Chapter 19 –This Russian Chick is Amazing
Tuesday
Sophie tried to get me to snap a sexy photo for my kiss thief right away. But I’d panicked. My kiss thief seemed to know me. Which meant he shouldn’t really expect me to do that. If he actually liked me...he should understand that first kisses didn’t usually leap immediately to texting nudes.
But he’d still asked.
And thoughts of him preoccupied my mind all of last night and all day today. You first. His words rolled around in my head on repeat. He wanted a picture of me. It made me feel desired in a way I’d never felt before. You first.
I’d never been one to back down from a challenge. And I felt myself cracking. “Is it possible to make the pictures tasteful?”
“We’ll make it classy,” Sophie said for the umpteenth time. “I promise.”
I held my books against my chest. “I don’t really have anything that sexy to wear.”
“Guys drool over girls in uniform. We just need to undo a few buttons and roll up your skirt...”
“Sophie, I’m only just getting ungrounded at midnight tonight. I’m never rolling my skirt again.”
“Fair. Well, you can just borrow some of my lingerie,” she said way too loudly for the halls of our school. “I have this really nice lacy black set that pushes my boobs practically up to my chin.”
Why was she shouting? Oh. Never mind. I knew why.
“The last guy who saw me in it was practically drooling,” she yelled as we passed by Mr. Halifax’s open doorway. He was sitting at his desk, but he looked up at her ruckus.
“And I’m going to wear it on my date with Pavel tomorrow,” she added before Mr. Halifax was out of view. Sophie was beaming. “Do you think he heard all that?”
“I think everyone heard all that.” I shook my head. I knew she was more experienced than me, but I was starting to wonder if I should really be taking advice from someone who was trying to seduce her teacher. “Sophie, you are not playing it cool at all.”
“I’m definitely playing it cool. Mr. Halifax is going to be thinking of me in lacy black lingerie while he’s in the shower tonight. Trust me.”
I was too busy gaping at Sophie to see that the Triple Gs had walked up to us. And I definitely didn’t see Gigi’s stupid foot in my way. I tripped and fell to my knees as my books went flying in every direction.
Damn it.
Georgia and Gemma laughed along with their demon lord.
“Gigi, aren’t you late for...torturing kittens or something?” asked Sophie as she helped me pick up my books.
The Triple Gs all laughed.
Even though the joke was on them? These girls were the worst.
“I’m so sorry,” said Gigi in a very fake tone. “I didn’t see you there.”
Sometimes I felt invisible in these hallways. But I knew it was kind of hard to be invisible with red hair. I stuck out whether I wanted to or not. And I knew she’d done it on purpose. Again.
“Maybe you should get your eyes checked,” Sophie said. “It’s the second time in a week that your big feet have been in the way of passersby.”
Gigi glared at her, but didn’t take the bait. “I’m actually glad I ran into you guys. Who do you think you’re going to ask to the Sadie Hawkins dance? Because I certainly don’t want us to accidentally ask the same guy.”
Why did that sound like a threat? I brushed off my skirt and grabbed the books Sophie handed me. I looked forward to the Sadie Hawkins dance every year. It was my one opportunity to ask Axel to be my date instead of the other way around. And then every year I was disappointed. Because Axel had always had a girlfriend around the dance. But he didn’t have one this year. And I’d be lying if asking him hadn’t popped into my head a few times.
“That dance is like two months away,” Sophie said. “Homecoming is sooner. And I have no idea who I’ll be into by either of them.” But I saw her eyes trail to Mr. Halifax’s classroom longingly. She was only into one guy. And I didn’t think Mr. Halifax was going to make a move.
I was familiar with the feeling. It was like me waiting for Axel. And it completely sucked.
“Well, I know who I’ll be asking,” Gigi said. “Axel Stevens.”
I swallowed hard. What is my life?
“Axel?” Sophie laughed. “Trust me, Gigi. Axel has better taste.”
“He has fantastic taste. I would know. We’ve been texting non-stop since the party on Friday.”
What? I pictured Axel texting yesterday and today at lunch. Had he been texting...Gigi? There was no way. He wouldn’t do that to me. He’d promised...
Crap. No. He’d promised not to hook up with Gigi if I didn’t flirt with his best friend. And I’d actually been doing quite a bit of flirting with Jacob.
“I wouldn’t get too comfortable in that jacket,” Gigi said. “It’ll be mine by the end of the week.” She blew me a kiss and then she and her minions strutted off in their high heels.
I looked down at my flats. I’d never felt so insignificant in my life. “He’s been texting her?” I whispered.
“Stupid boy games. I hate high schoolers. You should really only date guys that are at least in their twenties. It’s science.”
“You have a date with Pavel tomorrow.”
“It’s just for show. Obvs. But I am excited to see if his nickname is true.”
“You mean the nickname we made up? Pavel the exploder?”
