Page 14

CHAPTER

NINE

ERIN

Another uneventful week has passed, only putting me more on edge.

Sometimes, the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end when I walk the school hall or when I’m at home alone, sensing their presence.

I’m probably paranoid, but my instincts tell me I’d be naive to think they’d forgotten about me already.

But I refuse to stay locked inside, hiding away. They can’t control me. I won’t let them. That’d be giving them what they want.

Mia admires my dress as I twirl. It’s emerald green with a tight bodice and translucent floaty sleeves. Delicate sequins in swirling patterns catch the light as I swish the tiered skirt across the floor. I look like a forest fairy, which perfectly matches the autumnal season.

“You look amazing,” she gushes.

“So do you,” I say.

Mia straightens her golden tiara, which matches her flaming red ballgown. Vibrant orange fabric layered underneath her dress leaves a trail of flames with every step.

“Can I come in?” Mom asks, not waiting for our response before opening my bedroom door. She wells up, dabbing the corners of her eyes with a handkerchief. “You both look beautiful. You’re going to have the most magical evening,”

Mia beams. “Thanks, Mrs. Acacia.”

“When is your car arriving?” Mom asks, checking her watch. “It’s almost seven.”

“Any minute,” Mia replies brightly, followed by an impeccably timed ring of the doorbell.

“Time to go, girls!” Mom claps excitedly like a giddy teenager. “Your dates are here!”

“Nate and I are just friends, remember?” I murmur, before she gets too carried away.

“Of course you are,” she says, dancing down the staircase.

“No, really, we are,” I insist. “Mom?—”

“Gentlemen!” She throws open the door to greet them. “Come inside.”

Nate and Oliver wear identical black tuxedos with bow ties, both clutching onto boxes containing a corsage. It’s a school tradition that all girls wear them.

“Wow.” Nate’s jaw drops when he sees me. “You look great.”

“Thanks.” I smile shyly, a warm blush creeping over my cheeks.

Tonight, I’m going to be a ordinary teenager. I’ll do something normal, without strange men crawling out of vents, rat skulls on my pillow, or threats.

Nate passes me the box. “This is for you.”

Inside, peonies and blush roses are crafted into a beautiful arrangement. Mia has a similar one from Oliver in rich reds.

“We need a picture,” Mom declares, whipping out a camera that I hadn’t noticed earlier. “Gather together, everyone.”

Dad appears out of nowhere. He brings the gloomy aura of the Grim Reaper, sapping all joy from the air.

Dad sniffs, looking the guys up and down in blatant disapproval. “Good evening.”

“It’s good to see you again, sir,” Nate replies.

Dad’s lip curls into a polite yet ‘I don’t like you’ grin. “Likewise.”

“We should go,” I say, reaching for the door handle. “We don’t want to be late.”

“One picture,” Mom begs. “This is your senior year Harvest Ball. It’s tradition.”

We awkwardly group together. I stand between Nate and Mia. Nate wraps his arm around me to rest his hand on my hip in a friendly pose. Dad’s eyes crackle with fury as the camera flash fills the room.

“There!” Mom declares. “Perfect.”

“Now, we really have to go,” I say. “The driver’s waiting.”

“Don’t do anything I wouldn’t,” Dad calls.

Everyone laughs, but there’s a warning behind his words.

A white stretch limousine waits outside. Like a true gentleman, Nate opens the door for me, bowing his head slightly, and I slip inside. Glittering blue lights reflect off the white seats, and champagne is already waiting on ice. We may be underage, but being rich will buy you anything.

“Let’s get this party started!” Oliver says, popping the cork and holding out the bottle. “Drink?”

Mia grabs a flute. “Fill me up!”

“No, thank you.”

I choose to decline after what happened last time.

“Don’t be boring, Erin.” Oliver rolls his eyes. “You heard your mom. This is our last Harvest Ball.”

“She said no, Ol,” Nate says firmly, reaching into the mini fridge that’s built into the lower seats. “OJ?”

I smile gratefully. “Perfect.”

Mia and Oliver drink their first glasses and swiftly move on to another. I don’t understand what she sees in him. He’s a stereotypical Stonybridge asshat with more money than sense. She deserves better.

“I haven’t seen you since the concert,” Nate says. “It was… unexpected.”

“That’s one way of putting it,” I agree, my lips twitching at the edges in a half-smile. “Usually, there aren’t rats.”

“I figured.” He grins. “Shame about Mr. Meyer, though.”

“He was a good teacher,” I say. “I’ll miss him.”

He got fired. The academy board claimed it was because his teaching wasn’t up to standard, but everyone knows they wanted to punish him for the concert disaster, even though he was innocent.

