Page 14 of The Good Girl's Guide to Being Bad

“I’m not that good,” I said, nose scrunched.

As he laughed and jumped out of the car, I met him on the other side to help with Kyle. It took several stumbling tries, but we eventually dragged him out, me taking one arm, Colton grabbing the other. Kyle wasn’t helping at all. He was truly lights-out to the world, and it took some maneuvering to get him up the stairs of their porch and to the door.

“Listen Sadie,” Colton began, “I’m only saying this because you’re my brother’s best friend. It’s not like I enjoy pissing you off.”

I pursed my lips, waited.

“Okay, okay.” The grin was back like he couldn’t help himself. “I do kinda like pissing you off. But seriously, Sadie, you need to wake up.”

“Hello, I’m standing right here,” I said. “I am awake.”

Colton shook his head. “No. You’re not.”

“Colton, it’s late. Your brother’s arm is heavy, and I don’t have time for this.”

“You really go to a party tonight?”

“Yes,” I said, eyes narrowed, “I really went to a party tonight.”

With senior citizens and a Bingo tournament.

“Why?”

Kyle let out another groan and shifted his head onto my shoulder. Without meaning to do it, my hand rose to pat down his hair. Usually styled to perfection, right then, like everything else about him, it was a mess.

“Poor Kyle,” I said.

“At least he had fun tonight.” Colton shook his head as I frowned. “At least he knows how to have fun. Sadie, it’s senior year, and you’re sleeping your way right through it.”

“I said it once, and I’ll say it again because apparently you don’t listen,” I gritted my teeth. “I’m not asleep.”

“Just because your eyes are open doesn’t mean you’re awake.”

I blinked. “You sound like a fortune cookie.”

“Whatever, smartass.”

“No, keep going,” I said. “I like fortune cookies. Please Buddha, tell me more.”

“I was trying to help.”

Kyle let out another groan.

“I don’t need your help,” I said. “And I have tons of fun. Tons.”

Colton leaned forward. “You wouldn’t know fun if it was staring you in the face.”

I was about to deliver a stunning smackdown—no really, it would have been epic—but right then, Kyle lost the bet he’d made in the car with his brother. He lurched and threw up all the “fun” he’d had onto one of my favorite cardigans. I had less sympathy for him after that.

A perfect end to the worst day of my life, I thought.

Later after I had finally washed the puke out of my cardigan—it took a good thirty minutes and half a bottle of liquid detergent—I went to my computer and pulled up theDancer’s Edgewebsite. They uploaded a new video at the beginning of each month, and it was almost always contemporary, hip hop or some other commercially accepted dance form. This week’s dance was an amazing hip hop solo to a soulful/sexy song, and you could just feel the guy’s energy coming through the screen.

After watching it (twice), I opened a new tab and pulled up my channel. There was no doubt about it. My videos, though shot impeccably, were definitely more tame…and yes, a little too nice.Maybe instead of jive, I should try a Latin style next time?I thought. Ballroom had never been featured, and it was my goal to be the first, to show them—and the world—just what ballroom could do. But to be honest…”sexy” wasn’t my strong suit. I wasn’t even sure if I could pull off “edgy.” In fact, I was almost 99% sure I couldn’t.

Sighing, I got into bed. I was more than ready for sleep, snuggling deep under the covers, looking forward to forgetting about today. But for some reason, even as I lay there, Colton’s voice kept me up, buzzing around in my head.

Just because your eyes are open doesn’t mean you’re awake.

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