“Oh. Did we make it up?” She shrugged. “I thought everyone called him that. Only time will tell.”
I sighed and walked toward the front doors of Empire High. I just wanted to go home and faceplant into my bed.
“At least we found out about Axel’s betrayal today instead of tomorrow. Tomorrow’s our fresh start. And this would have been a pretty terrible way to start it.”
It definitely would have been. But also...I wasn’t even that surprised. I’d given Axel a million chances. And I refused to give him a million and one. If he liked me even half as much as I liked him, he’d never treat me this way. And I was done with high school boy games.
I stood up a little taller as we pushed through the doors. The first smells of autumn were in the air. Tomorrow really was a new beginning. And I was going to make the most of it. “It’s fine.”
Sophie raised her eyebrows. “Yeah?”
I nodded. “Axel is dead to me. If he wants to take Gigi to homecoming or the Sadie Hawkins dance just to spite me, that’s fine. He can dance with the devil. Besides, I’m busy. I have a lunch date tomorrow with a great guy.”
Sophie nodded. “Team Jacob.”
“And I have a stalker that needs some sexy photos.”
“Really?” Sophie looked so excited.
“Wait.” I grabbed her arm. “Maybe this is a bad idea.”
Sophie groaned.
“If my kiss thief isn’t Jacob, then texting someone else sexy photos will just be something else I need to come clean about...”
“But it could be Jacob. And either way, it’s not like the two of you are together right now. You’re overthinking it. Come on. Let’s just take them and you can decide later if you want to send them.”
That was true. I slowly nodded.
“Let’s go take the sexiest photos in the world.”
I laughed. It was hard not to be caught up in her enthusiasm. “Yes!”
Sophie clapped her hands together. “Boudoir shoot! And I have the perfect idea.”
***
“Sophie, this is a terrible idea,” I said as we tiptoed down the stairs. Whenever she said she had a good idea, I should have known it meant the opposite. It was like she was hellbent on getting me in trouble.
“No, it’s a fabulous idea. You’re still grounded and can’t come to my place, which means we need to find you sexy clothes in a pinch.”
I was seriously regretting batting down her sexy uniform idea right about now.
But we somehow made it through the great room and down the hallway undetected. She pulled me into the guest bedroom.
“Where are the cameras in here?” she asked as she gingerly made her way around the carpet.
“There aren’t any.”
“Really?”
“Yeah. Apparently guests in our house are the only ones that are allowed to have any privacy.”
“Well, score. And no one’s found our secret escape hatch yet?”
I shook my head. But I’d hardly call it an escape hatch. Since there was no hatch. “By a stroke of luck, part of my grounding was helping with chores around the house. I offered to clean the guest rooms. So Ellen hasn’t come into this room since RJ destroyed the floor. But I won’t be helping out starting tomorrow. And I know she comes in and vacuums and cleans once a week. And if we have any company...”
“RJ said he’d fix it. So he will.” Sophie picked up the edge of the carpet and tossed it off the gaping hole in the floor.
I groaned. “This doesn’t look any different.”
“He has practice every day after school now. But I’m sure he’ll get to it by this weekend. Don’t sweat it.”
I was definitely sweating it. If Ellen didn’t trust my cleaning ability, she might come in here sooner than next week.
Sophie’s head disappeared as she climbed down the ladder into our downstairs neighbor’s apartment.
I made sure the guest room door was locked and followed her. “We have to make this quick,” I said and hopped off the ladder. “My parents will probably come check on us soon. And when they see we’re missing from my bedroom...”
“Yes, we need to have the fastest boudoir shoot in the history of boudoir shoots. Come with me.” Sophie pulled on my arm, dragging me out into the hallway and into another bedroom. She pushed open the door of the walk-in closet.
“Didn’t Liam say the owner of this apartment has been gone for a year? Why did she leave so many clothes here?”
“I don’t know. But this Russian girl has amazing taste. Isn’t this perfect?” Sophie pulled the white, floor-length fur coat that she’d already tried on off a hanger.
I was a little confused about why she’d chosen something so full coverage. But if a huge fur coat counted as sexy, I was totally here for it. “This really is perfect,” I said and pulled it on over my uniform. “Ready.” I put my hand on my hip.
Sophie laughed. “No.”
“You picked it out.”
“Yeah but you need to pair it with...” She opened up a drawer and pulled out some lacy white lingerie. “This.” She tossed it at me. “Put that on and wear the coat off one shoulder.”
“Seriously?”
“Do I look like I’m joking? It screams sexy Russian. And that’s the theme because we’re in a Russian’s apartment and time is of the essence!”
She was right. I didn’t have time to second guess her demands. And I wasn’t even sure I was going to send these to my kiss thief. I quickly changed and pulled the coat on.