Nate raises his glass to toast. “To no rats at the Harvest Ball.”

We all cheer in unison. “No rats!”

Nate’s hand rests on my knee as we settle into a comfortable conversation for the rest of the ride. His warmth radiates through my chiffon skirt. Mia smirks and raises a subtle eyebrow as if to say Go for it, girl , which I choose to ignore.

“Looks like we’re here,” Nate says as we pull in.

He gets out to open the door for me. Life will never be perfect, but tonight, I can pretend to be a character in a movie. The ordinary girl on a ‘non-date’ with the star player of the football team sounds like a chick flick plot.

The Harvest Ball takes place in the school auditorium, leading out onto the grounds.

The auditorium doors are open, leading into a giant white marquee that acts as a seating area.

Circular tables are covered in linen cloths, autumnal flowers, and flickering candles.

Soft orange lights create a warm glow against the marquee fabric, which will look even better when the sun sets.

Smartly dressed servers move through the swathes of students, offering trays of canapes and sparkling drinks, while teachers turn a blind eye to the hip flasks being poured not-so-discreetly from suit jacket pockets.

A banquet table provides a bountiful feast of fruits, olives, breads, and dips, alongside mini cakes and pastries, all fresh from the local bakery.

Inside the auditorium, a live band plays onstage.

The oak walls are draped in golden fabric and hundreds of hanging fairy lights.

White blankets cover the ceiling, reminding me of rippling waves.

The usually drab wooden floor is replaced with sparkling white tiles, and trees with gold-sprayed leaves give it a Grecian vibe.

“They’ve gone all out this year,” Mia comments in a low whistle as we take in the decor.

“They need to spend our fees on something,” I say.

Our arrival hasn’t gone unnoticed. Lindsay and her friends glare in our direction, seeing my hand interlocked with Nate’s.

“I’ve got to meet Ol and the team,” Nate says apologetically. “It’s a football thing, but we’ll catch up with you both later?” His eyes twinkle. “You owe me another dance.”

“Oh my gosh!” Mia grabs my shoulders as soon as he leaves. “He’s so into you.”

I twirl a strand of hair around my finger coyly. “I don’t know about that…”

“I saw his hand on your knee in the limo,” she says. “Do you think tonight is the big night?” She wiggles her eyebrows. “I know Nate’s a football player, but he’s one of the good guys, plus he has a killer body. Have you seen his abs in the thirst traps he posts? I’ve heard he’s great in bed.”

“It’s not a real date, remember?” I say, despite my mind lingering on the thought a little too long.

“If you say so,” she replies, unconvinced. “Let’s dance.”

The quartet plays modern songs, giving a classical yet contemporary feel to the evening.

After dancing and sampling the mini cake selection, I relax.

The sun’s going down, and the party has turned up a notch.

Students are growing wilder with each drink, and even the chaperones are turning rosy-cheeked and merry.

It’s exactly what a school dance should be, made better by the fact Dad isn’t loitering in a corner watching my every move.

Take that, Sunnycrest men .

If they had their way, I’d be cowering in my room like a rabbit in a storm.

Nate catches my eye from across the dance floor.

Next to him, Oliver and Mia are wrapped in an embrace they won’t be freeing themselves from anytime soon.

Nate pushes his way through the crowd to get to me.

Since we got here, he’s been busy with his friends, so this is the first time we’ve spoken again.

He holds out his hand.

“Can I have this dance, m’lady?” he asks in a corny British accent.

I can’t help giggling and wrap my arms around his neck, breathing in his scent. Fresh soap and cologne.

“You’re stunning,” he whispers into my neck, nuzzling into my hair, a hint of bourbon on his breath. “Do you know that?”

I embrace the moment, picking up where we left off at Oliver’s party and ignoring the judgmental glares.

Nate stays oblivious to the daggers Lindsay shoots our way.

He looks at me like I’m the only girl in the room, Strong hands on the small of my back pull me into his chest. The music slows, and we sway together.

Disco lights glimmer against the sequins on my dress.

He strokes my cheek tenderly, sending a longing tremble through me like a gentle summer breeze skirting over my skin.

He leans in, his parted lips pausing for a brief second before brushing against mine tentatively, as if he’s waiting for an invitation and checking this is okay.

I kiss him back while he caresses my cheekbone, like it’s a delicate flower petal.

This is the type of kiss everyone dreams about.

Behind us, moody huffs threaten to ruin the mood. I won’t let them. I’m too swept away, lost in his arms. His tongue softly probes my lips apart. I kiss him back with a new hunger, forgetting that we’re surrounded by the rest of the senior class.