"Uh..." I hesitated, my eyes bugging out at the huge array of colorful bottles on the bar. My only experience with alcohol was the rough moonshine served in illegal basement bars. "Whatever you're having."
She gave me a wry grin and ordered two of something called a flaming illusion. The bartender got to work mixing and shaking our drinks, and Mattie propped her elbows on the bar.
"Sorry about that shit with Rafe," she said, wrinkling her nose. "I should have warned you Nolan was friends with him."
I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, it would have been nice, given my first run-in with him. Why didn't you?"
Her smile turned guilty. "Honestly? I figured you'd refuse to come out tonight if you knew he was catching a lift with us. Literally the whole school heard about that scene on the soccer field."
I groaned inwardly. Great. I hadn't even been at Arbon Academy one freaking day and the rumor mill was at work. "I probably wouldn't have. Why did you care so much? Being a princess with mad makeup skills, I assume you’re not hard up for friends."
Mattie shrugged. "Real friends are hard to find, new girl. Especially in this world.” Another shrug. “I have a good sense about people, and I'm pretty sure that being friends with you will keep me endlessly entertained this year." She smiled as she said it, her eyes glittering with mischief so I knew she wasn't insulting me. "Besides, there are plenty of other bitches who'll hate you just for who you are. You need a friend, and I'm available."
I grinned back at her. "Well, with an offer like that, how can I refuse?"
"Damn right." She accepted two bright green,on firecocktails from the bartender and handed one to me. "Cheers, new girl."
I watched her blow the flame out from the top of her drink before taking a long sip, then did the same myself. The drink was fruity and sweet, nothing at all like the bathtub moonshine I was used to, and I found myself gulping it back.
"Whoa, girl." Mattie giggled placing a hand on my arm to slow what was about to be another huge mouthful. "These suckers pack a punch. Last thing you want to do is get wasted and dance on a table before everyone else is drunk enough to join you."
I flashed her a mischievous look. "I dunno... I'm a pretty good dancer."
She laughed some more, but led me away from the bar.
Everywhere we went, she greeted people with enthusiasm and air kisses, but quickly moved on when they gave me dirty looks or asked outright rude questions, like my very favorite, "Do all poor people trade sex for food?" Which was quickly followed by a casual mention that he had a couple of chocolate bars in his car.
Within about an hour of arriving, I'd learned several important points. One: the majority of the Arbon Academy students thought I was lower than dirt. Two: Rafe was crazy good at avoiding me, and for that I was eternally grateful. Three: Mattie hadn't been lying about the potency of those cocktails.
She'd just left me on one of the many balconies while she went to get us refills, and I was feeling that early haze of drunkenness loosen my shoulders and relax my grin.
"Ah, so you did come after all," a warm, joking voice murmured in my ear, and tingles zapped through my body.
I turned to face Alex, and a stab of guilt hit near my belly upon seeing the small frown on his brow. "Alex, hey! I'm so sorry. Mattie..."
He gave a small eye roll, but his frown faded and he offered a lopsided grin. "Trust me, I'm well aware of how Mattie can be. I'm just glad she left you alone long enough that I could speak with you."
Flirty butterflies flapped around in my belly. "I didn't know she was keeping you away."
Alex made a sound in his throat but didn't comment any further. Instead, he changed the subject.
"How are you liking your first Arbon party, Violet?"
His gaze was intense, in a good way, and I found myself drowning a little in the deep blue of his eyes. He called me Violet. Not new girl or charity case or Cinderella. That in itself would have been enough to spark a bit of a crush, if I wasn't already halfway there. There was something about Alex that drew me to him.
"Uh, I'm just surprised it’s on a Monday night," I admitted with a small laugh, "but I guess it's probably hard to impose a curfew when half the students are royals."
I'd meant to just make conversation, but as soon as the words left my mouth I cringed. Fucking hell, how'd I forget so quickly that Alex himself was a royal? So much for my plan to steer clear of the monarchy, when here I was giggling and flirting with the Prince of Australiasia.
He must have known where my mind had gone because he ducked his head with a sheepish look. "Ah, I guess Mattie filled you in on my parentage, huh?"
I nodded. "Yup."
My flirty smile had slipped, and Alex's brows dipped slightly with disappointment. "I get the feeling that you're less than excited by the prospect of dating an heir."
"It's nothing personal," I offered with an uncomfortable shrug. "I know my place here will be hard enough as it is. I just want to fly under the radar, you know? Get a fancy Arbon Academy degree and make a new life for myself."
Alex nodded his understanding, but his mouth turned down. "Most ballot winners would be doing everything possible to gain favor with the royals." It was a casual observation, but my skin prickled with unease.
