Elite - Chapter 32
Saturday
Isabella and I both just stared at each other for a second. She was holding James’ crown so tightly in her hand that I thought it might snap.
I could barely breathe. Maybe she was planning on snapping the crown in half and then slicing my throat with it. I gulped.
But then Isabella just turned away and disappeared into the crowd. And for some reason that felt even worse than her just getting it over with right here. She was going to plot out something awful, which made it that much more terrifying.
“Did you just see Isabella’s face?” Kennedy asked.
“Yes.” My voice came out weird and squeaky.
“She’s going to do something awful.” She turned to me. “I know you’re mad at Matt, but why the hell did you kiss James of all people? Couldn’t you have just made Matt jealous by making out with Miller?”
“I…I don’t know. Because he asked. I…” I shook my head. I felt like an idiot.
She laughed. “It’ll be fine. Isabella can’t try to pull anything on you tonight because I’m sleeping over. So you’re at least safe for one more day. And we can tell your dad about it when we get back to your place. He’ll make sure she doesn’t do anything.”
“Mhm.”
“Come on,” she said and hiccupped. “Let’s dance.”
How much had she had to drink while I was making terrible choices? “Kennedy,” I said and looked down at the empty cup in her hand as she started shimmying her hips. “Haven’t you had enough?”
She laughed and threw her hands up in the air. “Nunca!” She threw the glass in the air along with her hands and it shattered on the floor. But the noise was drowned out by the music blaring all around us.
She looked so happy and carefree that all I could do was laugh along with her. I couldn’t be mad at her. And she wouldn’t let me be mad at myself, because she grabbed my hands and we started spinning in a dizzying circle. At least, I couldn’t be mad until she let go of my hands.
I stumbled backward and right into someone’s strong arms. No, not just someone. I looked up and saw a very familiar looking clean-shaven chin. “Hi Felix.”
“I was just about to tap you on the shoulder, but you literally fell into my arms,” he said.
I turned around, easing out of his grip. “Thanks for catching me.”
He gave me a small smile.
I knew he was right in front of me. But this didn’t feel like the perfect time to go forth with Operation Felix.
This felt like the perfect time to dance with my best friend and not think about the fact that I’d kissed James or that the Hunters and Caldwells had gotten into a fist fight.
Or that Miller was somewhere here watching all of this.
And I’d told him I’d just be dancing with Kennedy all night. Screw me.
“May I have this dance?” Felix asked and gave me an adorable bow like we were in some old-time movie.
“Felix…”
“It’s fine,” Kennedy said with a huge smile on her face. “You two dance. I’m going to go get another drink. I saw Rob spike it too so it’s extra strong now.”
“No. Kennedy.” I reached out for her but she literally bolted in the other direction and disappeared into the other dancers. Shit.
“I heard there was a fight,” Felix said. “I wish I could have seen Matt get the shit beat out of him, but I got here kind of late.”
He hadn’t been here for the fight? He hadn’t seen any of it? “There was a fight. But do you mind if we catch up in just a second? I really need to go check on Kennedy.”
“Sorry that was not the way I planned to start this conversation.” He roughly put his fingers through his hair. “The last thing I wanted to do was bring up Matt. Let me just rewind for a sec.” He put his hand out for me. “May I have this dance?”
“I…actually, Kennedy…” my voice trailed off. “I need to go make sure Kennedy’s okay.”
“I’m trying to apologize here, newb. Just give me a minute.”
How many more cups of punch could Kennedy consume in a minute?
Probably not that many. I’d been waiting for Felix to talk to me again all week.
And here he was wanting to talk. Not that he needed to say anything to me.
I was the one that needed to apologize. And instead of manning up to it, I was trying to run in the opposite direction. What was wrong with me?
I took a deep breath. Instead of taking his hand, I just started talking.
“Felix, I’m so so sorry. I never meant to lead you on, I swear.
It’s just that Matt made me promise I wouldn’t tell anyone we were seeing each other.
And we weren’t exclusive. Him and I. Or you and I.
” This was all coming out in a jumbled mess.
And Felix was just staring at me. I wasn’t even sure he could hear me, so I started talking louder over the music.
“Felix, you’re one of my best friends. I hate fighting with you.
I hate you being mad at me. Please don’t shut me out.
I know I was a jerk, but I didn’t mean to be.
In the moment I just really really needed a shoulder to cry on.
Literally. And you were there. And you’re so handsome.
