“We’ll see.”

The bell rings, so we gather up our stuff and file out of class. Riley follows me into math, where we take seats in the back.

Katie walks in later, but doesn’t seem to notice us. She sits up front next to Jordan, who she was sort of seeing before Homecoming. I suspect that she was nervous about seeing Dallas and sat next to the first friendly face she saw.

A few minutes later, Dallas strolls in with his arm wrapped around a girl. Not the casual my-arm-is-wrapped-around-her-shoulder but the tight-we-can’t-get-close-enough-around-the-waist version.

Our teacher isn't in the classroom yet. He usually wanders in with his third cup of coffee of the day right before the bell rings.

Dallas acts like he's totally into the girl. She giggles at him and even gives him a kiss before they sit down next to each other.

I glance at Katie. She’s pretending not to watch, but I can tell she is because there are tears shimmering in her eyes.

"I feel bad for Katie," I whisper to Riley.

"I think she deserves it."

"Tyrese took advantage of her."

"Maybe it will teach her a lesson. She’s always drunk. What does she expect? And when she's drunk, she's pretty forward. I didn't tell you this, but she was all over me one night. A girl who keeps putting it out there like that shouldn’t be surprised when someone takes her up on it.”

"Yeah, I guess that's true. She was really freaked out yesterday though.”

"Dawson told me."

"He was so sweet. Like, the way he helped her. I think I fell a little more in love with him."

"Weren't you already in love with him?"

"Yeah, but I don't doubt my feelings anymore."

"So, what should we do about those two? Think it will just blow over?”

"I'm not sure. I think I’ll text her.

Me: You doing okay? He's just trying to hurt you because you hurt him.

Katie: I know. Where are you?

Me: Me and Riley are way in the back. I didn't want to look like I was taking sides. Riley was hoping for fireworks.

Katie: Maybe I should give him some.

Me: Katie, don't. It won't help. Jordan looked like he was being nice to you.

Katie: So I shouldn't yell at Dallas that he sucked in bed?

Me: Did he?

Katie: No. He was sweet. It reminded me of my old boyfriend. A little awkward, but sweet. Like he didn't seem very experienced.

I show Riley her text. "Should I tell her?"

He nods his head yes.

Me: You were his first. He's been with other girls and done stuff, but he was waiting to do it with someone special.

Katie: He thought I was special?

Me: Yeah.

Katie: Fuck my life.

Thrown under the bus.

Lunch

Dawson is being adorable and feeding me pieces of a juicy orange.

I guess Riley’s not the only one in the lovey-dovey half. I feel blissfully happy.

“You’re so cute,” I whisper to him as Rachel and the minions set their trays on the lunch table.

“You need to take your trays and go sit somewhere else,” Whitney says to them. “You're not welcome here anymore. You’re not going to talk shit about me and then sit at my table.”

Rachel stands there frozen. She’s not sure what to do.

“Wait. Why do we have to leave?” Minion #1 says. “It’s not our fault Rachel’s a bad friend.”

Rachel looks at her in disbelief. She can’t believe she’s being thrown under the bus.

“Who did you vote for?” Whitney asks the girl.

“You,” Minion #1 says.

“And you?” Whitney asks Minion #2.

She glances at Rachel, gives her sorry eyes, then looks straight at Whitney and lies through her teeth. “You, of course.”

Whitney nods at her, like a Queen does to barely acknowledge people.

“And what about you?” she asks Minion #3.

Minion #3 hangs her head and whispers, “Peyton.”

I have a new respect for Minion #3. You gotta give the girl credit for telling the truth.

Whitney has a fiery look in her eye.

“Aren’t you going to ask me why?” the girl asks in an innocent voice.

Whitney plays along. “Why?”

“Because Rachel told me to.”

Or not.

Wow. This table is like a snake pit.

“The three of you may stay at the table,” Whitney announces. “Rachel, you can go now.”

Rachel looks at the minions for support. Any kind of support.

None of them will even make eye contact.

So she turns to Peyton.

Peyton glances at Whitney. A silent agreement passes between their eyes. Probably the secret threat.

Rachel says to Peyton, “I voted for you. Do you want me to leave? Whitney doesn’t own this table.”

Peyton takes a deep breath and sits up straighter. “She doesn’t own this table, but you shouldn't have talked trash about her. Friends don't do that to each other.” Then she puts on her bitch face and says, “Bye.”

Rachel is desperate. She points at me and says, “So Keatyn, the girl we all hate, gets to stay? But I have to go?”

“Yes,” Whitney says coolly. “That should be a good indication of my disappointment in you.”

The minions don’t dare look up. They are staring down at their lunches, but not moving to eat them.

“You are the biggest bitch,” Rachel says.

“Better than being a backstabber,” Whitney replies flatly.

Rachel balls up her fists and goes, “Ohhh.” Then she looks at the other girls and says, “We don’t want to sit here anyway. Let’s go.”

The girls don’t move.

They know better.

The girls give Rachel a little headshake, letting her know they have no intention of going anywhere.

Rachel leaves her tray on the table and runs out of the lunchroom crying.

I think about going after her. Telling her that Whitney’s acceptance shouldn’t matter. The only thing that should matter is what you think of yourself.

But since she called me Keatyn, the girl we all hate, I’m thinking I’m not the best person to deliver that message.

Follow my script.

Drama

During drama class, our teacher goes over the rehearsal schedule.

“We want a great production, so we expect everyone to attend all rehearsals. If, for some reason, you feel you cannot meet this schedule, please let me know today and we will recast your part. Tonight, we’ll have costume fittings for anyone who will be on stage. The rest of you will be painting sets, so dress accordingly. Normally, Mondays will be our day off. This week, we’ll practice Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evenings. Then you get this weekend off, as we’re hosting the district Choir Competition. Here’s the calendar.”

