Chapter 11
“These are marvelous, Ms. Matthews. Excellent work so far,” Professor Borison praises, nearly bringing me to tears.
“Really? Thank you so much, seriously.” I stare down at the gown collection I’m working on for my Fashion Illustration class. I’m quite proud of what I’ve done so far.
Annoyingly, it’s partly inspired by the work I did for Adrianna’s engagement dress. Tons of beading, lace work, and intricate lines that create unique and flattering silhouettes.
I’m hoping this project can double as my blueprint for the pieces I have to construct for Dr. Salvador’s class next semester.
I wouldn’t see why not, but sometimes, professors have dumb rules for such things.
“I can’t wait to see it when it’s all finished.” She smiles up at me from her desk. “Elijah Jackson, you’re up.”
Grabbing my sketchbook, I head back to my desk to keep working, feeling inspired as ever. I get lost in it. Multiple students are called up for review with Professor Borison before I even notice my entire row is done.
Chatter grows throughout the class, murmurs and whispers filling the room. It takes a moment for me to come out of my stupor and realize that the noise is growing tenfold by the second.
Squeals sound sporadically throughout the room, and I look around frantically, wondering if there’s secretly a puppy or cute animal running around that I’m somehow missing.
“Quiet down,” Professor Borison orders. “Phones away.”
Her order has the opposite effect, as everyone who didn’t already have their phones out retrieves theirs, including me, keeping it face down because I’m still scared to see.
“Did you see it? Dean and Asher? A girl’s dream come true.” A girl in the row in front of me swoons.
Oh God. What is happening?
I carefully flip my phone over, terrified that I’m about to be exposed somehow and my entire life will be upended. Adrianna is going to literally kill me or burn me alive, along with the house.
As I read the message from the HEAU admin—a rather unusual message from them, I might add—my heart leaps into my throat.
Our Mystery Girl, This past weekend, a woman wearing a blue gown and mask swept us off our feet. If this was you, meet us tonight, in our special place. Please, Princess. We just want to see you again. —Asher and Dean Kensington
What. The. Actual. Hell?!
How is this happening right now? How is this real life? I thought they would drop it or give up eventually! Not turn the entire school into a zoo to lure me out.
Jules is already spamming me.
Jules: Oh my God! Did you see the text?
Jules: I told you it wasn’t nothing to them.
Jules: Omg, they really like you!!!
Jules: Girl, you’d better get your men!!!
Jules: For the both of us!!!
Jules: Please, God!!!
Jules: I will track you down if you don’t start answering me.
I’m here, ha-ha. Trying to catch up on all of your messages.
Jules: About time!!! Are you freaking out too? Where are you?
In Kasten Hall. Getting out in five minutes.
Jules: I’ll meet you outside.
I heart her message and then set my phone down, attempting to focus on my collection for the last few minutes. But it’s pointless because I can’t think of anything but Dean and Asher.
I really, truly thought that at some point, they would drop this whole thing and forget about that night and me. That clearly is not their intention, I see.
The girls in front of me are giggling, and I peer over the ledge of my desk to see what they’re looking at.
Holy mother of God.
They’re scrolling through Asher’s Instagram page, currently paused on a shirtless mirror selfie that’s so goddamn hot that it should be illegal. Like, that was the man I was straddling and making out with at the party? Him and his broody, hot-ass brother?
I haven’t even considered checking out their socials because I’ve never had any social media account. My dad never let me, and after so long, I didn’t have any interest.
Since everyone still doesn’t know that I exist, the idea of starting an account is daunting. It’s like opening up a never-ending can of worms. Eventually, someone will put two and two together, and I will become the story in every tabloid and rumor. That’s just not for me.
They scroll down, and a picture of Asher and Dean in their jerseys appear. They’re beaming, eyes bright, smiles too big for their faces. My heart warms when I see them smile like that. They look so happy.
I know they’re not mine in any capacity. We aren’t anything. But seeing them so joyful means the world to me, especially after everything we talked about that night.
“If I find out who this girl is, I’m killing her so I can take her place,” one of the girls mutters, and I can’t help but grin, knowing the truth.
“And then give one of them to me,” her friend cheers.
“All right, class, thank you for your hard work. Any reviews not done today will be completed first thing on Monday. Have a good weekend!” Professor Borison dismisses us, and I waste no time tossing everything into my bag and heading out of the door.
