Empire High Betrayal(63)

Coach Carter blew the whistle, signaling the end of class.

“Think you can run faster than me now that you got fancy new kicks?” Felix started running backward.

I laughed. “Yes.” I sprinted past him.

“Shit,” he said with a laugh as he caught back up to me.





Chapter 25


Monday

Felix and I walked into the cafeteria together. “Save me a seat?” Felix asked. “I want to go talk to Cupcake real quick. But I definitely don’t want to sit at that table.”

I laughed. “Yeah, no problem.” I watched him walk over to the Untouchables’ original table. I wanted to go over to Isabella right away and somehow warn her about Cupcake. But Cupcake was sitting right next to her. I couldn’t exactly do it in front of him.

“Everything okay with that?” Matt asked as I sat down next to him at our table.

“With Felix or Isabella?”

“Both?” He smiled. “You look worried. What’s wrong?”

“Everything is fine with Felix. I told him about us. And he just wants to be friends. For real this time.”

“That’s good,” Matt said and pulled me onto his lap. “So you’re worried about Isabella then?”

It was weird. I was nervous to have to go talk to Isabella about Cupcake. But it wasn’t really a decision. I had to do it. Despite everything, I’d never forgive myself if Cupcake did something to her. But that awkward conversation wasn’t what was bothering me.

“I didn’t receive any notes from her today,” I said.

“Maybe she finally got the hint that they’re not going to make you stop coming to school.”

“I guess.” I was used to the threatening notes though. Not getting any? Somehow it seemed more menacing. I looked back over at Isabella’s table. It was just her, Cupcake, and Felix now. Where had all her minions disappeared to?

“I brought your salad,” Matt said.

“You’re the best.” I kissed his cheek.

The flash of a camera made me turn to Kennedy. “You two are so ridiculously cute,” she said.

I smiled up at Matt. It was so weird being snuggled up to him in the cafeteria. When school had started, I’d never imagined we’d wind up here. Only in my dreams.

“What’s your costume for the Halloween party?” Kennedy asked Matt.

“It’s a surprise.” He reached around me to grab a fry off his plate.

“Wait, you’re really not going to tell us?” I asked.

He laughed. “All you need to know is that I’m going to make an entrance.”

I shook my head at him. He was the ridiculously cute one.

“Oh, I can’t wait,” Kennedy said. “Your annual Halloween party is always one of the biggest events of the year.”

“Well, I think Brooklyn and I are going to try to top it this year,” Matt said.

I could feel my cheeks turning red.

“We picked a date for our wedding,” he added.

Kennedy opened her mouth and then closed it again. “Shut up. For this year? When?!”

I laughed. “Saturday, December 22nd.”

“This is amazing.”

“And I had a question to ask you,” I said. “Will you be my bridesmaid? Or maid of honor? Or whatever you want to be called? You’re my only one.”

Kennedy squealed. “Do you seriously even have to ask? Yes!”

Matt held me even closer.

“What made you decide to do it so close to Christmas?”

“It gives us more time to celebrate during winter break,” Matt said.

That had been the original reason. But the more we’d talked about it, the sweeter Matt’s reason was. He knew the upcoming holidays were going to be hard on me. Just thinking about not waking up and celebrating Christmas morning with my mom made tears come to my eyes. The wedding was the perfect way to keep myself from not getting upset during the holidays. And we were creating a new family. The two of us. It would be hard to be sad during Christmas when our toes were in the hot sands of the Bahamas.

“You two are the best couple ever,” Kennedy said. “Are you going to eat all of those?” Kennedy asked and pointed to Matt’s French fries.

“Kennedy, if you want French fries, you should just order them,” he said with a laugh. “Why are you always stealing mine?”

“Because I like green beans too. I just want a mix.”

Matt laughed and shoved his tray into the middle of the table.

“You gotta keep him,” Kennedy said. “He’s the best.”

“I plan on it.”

“Hey guys,” Felix said and sat down next to Kennedy.

“What were you doing talking to the enemy?” Kennedy asked as she stole another fry.

“I’m selling Cupcake my list of clients. I’m done selling.”

“Really?” Kennedy’s whole face lit up.

I wasn’t sure I’d ever seen her quite this happy. Maybe she’d finally admit she liked Felix now that he wasn’t going to be a drug dealer anymore.

I looked over at Isabella’s table and was surprised to see her sitting all alone. It was a sight I never in a million years would have thought I’d see. And I couldn’t think of a better time to go talk to her than now.