Page 28 of Keeper of Hearts
But he asked me to give him until today to make up my mind about Prom, and I know he's up to something. For an actor, he'snot very good at playing innocent. He looks like a mischievous little boy. It's making me nervous!
So is the way the whole school is watching me like I'm a movie. They haven't really stopped watching since we walked into school together the morning after he threatened to expose Victoria. She's the only one not watching me. She literally ran in the opposite direction when our paths crossed this morning.
For the first time, she isn't making snide comments or calling me Gage's stalker. She isn't making fun of my outfits or my weight. She isn't saying anything to me at all, and neither are her friends.
It's so weird!
"Earth to Troian," Corey says, snapping his fingers beside my ear.
I startle, turning to look at him.
The entire table is staring at me again.
"You think hard," Corey says.
I shrug, uncomfortable with so many sets of eyes on me. Most of the guys at this table have obediently followed their Queen Bee's lead for the past four years. They don't usually say much about me, but they laugh when Victoria does. They're not laughing now. They're just staring at me like I'm an interloper, violating sacred ground with my presence. It's so dumb. We're in a cafeteria in a public school in a free country. I can sit wherever I want.
"Have you gone dress shopping yet?" Corey asks.
"Um, no." I open my bottle of water, taking a sip like that's going to cool the heat in my face or make me feel less guilty. Gage hasn't even officially asked me yet, and I'm seriously considering ditching Corey. I turn my back on the rest of the table, trying to block them out. "I already have one."
"You didn't buy a new one?"
"No." My family has been fortunate, and my dad's company does really well. Like Gage reminded me, he's a millionaire. But spending hundreds of dollars on a dress I'll only wear once is silly to me. There are far better uses for money.
Besides, I found a beautiful dress at a consignment shop last year when Mom and I were in Los Angeles. It's an A-line cocktail dress with an asymmetrical skirt. It's a pretty, pearl pink color. The top of it is adorned with sequins. I feel like a princess in it.
Corey chuckles at me. "You're a rare breed, Troian Alessi."
"Thanks, I think." I scrunch up my nose, not sure if he's complimenting me or not. I think he is.
"It's a good thing," he says, swirling a fry through ranch dressing. He pops it into his mouth, still looking at me. He seems…amused. By me? By the fact that no one else at the table has uttered a single word since I sat down? By life in general? With him, it's hard to tell.
"Are you ready for the physics test?"
"Fuck no," he says, groaning. "Why did I sign up for this bullshit?"
"Because you want to graduate?" I fight a smile. Corey's been in Gifted and Talented classes with me since I moved here, but he's always the last person to turn in his work. He could easily catch me in the Valedictorian race if he wanted to do it. I think he just hates bothering with it because it bores him.
"Smart ass. Do I even need to ask if you're ready for it?"
"I'm ready," I say, confident. People may make fun of me for being smart, but I'm not embarrassed about it. I'm proud of myself for working as hard as I have. I could have graduated last year, but if I had, Bella Rosario wouldn't have been Valedictorian of her class. I didn't want to take that from her, considering how hard she worked for the honor.
Naturally, Victoria told everyone I did it because I wanted to stalk Gage for another year. Is it wrong to take comfort in thefact that high school will probably be the best years of her life? She's not very smart, and she's mean. Once she leaves here, she'll be a little fish in a big pond.
But there's a place for me in the world. While I'm living my best life, Victoria will still be a sad bully, remembered solely because she was mean. Beauty fades. The way you make people feel lasts a lifetime.
She doesn't make anyone feel warm and fuzzy.
"Oh, showtime," Corey says, staring across the cafeteria.
I follow his gaze to find Gage headed our way. Except, he's not the same boy I saw an hour ago. He's sporting a suit and tie now, looking more like he should be on a red carpet than in the middle of the cafeteria.
"What is he doing?" I mumble, more to myself than anyone.
The look of stubborn determination on his face makes my stomach flutter. No one is more obstinate than Gage when he sets his mind on something.
The entire cafeteria falls quiet. It's almost eerie. As Gage passes each row of tables, the occupants nudge one another and then go silent. All eyes are on him…but his eyes are onme. His gaze doesn't deviate or waver as he marches toward me, purpose in his steps.
