“Like I said, I wouldn’t put anything past my sister. The months that she was away visiting our grandparents were the most peaceful months that I think I’ve ever had. Don’t get me wrong, I love my sister … but I’ll be the first to admit she’s a lot to handle. I’ve known her literally forever and even I’m never quite sure what she’s going to do next.”
He stops and shakes his head, letting out a huff. “So much for someone who says he values honesty above all else.”
I can’t tell him why I don’t think that Bridget will report them without telling them about the leverage that I have on her. And if I tell them about that leverage, then Bridget’s secret will be blown wide open, freeing her to create as much havoc on all of us as she wants.
So, as much as I feel super guilty about keeping it a secret from him—especially now that he just monologued about how important honesty is to him—I can’t tell him.
“Come on,” Warren says as he starts to get up off of the ground and offers me a hand. “Let’s go back into the hall.”
“Why would we want to go back in there?” I ask. I was hoping that we could just leave now, maybe all head back to one of the dorms together and change out of these stupid gala clothes and into something more comfortable. It’s probably still snowing outside, and we could make hot cocoa and talk about literally anything other than what happened here tonight.
I especially have no desire to see or talk to Sterling’s dad anymore. At some point, if I do get back into Brown, which is highly unlikely to happen after the vibe that I got from Sterling’s dad tonight, I will probably eventually have to deal with that man again. But for now, I’d rather not think about it or him at all.
“You can’t let them think that they’ve won,” Warren says with his hand still outstretched toward me.
“Who?”
“Everyone that tries to knock you down. You have to let them know that you’re not afraid of them. No one has any power over you unless you let them.”
I turn my head to look at Sterling and his face looks resolute, right along with Warren and Chase. I suppose that if he can muster up enough courage to go back into the main hall where his dad and all the other review board members are probably still drinking and laughing, then I can too.
“Okay,” I say as I reach up to take Warren’s hand. “Let’s go finish this evening together then.”
When we walk back into the main hall, there are even more guests here now than there were before. We weave through the crowd together, the four of us side-by-side. None of it feels quite as intimidating now that we’re sticking close beside each other and that there really isn’t any need to hide it anymore, especially not since Bridget already knows.
And since I already know what everyone here already thinks of me, thanks to Sterling’s father’s little outburst.
I’m pretty sure that simply dating each other isn’t actually breaking any rules. Like Chase said, there are a lot of rules that we actually have broken—Sterling’s drug use is definitely one of the big ones. It’s possible she might try to report some of those things, but I really don’t think it’s likely that she’ll cross her brother.
Despite anything she might say, I know their bond runs deep.
Or at the very least, I’m really counting on the fact that it does.
Sterling’s drug use is a whole other issue though, and if we make it through tonight in one piece and get to press the reset button for tomorrow; it’s something that’s got to be dealt with.
I’m under no illusions that I can fix him, but maybe, just maybe, I can encourage him to seek out the help of someone who can.
“Let’s go up here,” Chase says as he points to the few stairs on the side of the hall that leads up to the small stage at the back of the hall. There’s a small red curtain by the stairs that’s halfway open, but still drawn just enough to cover a bunch of equipment and electrical panels on the side of the stage. This place is used when they do award ceremonies and shows and stuff too, not just the annual fancy gala event, but it’s usually mostly hidden by some well-placed potted plants.
“It’ll probably be a bit quieter up there,” he says, “plus, I think we’ll get a good vantage point to watch everything. Still get to be a part of the action without actually being a part of it.”
I give his arm a good squeeze, our eyes meeting long enough for us to share a smile. “Finally,” I say, “an idea tonight that I can wholeheartedly agree with.”
Sterling seems to like the idea too, because he grabs my other hand and leads me toward the stairs right away. I guess it makes sense since we’ll be able to keep track of where his dad is at—and avoid any more run-ins with him at all costs. It’s also just out of earshot of the rest of the hall, so we can talk without being afraid of being overheard by any of the other well-practiced party goers.
But of course, right before we make it to the stairs, Bridget has to step into our path again.
She looks over the four of us with a look of disgust that she does nothing to try to conceal.
“I refuse to let you turn this gala into your own private, twisted little make out orgy,” she says with both of her hands on her hips this time. Just the thought makes her wrinkle up her nose and make a mock gagging sound.
“Move out of the way, Bridget,”