While I’m walking from drama to the field house for soccer, I call my mom, hoping I’ll get lucky and catch her during lunch break.

“Hey, honey! How are you?”

“I’m good. Just on my way to soccer practice. Is everything okay there?”

“Yes, it’s good. Although Tommy filmed some stunt scenes and is pretty banged up. Bruised a couple ribs.”

“He needs to stop doing so many of his own stunts.”

“I have recommended that, but you know how stubborn he is. He doesn’t want to hear it. Although, we’re off this weekend and he did say all he wants to do is lie on the couch, watch football, and spend time with the girls.”

“That sounds like a great weekend.”

“I think so too. Hey, so we hired that Allan guy.”

“For the movie?”

“Actually, no. To be our driver. Garrett wanted us to stop having one of the guards do double duty. Garrett is sending him to a special driving school. He starts in a couple weeks.”

“Is he excited?”

“Thrilled. He seems like a really nice guy. He told Tommy about a particular car chase through Manhattan. I’m so thankful you ended up in his car.”

“Me too.”

“Hey, Gracie is here with me today. Would you like to talk to her?”

“Oh my gosh, yes!”

I hear Mom move about. Then some clunking around of the phone.

“Kiki! Kiki! Kiki!”

“Hi, Gracie! How are you?”

“I want to be on TV but Mommy won’t let me.”

“What do you want to do on TV?”

“Wear makeup.”

“Just wear makeup?”

“Sing too.”

“Are you being a good girl?”

“I got new pink glitter shoes because I’m a good girl.”

“I bet they are really pretty,” I say as the bell rings. “I have to go, Gracie. I love you.”

“Gracie loves Good Kiki too.”

“I’m Good Kiki?”

“Yes. You are my Good Kiki and puppy Kiki is Bad Kiki.”

I laugh as I hear Mom take the phone from her. “She wants to be on TV. She’s been acting out shows in front of the television. It’s hysterical because she tries to play every single part in the movie.”

“I bet that’s cute.”

“It is and she’s surprisingly good. She memorizes the lines and plays everyone. She reminds me of you.”

“I have to get to class, Mom. I love you guys.”

“We love you too. Take care of yourself.”

I hang up the phone and want to cry. I want to see them so badly.

An idea pops in my head. Mom said they were going to be home all weekend.

And I’m off this weekend.

I know what I’m going to do!

I’m going to Vancouver.

And, I’m going to ask Dawson to come with me.

I’m crazy about him and I feel so bad that I’ve lied to him about things.

And I don’t want to lie anymore.

I want to tell him the truth.

He’s been so amazing. He was patient with me. Gave me the key to his heart. Ditched Whitney’s weekend. Asked me to Homecoming in front of everyone. And then yesterday, he was so sweet to Katie.

And never once has he tried to change me. He loves me just the way I am.

So I’m going to do it.

I’ll use my fractional jet membership to get a private flight there.

On the plane, I’ll tell him the truth.

My real name. About the stalker. About my parents.

All of it.

He’ll be surprised. Shocked, probably. And maybe a little mad at first.

But it will be fine.

He will understand. We’ll kiss.

It will do nothing but strengthen our bond.

And then he’ll meet my family.

My mom will understand why I first called him Gorgeous.

He and Tommy will bond over football.

My little sisters will love him.

And best of all, since no one knows I’m coming, Vincent will have no way of knowing that I’m there.

We won’t leave the house all weekend, so I won’t have to worry about being followed back to school.

For once, my life is going to follow my script.

And I can’t wait!

A mutual attacking.

5:40pm

“Dawson, since we don’t have a football game Friday and this will be my only weekend off from play practice for a while, I think we should go away.”

He kisses up my stomach then looks at me with a pleased grin. “We going back to the love shack?”

“Are you referring to my gorgeous, expansive New York City loft as the love shack?”

“Yes, I am. And I am definitely up for another weekend of sin.” He pushes his hips into mine and laughs. “Get it? I’m up for it.”

“Yes, I get that you are perpetually horny. However, I want to go somewhere else because . . .”

Dawson kisses my chest and moves his hand up my thigh.

I let out a contented little sigh.

When he leans his hips into mine again, I decide we can discuss this later. I clutch his back, raise my hips toward his, and start pushing off his shorts.

Afterward, I'm getting dressed. I don't feel like putting my school uniform back on, so I steal a pair of his sweats.

He grabs me and pulls me back on the bed.

“Aren't you ruled by your stomach? It’s almost six.”

“I think I'm ruled by you. I'm pretty sure I could go without food, but I can’t go with out you.”

“We've done it, like, every day.”

“I know, it’s awesome. I love you.”

“You love sleeping with me.”

“That hardly qualifies as sleeping, Keatie. That was f—”

I interrupt him. “Don't say it.”

“You seem weird tonight. Is it because of what happened with Katie? You know I’m not anything like him.”

“I know you’re not. You’re adorable.” I kiss his cheek sweetly. “I was trying to talk about going away this weekend when you attacked me.”

“I attacked you? You attacked me!” He holds his hands up like he’s being arrested. “I swear, I just wanted to kiss. You were the one that pulled off my shorts!”

I laugh and give him a kiss. “Fine. It was a mutual attacking. So, I was wondering if maybe you’d like to meet my family. They’re going to be in Vancouver this weekend and I just thought . . .”

He runs his hand across my cheek. “Keatie, I’d love to meet your family.”

“Really? That makes me happy.”

“Making you happy is my favorite thing to do,” he says adorably.

I give him a deep kiss and say, “I love you, Dawson. I really do.”