My guard lowers just a little, and I drop down to sit in the shadow beneath the thick canopy of branches and leaves. I’m starving, so I immediately start in on the apple and yogurt I grabbed from the lunch line. Being careful, of course, to avoid foods that set off my allergy.
Peering up, I watch as Lexi slides down the tree trunk to sit, too. Seeing she’s currently snacking on nothing but a bag of peanut M&M’s, I hold out the bag of chips I hadn’t touched yet.
“I’m not gonna eat these. You should take them,” I suggest.
Pretty sure she’s not light on lunch because she can’t afford more, but knowing what it’s like to go hungry, I’m still inclined to offer.
That wild, beautiful hair of hers quivers when she shakes her head. “I’m cool,” she answers, but then holds her bag of candy out to me. “Want some?”
“Would, but things go bad for me when nuts are involved.”
When she smiles, I know she’s about to say something crass. Jules always does when I’m not careful of my wording.
“Things always go bad when nuts are involved. Pretty sure it has something to do with the dudes they’re attached to, though.”
My smile widens. “Facts.”
She’s quiet for a second, but then scoffs suddenly. Like there’s a bad taste in her mouth or something. However, when I look up and follow her gaze, she’s eyeing West’s table and I get it.
There, he and his brothers sit front and center, like royalty. Surrounded by their crowd of underlings, each one vying for just a morsel of the trio’s attention. It’s disgusting the way they fall over themselves, just for a chance of being accepted into their world.
Pathetic.
“They’re all just so … fake,” Lexi declares, and I don’t disagree.
“Those are the future leaders of Cypress Pointe,” I say back, adding a lackluster, “Lucky us.”
“Thing is, some of them weren’t always so pretentious. Seems like the moment we got to high school, the girls turned into blithering idiots who only make moves that earn the attention of some guy. Meanwhile, the dudes became pussy-crazed nymphos who think the sun rises and sets on their asses.”
“I think that epidemic is widespread, even beyond Cypress Prep. Unfortunately,” I add. “Boys, in general, suck.”
Nodding, she doesn’t object to the point I’ve just made. “Do you know who everyone is yet?”
I shake my head instead of speaking with my mouth full.
She points and I cast my gaze on West and crew once again.
“Tall Brunette is Parker Holiday—head of the dance squad, head groupie of the Golden boys. West, in particular,” Lexi adds. “Daddy owns a few luxury car dealerships across the state.”
The designer handbag perched on the table in front of Parker suddenly seems fitting, considering the fortune I imagine her father has amassed.
“The two blondes beside her are Ariana and Heidi. Both rich. Both on the dance squad,” Lexi continues. “The other brunette and the red head are also on the squad, but I can’t remember their names, which goes to show how important they are.”
Laughing, I lean back to rest on my palms, balancing the tray on my lap.
“The three seated directly across from the triplets are Austin, Trip, and Ryder—more football Neanderthals. And the chick who’s almost too pretty to look at, the one with the braids sitting next to Dane, is Joss Francois,” she explains.
“Another groupie?”
I expect Lexi to confirm my suspicion, but she doesn’t.
“Far from it. Peep that disinterested, ‘I’d rather be at the beach’ look on her perfectly made-up face,” Lexi answers. “I’m actually willing to bet she’s the only chick at that table who was invited to sit there.”
Admittedly, I’m intrigued. “What’s her story?”
“Well, she’s super smart. As in, our most likely candidate for valedictorian,” Lexi shares. “Daddy’s in politics and Mom’s Chief of Staff at Cypress Pointe Memorial Hospital. She also has this super loaded uncle who’s top dog at a major marketing firm. As if they don’t already have enough money, her parents are shareholders in a few startups that took off. To summarize, Joss is what I like to call rich, rich,” Lexi jokes.
“Sounds accurate,” I say, eyeing the lineup at that table. Their carefree demeanors, their outward perfection.
“She and her parents spent the entire summer visiting extended family in Haiti and Cuba,” Lexi continues. “And who can forget her sweet-sixteen on their yacht a couple years ago? I wasn’t invited, but Pandora posted all the pics. I’ve even heard rumors that she’s got a solid gold bust of herself showcased in her bedroom, but that’s probably not entirely true,” she mumbles. “But, yeah, she is one of the dancers. However, she’s not like the other girls. At least not in the Golden boys’ eyes. They respect her; therefore, the entire football team respects her, which means so does everyone else because we’re, apparently, all mindless drones when all is said and done.”
Well, at least I have one of my questions answered. I knew the guys were athletes, but it’s now been revealed that football is their sport. Still, I don’t quite understand what it is about Joss that’s earned her such high esteem. I study her during a quiet moment. She’s remarkably gorgeous, yes, but so are all the other girls. Besides, I know for a fact that a girl’s good looks don’t make her an automatic shoo in for respect.
“So, what’s the deal? She dating one of them or something?”
Lexi’s brow arches upward. “Nope, but she and Dane are besties, which is almost the same, I guess. They’ve been tight since, like, early middle school. Everybody knows he’d get on that if the opportunity arose, but it’ll never happen. They’re complete opposites.”
After taking a sip, I lower the water bottle from my lips before speaking. “How so?”
“Well, for one, he’s had more girls on their backs than all the gynos in the county combined. Meanwhile, Joss is a known virgin. The wicked playboy and the angel don’t exactly scream ‘match made in heaven’,” she points
