Empire High Betrayal(2)

I tightened the map around my naked body as I peered around the corner at the hotel. I just needed to think this through. I couldn’t run into anyone from the dance or they might alert Isabella. But as I tried to come up with a plan on how to get in, my mind felt as frozen as the rest of me. I shivered as I stared at the front entrance. Trying to get a cop to notice me and lock me up was looking like a pretty good choice as I stared at the ornate doors.

The doors. There were more entrances to the hotel than just the main lobby. The first time I’d been to this hotel, I’d gone around to the staff entrance. I wasn’t sure why I hadn’t thought of it before. Probably because I was exhausted and cold and minutes away from just curling up to cry myself to sleep in a dumpster. Stop. I was not dumpster diving tonight. I was going to go to James’ room and demand he let me stay there for the night. Just until I knew for sure Kennedy was home safe. It was a great plan.

I tried to stand up a little straighter and the map slipped out of my hands. Oops. I pulled it back around me as I made my way out onto the sidewalk. I walked as fast as I could up to the hotel and then made a quick left down the side alley.

I almost started crying when I saw the door propped open. The last time I’d been in the kitchen it had been hot. They were probably excited to have the frigid autumn breeze coming in. I ducked inside. I wasn’t surprised that I didn’t see anyone. There’d only be a few stragglers on cleaning duty this late. I looked around for an apron or a chef jacket or something to cover myself better. But there was nothing in sight. My map dress would have to do.

I opened the door to the ballroom and immediately closed it. There were still students slow dancing. Was this the never-ending homecoming from hell? I took a deep breath and looked down the hall. This kitchen had to connect to more than just the ballroom. I made my way down the hall, checking door after door until I reached a staircase. Thank God.

As I climbed the stairs all I could think about was room 315. I kept saying it over and over again. My thighs screamed from overexertion. My body was still shaking from the cold even though the stairwell was warm. And when I reached the third floor I did everything I could to hold back my tears. I was so freaking close.

I pushed open the door but immediately pulled it shut when I saw someone I recognized. It was one of the football players that had danced with Matt. I think. I pushed the door open again, slower this time, and peered down the hall. The football player was opening up a door and the girl next to him was laughing.

Was this whole floor filled with students from Empire High? I bit the inside of my lip. If one of them saw me, it would ruin everything. Isabella couldn’t know that I was here. I couldn’t risk Kennedy’s safety. Maybe it would be better to just stay in this stairwell all night. I looked behind me to see if there was anywhere I could hide out.

Oh my God. I’d left a trail of bloody footprints behind me. Leading from the kitchen all the way to this floor. It would only be a matter of time before someone followed this mess. I got down on my hands and knees and tried to wipe up the blood, but it just smeared everywhere. And more blood got onto the pristine floors from my knee.

It took every ounce of strength I had left to push myself back up to my feet. And now that I knew how cut up the soles of my feet were, each step hurt. But I couldn’t stay here all night. I was a sitting duck. I peered into the third floor again. The football player and his date were still talking outside his hotel door.

Come on. Just get in there already! Didn’t he know how to close the deal? He just needed to tell her how pretty she was. Promise not to lie to her or pretend she was invisible. Basically just act like Matt minus the whole Isabella blackmail thing. I stared daggers at the happy couple.

“Hello?” Someone’s voice echoed in the stairwell. “Is someone in here?”

Shit balls!

I heard their footsteps getting louder as they made their way up to me.

I looked back out at the third floor. That stupid couple was still standing there. Damn it. I had to get to James’ room right this second before I got kicked out of the hotel. I could only imagine how many students would see me as I was dragged out kicking and screaming.

Close the deal already! I silently cursed at the couple who didn’t even see me.

The footsteps were getting closer.

God, it was now or never. I didn’t know either of them. At least it wasn’t one of Isabella’s minions. Hopefully they wouldn’t recognize me. Besides, I didn’t exactly look like myself. I reached up and touched my hair. My loose curls had transformed into a messy rat’s nest during my run. And I could only imagine what my face looked like. Justin’s promise of my makeup lasting until midnight probably didn’t take into account that I’d be crying and running around.

I took a deep breath and ran out onto the third floor, clutching my map dress to my skin. I ran as fast as I could, biting down on my lip so I wouldn’t scream from how much my feet hurt.

They stared at me like I was crazy.

“Oh my God, is that a prostitute?” the girl said in a disgusted voice.

There was so much wrong with her statement. First…slut shaming. What a jerk. And second…didn’t prostitutes look classy? I was literally bleeding on the floor with no clothes or shoes. I looked homeless. If anything, I was a beat-up prostitute. They should have been helping me, not staring at me like I was diseased. But if they thought I was a prostitute, at least they didn’t know I was a fellow student. My best bet was to play along so they wouldn’t recognize me.