from craft supplies the boys and I gathered in town.

“Why aren’t you freaking out about this?” she asks as Lizzie uses a flat- iron to straighten her curly hair. She decided to go as a banana, but like, a sexy banana because, come on, we’ve been over this before. Remember Mean Girls?

Lizzie’s got on a tight, yellow jumpsuit that clings to her curves. We all worked together on the group costumes, so the top has these folds of soft yellow fabric that come down like the top of a peel. She has banana earrings on, and big yellow wedge heels with white polka dots.

“Because that’s what Harper and Co. want?” I suggest, exhaling as I fluff the wrapper-covered purse that I made. I used an intact piece of big pink bubble gum for the clasp. That, and I’ve made a little ‘corsage’ out of weaving silver wrappers together. To complete the look, I did my makeup in

bright, sparkling pinks, and drew a huge pink circle next to my mouth, as if I’m permanently blowing a bubble.

For Miranda, we decided on ‘sexy watermelon’-I know, I know, bear with me-and her outfit is freaking precious. She’s got a tight red dress on with a green hem, and little black seeds dotted across it. There’s a ‘bite’ out of the right hip that shows off her skin underneath.

Andrew ended up choosing to be a chocolate bar, but then he also turned it into drag. He’s wearing a dress with an asymmetrical brown top and a silver skirt that’s ruffled to look like the wrapper’s been pulled down. Honestly, it’s pretty brilliant. He’s got on a brown wig, too much makeup, and heels, and he seems pretty happy about it.

“True,” Miranda hedges, watching as I sweep my costume off the bed and head into the bathroom to change. She was totally quiet when I told her about what happened in Lujo-both the dating conversation as well as the Zack thing. However she feels about it, she’s continued to be supportive.

I owe her freaking big time.

We finish getting ready and meet the boys in the hall.

It’s pretty surreal, seeing them all gathered together like this. Technically, each of them is my boyfriend. I have boyfriends. How crazy is that? Part of me knows that this isn’t permanent, that it’ll only last so long, that a group of alpha dudes like this can’t stay together forever, but the other part of me just wants to enjoy the moment.

I’m part of a group. I feel protected. I feel safe.

My eyes go to Tristan first because out of all the boys, he was the only one who refused to reveal his costume until now.

Pretty sure I almost keel over and die when I see him.

“Holy shit.” The words fall out of my mouth before I can stop them, and I slap a hand to cover my lips.

He lets this wicked beautiful smile work its way across his mouth, and then moves in to stand in front of me.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“Black licorice, do you like it?” He’s got on a leather jacket that’s been covered in long pieces of black licorice. Underneath it, he’s got on a fishnet shirt and leather pants as well as expensive loafers with bits of licorice artfully crisscrossed on the toes. He’s even got a bowtie around his neck made of candy.

My heart starts to pound as he steps toward me and puts his hands on the hips of my sparkly pink dress. It’s a bit too short and too tight for my liking,

but it was the only one I could find

that fit the theme of my costume.