All I've Never Wanted(12)

Then, as if the scene couldn't get more dramatic, the front door opened and who should come in but Roman and Carlo?

Well, Adriana thought. This party is finally starting to get interesting.

* * *

"Um…uh…" I was speechless as I just stood there, taking in the damage I'd done to a shirt that probably cost more than an average person's monthly rent. A shirt that belonged to Parker Remington, no less. I was painfully aware that the rest of the party had stopped and everyone was pointing and whispering, but I couldn't focus on anything except for the fact my life was pretty much over.

"I'm sorry," I finally managed, desperately searching for a place to set down the offending and now empty cup. Unfortunately, the nearest table was about twenty feet away. "I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean to spill it—it's just—I'm a bit—well, I was in a bit of a hurry so I just rushed in here and I didn't see you and there's so many people that it just accidentally spilled—"

I knew I was rambling incoherently and embarrassing myself even more than I already had, but I couldn't help it. In my mind, I could see my chances of getting into Stanford, or any other good school, disappear in a puff of smoke.

The whole time, Parker just watched me with an inscrutable expression on his face. When I finally fell into silence, awaiting his next words with a Texas-sized pit of dread in my stomach, I somehow felt even more humiliated that I was basically groveling in front of someone for something as minor as spilling beer over him.

I mean, yeah, if it had been anyone else, I still would have apologized and tried to help him clean up, but the situation was only exacerbated by the fact Parker's a Scion. This time, I felt my cheeks heat up with shame and anger at myself for being too much of a coward to stand up to the Scions' dictatorial rule.

"Well, this wasn't part of my plans for tonight," Parker commented, lifting his sticky shirt away from his defined torso, which was clearly outlined through the soaked material.

I braced myself, wondering how to tell my mom my chances of getting into a top ten school were non-existent now.

"But it certainly isn't the end of the world."

Oh god. I was going to end up working at McDonald's for the rest of my life, subsisting on welfare—wait, what? "What?" I blurted.

I heard someone say something in the background, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the crowd that had been watching us miraculously break up, but I was so overwhelmed by the hope that was coursing through my veins I couldn't quite focus on anything else.


Parker laughed, flashing me his signature charming smile and the accompanying dimples. His green eyes sparkled mischievously.

"It's just beer," he explained. "I won't die."

"But I ruined your shirt," I protested. I couldn't believe I was actually encouraging him to be mad, but this didn't feel right. I mean, last year, I'd seen someone get kicked out of school for stepping on the back of Roman’s shoe. Besides, I was still convinced there was a catch here somewhere.

Parker shrugged. "It's just a shirt, I have plenty."

"So…you're not mad?" I asked cautiously.

"Of course not. How can I be mad at such a beautiful girl?"

Coming from anyone else, the line would be corny as hell, but there was something about Parker that made everything he said sound smooth and charming.

"Maya! Wh-what happened? Are you okay? You're—you're not expelled, are you?"

I turned to see Venice rushing toward me, wide-eyed and panicked.

I was about to tell her that yes, everything was fine, but before I could get a word out of my mouth, James suddenly materialized. He looked decidedly less laid-back than before, and in fact, his mouth was set in a grim line as he stared Parker down.

"Not if I have anything to do about it," he said quietly.

"Really? And what are you going to do about it?"

The blood ran cold in my veins. I would recognize that voice anywhere.

Venice gently tugged on my arm, and I robotically took a step back so that James was facing Parker and Roman by himself. I saw Carlo move over to stand next to Zack and Adriana. I don't remember seeing them arrive on the scene, but I shouldn't be surprised. They always moved in a pack.

"I'm not going to stand here and let you push Maya around just because she accidentally spilled beer on you," James declared, even though he was looking straight at Roman now.

Roman's eyes narrowed and his gaze moved slowly, methodically from Parker's shirt, to me and Venice, and back to James. "I don't think you're aware who you're talking to," Roman said. His tone of voice had changed. It was casual, almost cavalier, which frightened me more than if he'd been screaming and raging.

"Oh, wait, I forgot, I'm talking to the mighty Scions," James said sarcastically. "How stupid of me. I should be bowing and scraping before you right now, shouldn't I?"

I exchanged a horrified glance with Venice. What are you doing? I wanted to scream at him. I didn't know James that well, but he was a nice guy, and I couldn't even bear to think what's going to happen to him after tonight.

"Maybe if you did that right now, I might be inclined to show some mercy in dealing with you," Roman declared.

I felt myself bristle at his choice of awards. He really did sound like some medieval king talking down to his servants.