“No, but you might try and kiss me again.” I laughed, then suddenly stopped dead. Why had I said that? And to Anastasia, of all people?
She stared at me for a moment, and then a laugh burst out of her. “I think you’re safe. My tastes extend to men, and men only.” Then she gave me an actual smile that reached her eyes, which I returned. What was happening? I thought back to Carter’s suspicions that Anastasia had been the person behind the money theft and the vandalising of my locker. Was this sudden change prompted by guilt?
“Am I being set up? Why are you guys being nice to me?”
Anastasia’s gaze flicked to Imogen’s in the rear-view mirror, and Imogen frowned at her. She pursed her lips, then turned back to me. “Believe me, you weren’t my first choice of people to be around. But you’re not so bad.” She waved a casual hand in my direction, her manicured nails glinting with some kind of subtle, shimmery polish. “You scrub up well. If I didn’t know you, I might be interested in being friends.”
“Um. Thanks? I think?” I sat back in my seat, clipping my seat belt into place as Imogen pulled away from my house. I stared down at myself. I wasn’t even wearing anything special.
Okay, that was a lie. I’d made way, way more effort than I would normally. Not even because the thought of seeing Carter sent alternate shivers of excitement and dread racing through me. I had to remind myself that he wasn’t interested anymore. I wanted to do it for myself. For me. I was done hiding. Yeah, I didn’t have to wear make-up and get all dressed up. No one should have to, if they didn’t want to. But I wanted to. I liked wearing make-up. I liked experimenting with clothes. My desire to remain in the shadows…I hadn’t realised until recently just how stifling that had been. I was trying to suppress that side of me that wanted to get creative and try new things, and I was ready to let it free.
There hadn’t been that much of a change, in reality. I had on light make-up, and I’d curled my hair so it hung in waves down my back. I’d paired tight jeans with my tan leather boots and a black V-necked jumper that clung to my curves.
We parked at the school, and I followed the girls to the stands. Of course, we had to sit right by the football pitch, in the prime seating area.
“I’m not sure if it’s a good idea to be this close to the players.” I hesitated in front of the seats.
“All the players, or one in particular?” Imogen gave me a knowing look, and I sighed.
“I might just go and sit up there.” I pointed to the empty seats on the end of the row, right near the top of the stands.
“No, you’re sitting here.” Imogen dragged me down the row and pointed to a seat. “There.” She sat on one side of me, and Anastasia sat on the other side, with her sister next to her. “Okay, now you’re here. Do you know anything about football? Anything at all?”
I rolled my eyes. “Just because I haven’t been to any games before, doesn’t mean I don’t like football. It’s more…not wanting to be around people, I suppose.”
“Get ready to be taken out of your comfort zone, then.” She said the words that Lena had repeated to me over and over, and it made me smile.
“I’m ready. That’s why I’m here.” I undid my jacket, because it was actually not so cold under the floodlights, sandwiched between the girls. “Actually, I lied when I said I know about football. I mean, I watch the international games, but I have no clue about the rules. Especially the offside rule. No idea how that works.”
“No one has any idea how that works,” Anastasia muttered next to me, then laughed.
“As long as you cheer when our team scores a goal, you’ll be fine.” Imogen gave me a reassuring smile. I relaxed into my seat as the girls conversed quietly, actually making an effort to include me, and I was surprised to realise that I was actually having a good time.
“Selfie,” Anastasia suddenly announced, and I automatically shrank back in my seat. “Stop hiding. You’re in this.” She gave me a severe look, then a tiny smile. “We do it before every game. It’s tradition. If we stopped now and the team lost, it would be our fault.”
“Superstitious, much?” Emmeline piped up, vocalising my exact thoughts.
“We can’t take that risk,” Anastasia said. “Anyway, smile!” She held her phone out, and we all leaned in together as she snapped a photo. “Mind if I tag you?”
“N-no,” I managed to say. Anastasia Egerton taking selfies with me? Had I been dropped into some parallel universe?
“Done,” she said a couple of minutes later. “While I’m on here…” Her fingers flew over her phone screen, swiping across to my profile. “I see you’ve been hanging out with Cassius Drummond. If you ever feel like introducing us, I’d owe you one.” She gave me a bright smile, flashing her teeth.
“Is this why you invited me? Because of Cassius?” I stared at her suspiciously.
“No. No it wasn’t.” Her immediate, emphatic denial made me feel a little better, although I still couldn’t quite suppress the twinge of uncertainty. “He’s just…”
“Insanely hot? The sexiest man to ever roam the streets of Alstone?” Imogen supplied.
“Exactly.” Anastasia nodded in agreement. “Have you seen him?”
“He’s gorgeous,” Emmeline added.
“Okay, okay, I get it.” I laughed.
Whatever anyone else was about to say was forgotten as the stands started filling up around us. Music blared through the speakers around the stadium, and the atmosphere became electric, buzzing with anticipation. I realised I was actually excited about this. Why had I
