I dare them to say anything. Quinn may think that he has me backed into a corner, but that’s where I do my best work. I’m a great underdog, and there’s no way in hell that I’m going to bow to him again.
***
Madeline’s room looks like she had a personal decorator come in and work for her, which is probably why it’s so hysterical that I’m covered in paint stretched out on her floor and she has a fine layer of dust on her from sculpting. It’s only been one week since I came to Trinity Prep, but the workload has been ridiculous, and I can already see how they turn out such amazing artists and designers.
It’s because we all live, breathe, eat, and sleep our craft.
“Remind me again why you made that bet with Quinn? If I remember correctly, I told you to stay the hell away from him. He’s bad news, Abby.” We’d brought our dinner up to her room and now she has lots of questions about me and Quinn. I didn’t have to tell her about what happened in art. Everyone in school knew about it before I’d even made it to the cafeteria for dinner, so when she told me we could eat her in her room, I took her up on it.
I’d do just about anything to get out of there and to keep people from staring at me.
Rolling over on my stomach, I prop myself up on my elbows. “I know you did. It’s just that…I just…I know guys like him, you know? And I honestly didn’t think that someone who looked like that could possibly be a good artist.”
“You mean because he’s so damn hot?” Madeline laughs and throws a pillow at me, which I catch and use for my elbows.
“Yeah, exactly. It just doesn’t seem like the real world that someone who looks like that would be able to paint the way he does, you know? It’s…insane and highly unfair.”
“Unfair is right. And you know his little cronies?”
I remember back to the stylish friend and the sculptor he hangs out with during meals. “Yeah, what about them? You can’t possibly tell me that they’re not only gorgeous, but also talented, as well, right?”
“Sorry, that’s exactly what I’m going to tell you. Blaine is the designer, and he’s a total asshole, but he’s brilliant. His work has already been featured on runways around the world, so you can imagine that he’s a bit unsufferable. And Michael is the sculptor. He was named after Michelangelo, of course, so his parents pushed him to learn sculpting. And, of course, he’s my biggest competition. I’m going to kick his ass though, you’ll see. I’ve got this shit locked down.”
“The world’s not fair,” I sigh, reaching out and grabbing another cookie from my plate. Madeline had told me that I’d get tired of the food here, but I haven’t. It’s all incredible.
“Yeah, it’s really not. At any other school, we could just…hang out with the hotties, you know? But here? They’re just as willing to stab you in the back as they are to try to bang you.”
I’ve noticed. Suddenly I want to turn the talk away from Quinn and his friends. “Hey, what do people do for fun on weekends here? Surely we actually do things and aren’t always working on art, right?”
She rolls her eyes and I feel my stomach drop. “Sorry, girl. As the year goes on, you’re going to live in the art wing. But I do have good news. We don’t do this very often, but we’re actually having a party this weekend.”
“We?” This is the first that I’ve heard of a party, and I’m curious, although a bit sceptical of who may be throwing it.
“Well, not you and me, but we can totally go. I normally don’t. Usually there’s a fight and someone gets caught boning in the quad. Sometimes someone finds beer and often there’s a bonfire. Actually, though, they usually steal marshmallows from the kitchen, so I know you’re going to want to go.”
“So my sweet tooth hasn’t gone unnoticed, huh?”
She laughs and stands up to stretch. “Not at all. But if you want to do this tomorrow then we need to start getting ready.”
“Now? What time is the party?” I stand up and walk over to her closet with her. When she opens the doors, I can’t help but gasp. The clothes she has hanging in it probably cost more than anything I’ve ever owned. I knew that most of the students here were rich, but I had no idea how much money they really had.
“It’s not until tomorrow night, but, in case you hadn’t noticed, we go to school with fashion designers and the hottest of the hot. We have to look good or we simply won’t be allowed in.” Leaning in, Madeline starts flipping through dresses.
“Wait, there’s someone at the door?” This is getting more and more ridiculous. As much as I want to hide my excitement, I can’t help but smile. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”
She turns around, holding out a tiny black dress. It has cutouts all along the sides and rhinestones sewn along the neckline. The neckline plunges so low that I’m pretty sure my belly button will be on full display, as will my ass, since it’s so short.
“Is that lingerie?”
She rolls her eyes. “That may be your dress for tomorrow. Strip. Let’s see how it looks.”
Chapter Seven
I don’t recognize the guy standing in the gate, but the way his eyes slide over my body is beginning to feel familiar. He looks at me the way that Quinn looks at me, but with one difference. Quinn knows that I will be his. This guy just wants me to be his.
After a moment, he nods and steps out of the way. Madeline
