Page 97 of The Prom

IMOGEN

Six weeks later

I thought this semester would never end.

“Why do I hate the idea of heading home this time?” Cassie grumbles beside us as we head to the cafeteria for lunch.

“Because of Frankie, I’m guessing.” I tease her and she grins, her smile instantly lighting up her eyes at the thought of her guy.

“And probably because your dad is still pissed at you.” I remind her, and her smile fades pretty damn quick.

“Don’t remind me.” Her eyes flash. “You know, I wish we could just take off, a road trip perhaps. All of us, to a beach house or villa somewhere. Three months is gonna kill me.”

I sympathize but can’t relate because I have three months I get to spend with my family and Drake.

A warm glow hits me as I contemplate how well everything worked out. My recovery was quick but the fallout from prom is still going on today.

The students were told that Principal Constable was called away on urgent family business to explain her absence. For the most part, the students here don’t suspect a thing and lifesettled down into one with very little excitement and just a lot of partying.

We reach the cafeteria and Siri scans the room.

“I’ll grab our table if you don’t mind fetching me my usual, Summer.”

“Sure.”

“I’ll fetch yours if you like, Cassie.”

“Would you, honey? That would be great.”

As Siri and Cassie bag our table, I join the line with Summer.

“What are your plans this summer, um, Summer?”

I grin as she smiles broadly. “We’re heading off to, well, a place we have in the middle of nowhere. Standard procedure, but in a few weeks I’ll be taking a vacation in Italy.”

“Wow, lucky you.”

“I’m aware that Summer’s family is from Italy. Her folks live there most of the time anyway and she usually divides her time between the mysterious home she has in the middle of nowhere, as she puts it, and her family home in Italy.

“Will Siri be with you?” I’m aware they share the unknown home and Summer nods.

“Yeah, usual thing. It’s kind of cool. There are so many of us it never gets boring and by the time we return to Italy, I’m in need of some alone time, anyway.”

She fixes me with a grin. “What about you?”

She is unaware of my involvement with Drake. They all are except for Jack and Cassie. They had left the building when he saved me and were never told, which is a good thing really.

“Back to the compound, I guess. I do have one trip I’m looking forward to.”

“Where?”

We almost reach the front of the line and a warm shiver passes through me as I picture the beach vacation Drake booked with my parent’s consent. It will be the first time I’ve ever doneanything like this and knowing we have my parent’s blessing is an outcome I never dared hope for.

“The Florida Keys.”

The envy on Summer’s face makes me feel bad because of course Luca lives in Florida and she would kill to spend time with him there.

“Say hi to Luca if you see him.” Her face falls. “It sucks not being able to make our own decisions. What I wouldn’t give for a few weeks in the sun with him.”

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