” My gaze had locked on to his ocean blue eyes.
What am I even saying right now? I was supposed to be setting him up with Kennedy, not telling him he was dreamy.
Finally a smile spread over his face. “Newb, I came over to apologize to you. Not the other way around.” He stopped asking for a dance and just grabbed my hand and pulled me into his chest.
The way he was staring at me made my heart race. I needed to focus. And not on the way his body felt pressed against mine. “I like being friends with you,” I said.
“You’re not looking at me like a friend,” he said.
“Yes I am.”
“No…you’re not.” He tilted his head a little lower to mine.
I closed my eyes to drown out the image of him in front of me.
“Felix Green, it’s true, I am attracted to you.
And I love talking to you. You have no idea how much I missed our conversations this week.
But none of that matters because I’m so confused that my head literally hurts. I’m a freaking mess.”
“You’re not a mess. You’re beautiful.”
My stupid stomach betrayed me by feeling butterflies.
“You weren’t here a few minutes ago, but I freaking kissed James Hunter because he made me feel like I owed him.
And that Matt deserved it. Or something.
I don’t even know why I did it. That’s how big of a mess I am.
That’s what caused the huge fight. Me. All of it’s my fault. ”
“Don’t you see what’s happening? Those boys are messing with your head, newb. They don’t care about anyone but themselves. They don’t care about you. But I do. I’m not one of them. You and I aren’t like them.”
I opened my eyes again. “I’m a Pruitt.” The name felt gross on my tongue.
“No.” He tucked a loose strand of hair behind my ear. “You’re a Sanders. Always and forever.”
Always and forever. “I also sleep in my bodyguard’s bed most nights because I’m terrified of the Pruitts’ apartment and he’s kind and lets me cry in his arms.”
“That Miller guy?” Felix laughed. “Isn’t he a little old for you?”
That Miller guy. Oh God, I didn’t even know Miller’s first name. And I didn’t know how old he was either. I pressed my lips together.
“So you ran into another man’s bed because I wasn’t talking to you all week,” Felix said. “That’s kind of on me.”
Or did I do it because I’d iced out Matt all week? My head was spinning. What was Operation Felix again? “Do you know who’s not a mess? Kennedy. She’s not a mess at all.”
“You sure about that? I mean…aren’t all three of us a mess? We’re all going to a school we don’t really belong at.”
“Kennedy belongs at Empire High. She’s so smart. And you belong here too. It doesn’t matter that you’re not old money. You belong here, Felix. With Kennedy.”
“With Kennedy? Are you dropping out or something?”
Why wasn’t he getting this? “No. I mean you should be with Kennedy.”
He looked at me like I was crazy. “Kennedy hates me.”
“No she doesn’t.”
“Are we talking about the same Kennedy? Kennedy Alcaraz? She’s literally told me she hates me on several occasions. Sometimes she yells at me in Spanish and I don’t know what she’s saying, but I can tell from her tone that it’s not very nice.”
“Well you should read between the lines.”
“There’s probably knives between the lines.”
“She doesn’t hate you.” But it was true, usually the things Kennedy said in Spanish were not the kindest. I was still wondering what a puta mierda was. But I figured it wasn’t good because of the tone she’d used.
“Well, we can agree to disagree on that one,” Felix said. “Besides, it doesn’t matter. Because I’m pretty sure I’m addicted to you. I tried to stay away, yet here I am. Do you think I’d ever be caught dead at a freaking homecoming dance if it wasn’t for you? This isn’t exactly my scene, newb.”
Like participating in gym class wasn’t his scene. I’d known that when I fell into his arms. He wouldn’t have ever come to this dance if it wasn’t for me. It was sweet and… damn it! I wasn’t supposed to be confused about this.
“And if you’re still up for kissing people to make Matt jealous, he’s watching right now.”
Oh no. I looked over my shoulder to follow Felix’s gaze. Matt was staring at us like he was about to internally combust. I was surprised I didn’t see steam coming out of his ears. He downed a cup of punch in one gulp. Did he not know that it was double spiked?
“I don’t think that’s a good idea,” I said and turned back to Felix.
“Yeah, you’re probably right. I only just got rid of my last black eye.”
“I’m so so sorry about…”
“You already apologized. And I already told you, I’m the one that needed to apologize. Which, I still need to do. And no, I’m not going to sing about it and get chased by Coach Carter.”
I laughed.