“I didn’t trade; I upgraded.” It’s a low and stupid blow, but I’ve spent enough time with Piper to know how to kick her where it counts. She gets off on making people feel beneath her. Take that superiority away, and she’s lost.
“That’s bullshit!” she screams with her fists clenched at her side. It’s amazing how many people don’t look in our direction, probably because they’ve witnessed Piper act like this at parties before. “And I’m going to prove it to everyone that your little upgrade is nothing more than a freak loser, just like you used to think she was.” She sucks in a breath at the end and grins, going from hot to cold in two seconds flat. Then she spins around and staggers away with her chin held high, walking a crooked line all the way back to her friends.
I turn to Luna. “Let’s get out of here.”
Luna eagerly nods, and we step for the door. But Logan moves in front of her, and she ends up running into him and almost falls down.
“I just want to understand why he’d go for you over her,” he says, coming at her again with his hand out. “Maybe it’s what’s under that dress? Is that it? Do you have a magic pu—?”
I slam my hand against his chest and roughly shove him back. “I warned you not to fucking touch her, man.”
Logan stumbles back and crashes into the door. His eyes blaze with rage as he growls and charges at me. “I’m so tired of your shit!”
I gently push Luna out of the way and put my hands out to stop him, but he grinds to a halt at the last second and sucker punches me in the jaw.
My ears ring as my teeth knock together. “Goddammit!”
Logan grins and raises his fist again.
This time, I duck and counter-punch him in the stomach then uppercut his jaw. He grunts as the wind gets knocked out of him and collapses to his knees, cupping his chin. I inch toward him with my hand balled into a fist, ready to strike again, but fingers fold around my arm.
“Just let it go,” Luna says. “You’re better than that.”
I’m better than that?
I used to not be. I used to hit and fight with people whenever they pissed me off, but hearing those words come out of her lips—you’re better than that—it makes me think I am. I’m better than what I used to be.
I realize I hate getting into fights, always have.
I lower my arm, and she tangles her fingers through mine. Then we leave the party without a second glance back and get into my car. Neither of us say anything as I back out of the driveway, maneuvering through the long line of cars, and out onto the road. Eventually, I have to say something, though.
“I’m sorry.” I blow out a breath as I stop at a red light. “I feel like I just messed everything up.”
She twists in her seat and brings her leg up, tucking it under her. “Are you kidding me? You were so far from messing that up. You were calm up until Logan decided to take the first swing, and you stood up for me when Piper was tearing me down.”
“It feels like it wasn’t enough, though.”
“It’s exactly what my friends would’ve done for me, and they’re really great friends.”
“Is that what we are?” I search her eyes through the darkness of the cab. “Friends?”
She shrugs. “Being friends means you trust the person, and I trust you.”
“Okay, we can be friends.” My disappointment shows in my voice.
“Or we can be more if you want,” Luna says casually, staring out the window at the houses lining the street.
I line our palms together. “Up until that thing with Piper and Logan, tonight was one of the best nights of my life,” I admit.
“Really?” she asks, completely shocked.
I nod. “I’ve never been so comfortable with someone. You make me feel like I can be myself, and that’s enough.”
“Tonight was pretty amazing for me, too,” she says, smiling, but then her mouth sinks. “Is your jaw going to be all right? He hit you pretty hard.”
“I’m sure it’ll leave a bruise.” My fingers skate across her wrist. “It’ll heal in a few days, though, just as long as I don’t let anyone hit me again.”
She nods, getting my full meaning.
As I drive forward, the heaviness Logan and Piper put on the night fades away. But the second I pull up to her street and park at the corner, a blanket of worry gets thrown over me again as she kisses me then gets out of the car, hurrying up to the side of her dark house. Knowing the people who live there hurt her makes it almost impossible to drive away.
I make another vow to myself, one I know my dad would be proud of.
I’ll help Luna get out of that house, no matter what it takes.
Wynter: Oh, my God! Tell me everything!
The text comes through at ten o’clock the next morning, a couple of hours before I’m supposed to be at Benny’s.
It took me forever to fall asleep last night because I couldn’t stop thinking about Grey: how incredible it was to kiss him, how much I want to kiss him again. The problem is that, as long as I’m living in this house, I’ll never be able to really date him. Like with my clothes, makeup, music, friends—everything really—Grey will only be able to be a part of my other life, the life outside the one I live in this house. The idea of keeping him a secret like that doesn’t sit well with me. I know what I have to do. I understand that. But it’s acting on the knowledge that’s the hard part.
I sit up on my bed and text Wynter the details—well, the ones I feel like sharing. I tell her about kissing Grey and how he stood up for me when Piper and Logan attacked me when we were trying to leave.
Wynter: God, she’s always been such a bitch. Even when we were in kindergarten, she was the one stealing everyone’s glue and crayons and blaming it on the shyest person in the class.
Me: That shyest person in the class was me. I was grounded for, like, two weeks when the Ms. Mayfaring told my mom I was stealing everyone’s stuff.
I pause, rereading my text, the words really sinking in.
She probably thought I was a klepto back then. No wonder she jumped to that conclusion when she found all that stuff in the floorboards.
Wynter: I think we should get her back for all the nasty stuff she’s done.
Me: I think we should just leave her alone. You know she’ll come after us if we do, and I hate dealing with drama.
Wynter: Fine, I’ll let it go for now, but if she comes after you again, mama bear is going to be pissed.
Me: All right, mama bear, but don’t go looking for trouble, okay?
Wynter: Fine. But for the record, I hate her.
Me: I kind of do, too.
Wynter: Good girl. Now if we could just get you to realize what a bunch of asshats your parents are, then we’d be making real progress.
Me: I know they’re asshats. I just don’t know what to do about their asshatness.
Wynter: Move in with me? The pool house was just remodeled and it’s free rent.
Me: I don’t want to live for free there. I’d want to pay my way.
Wynter: Holy shit!!! Does that mean you’re actually considering it?