by Erica Penrod
If the outside decorations were impressive, the indoor décor was nothing short of spook-tacular. Chandeliers covered in cobwebs hung from the beams, while the lights cast spiderwebs of their own onto the floor. Apple cider and spiced candles fragranced the air. A witch cackled in the background.
Oh good, Chloe’s here.
That was a terrible thing to think, Grandma’s reprimand echoed in my head. I shook off the thought and continued to gawk at the dark wonder around me.
Large white pillars stood in the corners, draped in gauze, with wicked-looking creatures clinging to the columns. Antiqued framed pictures hung on the wall, depicting the best characters of Halloween folklore. Dracula was my favorite, as his glare followed you as you passed by. Tables circled the dance floor, with jars of creepy and crawly things as centerpieces. A row of buffet tables were positioned against the far wall, and I thought I saw something resembling fingers displayed on a silver platter. “This is the best Halloween décor I’ve ever seen.” I leaned into Max as the beat of the music thumped through the floor and off the walls like a heartbeat.
“You’re the prettiest queen I’ve ever seen.” Max’s words tickled my ear and his breath smelled like mint, but I didn’t feel the gust I’d been longing for.
“You’re not so bad yourself, my king.” I smiled up at him. “It’s nice to feel like royalty.”
“Now we know how all the other kids from RLA feel all the time.” We both laughed as he led me towards the dance floor.
The song was upbeat, and I worried I might not be able to dance in my dress, but all I had to do was jump up and down and I fit right in. The only casualty was the crown slipping from my head.
“Let me help you.” Max reached out and pushed the golden tiara back in place. “We can’t have the queen losing her crown.”
“Thanks.” I readjusted a bobby pin, snugging the crown tighter to my head as the song ended and a ballad began.
“Do you want to dance again?” Max smiled as he held out his hand.
“Sure.” I accepted his invitation, and he pulled me to him. Wrapping my arms around his neck, I waited as his fingers settled on my waist, and we began to sway back and forth. “I like this song.”
“Me too.” Max’s cologne was woodsy and musky, which I really liked.
I briefly lifted my hand to touch the crown on my head, just to make sure everything was in place. “Slow dancing is a little easier on costumes.”
Max smiled as I threaded my fingers around his neck once more. “Yes, it is.” The corners of his mouth turned up into a smile. I focused on the feel of his hands on my waist and how nice they felt. He didn’t hold me too tight or pull me too close.
A smile spread across my face as I gazed out into the crowded dance floor, and then I froze.
Max stopped and looked down at me. “You okay?”
I nodded and began to sway again, although I couldn’t look away from Crue and Chloe (aka Alice from Wonderland and the White Rabbit). They were dancing in each other’s arms while in the midst of a heated conversation. A lump formed in the back of my throat as I watched her storm off the dance floor, leaving him alone. Everything inside of me said “go,” but I couldn’t give in.
Crue turned in our direction, and his eyes fixed on mine. My body tensed, and Max stopped dancing.
“Sorry.” I broke away from Crue’s gaze and smiled up at Max.
“How about we get something to drink?”
His words registered, but my mind was across the dance floor, wondering what had just happened between Crue and Chloe. “Yeah.”
We zigzagged through the couples and made our way to the tables.
“I’ll grab a couple drinks. Is cider okay?”
I nodded and wished I could push aside the picture of Crue standing on the dance floor all alone. My date deserved more than what I offered him. Max had been nothing but kind and gracious, and at the first sign of Crue in trouble, all I wanted was to be there for him.
“Be right back.” He left me at the table, and I adjusted my puffy skirt to fit beneath the tablecloth. I had a clear view of the couples on the dance floor. There was no sign of Crue. Had he left? Or were he and Chloe in the middle of making up? Stop it, I chided myself. What Crue was doing was none of my business, and I was sure my date would appreciate me acting like I wasn’t worried about my BF’s big brother.
