Ever After (East Raven Academy Book 1)(70)

Oh.

Burn. That was most definitely a dig at Bryce. And he deserved it.

“I told you, Emma, we can’t be together if you keep bringing it up,” Bryce says.

“Well, maybe I don’t want to date you, Bryce. Because if I want to bring it up, I’ll bring it up,” Emma says.

“Fine,” he say, standing up. “It’s over.”

“Good,” Emma says.

Bryce turns and walks away.

Wonder how long until they get back together.

“So, how about that Red Sox’s game, huh?” Ian asks.

I just laugh.

The drama at East Raven...





8pm.


Can’t even.





I know the second I walk back to my dorm room that Teagan is going to grill me for information, so I am slowly going to the dorm, trying to come up with an explanation, any explanation, which will explain to her what is going on.

When I open the door, Teagan and Emma are both there.

“Hey,” I say to them.

“We need more details than you gave,” Teagan says.

“So spill,” Emma says.

I let out a sigh. “Well, there’s not a lot to explain.”

“Let’s start with why both Brooks and Estaine ditched The Hamptons for Labor Day,” Teagan says. “It’s just expected that they’d throw a party. Imagine everybody’s surprise when they showed up and both houses were locked up.”

“Estaine stayed with me. I honestly have no idea why Brooks stayed,” I answer, trying to be as honest as I possibly can. “I kind of hurt Brooks. You know, ’cause I’m dating Estaine. I guess Estaine felt bad, because he knew how upset I was. He invited Brooks, to be nice.”

It’s sort of true.

“Is he trying to get you to dump him for Brooks?” Emma asks. “Cause Estaine is hot. The hottest guy here. But Brooks... he’s like... movie star hot.”

“I could totally see him being a movie star,” Teagan says, now looking at Emma. “Or a rock star. I wonder if he can sing.”

“Who cares? I’d go to the concerts just to stare at him.”

I roll my eyes. “Guys, can we focus?”

“Right,” Teagan says, looking back at me. “You already know I’m team Estaine. Brooks Remington is not commitment material.”

“You and Estaine are perfect for each other,” Emma says.

“But, be honest, you kissed Brooks back at the game.”

“Only because I was shocked,” I say. “I wasn’t sure what I was doing. I was just stunned. It took me about thirty minutes to even talk afterwards. And then I slapped him.”

“I’ve always wanted a guy to kiss me in the heat of the moment, and then me slap him,” Emma says. “Like they used to do in the old movies. It would be so romantic.”

Slapping a guy is romantic?

“Why did he even kiss you?” Teagan asks. “If he knew you’re with Estaine, I mean.”

“Brooks said he was jealous,” I answer.

“Wow,” Emma says, her mouth hanging open. I watch as gum falls out of her mouth and onto Teagan’s arm.

“Gross,” Teagan says, holding up her arm.

Emma takes the gum and sticks it back in her mouth.

Gross.

“Sorry,” Emma says. “I just... can’t even.”

“Ugh,” Teagan says. “You know I hate when people say that.”

“This situation totally calls for it,” she says.

“Maybe you’re right,” Teagan says, then looks at me. “What are you going to do?”

“I don’t know,” I answer. “I mean, I like Brooks. You’re right. He is gorgeous. But he’s super jealous. He always has been, even before Estaine and I started dating.”

I want to tell them that our relationship is phony. That we’re not dating. But I can’t do that without telling them a lot more. Things that I literally cannot tell them, unless I want to go into hiding again. Only this time, I don’t think it’ll be a place as nice as East Raven.

And Estaine won’t be there.

Or Brooks.

Or Teagan and Emma.

Or any of the friends I’ve made here.

“How was the kiss?” Emma asks.

“I don’t know,” I answer. “I don’t have any kisses to compare it to.”

“Oh, right. I forgot,” she says.

“You need to kiss Estaine already,” Teagan says. “I bet his kiss would make you forget all about Brooks.”

That’s what I’m scared of.

“What’s going on with you and Jason?” I ask Teagan.

“Well, over the break we kind of hung out,” Teagan answers.

“So, he’s your boyfriend now?” I ask.

Her face breaks out with a wide grin and her eyes light up. “Yeah. We were kissing one night, and he was like, ‘want to be my girlfriend?’”

“Romantic,” I say, laughing.

“That’s pretty much as romantic as Jason gets,” Emma says.

“He can be romantic when he wants to be,” Teagan says. “Besides, you know I’m not much of a flowers and chocolates kind of girl.”