“No. All the Untouchables kind of disappeared from school after that.” I tried not to think about the fact that it bothered me that Matt hadn’t reached out. I didn’t blame him for running after James. But it was like he’d completely forgotten that the news would affect me too. “But I’m definitely not going to homecoming with him after that. And Felix isn’t talking to me. So…will you go with me?” I’d gone from two dates to none. And I was actually a little relieved. A girls’ night sounded so much better.
“It’s a date,” she said with a laugh. “Do you know what you’re going to wear?”
I had dozens of appropriate dresses now. But they weren’t me. There was only one dress that I wanted to wear. The blue one my mom used to wear on special occasions when I was growing up. I just hoped it would fit me as well as it had fit my mom. I’d never tried it on before. “Mhm. I already have the perfect dress picked out.”
“I should probably get some homework done. I’ve gotten a little behind over the weekend.”
I climbed off her bed. “Will you tell your mom?” I asked before I could stop myself.
Mrs. Alcaraz would know what to do. And I knew Kennedy would feel better once it was off her chest.
She nodded. “But don’t tell anyone else, okay?”
“I won’t.” Even though all I wanted to do was storm over to Cupcake’s and kick him right in the nuts. Or ask Mr. Pruitt to sic his lawyers on him. But what good would that do? Kennedy couldn’t get her virginity back. She couldn’t undo that night. And Cupcake would always be an asshole. I’d stay silent because she asked me to. But I really hoped she wouldn’t stay silent.
I closed the door behind me. Matt had stopped me from trying to have sex with him when I’d accidentally eaten tons of pot sugarcakes. He promised to be all my firsts. But I was so grateful that he hadn’t taken that one too. I was done with him. Done with the Untouchables. Done with all the boys at Empire High.
Chapter 20
Monday
“Princess, how was school today?” Mr. Pruitt asked Isabella.
Of course he calls her princess.
“Superb, Daddy. Is it okay if I go out on the town after dinner? I need to pick up my homecoming dress.”
I ignored the rest of their conversation when I felt my phone vibrate in my pocket. I wasn’t sure why, but I’d been carrying around the stupid thing all afternoon. Hoping Matt would call. Hoping he wouldn’t. Hoping Felix would call. Hoping he wouldn’t either. I wasn’t sure anymore. But as soon as I felt the vibration, I couldn’t lie to myself. I wanted it to be from Matt. Even if I wasn’t sure I’d ever be able to forgive him. I pulled my phone out of my pocket and hid it under the tablecloth so that no one would see.
It was from him. I held my breath as I read the words. “Meet me outside after you’re done with dinner.” I read them again as if a second glance would make them make any more sense. No apology. No explanation for what he’d done with James’ girlfriend. Nothing. Meet me outside after you’re done with dinner my ass.
“Daddy, she’s definitely on her phone,” Isabella said. “I heard it buzz.”
I looked up. I’d been doing a great job of avoiding Isabella and Mrs. Pruitt’s evil glares all night. But now I was locked in Isabella’s.
“We don’t allow phones at the table,” Mr. Pruitt said. “I’m guessing you haven’t finished going through the rules?”
“I’m almost done.” I wasn’t. And I was leaning toward just signing them like Kennedy had suggested. I quickly slid the phone back into my pocket.
“Did you hear what I asked you?” he said.
I shook my head. I hadn’t realized that their conversation had turned to me.
“Would you like to go with Isabella to pick up her homecoming dress? Maybe you can try on a few yourself?”
“Oh. No. That’s okay.” Even if I hadn’t already decided to wear my mom’s dress, I wouldn’t have taken him up on the offer. I’d stopped tattling on Isabella at dinner because there was no point to it. She’d always win. But I wasn’t going to go out of my way to do things with her. I wasn’t insane.
“Do you already have one or something?” Isabella asked.
“Mhm.”
“Oh. Is it one of the ones in your closet upstairs?” she asked.
“Yes.” It came out as more of a question. This felt like some kind of trap, but I didn’t know how.