Tons of students cheered.
James stood there with his hands shoved in his pockets. He must have tossed his torn tux jacket. There was what looked like a footprint on his white dress shirt. And he was sporting a black eye. He looked like he’d rather be anywhere in the world than on that stage with Isabella. And I didn’t blame him.
“James, come here,” Isabella said. “You lost your crown earlier in that silly bit of argy-bargy.”
James didn’t move. So Isabella walked over to him and put his crown back on.
“Perfect,” she said as she placed her hand on the side of his face.
He grimaced.
“Speaking of perfection,” Isabella said into the mic. “I recently discovered that I have a baby sister. It was the most unexpected but brilliant news. I’ve always wanted a sibling. Sissy! Sissy, where are you? I want to officially introduce you to everyone.”
My traitorous fellow classmates parted like the red sea.
Kennedy and I were just standing there with everyone staring at us. The ticking in my head stopped. This was the explosion I was expecting. God, what was she going to do?
“Oh splendid,” Isabella said. “Don’t you all love her tiara? I thought it would be perfect for her to wear one tonight. The princess to my queen. Do we have a spotlight? Can we put a spotlight on my sister?” She looked over at the DJ.
He just shrugged.
“Fine. Be unhelpful.” She turned back to me. “Brooky, I’ve been having so much fun getting to know you.” She put her hand to her chest. “You’re the sister I’ve always dreamed of. And it’s so nice that my friends are your friends. And your friends are my friends. Isn’t that right, Kennedy?”
I turned to Kennedy. “What is she talking about?”
“What?” whispered Kennedy. “Isabella’s actually super cool. We’ve been hanging out all night. She kept telling me how pretty I looked. And she made sure I never ran out of punch shots.”
What the hell is happening right now?
“So I just wanted everyone to know that there’s a new girl in town,” Isabella said. “My little sis. She’ll be unforgettable at Empire High. Just like me. And just like tonight! Cheers, Sissy.” She realized she didn’t have a glass so she just lifted the mic in the air. “Love you!” she shouted.
Everyone started clapping and cheering. When had everyone lost their minds?
“And now I shall dance with my king. Future hubby,” she said and put out her hand to James.
He slowly pulled one hand out of his pocket and put it into hers.
“Smile for the pictures,” she hissed at him before Mr. Hill took the mic back.
“Your homecoming king and queen,” Mr. Hill said and everyone cheered as the music started up again.
I watched James in what looked like the most miserable dance of his life. When the song finally ended, he pulled off his crown and practically ran away from Isabella. And right into Rachel’s arms. Rachel laughed, stood up on her tiptoes and kissed him. He put his crown on top of her head and kissed her back as another song started.
Well, at least the whole revenge thing had worked out for him. Me? Not so much.
What did it mean that they were back together? That James believed Matt? Or that he just forgave Rachel? Or that he was just too drunk to have any idea what was happening? It felt like my head was spinning when Isabella appeared right in front of me with a huge smile on her face.
“I came over to dance with my new besties!” she said.
“The elephants are coming!” Kennedy and Isabella both laughed like it was some kind of inside joke. And if it was, I definitely wasn’t getting it.
Had Kennedy forgotten about the fact that Isabella had destroyed all of my clothes just a few hours ago? Or the fact that she made it her mission to torture us at school?
As if Isabella could read my mind, she shouted, “I’m so sorry about your clothes, Sissy. It was a moment of weakness. I’ll replace every single thing that Sir Wilfred destroyed.”
So we were going back to the dog lie?
“He’s just a baby! He doesn’t know any better.”
Mr. Pruitt told me it was Isabella and her friends. Why did she keep being fake nice to me?
“Besides,” said Isabella as she danced with Kennedy. “You look amazing in vintage. I’m sorry I ever said otherwise.”
That actually kind of felt genuine. Maybe because she was smiling at me like she wasn’t internally screaming at me.
“Thanks?”
“And blue really suits you.”
All the words were nice. But I couldn’t trust her. She was hateful.
“Come on,” Isabella said. “What can I do to make you forgive me? I want us to start over. To be real sisters.”
My first instinct was to tell her to bite me. But I was worried she actually would. Or that she’d get Sir Wilfred to bite me. “I’m just going to need some time,” I said.
“Time. Well, we all have plenty of that.” She started hopping up and down with Kennedy.
No we don’t. We never had enough time. I blinked fast, trying not to think about my mom and my uncle. Someone like Isabella didn’t understand how precious time was.
It was too hot in here. Too loud. Too fake. God, where was Miller? I turned toward the doors and practically ran straight into Matt.
Chapter 35
Saturday
For just a second, when I saw Matt I was relieved. He’d been there for me after my uncle died. He’d literally been my shoulder to cry on. He was the only reason I didn’t fall apart. But it was just as easy to remember all the bad. And I’d had to cry on someone else’s shoulder because of him.
I took a step back before I did something else stupid. Miller was already mad at me. I’d already made enough mistakes for one night. I was exhausted mentally and physically. And I knew if I danced with Matt, he’d be wonderful and sweet and as irresistible as always. I knew my heart couldn’t take it.