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

laughing stock, but it just infuriated

lowering her voice, "what happened with you and Professor

said you had to go and grade papers, and

your phone all

quickly looked away, busying myself with applying a fresh coat of lip gloss. "We just... graded papers. That's all." Tina and Avis exchanged disbelieving looks. "Is that

he ordered us a pizza.

You two clearly have

be hot, too,"

their shamelessness. "Goddess, you two are out of control!" I chided. "Nothing else

more had happened, and yet so little at the

allowed myself to recall the way Edwin's gray eyes had met mine from across the desk-the sound of his voice when he caught on to my prodding, the tiniest smirk crossing my lips when I had asked for

gone too far, of course. Even now, I regretted accepting that

pulled my hair up into a

biting her lower lip and squirming in her

at the rare display of heat from the

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town, I could feel the heavy bass thumping against my chest. Colored lights flashed through the house, bodies writhing and silhouettes stumbling in

school is

Tina grinned and looped one arm through mine and another through Avis's as we headed up to the

house toward the backyard, I could already see that dozens of people were milling around a massive bonfire, red plastic cups in hand and plumes of smoke drifting up towards the

the sharp t**g of beer and weed, laughter and shouts

gesturing toward a table where a group of rowdy frat boys were doing body shots

stomach watching them, but I

I really was. I'd had plenty of alcohol before, sure-but I had never so much as seen anyone

close so I could hear her over

my head, allowing her to lead me over toward the bonfire. Despite the heat of the c**g flames, I felt

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