Page 5 of Scarlett and the Kiss Thief

Chapter 2 – The Perfect Entrance

Wednesday

“Oh, I almost forgot,” Sophie said, pulling me to the side of the front doors. “I have your contraband.” She started rummaging around in her backpack.

“Contraband?”

“Your Odegaards.”

“Oh.” I’d almost completely forgotten about my new shoes. All the other girls at Empire High wore high heels. Even Uncle Rob let Sophie wear them. He was so much cooler than my dad.

I’d bought them with the credit card I was only supposed to use for emergencies. In my defense, I’d seen Liam buy tons of stupid stuff, and I never used the card. Until now. I’d bought the heels two weeks ago when Sophie and I were back-to-school shopping. I’d been waiting this whole time to get in trouble. But…neither of my parents noticed. Sophie let me keep my new shoes at her house so that my parents never saw them. I could only imagine my dad’s reaction to these based on how he reacted to my skirt. Luckily, I’d never have to find out, because I wasn’t planning on ever taking them home.

“Here,” she said, pulling out my brand new Odegaards.

“Thanks, Soph.” I put my hand on her shoulder to balance as I pulled off my flats in exchange for the much more sophisticated heels. They were a matte white with the signature blue bottom. Classically elegant.

“You look so bangable,” Sophie said.

I laughed. But I felt bangable. The makeup, the contacts, the skirt, the shoes. I took a deep breath. I looked grown-up. I looked ready to crush this school year and win over Axel Stevens.Finally.

“You ready for this?” Sophie asked.

I struck a pose, jutting out my hip. “Born ready.”

She laughed and looped her arm back through mine. “Axel is gonna drool when he sees you.”

My stomach had started doing cartwheels last night and hadn’t stopped. But as we made our way up the final steps to Empire High, I almost felt like I was going to be sick. I only got one first impression for senior year. And this was it. If Axel didn’t look at me as more than a friend when I walked through those doors, I would literally die. But I had a feeling everything was about to go my way. I was ready.

An underclassman opened up the door for us as we approached.

“Thanks,” Sophie said to him with a wink.

He looked like he was going to piss his pants with excitement. Sophie had that kind of effect on guys. And today…I hoped I did too.

A gust of wind hit us when we walked into the school, blowing my hair just so. It was like we were walking in slow motion as heads turned away from lockers to watch us in our grand entrance. I wouldn’t have been surprised if people were snapping photos. This was basically a red-carpet entrance. Or a New York fashion week catwalk. I was unstoppable.

My eyes locked with Axel’s down the hall. The side of his mouth lifted in that perfect half-smile that he seemed to reserve just for me. It always made my insides melt. Especially when his eyes scanned down my body.

I went to lift my hand to wave at him, but then I was falling. Not falling in love with Axel. I’d already done that. I was literally falling. On my face. I realized at the last minute that Axel’s eyes weren’t wandering down my body with newfound respect. He’d probably just been looking at Gigi’s foot as she tripped me.

My hands slammed onto the ground just in time to avoid totally busting my face. And I pulled Sophie down with me.

“Ow,” Sophie groaned. She didn’t sound embarrassed at all, just annoyed. But I knew my face was bright red.

Gigi started laughing.

I slowly looked up. Gigi was wearing a pair of heels too, and her skirt was significantly shorter than even my new one. I freaking hated her.

Her arms were folded across her chest and she was staring down at me with her demon eyes. “What a way to start the new year. On your knees begging to be popular.” She laughed. “For the record, walking in heels takes practice. Do yourself a favor and walk around in front of the mirror a bit. Then you won’t trip over your own feet and embarrass yourself in front of the whole student body.”

Gigi snapped her fingers and her minions Georgia and Gemma appeared by her side. The Triple Gs. I hated Gigi the most. But all three of them were evil. Georgia and Gemma started laughing too.

Sophie stood up and brushed her hands off on her skirt. “Great logic, Gigi. There’s only one problem…you tripped her. So apparently it’s you that doesn’t know the proper etiquette of wearing shoes, Neanderthal.”

Gigi glared at her. “Excuse you?”

“Excuse you, you utter simpleton. We have better things to do than listen to you.” Sophie put her hand out for me.

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