Page 22 of Ruse
Olly gives me a,I told you so,look.“And neither one of you thought it prudent to warn me?”
“We didn’t think you'd go creeping.” They look amused, like this is just the funniest thing they’ve ever witnessed.
I’m red with anger, but also embarrassment, and dare I say, arousal. “I wasn’t.”
They both give me their best, you can’t lie to us,expressions, and I don’t bother denying it anymore.
“Are you guys talking about Maverick Carter?” asks the employee kneeled before us. She’s looking up at us like there isn’t a reason she shouldn’t be talking to us. Her blond straight hair, slightly darker than mine, is pulled into a slicked back ponytail, and her eyes are light green and almond shaped.
With a face free of makeup, nothing more than just some light mascara over her lashes, she looks awfully young to be working here. She’s pretty, yet different from the usual girls working at these places. She seems laid back, not superficial, and kind of tomboy even. Instead of wearing miniskirts and crop tops like the rest of Chelseas’ employees, she’s dressed in black leggings, Lululemon no doubt, and a plain white tank. Her outfits fitted, showing off her toned physique no doubt from time spent working out or maybe even from playing a sport.
I hear someone clear their throat and I realize I’ve spent a little too long sizing her up. “You know him?” I ask, a little more jealous than I hoped to come off.
She snorts loudly, making the other employees turn annoyed once again. Okay, now it’s obvious this chick is different. “God, no, but I’ve heard of him. I mean, who hasn’t?”
“You go to MC high, right?” Olly asks her, and she nods. Huh, I wouldn’t have guessed.
“Yeah, I’m a sophomore, and although I’d never be caught dead trying to talk to him, I’m aware of the chaos he’s caused.”
Come on Phoenix, she’s a sophomore, sixteen at most, and here you were jealous she was one of Maverick’s groupies. “What are you talking about?” I ask, wondering what chaos she’s referring to. Maybe there’s something she knows about Maverick that I don’t.
A blush creeps over her freckled cheeks. “Only that every girl at MC High is obsessing over the broody, tattooed bad boy. He’s freaking perfect. Hot, mysterious, and just so damn lickable.”
“Amen sister!” Olly shouts, high-fiving her, and joining in their fit of laughter.
“Why are you working here if you go to Malibu Cove High?” I ask, annoyed she’s so interested in him. Of course, he’d probably be interested too given the opportunity. She’s cute, killer body, and I have an inkling he’s into blondes.
She shakes her head vehemently, laughing as if it’s the most ludicrous thing. “Oh, I don’t work here.” However, she doesn’t further explain why she’s here. “I mean, my mom owns this store. I just came in to help her today because she had a few girls call out sick. They all went to Duke’s last night after work and got food poisoning.”
“Your mom is Chelsea Landon?” Dee and Olly both ask amazed, like they’re in the presence of a celebrity.
I guess they kind of are. Chelsea Landon is not only a renowned ex runway model who was named the most beautiful woman in fashion for three consecutive years, she's also a huge philanthropist and environmentalist. She started Chelseas five years ago when her modeling career ended after the infamous scandal about her ex-boyfriend, actor Dane Francois, not being the father of her daughter.
As you can tell, scandals here in Malibu Cove are a dime a dozen, and they usually end up ruining one’s reputation.
Chelsea, however, turned things around for herself, proving she never once made Dane believe he was her daughter’s biological father, and she came prepared with receipts. Now she spends every dime of her earnings from Chelseas on restoring the local beaches and advocating for the protection of the environment. She’s sort of like my hero.
“Yeah, I’m Levi,” she says, extending her hand out to me. She smells like my latte, but I shake her hand, not wanting to appear rude. Though now that I know she’s one of my classmates, I'm sure she’s no better than me.
Although this entire exchange, she’s been awfully kind and nothing compared to any of the girls at our school, us included.
“You’re Phoenix Bancroft,” she states before I can even introduce myself. She turns toward my friends, “Donovan Kennedy and Oliver Radcliff.”
“You know who we are?” I ask rather suspiciously. Again, I even said it myself. Everyone knows who we are.
Levi laughs, catching herself when she realizes none of us follows. “Of course, I do. You’re only the reigning Queen of Malibu Cove.”
“Ex,” I mutter with obvious distaste.
Levi scoffs, “Oh please. Everyone, myself included, knows it’ll take a lot more than one scandalous affair to knock you off your throne. And Tatum Mortimer is the last person who’d wear your crown.”
Dee agrees. “She’s right. People hate Tate more than they don’t hate you if that makes sense.”
I brush off their comments, frankly, not caring what my current social status is. “Well, she can have this metaphorical crown everyone’s talking about. I don’t want it. High School is going to be over in nine months and all this bullshit will be meaningless. It’s meaningless now.”
Levi laughs giddily. “God, you’re even more badass in real life. I mean in person.”
I raise a brow quizzically at her, but her smile doesn’t falter. “Thanks, I think.”
