Page 83 of Muse (Fighting Fate)

A recording contract though. That was huge. I couldn’t compete with that, even if I wanted to. I knew as soon as Aiden had told me the night before that they’d signed with Leighton’s I’d have to suck it up and deal. They’d been working towards that for a long time. They were finally getting their dream.

I stopped being happy for them though the second the paparazzi descended on my car. I knew they thought I was Aiden, but I still wasn’t happy about having cameras shoved in my face and questions thrown at me first thing in the morning. They even asked me for an official statement regarding Jace and me seeing each other. Not going to happen.

The unhappiness quickly turned to annoyance the instant I became aware of all the looks I was getting from everyone in the halls. It was obvious the news about Jace and me had spread, because that’s all I could hear being whispered as I passed.

Most of them were just curious glances from those who were intrigued, but I did catch a few glares from some girls who I assumed belonged to the ‘skank squad’. Melissa and crew included.

By the time I reached my locker, I’d never been more relieved to see Kaeli in my life. She took one look at me and grinned. “I guess you’re big news huh?”

I huffed. “Looks like it.”

“I hear Melissa’s pissed too. Says she had a chance with him on Friday night and you came and stole him away from her.”

I raised my eyebrows incredulously. “Does she seriously believe that?”

Kaeli shrugged. “Probably. All those girls seem to be deluded when it comes to the guys. It’s like they’re suddenly realizing it’s only three months until we all graduate and they’ll never see the guys again, so they’re all stepping up their game or something.”

“Either that, or they all just want to lay claim to being one of the guy’s high school sweethearts when they’re all rich and famous.”

Kaeli snorted. “Yeah, only you and Lila have that right. And maybe Carly…”

I closed my locker and groaned. “I don’t want to go to class. Kacey’s just going to be sitting there glaring at me the whole time.”

She gave me a sympathetic smile. “Have fun with that.”

“I’m really going to hate this week. The next time I see Jace he’s going to cop a piece of my mind. I feel like I’ve been thrown into the lion’s den or something. I mean, he reveals to a bunch of crazy, fanatical girls that he’s got his first ever girlfriend on Friday, making me one of the most hated girls in school, then he just leaves me to deal with it on Monday.”

Kaeli smirked. “I’m pretty sure recording their first ever album trumps your being leered at.”

“Shut up. I’m allowed to have a sulk. I think I’ve earned it.”

She laughed. “Oh, you’ve definitely earned it. You throw your tantrum and have your rant at him, then he can kiss it all better.”

That did it. The thought of being in Jace’s arms and kissing him instantly erased the annoyance. I sighed and Kaeli grinned.

“See you at lunch?”

“Yeah, see you at lunch,” I said, grumbling about her sarcastic humor.

I decided to take the halls so I could get to class early and choose a seat in the back. Away from Kacey. I was hoping I’d have more of a chance staying out of Kacey’s view that way.

Finding one seat left in the back row, I slid in next to Ryan and sighed.

He smiled at me politely. “Good news about the contract.”

“Yeah, they’re pretty excited I think.”

“They deserve it,” he said, shaking his head in awe. “They’re so good it’s crazy.”

I smiled. “I know. I’m so proud of them.”

I kept a look out on the door, watching for Kacey so I’d be prepared if she started anything.

“So, you and Jace huh…”

I turned my attention back to Ryan. “Oh, uh…yeah, I guess…” Shit. Why was that so hard?

He looked at the door, and I turned to see Kacey and Violet walk in together. “I’ve heard there are more than a few pissed off girls at school today.”

---