Page 55 of Unbidden

“There you are! Come on. I need help with my dress.”

We both turn around to find Tinsley gesturing us the opposite way of the den. We dutifully follow her up to her room. Once there, I smile. She has several people in the room working on different items.

“With all of these people, why didn’t you ask one of them to help with the dress?”

She smiles sheepishly. “Okay, so I don’t actually need help, but I needed someone else to talk to. Keaton and Reed are driving me crazy. Add in Sterling and Finley and I might need to be institutionalized.”

Victoria chuckles. “What are they doing?”

“Every five minutes, one comes in to ‘check’ on me but ends up lecturing me about tonight. ‘Don’t drink a lot. No kissing. Behave.’ You would think I’m thirteen, not fifteen.”

She rolls her eyes as a woman brings her dress over.

I walk around the room, looking at the different pictures and items throughout. I smile at the photo of her with all four boys at a diner. I can tell they’re all at least a couple of years younger.

The next is a picture of her with Reed at a lacrosse game. He’s obviously sweaty, but she still hugs him, and his arm is wrapped around her shoulders. The smile on their faces is obviously the real deal.

I go to move to the next, but before I can, I hear a throat clear from behind me.

I turn, finding Tinsley standing with her arms slightly out.

“What do you think?” I can see the insecurity in her eyes.

The A-line dress is gorgeous. It hugs every bit of her torso and hips, fanning out to cascade down her legs. The front ends at her knees, but the back falls all the way to the floor. The lace running down her arms adds elegance to the dress. She looks like a princess.

“You look….” I trail off, at a loss for words.

She goes to speak, but I hold up my hand.

“Sorry, I’m speechless. You look that amazing. There are no words to describe it.”

She gives me a big cheesy smile and blushes. I forget sometimes that while Tinsley’s only a couple years younger than me, she’s been much more sheltered. She craves validation.

“You do look gorgeous, T,” Victoria says from next to me.

“Thanks, guys. The boys didn’t want me to have any alcohol before the party, but I had Esmerelda sneak me a small bottle. Let’s take a quick shot.”

I shake my head at the gleam in her eyes.

She’s a whole lot of angel with a little bit of devil.

“I don’t really drink,” I say.

“Come on, Sage,” she whines. “One shot with me?”

I smile at her antics. “Fine. One shot.” I walk over to her as she pours them. When she hands me one we tap them together. “Cheers,” We say in unison.

∞∞∞

“This area is off limits.”

I whip my head up to look down the hall.

My surprise melts to disdain when I realize who’s walking towards me. I don’t bother answering him, choosing to remain silent. Reed stops in front of me, but I don’t meet his eyes. Instead, I pretend to study my nails.

“The silent treatment, huh? You know, I could kick you out for being up here.”

I glare at him. He chuckles before sliding down the wall across from me. His smile remains long after his chuckle fades as he continues to stare at me.

---