Gloria is still at Baron’s table, now with Rylan back at her side. She can lead the populars, as always, and Dixie can lead the rest of the school. She’s a better representative than I ever was. She’s a normal kid, not on scholarship. She’s involved in all the activities, from student council to dance team. And she has her finger on the pulse of the school, is part of everything. I’ve always been an outsider, even when I was a Dolce girl.
Still, as I watch her being adored by all the other girls, I can’t help but think about Magnolia, hidden away somewhere on the Darling estate, doing her classes online. I was just proving a point until the pretty little freshman came along and told me I needed a speech, that I needed to stand for something. She’s the one who made it a rebellion. She’s the one who took the video that catapulted Dixie from gossip girl to rebel queen.
Now she can’t even show her face here for fear she’ll be attacked over a video that she never wanted released. Dixie’s the one who released it. Dixie’s the one who should be hiding out, but she’s in the spotlight now. She was on the news. She’s the face of the fight for the administration to hold the boys accountable. They can’t touch her without the whole world knowing about it. And yet, Magnolia’s the one who’s paying.
Suddenly, I’m not hungry. I return my plate and head outside, only realizing when I’m halfway to the bleachers and catch a whiff of smoke that I didn’t see Colt at Dixie’s table.
I step into the shadows under the bleachers, letting my eyes adjust after the walk through the bright, fall sun. Colt is leaning against one of the supports, his left hand in his pocket, a cigarette dangling from his right.
“Trouble in paradise?” I ask, joining him in the shadows.
“I’m not really into all that,” he says, tapping his cigarette with his ring finger before taking a drag.
“Don’t tell me you don’t like the attention,” I tease. “Pretty sure I remember you waxing nostalgic about your glory days as a football god and womanizer on more than one occasion.”
“Yeah, but that was whenIwas the center of attention,” he says, a lazy grin playing over his lips.
“So you don’t want to play a supporting role to your leading lady?” I ask. “And here I thought you were one of the good guys.”
He snorts. “What made you think that?”
“I don’t know,” I say with a shrug. “The fact that you’re generally pretty decent to me.”
“Because you can kick my ass,” he points out.
“Okay, so what’s the real reason?” I ask. “Or do you not trust me because I’m back with Royal?”
“Are you?” he asks, holding out the pack to me.
I take a cigarette out, finding a lighter in the pack as well. I light up before answering. “Yeah,” I admit at last. “I guess I am.”
I haven’t said it out loud to anyone, even Royal. Somehow, it seems fitting that Colt’s the first to know.
“See,” Colt says, quirking a brow and gesturing to himself. “Always the bridesmaid, never the bride.”
I shake my head at that. “At least you didn’t say nice guys finish last.”
“Nah,” he says. “That’s bullshit. I’m not a nice guy, and yet, here I am.”
“Come on,” I say. “You’re not interested in me.”
“I might have been once,” he says.
“But not anymore,” I say. “You’re with Dixie, and I’m with Royal, and he’s agreed to leave you alone because we’re friends.”
“Really?” Colt asks, raising his brows in surprise. “He said that?”
“Yep,” I say. “All my friends are off limits.”
“That’s a pretty big promise if it includes Darlings.”
“Three of you, actually,” I say. “Preston, Magnolia, and you.”
“Huh,” he says. “Thanks, I guess. Be a lot better if you could get the same promise from the demon twins.”
“Yeah, they’re a bit of a problem,” I admit. “Duke would get on board if Baron did, but I don’t think I’d believe Baron even if he said he’d leave you alone.”
“Ah, so you figure out who was the psychoest of them all.”