A wickedness curled Mandy’s lips. “Used goods? What does that make you? A virgin?”
Natti’s cheeks grew hot from anger and embarrassment. Sure, she had a couple of boyfriends in the past. But sex? That was the last thing on her mind right now, and she didn’t exactly want to share that with the cheerleader standing behind her.
Natti noticed Mandy studying her. The blonde rolled her eyes and sighed. “Look, there is no need to be afraid. Seth knows what he’s doing.”
Natti sent her an icy glare. “I would sure hope so after all his experience.”
Mandy scoffed. “Just listen, will you? There is nothing to be afraid of. Being with Seth is just like getting high.” She brushed her arms up against the wall. “You just have to let yourself soak in his presence, fall into your desires, and let his body lead. And when the sex starts . . . Well . . .” Mandy heaved her body, moaned, and rolled back her head in a fake orgasm.
“Shouldn’t you be doing that with him?” Natti spat in disgust.
Mandy dropped the act and let her arms fall to her sides with a sneer. “Just offering some advice. You might also want to consider starting on the pill. Q might be able to hook you up if you don’t want your parents to know.”
Hearing enough, Natti started for the door. “I have some place I’d rather be— anyplace but here.”
Mandy blocked her path. “Look, I might not be the smartest girl in this school, but I have aced Seth One-o-One,” she said pointedly. “No matter who he sleeps with, he always ends up coming back to me. You see, you, like the other girls, are nothing. Just a fling Seth has to satisfy. Fine, I can live with that. I’ll even help if you need it, but in the end—”
“I’m really happy for you,” Natti cut in, “but I’m telling you, I am NOT interested in Seth!”
Mandy pushed herself up, opening the path. “Whatever. Just remember, I’m his number one. And no one is going to take that away from me.”
“You have nothing to worry about, Miss Oneness, when it comes to me.” Natti walked to the door, paused, and turned back around. “Oh, by the way, red is a good color for you.”
Exhausted, Natti dragged herself up the stairs of her new home and pushed the door to her bedroom open. She didn’t even bother to check to see if her father was around. More likely, he was in his office, writing his next novel. All the better for her. She didn’t exactly feel like talking to anyone.
“Natti?” Alexander called up the stairs.
Bugger, Natti sighed, just wanting to crawl under her covers and hide. “Yeah?”
Her father appeared at the bottom of the staircase, examining her with concern. His eyes flickered when they caught sight of the bandages on her arms and legs. “You okay, luv?”
“Fine.” Natti tried to smile. “I tripped and fell during tennis. Not a big deal really.”
“And what about the rest of your day?” her father pressed, making Natti wish she had slipped in more quietly.
“Oh, you know, just one of those days.” She shrugged.
“You want to talk about it?”
Natti froze, everything piling up in her mind: first there was the whole issue of her grandmother’s murder and the move to a new town with Egyptian mascots and a pyramid; then, of course, Seth annoying — practically harassing — her since she step foot in Setemple High; next there was the mystery of that strange heat from Seth’s touch and Ky’s sudden ability to crush a tennis ball and chip clay courts with one stroke of his tennis racquet; and finally, on top of it all, there was Mandy and her advice about having ‘safe’ sex with Seth. Did Natti want to talk about it? Hell, yes, but who in their right mind would listen? Even she couldn’t believe what has been happening in her life.
She shook her head, doing her best to keep a stiff upper lip. “I’ll be fine. I’m just going to settle down for a bit, do some homework, and maybe unpack a little.”
Alexander lowered his voice. “You know, if you aren’t happy here—”
Natti glowered. If she wasn’t happy, what would they do exactly? Move again? She wished! Her father made a commitment by moving to Setemple, and it wasn’t something she wanted to argue about. She’d deal with her problems on her own. Besides, once their visas were up, they would have to go back to London. She hoped.
“It’s fine, Dad. Honest. Just typical new school issues. No big.”