ANNUAL CHARITY GALA_ _BEVERLY HILLS HOTEL - CRYSTAL BALLROOM_ _$500 PER PLATE - ALL PROCEEDS TO ROSEWOOD SCHOLARSHIP FUND_ Five hundred dollars for one plate of food. My mom worked a full wee

tel was not a hotel. It was a pink palace. Valets in red jackets. Bentleys lined up. Women in gowns that cost more than my mom's car walking in like they owned the air. I stood at the entrance holding my makeup bag, suddenly wanting to turn around and take the 720 back home. "Mia Parker?" I turned. It was Principal Davis, in a tuxedo. He smiled, surprised. "You came! Wonderful. The scholarship students never come. Go inside, sweetheart. Enjoy. You earned it." That gave me the push to walk in. The Crystal Ballroom was exactly what it sounds like. Crystal chandeliers that were bigger than my whole apartment. Round tables with white flowers. A live jazz band. Waiters in black and white with trays of champagne that I knew I wasn't allowed to drink. And everyone from Rosewood was there. All of them. Madison in a white tight dress that showed everything, holding onto Jace Carter's arm like she owned him. Her mom next to her, same blonde hair, same fake smile. Jace was in a black suit. White shirt. Black tie, but loose, like he had pulled it after five minutes. His hair was still a little damp. He looked bored out of his mind, scrolling his phone, while Madison talked to someone. Then he looked up. And saw me. He stopped scrolling. He literally stopped moving. His mouth opened a little bit. He let go of Madison's arm without even thinking about it and started walking. Fast. Through the tables. People moved out of his way. He stopped right in front of me. Too close. I could smell his cologne. Something expensive and clean. "Mia?" he said, voice low, only for me. "Is that you?" "I got lost," I said stupidly. My voice was shaking. "The bathroom is... big." He didn't laugh. He just looked at me. Slowly. From my bun, to my choker, to the red dress. "You look..." He swallowed. His Adam's apple moved. "You look unreal." "Don't," I whispered. "Please don't say I look different. I know I don't belong here, Jace. I know it." "You belong everywhere I am," he said instantly. Like he had been waiting to say it. "Do you hear me? Everywhere." Behind us, I heard that laugh. That high, fake laugh I knew too well. "Oh. My. God. Jace? Is that your little art room project?" Madison. She walked up with two of her friends. She looked me up and down, her eyes stopping on my tissue-stuffed heels and my makeup bag clutch. "Wow. Did Rosewood start inviting the catering staff to the gala now? Or is this Bring Your Scholarship To Work Day?" Her friends giggled. Loud. One of them pretended to whisper, "I think that's the girl from Inglewood who steals library books." My face burned so hot I thought my makeup would melt. I wanted the floor to open up. I wanted to run back t