“You did that on purpose, didn’t you?” Taylor didn’t answer.
“What’d Jackson do to you?”
“Nothing. But rumors started swirling just when a busybody like you got to school. Isn’t that a bit odd?”
I blinked several times. I was particularly confused. “Who knows what’ll happen when they find out you told everyone why Ari dumped Brian.”
“I didn’t say shit.”
Taylor narrowed her eyes. “White, you’re the only other person besides me who knows about James and Ari. Remember one thing: What you do or don’t do doesn’t matter. All that matters is what others think, what they make of who you are. Welcome to 2025.”
I suddenly realized that I had stopped breathing.
“Have a good night, honey! My boyfriend’s waiting for me.”
Taylor pushed a long lock of hair behind her shoulders and left, strutting on her three-inch heels.
“I don’t believe a word she said about Jax. She’s a liar,” said Poppy once Taylor was out of earshot.
“I really hope so,” said Amelia. “A few days ago I heard her say something that I didn’t like at all.”
At that point, Amelia shot a concerned look at her brother, who was still sitting at the table bored and sipping a juice.
I tried not to, but I couldn’t help but look at Taylor’s slim figure, sitting on James’s lap glued to his neck like a vampire. Her long shiny hair fluttered onto her shoulders while one of her legs was between James’s thighs.
I couldn’t help but notice how odd that group was—the girls all swapped places with the same guy. My inner bias assumed that it was James who used them for a night when in reality there was a strong possibility that it was the opposite. Or maybe, more simply, it was a reciprocal exchange.
“So is it true that they fight and always make up?” I muttered, pointing at the couple.
“Tomorrow they’ll go back to hating each other again,” explained Poppy, grumbling.
“Whatever floats his boat.”
It wasn’t my or anyone else’s business, but we were all looking at them.
“She’ll be the only happy one tonight,” exclaimed Marvin’s cousin, biting her lip and looking at them sentimentally.
“Sorry, did someone invite you to be here with us?” interjected Amelia, furious.
The girl looked at us, offended, and walked away muttering something under her breath.
“I’m going to the bathroom. I’ll be back,” I announced.
I could barely see through the throng of drunk, barely conscious people, then I bumped into someone. I recognized that sweet, masculine fragrance immediately.
I acted like nothing happened, but James walked into me again, this time on purpose.
“You know, I should thank you, White.”
I looked at his lips again for half a second. “For what? For giving you a black eye?”
James nodded, keeping his eyes on me.
“Any time. Keep in mind that I wasn’t the one who did it.” I cleared my throat. “Why should you thank me?”
He took his time to answer, cognizant of his charm. “Apparently it gives me a wild touch.”
“And who told you that bullshit? Surely some drunk chick.”