The DJ played an up-tempo song, and I tapped my toe to the beat. Jovi and Nile danced in the center of the floor. Jovi’s puppy ears bounced. I laughed as I waved over at my friends and reassured myself that my reaction to Crue and Chloe was only a temporary setback. There was still time to make things up to Max.
“Here you go.” Max set a steaming ceramic mug in front of me. “Careful, it’s very hot.”
“Thanks.” I wrapped my hands around the cup. “It smells delicious.”
Max set his own mug down and took the seat beside me. “If you need to go find Crue, that’s okay with me.” He reached for his cup. “Whatever happened between the two of them? It didn’t look too good.”
Wait, what? “No.” I furrowed my brow. “I don’t need to.” Max knew I had feelings for Crue? “It’s not like that.”
An understanding smile spread across his face. “It’s okay. You don’t need to explain.” He blew into his cider. “I knew you liked Crue, but since he was with Chloe, I figured I’d ask you to homecoming.” He looked up at me through his hooded brows. “I didn’t expect to get to hang out with you again after that, but I’m glad we did.” Max sipped his drink. “And this dance has been fun.”
“Max, no … I …” My face heated as I searched for the right thing to say. “I mean, Crue and I are friends, and he’s Jovi’s brother, but there’s nothing more than that going on.” I slightly shook my head and sighed. Max deserved the truth. “I did want there to be more with Crue, but that’s in the past.”
“Really.” Max reached over and touched my hand. “It’s cool.”
I drew in a deep breath and released the air from my lungs. “I care about Crue, but he chose Chloe, and I’m just trying to figure out how to move on.” I offered him a smile, which wasn’t much of a consolation prize. “I’m sorry if I gave you the wrong idea.”
“You didn’t.” Max took a sip of his drink. “It’s pretty evident how you feel about him.” He chuckled. “You light up like a Christmas tree whenever he comes around.”
“No, I don’t.” I denied the accusation even as my face must’ve turned bright red, judging by the heat radiating off my cheeks.
“I bet that’s why Chloe’s freaking out on him. Everyone knows he’s got it bad for you.”
“He’s with Chloe.” I couldn’t go back down this road. Crue had chosen her, and I had to accept that.
“She must have something on him.” Max leaned back in his chair. “I’m a dude, but even I can see she makes him miserable.”
None of this made sense. I’d thought I was the one who was crazy, thinking Crue cared about me and the way he looked at me was part of some secret code I didn’t understand, but if the whole school knew it too, what was I missing? Why would Crue stay with Chloe? “I don’t know, but I’m really trying to move on.”
Max gave me a knowing look. “You just need to do what makes you happy.”
Curse destiny or Cupid or chemistry. Max was one of the good guys, and I couldn’t even pretend there was more than platonic feelings between us.
“You’re right.” I kicked my chair back and offered him my hand. “Right now, what would make me happy would be to go dance with my date.”
His fingers wrapped around mine, and we took off towards the dance floor, laughing all the way. Max might not have been the guy I wanted to give my heart to, but he was a good friend, and a girl could never have enough of those in her life.
Chapter Sixteen
I told Max good night and waved to him as he pulled away from the dorm. The night had turned out better than I’d imagined, although my feet hurt from all the dancing and
my crown got heavier with every step I took. Humming to myself, I almost missed the rabbit leaning against the brick building. “Crue?” My heart thumped in my chest.
“Did I scare you?” He still had on the white furry vest and held the rabbit ears in his hands. “I’m sorry. I just had to see you.”
“Is everything okay?” Panic flooded my system, wondering if there was something going on, something much bigger than Chloe throwing a tantrum. The last time he’d shown up out of nowhere, my grandma had been in the hospital.
“Yes.” His quick answer pushed the curiosity button in my brain. Crue stepped towards me. “Or at least I’m hoping it will be.” There was something brewing in those dark eyes of his, like a mysterious potion in a witch’s cauldron, but I wasn’t frightened anymore. The look in his eyes was nothing like he’d had the day he’d told me about my grandma.
