Chapter 36

Audrey

I stared at my reflection in the mirror, trying to decide if the red crop top I was wearing was too much or not quite enough. Behind me, Avis and Tina were already halfway through their second round of tequila shots, giggling as they chatted animatedly about. the upcoming party.

"Does this lipstick shade go with my eyeshadow?" Avis asked, turning this way and that in the vanity mirror.

Tina pursed her lips. "I'd go with the other shade, but that's just me..."

"No, no, you're right," Avis said, grabbing the other lipstick. "The purple is much better."

As Avis touched up her makeup, Tina turned to me. "Are you almost ready? You've been staring at that shirt for five minutes straight now."

"I guess..." I tugged self-consciously at the tight fabric stretching across my midriff. "You really don't think this is too revealing?"

Avis snorted, meeting my gaze in the mirror. "You do realize we're going to a party, right? Not church?"

Flashing her a withering look, I moved away from the mirror and nodded, turning my attention to my hair. "I just... don't want any unnecessary attention," I muttered, shivering.

Tina and Avis exchanged apologetic looks. "Because of the video that was circulating last night?"

I froze, my stomach twisting into knots. The memory of that massive tarantula falling on me was still so visceral, it made me want to vomit. "That's part of it," I grumbled.

"Yeah, well, it got taken down anyway," Avis huffed, just as angry as I was. "A bunch of people reported it as harassment."

Tina nodded, giving my arm a squeeze. "Linda's friends' Tik Tok accounts got taken down, too."

I let out a shaky breath, trying to push the whole mortifying incident from my mind. At least that was a reassurance; Linda and her friends thought that their sick 'prank' would

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Chapter 36

into a laughing stock,

voice, "what happened with you and Professor Brooks last

Avis said, turning in her chair. "You said you had

phone

a fresh coat of lip gloss. "We just... graded papers. That's

"And he ordered

huffed. "No, not really. You two clearly

would be hot, too,"

finally having to laugh at their shamelessness. "Goddess, you two are out of

a lie, of course; so much more had happened, and yet so little at

mine from across the desk-the sound of his voice when he caught on to my prodding, the tiniest smirk crossing

course. Even now, I regretted accepting that whiskey

shaking my head at my friends as I pulled my hair up into a messy

know about that," Avis murmured, biting her lower lip and squirming in her chair. "Some

I exchanged incredulous looks at the rare display of heat from

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my chest. Colored lights flashed through the house, bodies writhing and silhouettes stumbling in and out. We hadn't even made it inside

the whole school is

because it is." Tina grinned and looped one arm through mine and another through

could already see that dozens of people were milling around a massive bonfire, red plastic cups in hand and plumes of smoke

here, the air was thick with the sharp t**g of beer and

toward a table where a group of rowdy frat boys were doing

felt a nervous flutter in my stomach watching them, but I had

plenty of alcohol before, sure-but I had never

face, because Tina leaned in close so

lead me over toward the bonfire. Despite the heat of the c**g flames, I felt a shiver

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