I think about it, trying to sift through the tangle of emotion storming within me.
“I … I feel kind of powerful, actually.” It’s weird, but that’s about the best way to describe it. I feel powerful. I really kicked some ass this week, and no lie, I’m proud. All my life I’ve felt helpless, unable to overcome the obstacles set before me. It’s something I’ve never felt before, and it’s really a rush. I nod again, and grin back at her. “I guess it feels pretty damn good.”
Chapter 16
With the bulk of my revenge over with, the weeks slip into a kind of monotony. A glorious, golden monotony. No bullying, no snide looks and remarks from Victoria. I won, and it’s as sweet as I imagined it.
Or so I tell myself.
As much as I try not to let it, the memory of my dance with Astor keeps resurfacing in my mind. If only he’d done things right. If only he didn’t make it so impossible for us to be together.
Before we know it, it’s spring break, and all of us are more than ready for it.
It seems like the whole school has a terrible case of senioritis. When I won the trip to Nice, France, I contacted the travel agent who donated it to the Valentine’s auction, and I had her make some adjustments. I’m taking my boys and both my closest friends with me.
My decision to take my father’s name sped up the whole trust process, and as of just a few days ago, I have access to more money than I know what to do with. It’s burning a hole in my proverbial pocket.
I don’t know who’s more excited about the whole thing—me or Dana.
Neither one of us has been to France before, and though Wills and Blair have both been to Paris and a few other places, they haven’t been to Nice. This will be an exploratory trip for all of us—and, most notably—the first trip any of us will take without any parents attending.
It’s my first trip anywhere, but I think that goes without saying.
Now that my trust fund is in order, I may or may not go a little crazy with the plans.
I rent a penthouse that takes up the entire top floor of a hotel that sits right on the main strip facing the beach, and I fly everyone out first class. This is the beginning of the rest of our lives, and I plan to start it out in style.
A limousine picks us up at the airport in Nice, and in fifteen minutes we’re at the hotel. We go ahead while the bellhop takes our bags, and Blair wastes no time heading straight to the fully stocked bar up in the suite.
He catches me eying the hotel staff still bringing in our luggage, and he gives me a wink. After all this time, it still makes my heart flutter.
“Don’t worry,” he says. “Even if they cared at all, which I promise you they don’t, the drinking age here is eighteen. We’re all in the clear.”
I don’t need any more of an invitation than that.
“Well then, let’s get this party started!” I cry out, and we all share a toast and polish off all the champagne in the bar in no time at all. I ask one of the porters to have several more bottles sent up, and he nods at me before he leaves.
“What are we going to do first?” Dana asks, picking up her third glass of champagne.
“Oh,” I say, looking at her over the top of my glass. I try to muster up the most mysterious expression I can. “I have some ideas.”
We’re all a bit buzzed when we leave the hotel and head out into the city.
Nice looks like a living postcard everywhere we go. The streets and sidewalks are clean, the colors of the buildings and homes are mostly pastel shades, and there are flowers everywhere.
The people are kind to us, especially when I make an effort to ask for directions in my broken French … or when Blair takes out his wallet and flashes more cash than most of these people have seen in their lives.
It feels almost like we stepped back in tim
e, but kept some of the best parts of the modern world when we did it. I love Nice immediately.
We stop and eat at a beautiful restaurant, having some of the best food that any of us has ever had, and then we head to the shops.
I’ve never been much of one for shopping, but having basically no budget makes it considerably more enjoyable. Also, not having an overbearing aunt who’s pretending I’m her dead daughter helps. In fact, I could really get used to this.
The entire afternoon is spent going from one shop to the next, buying anything we want from chocolate to clothes and shoes. We have the time of our lives, and I decide that this is definitely the life for me.
After we’re all shopped out, we head back to the hotel and drop off our packages. The limo takes us down the coast to Cannes, just a short drive away, and we spend the evening dancing, drinking, and eating until I think I’m going to pop. We even stop in at an upscale hookah bar for a bit, and try that out.