ating him would be my r

dark cascade. His eyelashes are thick and so long it's unfair. H

, my heart racing

emanates from his bod

ow much I

wan

wa

wa

ponse to that realization that doesn't involve a r

t him know that when he

God he'

d, wincing as

rfe

d sex, and If I were going to,

place, this stupid school... Instead he sol

ans, and my

d exposing even more beautifully carved

to see if he's wearing

uld l

fucking

as if it'll erase the image o

ressing my rock star father who's Eddie Carlton, and not

s eyes start

well and t

♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡--♡

Days Ea

ck it or just fantasiz

akes me cut off my chorus

ur sp

w crosses one tan leg over the othe

" " She's a mermaid, Carla. She wants t

the flatware from the

urns to the corner of the stage, where Jessy's readi

rbage bag for a tail.

sy blurts, turning pal

n we got our costumes, so I

betwee

on park benches and J.Lo couch surfed

s smile before I t

Stanford, and your fast track is to Real Ho

een bee edges for

never be what her daddy wants must be super relatable. I bet every night the gr

s inside to damage but hard enough to mess up her perfect waves. Maybe hard enough the made-up minions on either s

e been practicing wh

a and the others. She pushes her purple glasses up her nose expectantly, eyes narrowed on the stage. When the music starts again, I will myself to focus on my performance. To be a mermaid far away from the catty comments of bitchy

ion. " Miss Norma calls from her seat a fe

o. We

try it with th

the idea just pop

od id

ade places with Carla, who holds out her hand expectantly.

when you'r

rieve my water bottle, sniffing it be

been yours. " Laura, one of

ou is because your dad's a rock star.

erstudy. " Thalia, the o

happen in fi

Flotsam an

iel's sisters. Watching Carla perform, I

nough rehea

ays when Car

y, a m

nd cross t

auditions? The fearless

ke my

here. I

sig

nning out

t know what she can't know is how much I need this role. This year, everything is going to change for me. I feel it the way you feel

, Prin

a decent voice. It's a curse for the rest of us because he landed the male lead and begged out of almost half of rehearsals for sports. Of cou

seeing you at the p

uction cast par

a look toward Carl

vated, and her parents won't have

bout your

e would be peeling off from the evil stares of Carla

's that's as appealing as

or the doors, falling

ractice, but we should rehearse

m before holding

May

n my bare skin. Chris' attractive, and a lot of girls would love his attention, but he's not my typ

main doors. If I'd thought Oakwood Prep would be simpler than the public school I attended most of my childhood, I was wrong. It's full of p

em and me is I grew up with less than nothing until I was pluc

grass, the mature trees. It's hot for Dallas, and all I want is to get home and jump in the pool. I reach the modern steel fountain that marks the middl

s for taking things that

me and the parking lot

n't belong

alking abo

reto

itely don't bel

ociety, the rules supposedly apply equally to everyone. They don't. Not even close. Even amongst the rich, there are circles of

attempt not to die a virg

ning in as she s

Oakwood will

etween us and meet her

can get that

arl

. Uniforms are an attempt to make everyone look the same. In this case, they come up short. All three guys comin

g a sweat. He has an angled jaw and cheekbones, brown eyes a little too serious to be kind, and dark, wild hair. If Chris is this

eaks, every

the guitar, eve

imot

brea

ive me a r

t the hell out of this toxic place before I burn it down. I shift into my silver audi, turning the key in the ig

hood for the shiniest parts to

irl who has everything but

and my co-star Chris Albright share top billing on the " Senior boys every Junior girl would give their BMW to bang " list, it'

rom nothing and doesn't blink before taking everythin

a king doesn't mean h

er at

, you're dumber

rk hair, the chunk of blue at

ture. You put on a scarf and held

ity carnival. I

that spiritual advice. Do

thy's nodding through the windshield, rolling up the sleeves of his shirt dress, the jacket are already gone. I don't want Timothy Adams under my hood. But if I have to call

ound my neck for safekeeping. I don't notice his height, his hard body, the careless way he

hy Carla fuck

er, twisting one end of his tie

us of my fash

me an incre

with your heart on your sleeve, begging to

bleed. I knot the bottom of my shirt up a

ving anything that could be

want you, they want what they think you possess. And the

a coiled elastic off my wrist, twisting my long hair

might think being Prince o

car to me. The crisp white shirt, rolled at the sleeves, makes him look gorgeous and a little reckless, like some pirate on a mission to charm an

Someone might think

ranks ever could. I want him to back the fuck up, but I can't speak. Right now, all I can do is take in Timothy's

need some

ah, I

t is supposed to propel blood to your vital organs. Mine a traitor. It doesn't give a fuck if I live or die. When he's this close, it beats for him. He drops his wrench i

tell me you cheated

e of my skirt, and I

y skirt is none o

th as he straightens

e murmurs moment la

e coupling for yo

my blank

ter at politi

the rolled-up arm of his d

If it gives you any

he start button, the engine roars to life. Relief washes over me as I stuff my blazer in the back seat and unbutton my shirt another button

pped with comm

e bag on top of my books. I shi

t the park last week, but no, that's my practice costume fo

ave trouble evadin

ans Anderson wa

taking credit for it. He reaches into the car, and my breath hitches as he lifts his tie from around my neck, drawing it out in a long ribbon. The silk strokes

reative with my car, I'm

you're

ng a hand through his

estroy me for letting h

m out of my life. Oakwood's rebel prince doesn't live in a brick mansion with a closet full of V-n