I snorted.

Clearing my throat, I pressed my lips together to stop myself from laughing out loud because I wasn't supposed to be texting right now. But I couldn't help myself.

It was fun talking to this Golden Boy.

Scout:
I wish I could see you right now

Connie:
Clingy already?

Scout:
Lol isn't that you?

Connie:
Please. I'm irresistible.

Scout:
Who picked who to date again?

A small laugh escaped me, earning me a few looks from those standing nearby. When I felt someone sidle up next to me, I glanced up. Ah, it was Jamaica. She nodded to my phone and gave me a rue smile.

"Ooh, who's that you're texting that you have such a pretty smile on your face?" She winked. It was her thing. "Can I guess?"

I forced to keep my expression neutral, which caused her to burst out laughing. I didn't want to admit that I've resorted to this, texting Scout in the middle of a social event that I was supposed to be engaging in. I could just say I was bored, but she and I both knew that wasn't the truth.

"Cons," started Jamaica, looking like she was about to piss herself from giggling too much, "there's nothing wrong with being giddy when you're dating a hot guy like Scout."

Facing her, I smirked and turned the table around. "There's nothing wrong with admitting you like preppy prick either."

She scoffed. Busted.

"I don't like him."

Yeah, right. "Uh-huh."

"I don't," she repeated, with her chin up.

"Right, so I'm just imagining all that sexual tension between you whenever you guys are in the same room, then?"

She could deny it, but too many times had I caught her sneak discreet looks at Brody when she thought nobody was paying attention. He, on the other hand, didn't bother hiding his long gazes, looking like Cupid struck him good and hard. No worries about him being in denial unlike my dear friend here.

A deep sigh escaped Jamaica's lips. "I... admit that I may be attracted to him," she said slowly, as if it was eating her inside to admit it out loud. Then, she quickly added, "But it's all very physical."

"In other words, you wanna bone him."

Her eyes squeezed shut, before her hands reached up to cover her face. I burst out laughing. I loved calling people out.

"Have you acted on it?" I wondered aloud.

"No." She put down her hands and shook her head, looking at the sea of people in the room. "I don't plan on being an additional name to his list of college conquests."

"Dude, you're overthinking this shit," I told her. It was only a hookup. What was the big deal? "Just let go and have fun."

"I will," she said, back to her confident self again. "As soon as I find a cute guy to flirt with tonight." She wiggled her eyebrows and gave me a flirty smile, before walking off to find her prey.

I watched as every guy she passed by turn their heads in her direction. I let out a small laugh, inwardly proud to call her my friend – not because she was stunning but because beneath all that bravado was a softie. And I could relate to that shit.

"Looking bored over here, aren't you?"

I turned my head and laid eyes on a fancy-looking dude wearing a suit and all. Seriously, was there a requirement to look preppy as hell for you to be considered in a fraternity? He looked like that actor in one of the historical Spanish shows on Netflix, though. Really cute.

"A little," I admitted, deciding it wouldn't hurt to talk to someone other than my sisters tonight.

"Mind if I entertain you?" he asked.

I tilted my head. "Can you?"

A lopsided smile stretched across his face, dimples showing on his cheeks. "I like a challenge."

I'm sure you do.

"Be my guest," I told him.

Just then, my phone vibrated. I looked down to see a text from Scout.

Scout:
What, no reply? Is this your way of proving to me that you can resist me?

Connie:
Oh, you're still there. I forgot.

Scout:
Hahahahaha ouch

Connie:
:)

"Are you into video games?"

I tore my eyes away from my phone and looked up at the guy who was making a serious effort to talk to me. I felt kind of bad for him. Well, the least I could do was engage in the conversation, right?

Wait, what the hell? Since when did I ever give a shit about being rude before? This sorority thing was seriously fucking me up with its etiquette bullshit. Not to mention, I've been hanging out with Scout almost everyday for the past several weeks.

Ugh, his goodness was rubbing off on me.

"I'm a beer pong kind of girl," I finally replied, shrugging a shoulder.

Fancy Pants grinned at that. "A girl after my own heart."

"It's not like we can play right now, though."

"True." He nodded, looking around. "We can sneak away and make out?"

I gave him a dubious look. Was he for real?

"I'm dating someone," I deadpanned.

His facial expression turned sad. "Ah, 'that so?"

"Sorry."

Yeah, I wasn't really sorry. I had to say, this make-believe thing with Scout sure came in handy at times like this.

"It's cool," he assured me, shaking his head and waving a dismissive hand. "We can still hang out and talk to kill time."

I nodded in agreement, but I was still wary of him.

As if on cue, there was another text from Scout.

Scout:
How's the mixer?

Connie:
You're in one, too.

Scout:
Yeah but it's boring without you roasting people. Kinda miss it.

Connie:
This coming from the same person who counter attacks my roasts with benefit of the doubts and compliments.

Scout:
Lol you gotta admit it's fun

It was, but I would never admit that to him if only to spite him.

"Is it the guy you're dating?" asked Fancy Pants.

I only nodded.

"Does he know you're in a mixer with the Lambs?" he asked, but I caught the slight tone of arrogance in his voice – like it was a privilege to be here with them.

"Yup," I simply said.

"He's okay with that?"

I raised my head to meet his eyes. "Why wouldn't he be?"

He raised an eyebrow. "Because it's a mixer?"

"He's in one, too."

He looked skeptical. "Really?"

"They have a mixer with the Zits."

His forehead creased, thinking real hard about what I said. "Your boyfriend is in Alpha Alpha?" I watched as understanding crossed his features.

Technically, Scout wasn't a boyfriend. Even if we were pretending, we agreed to tell people we were just 'dating' with no labels so that there would be no pressure. But I wouldn't correct this dude, only because I didn't like his tone earlier.

He chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his neck. "I guess I really have no chance then, huh?"

I couldn't help the snort that escaped me. "You thought you had one before?"

"Girls dig frat guys." He stated it like a fact.

"You'd be surprised by how many girls would disagree with you," I replied, bringing my eyes back to my phone because I was done with this conversation.

"No," he groaned, with a little laugh. "Don't ruin it for me."

I seriously didn't understand this guy. One second, he was being a snobby ass – then he'd be playful and light the next. Moody much?

Scout texted again, and I only realized then I didn't reply to his last message.

Scout:
Remember when we bailed on our mixer and grabbed some pizza?

Connie:
Fun times.

Scout:
Tempted to do it again?

Connie:
Are you? Look at that, golden boy's getting rebellious. Haha

Scout:
Dude, you're turning down pizza??

Connie:
I don't remember saying no.

Scout:
Lol thought so. I'm sneaking out in 5 mins.
Pick you up at the Kappa house?

Connie:
Ok let me know when you're outside.

I turned off the screen and brought my attention back to the party. I scanned the room for the executives, seeing if I could escape without them noticing.

"Must be one helluva guy to get you smiling like that."

Shit, I was smiling again?

"Yeah, he is," I said, hoping to get him to shut up now.

I don't see Naomi and Ophelia.

"Do I know him?" he asked.

Rae's out of sight, too.

"Would it make a difference?"

Oops, there's Honor. She's busy talking to a guy, though.

"Honestly, I'd feel better if I knew he's someone as cool as Otto or something," he muttered.

Well, Scout was no fraternity president but they treated him like the Pope back home. Did that count as cool?

I sighed and turned to Fancy Pants. "Scout Crimson."

His eyes widened and his jaw dropped open. "That new Scarlet Knight recruit?" he asked, naming our school mascot.

"I didn't think you'd know him," I said, which was half a lie.

"I probably wouldn't if I knew jack shit about collegiate sports." He looked at me sideways, hanging his head. "But c'mon, he went viral a couple of weeks ago, right?"

Oh, I almost forgot about that.

He breathed out, nodding. "Good guy."

Of course, even this dude thought Scout was great. Who didn't?

My phone screen lit up, making me look at the notification.

Scout:
I'm outside, Cinderella.

The corner of my lips quirked up.

Funny how he chose the same Disney princess Oz and the others called me in high school. Did Scout know my shitty history with my ex-stepmonster?

I doubted it.

"If anyone asks," Fancy Pants paused, raising both of his hands, "you were with me the whole time."

I looked at the moody guy in front of me, and he flashed another lopsided smile at me. I wasn't sure how to take it. Should I trust him?

Despite being a snob, he hadn't really shown any signs of being a dick. Neither did he look like the type who would rat me out. Besides, what would he get out of it? Types like him just wanted something in return.

"What's the catch?" I asked, watching him carefully.

He shook his head. "No catch, I swear."

I tried to catch any sort of hint that he was lying. But either he had a really good poker face, or he was simply telling the truth.

"Thanks," I mumbled, unsure even as I said it. I took one quick cast around the room, before I started backing away.

"Wait," he hissed, holding my arm to stop me. "You didn't tell me your name."

"Connie."

"I'm Tanner Casas." He grinned at me, before letting my arm go and adding in a whisper, "Now go."

"There's really no catch?"

"Nope." He shrugged. "Just glad to help out a damsel in distress."

"Thanks... again."

With that, I turned around and quickly went for the front door.

Now I knew how girls with strict parents felt when they were sneaking out of the house to meet their boyfriends. It had a different kind of thrill to it.

Stepping out of the house, I stopped for a moment to catch my breath and that was when I spotted Scout's white camaro at the end of the driveway.

This was starting to feel normal, familiar, and... comfortable. And yet, my heart was pounding and I couldn't seem to get it to calm down.

The car door opened and out came the ginger Golden Boy.

He was wearing a white polo, with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and his tie was loosened. He looked so effortlessly handsome right now that I just stared at him. He leaned his elbows above the hood of his car, and my heart pounded even harder.

With a smile, he called out, "Ready?"

No, I wasn't. I wasn't ready for whatever this was that I couldn't even explain. I wasn't ready for how he made me feel.

I wasn't ready for him.

But still, I nodded as if I wasn't just having an inner battle with myself... as if he didn't make me feel all kinds of different things... as if I didn't just realize that I was starting to like him — and I mean, more than as a friend.

"Yeah, let's go," I merely said, killing my thoughts and burying all that shit at the back of my mind.

"You okay?" he asked, when I neared.

I nodded, trying to keep my face neutral. "Why wouldn't I be?"

He took one long look at me, before smiling and shaking his head. He opened the door for me and said, "Get in, Anderson. Let's get some pizza."

I did as I was told (shocker) and climbed in the passenger side of his car. "I'm starting to think you have a pizza problem," I teased.

I heard him chuckle, making me look up at him.

"I have a problem," he admitted. "But it's not pizza."

I waited for him to say more, but he didn't. He just closed the door and jogged to the driver's side. When he settled in, I turned to him.

"Is it basketball?" I asked.

Did he feel incompetent at the idea of being benched all year?

"Nah," he replied, starting the engine.

"What is it, then?"

"Nothing you should worry about."

My eyes turned to slits as I tried to figure out what his problem could be. But then I sighed and let it go. If he didn't feel like telling me, then I wouldn't force him to.

I was about to turn my head towards the window when he spoke again.

"You look beautiful, by the way." He faced the road and put the car in first gear. I caught a shadow of a smile as he started driving. "Then again, you always do."

_____________

Next update: Thursday (May 2nd)

Coming up next... Chapter 16: Everything