Sophie grabbed my phone, pushed the furry material off one of my shoulders, and started snapping pictures. “Hand on your hip. No, higher. Great, but arch your back. More. And stick your butt back, trust me, it’ll make your waist look even tinier. Woah, no, not that much. Yes, there. And tilt your head to the side. Got it.”
I tried to follow her directions, but I was seconds away from falling over.
“Now drop the coat.”
“Sophie, I’m not taking pictures in just lingerie.”
“Your stalker is expecting no clothes at all. If anything, lingerie is a little prude, don’t you think?”
I wasn’t sure about that...
“But let’s change to black lingerie instead. It’ll make your pale skin pop.” She rummaged around some more and tossed my outfit change at me. If you could really call something so skimpy an outfit. There were so many thick straps on this one. And I had a hard time figuring out how to put it on.
“It screams bondage,” Sophie said as she helped me. “Your stalker is going to love this.”
“He’s not a stalker, Soph. He’s a kiss thief.”
“With great taste. Now go lie spread eagle on the bed.”
“What? No. And I need a robe or something.” I found a black silky robe on a hanger and pulled it on.
Sophie shook her head, but didn’t say anything. “At least get on the bed and like...jump up and down. Oh, with this pillow.” She tossed it at me. “Trust me.”
At least she’d let me wear a robe. I hopped onto the bed and started jumping on the mattress.
“Higher,” Sophie said.
This was actually kind of fun. I started jumping and for some reason Sophie laughed, which made me laugh. I laughed harder when she started chucking pillows at me. I blocked them with the pillow I was holding and then collapsed backward as she kept snapping photos.
“These are so hot, Scar. But it’s still a lot of coverage. What about a bashful nipple?”
I laughed. “What are you talking about?”
“You know. Have your bra slip down a little and pretend to look all shocked about it.”
“I’m not doing a bashful nipple.” I tossed the pillow at her head.
“What about a sheer top? Double bashful nipple! I think I saw something in the closet.”
Not happening. I ran after her into the closet. She was just about to pull something off the hanger when I saw a storage bin in the corner that would be perfect. “Wait, I think it’s my turn to pick something.”
“Okay. Have at it.”
“I’ll wear something from that.” I pointed to the bin.
Sophie raised her eyebrow. “It’s labeled SKI CLOTHES.”
“Yeah. It’ll be plenty sexy. Like...goggles and stuff.”
Sophie laughed. “Now you want to cover your face too?”
I shrugged. Honestly that wasn’t a horrible idea. “Goggles can be sexy. Like...hanging between my breasts?”
“How long are the goggles you’re picturing exactly?”
“I don’t know. Goggle length?”
She shook her head. “Never mind. Fine. But whatever is in there, you have to promise to wear it.”
Why did this feel like a trick? I stared at her uneasily. How bad could it be though? There were no sexy ski clothes that I was aware of. Unless thermal underwear could be sexy. “Deal.” I popped off the lid of the storage container. “What the actual F? Why are there only bikinis in here?”
Sophie laughed. “This Russian chick is amazing.”
“How did you know it was going to be bikinis?”
“I didn’t. But I had a feeling it would be something sexy. Because her lingerie drawer was labeled boots.” She pointed to the label. “I don’t think she’s very good at English. And literally everything in this closet is sexy. Do you think she really skis in bikinis though? Because that’s amazing.”
“No sane person would ski in a bikini.” And even if they did, there should still be goggles.
“But a sane person would wear one of these for a sexy photo.” Sophie lifted up the skimpiest emerald green bikini I’d ever seen. “This will look great with your hair. And it looks like it has some extra lift for the girls. Score.”
I sighed. I guess I had agreed to this. At least this one was easy to change into. And the cups on the bikini top really did make my boobs look good.
“Okay, now put both hands on the doorjamb and pop your hip.”
I placed my hands on either side of the doorway.
Sophie smiled. “He’s going to love these. Toss your hair over your shoulder.”
I flicked my hair back and she snapped a few more.
“Wait we need heels. And let me find that sheer top real quick...” her voice trailed off when my phone buzzed in her hands. “Shit.”
“What?”
“Your mom just texted you asking where you were!”
“WHAT?!” Oh God, I was hours away from being ungrounded. And now I was going to be grounded again!
Sophie gave me my phone, but I tossed it back. She bobbled it like hot potato and threw it back at me.
“What do I say?!”
“Just...hurry.” Sophie picked my uniform blazer up off the ground.
I didn’t have time to take off the bikini. I just pulled on my uniform as we ran out of the bedroom. I almost tripped as I hopped on one foot, pulling on my knee-high socks.
Sophie grabbed my arm to steady me as we high-tailed it toward the ladder. I was just about to be ungrounded. I couldn’t believe I let Sophie talk me into this photoshoot.
We both made it up to the guest bedroom and just tossed the carpet back over the hole when my phone started buzzing again.