I crossed my arms over my chest. “Okay, so what can I do for you?” He still hadn’t explained why he wanted to see me.
“Can we go somewhere and talk?” He tilted his head, and I saw the moonlight shining in his eyes.
“I’d invite you in, but it’s past curfew.” I looked through the glass at the empty dorm lobby.
“How about over there?” Crue pointed to the bench around the corner of the building. “Or is it too cold out here for you?”
“The bench is fine.” I started walking. “I’ve been roasting all night. I’ve got so many layers on under this skirt.”
He was at my side by the time I took my second stride. We got to the wooden bench sandwiched between two pine trees and sat down.
My wide skirt left little room for Crue. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.” Something was different about him. I could hear it in his voice and see it in his eyes. “You’re sure you won’t be too cold?”
“I’m good.” The air was brisk but felt good after a night of dancing, and thankfully there wasn’t any rain. “So, what’s this all about?” I wasn’t cold, but I was tired and knew my defenses wouldn’t be able to withstand Crue this close to me for too long. I’d forget about making him smile and daydream about how I wished he were mine.
“Chloe broke up with me.”
Wait, what?
He sounded very enthusiastic, gave me a wide, toothy smile, and looked at me as though he expected me to stand up and jump for joy. I didn’t move a muscle as the quiet grew into an uncomfortable silence. Deep lines plowed along his forehead. “Did you hear what I said?”
“Yes.” I turned to him. “Am I supposed to offer you my condolences or my congratulations?”
His shoulders dropped. “I thought you’d be happy.”
A jumbled heap of emotions fought to bubble to the surface all at once and so far, anger was in the lead. “If you’re happy that Chloe’s gone, then I’m happy for you.” I searched his face, praying I hadn’t misjudged the situation, because I wanted everything out in the open. “But if you think I’m ecstatic over being your second choice, then you’re sadly mistaken.” Emotion brimmed in my eyes, but I’d promised myself I wasn’t ever going to cry over Crue Zeplin again, so I wiped the tears away.
“Is that what you think?” Crue’s voice wasn’t much louder than a whisper. “I never wanted you to feel that way.” His breath circled in the air. “That was my biggest fear.”
The guy was nuts. “You asked Chloe to homecoming, and then she became your girlfriend. Trust me, I got the message loud and clear.” Which wasn’t completely true, because I’d been boggled by his actions every day since then.
“That’s what she wanted you to think.” Crue leaned forward and looked over at me. “I never wanted Chloe as my girlfriend. I was interested when we first moved here, but it didn’t take me long to figure out what type of a person she is.”
“You know you’re not making any sense, right?” Clearly spending all that time with Chloe had made him more than miserable. The guy had gone loco.
“That’s why I’m here. I can tell you now.” He touched my knee, which I felt even beneath the piles of material. “Please, just let me, and if it doesn’t change anything between us, then I’ll have to live with that, but at least you’ll know the truth.” Crue’s dark eyes pleaded with mine. “That I always wanted you.”
I pinched myself. Ouch, I felt it. No, I wasn’t imagining this. “I’m listening.”
“Chloe told me about your dad and how you didn’t mention anything about the situation on your application.”
A lead weight dropped into my gut. Jovi was the only person I’d told about my dad. “How does she know about my dad?”
“Chloe wanted to dig up some dirt on you, and she hired someone to do some investigating. Her dad is chairman of the scholarship committee, and she said she could have your scholarship revoked if I …”
Now I was sure I was having a nightmare. “She blackmailed you into dating her.”
“Basically.”
“That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of.” I couldn’t believe a teenage girl would go to such extremes to get the guy she wanted. Although her friend, Jenny Meek, had leaked pictures of Nile and Jovi to the press just because Chloe didn’t like Jovi, so I shouldn’t be surprised. “Why does she hate me so much? She doesn’t even know me.”
“Because she knows I care about you.” Crue stared longingly at me, which I’d always wanted, but not under these circumstances. “As soon as she knew I was into you, she cornered me.”