Jules is right outside of my class, and I nearly run smack dab into her as I round the corner.
She loops her arm in mine, practically skipping as we head out of the hall and down the steps. “Your life is literally turning into a Cinderella story. You realize that, right? Meet at a ball. Search you out. Hide in plain sight. But add hot-ass chemistry and two hockey players.”
I nearly laugh at the comparison. My parents named me after that very fairy tale. It was my mom’s favorite. I wonder what they’d think, seeing me now.
“Keep your voice down,” I scold as we descend the stairs and reach the sidewalk.
She pulls us into the grass and out of the way of passersby, slamming to a halt with an intimidating gleam in her eyes. “Wait, are you really not going to tell them?”
“Are you insane?” I practically shout before instantly lowering my voice. “No. If anything, I’m going to tell them to leave me alone.”
“That’s horrible!” Her face contorts, her words leaving her lips in disbelief. “And you want that?”
I sigh. “It doesn’t matter what I want right now. What matters is that all of this ends.”
Her face softens with pity, and I hate it.
“Cirella, what you want matters most.”
“It’s not that simple.” My heart aches.
“Why? Because of Adrianna and your parents’ house?”
“Yes, exactly because of that.” It’s not a small reason. “She will destroy everything, Jules. Everything. I can’t let her do that.”
“We’ll help you deal with her. Besides, the second you tell everyone the truth, she’ll be dirt beneath their shoes,” Jules argues.
She may be right, but that still wouldn’t get me everything I wanted.
“That doesn’t help me if she refuses to sign over the deed.” My skin crawls at the thought of losing that house. “I can’t risk it.”
She mulls my words over, taking a few breaths before her excitement finally wanes.
“Okay. But I still think you’re insane for not pursuing them.
Not just because of who they are, but the way you guys met, talked, danced.
It’s like it was a dream. Not everyone gets to experience that in their life, you know? ”
“I know,” I whisper, feeling more disheartened by the second.
I don’t want to lose them or the connection we have, but I don’t want to make this harder than it already is.
“How are you going to get them off your back?” she asks, as we continue to walk back toward the mansion.
Shrugging, I exhale slowly. “That part I haven’t quite figured out.”
She skips a step. “I know a way you could.”
“How’s that?” I roll my eyes, expecting some kind of silly response.
Cheers and shrieks cry out behind us, like a flood of fangirls. We turn, and my jaw nearly falls to the floor.
Thirty feet behind us stand Dean and Asher with about forty girls surrounding them. It looks like what I imagine would happen if Justin Bieber walked across campus.
“That is a whole new level of desperation,” Jules groans in disgust.
“Maybe they’ll find their princess in that group.” A small part hopes that statement will come true because it would mean I didn’t have to get any more involved. But it would absolutely obliterate the other part of me.
“No, babe, you’re one of a kind. None of those groupies are ever playing your part that well. Trust me.”
A pit of tar and sulfur forms in my stomach. The guys are smiling at everyone, clearly overwhelmed with the crowd surrounding them.
A stupid, very idiotic thought pops into my mind to rescue them, pull them away to somewhere private. But then what?
Exactly. Nothing good.
“Come on. Let’s go,” I mutter, sick of seeing so many girls touching them.
I don’t even deserve to be jealous when I won’t do anything about it. But that doesn’t quench the way I yearn for their touch … and their kiss.
Dean’s head whips up, his eyes locking immediately on to mine. My breath freezes in my lungs, my mouth instantly drying.
Oh God. Oh God. He’s going to recognize me.
His dark green eyes, lighter in the sunlight, study me intently. I can practically see the wheels turning in his mind.
Oh no … this is it.
But then he looks on without so much of a smile.
Good, I tell myself.
It’s better this way—that they never find out who I really am.
An idea comes to mind. Since he didn’t recognize me today, I doubt another visit would make any difference.
Tonight, I’m going to end this once and for all. I’ll wear my mask one last time and tell them that it’s over.
How many times is too many times to call yourself an idiot in your mind? Because I think I might be setting a new record as we speak, making my way out of the back door with Jules’s help.
“You look hot, by the way,” she whispers. “Just a coincidence or trying to impress a couple of guys whose hearts you’re about to break?”
“I’m not breaking their hearts, okay? We had one night together. They will move on.” I encourage her to contain herself and not make this harder than it already is.