“She’s calling!” I hissed.
“Just play it cool.”
We both knew I didn’t know how to play it cool.
Sophie seemed to remember who she was talking to. Instead of answering my phone, she opened the door of the bedroom. “Down here, Aunt Penny!”
“What are you doing?” I hissed. “If she comes in here she’s going to break her neck.”
“I’ve got this.” Sophie hopped onto the bed. “You stay there and make sure she doesn’t touch the carpet.”
I realized one of the corners of the carpet was folded over. I just tapped it down with my foot as my mom came to the door.
“What are you guys doing in here?” she asked.
“I was testing out the bed to see if I wanted to spend the night.” Sophie patted the mattress. “This should work.”
My mom raised her eyebrow. “Sophie, Scarlett is grounded. You can’t spend the night.”
“But...”
“No buts. And the two of you are supposed to be working on some project, aren’t you?”
“We finished early,” Sophie said.
“Then I think you should probably leave Scarlett to her chores. Since she’s grounded.”
Sophie sighed and slid off the bed. “I guess you’re right. See you tomorrow at school, Scar. Have a fun night.” She winked at me.
My mom looked around the room, like she thought something was amiss. But then she shook her head and followed Sophie.
Phew. Sophie was a lifesaver.
I hurried up to my room before my mom could ask me any questions. I changed out of the bikini I stole and into a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top. I hid the contraband at the bottom of one of my drawers. I’d return it as soon as I got a chance.
I sat down on my bed and started going through the pictures Sophie took. Oh my God. These were...a lot. Was this really what my kiss thief wanted? There was no bashful nipple, but all the photos were quite revealing. My robe had even fallen when I was jumping on the bed. I was just in bondage lingerie laughing like I did it every day.
My stomach twisted into knots.
This wasn’t me. I’d tried changing myself for Axel. I didn’t want to change for anyone else. I wanted someone to just like me for...me. And my kiss thief presumably knew me. So didn’t he just want a picture of me being me?
Before I could chicken out, I snapped a picture of me in my pajamas sitting on my bed. I texted it to my kiss thief.
And then I waited.
And waited.
And waited.
I groaned and fell backward on my bed.
He didn’t respond to my non-sexy photo. But he’d also never responded to me until nighttime. The earliest he’d ever texted me was during dinner. Probably because he was busy at football practice. Gah, I hated that we’d only narrowed it down to a baker’s dozen men.
I glanced at the time. It was almost dinner time now. Practice was over.
He clearly just didn’t like the picture.
I thought about how I’d dressed at the party last Friday. My gold sparkly dress was short and revealing. Whoever had stolen my first kiss probably thought I wasn’t so...what had Sophie said? Prude? I sighed.
“Pumpkin,” my dad said and knocked on my door.
“Yes?”
He opened the door. “I think dinner’s almost ready. I heard you and Sophie finished your project. What did you say you were researching again?”
“Nothing that exciting.” I pushed myself off my bed. “And the results were...inconclusive.”
He put his arm around my shoulders. “Anything else going on? I noticed that you’ve been wearing Axel’s varsity jacket all week. I know he gave it to you to help cover your inappropriate outfit.”
“Yeah, it’s probably time I gave that back.”
“Good,” he said.
Why did it seem like both my parents loved when I was miserable?
I sat down at the dinner table. “Anything fun happen at practice?” I asked Liam.
He shrugged. “No one was talking about you in the locker room, if that’s what you’re asking.”
My dad choked on the sip of water he’d just taken. “Why would your teammates be talking about Scarlett in the locker room?”
“Beats me,” Liam said.
Rude.
“But Pavel mentioned that he has a date with Sophie tomorrow.”
“Pavel?” my mom asked. “I haven’t heard you mention his name before. Is he a new friend of yours, Liam?”
Liam shrugged. “He’s just a guy on the team.”
I could have easily thrown my brother under the bus and told them that Pavel and him had been fighting in a boxing ring last weekend. But I kept my mouth shut. I still owed Liam for all his help escaping from the apartment. And mentioning the party would just get me in trouble too.
“Are you getting excited for your first game?” my dad asked.
“Yeah, but I’m not sure we’re going to win. Practice was shit today.”
“Language,” my father said.
“Well, it was. Axel flat out refused to hand the ball off to Jacob and kept changing up the plays. And I’m happy to catch more passes, but we need a run game if we want to have any chance at winning.”
I had so many questions. But my phone buzzed in my pocket and I tuned everything out when I saw that my kiss thief had texted. It was another two word response again.
“You’re adorable.”
Adorable? Seriously? My shoulders slumped. I didn’t want him to think I was adorable. I pressed my lips together. And if he was only giving me two words, I could give him the same treatment. “Your turn,” I texted.
And this time he texted back right away. I laughed out loud at the ridiculous photo.