“You should’ve just told me.” I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. I rubbed my forehead. “She’s in serious need of help.”
“I know, but I’ve seen what people can do when they have the means, and I wasn’t willing to take the chance with your scholarship.”
A fear I hadn’t thought about in months reached out like long, bony fingers grabbing me by the neck. My father was in prison because people with money had the power to put him there. “Will they really take my scholarship away?” My scholarship was my ticket to a better life, one where I could take care of my grandma. My chin dropped, and my shoulders slumped. I loved being here, especially now that I had a best friend whose family had welcomed me into their lives. I’d never had so many people to love. Leaving now would be unbearable.
“I don’t know, but if it’s okay with you, I wanted to talk to my parents and ask our lawyer.”
Thoughts jumbled in my head. My dad’s case was so long ago and had always affected my life, but not like this. I’d been so young and hadn’t known what I was missing when he’d gone away. Now I knew exactly how much I had to lose. “I didn’t think I needed to mention anything about my dad being in prison on the application.” I struggled to breathe. “It’s not like there’s a question asking if your parents are incarcerated.” Probably because kids who went to RLA didn’t have parents in prison.
“Don’t worry about it. I know my parents will make sure nothing happens to you.”
My dad’s story wasn’t a secret, but it wasn’t something I wanted to go around telling everyone I met, especially not at a private school full of billionaires’ and politicians’ kids. “I don’t mind if your parents know about my dad, but I don’t want them to feel sorry for me.” I hated that they even felt like they had to take care of me. This wasn’t their battle. But I had nowhere else to turn. I wasn’t rich. I was just a smart kid who qualified to rub elbows with the wealthy and bring up the standardized test score average.
“Em, they love you and would only want to help you.”
“I know.” I reached up and pulled the pins from my crown and took it in my hands. The fairy tale was over for the night, even though I’d never even gotten to dance with the prince. “And for the record, my dad was an accountant for a big software company. He noticed some things weren’t adding up and funds were being diverted to offshore accounts. When he confronted the CEO, he was framed for embezzlement.” I knew exactly how people with money could destroy lives.
“Do you talk to him?” Crue slid closer to me.
“Now I do.” This was the part I struggled with. “I was so young when it happened. My dad didn’t want me to know where he was until I was old enough to understand. He was like Santa Claus to me, a mythical person my grandma said loved me so much, but he had to go away to work and he’d come back for me someday.” I sighed, remembering how confused I’d been when other kids’ dads came home from work every night and I’d never met mine.
“What about your mom?”
I shrugged. “She split not long after I was born.” The temperature continued to drop as we talked. I shivered as my skin chilled despite the obstacle of layers. Crue put his arm around me. “I really don’t want you to pity me. I’ve had a great life. My grandma is amazing.”
Crue rubbed his hand along my sleeve. “You don’t have to tell me that. She has a candy jar.”
Laughing, I snuggled into him. There wasn’t pity in his eyes, and I was so grateful that Crue hadn’t judged me for what my father had done. “You’re not hard to please for a rock star’s son.”
“No, I’m not.” He shifted so his face was near mine. “All I need is you, if you’ll forgive me.” Crue leaned in. “And you should be proud of your dad. He stood up for what was right, even though he paid a heavy price for his convictions.”
I should’ve known Crue would understand about my father with all his family had been through.
“No one should ever be able to use what happened to your dad against you.”
I smiled softly, so completely in awe of this boy and what he’d done for me. When I pictured his sad face over the past few weeks and how he’d sacrificed his own happiness for me, I didn’t know how I’d ever repay him. “There’s nothing to forgive. You were just trying to protect me.”
“I would do anything for you.” Crue leaned in, and his mouth was a whisper away from mine.
Every cell in my body responded to his proximity, wanting what I’d never allowed myself to think about: his kiss. My breath caught in my throat as I touched my lips to his. I closed my eyes and savored the sweet taste of his mouth on mine.
