Page 89 of The Wrong Bachelor

Hayley shrugged. “They didn’t exactly go into the details of what was planned. They said they’d be filming it live, so I guess we’ll find out at the dance on Saturday. You should have seen the look on Angus’ face. He obviously wasn’t expecting it.”

I bit my lower lip as I tried to figure out how to tell Hayley I wouldn’t be going to the formal. Knowing her, she’d probably stop the car and refuse to keep driving me to school until I agreed to go. I couldn’t keep it from her though, and I didn’t like to lie.

“I’m not going on Saturday,” I blurted out in a rush.

Hayley just laughed. “Of course you are. You got a dress weeks ago.”

“I was going with Jake back then,” I replied. “I just don’t feel up to it after everything that’s happened.”

“Don’t be silly, of course you’re still going,” Hayley replied. “It would be like dress cruelty to buy an outfit that hot only to leave it abandoned in your closet.”

I shook my head at her, a smile playing on my lips. Only Hayley could believe an unworn dress was unfair on the garment. It didn’t change how I felt though. But before I could try to argue, Hayley continued.

“Look, I know you’re going through a tough time right now. But you’re my best friend and I want you to be happy. We’ll have fun at the formal, just you and me, and it will help take your mind off the whole Cole thing. We can go stag together, and if you’re miserable, we’ll leave, go back to your house, eat our body weight in ice cream and finish that season of Riverdale. What do you think?”

“That you’re a pretty awesome friend.”

Hayley smiled. “I know. Does that mean you’re in?”

“How can I say no when the backup date is with ice cream?”

Hayley let out a little whoop in excitement. “Yes, girl. We are going to have so much fun. Although how ice cream is what convinced you and not cute boys on Riverdale, I'll never understand.”

When we entered the school, my day seemed to turn around a little more. Everyone had been watching me yesterday, but today they were all so focused on Cole's surprise announcement at the selection ceremony last night that I was barely noticed. It was really nice to be old news, though a couple of people did stop me in the hallway to tell me they still hoped that Cole and I would work out.

I was moving between classes when I somehow found myself trailing behind Laurie. She was with Brooke and Sally who were walking on either side of her and lapping up her every word. I considered slowing down so I didn’t have to share the same air with them, but then I was instinctively drawn closer when I heard what they were talking about.

“How do you even know your name was on the audience card?” Sally asked. Her voice was lowered, like she was worried about being overheard.

“Because I convinced Angus to put it there, obviously,” Laurie replied, flicking her long ponytail over her shoulder as she looked at her friend.

“And you think he did it?” Brooke slowly asked.

Laurie gave a little laugh. “He did it the previous week; why wouldn’t he do it this week?” She looked between the two of them before she continued. “Angus just wants a good show and more money raised. It didn’t take much to convince him that the viewers are watching because of me, and not the other girls.”

“But who really won the audience vote?” asked Brooke.

“Madi, of course,” Laurie snapped. “They must only be voting for her out of pity. But she has quit the show now anyway, so who cares.”

I couldn’t believe what I was hearing, and I couldn’t stop myself from calling out from behind Laurie.

“You cheated to stay in the competition?” I asked.

Laurie swiftly turned and her eyes narrowed on me. “Speak of the devil. I’d hardly call it cheating.”

“What would you call it then?”

She folded her arms over her chest, a smug smile forming on her lips. “Good television,” she replied. “You almost ruined the show, and I saved it.”

I shook my head at her. “It’s a charity dating contest, Laurie. It’s pretty sad you felt the need to cheat.”

Laurie laughed. “This coming from Miss Unfortunate herself? What’s your sob story this week? Oh yeah, that’s right. Cole wants me not you.”

“Laurie…” Brooke warned.

“Shut it, B,” Laurie hissed.

Brooke took her sister’s arm though and yanked her around so they were facing each other. “Madi doesn’t deserve any more of your crap, so I think you need to be the one to shut it. You know the kind of hell she went through last year after you spread all those rumors about her because of the list. Then you went and destroyed her locker. Hasn’t she had enough?”

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