ie

smelled of expensive lili

a shark tank disguised by

have come.

ays ago, and Chloe-my best friend and only remain

ie," she had said, pinning my hair back

like aluminum foil-crinkled,

a glass of sparkling water like

e room w

heavy silence that sucks th

s wal

e did. Black tuxedo, sharp jawline

is arm w

curves like a second skin. She beamed, waving at peopl

annoyance, but with a intense, prote

the crowd, a part

the shadows, but Izzy

ss the room. Her smile sharp

Marcus, then steered him pu

itched loud enough to turn heads.

king the tremor in my han

ress, then at my face. He seemed annoyed that

lting her head with mock sympathy.

uttered, checking his watc

leave. I cou

zy said, r

nails dug into my skin

ack. It wa

stu

threw herself backward with the d

, and collapsed onto the marbl

t, clutching her a

gasped

knees instantly. "

looking up at him with wide, watery e

stood u

lled with a cold fury I had never seen

ng with you?

ed across the

y voice was steady, though my hands w

her?" Marcus stepped closer, looming over me. "Y

ike a physical blo

ers started, buzzing

ou see

's cr

r Mar

d from the circle. "I saw it too," she announc

And I was standing th

t me with a triumphant smirk masked

mething shif

dn't come. Instead, a cold, num

s. I mean, I *rea

looking for the truth. He had made his

n't scream. I didn't

. It was a sm

cus," I sa

y confused by my l

was still sprawled on the f

Jessica, who

of people who were judging

r eyes on my back, burning holes

, through the gilded doors,

look back

ing for a fraction of a second. She

't expec

the loudest scream of a