Lost in Thought (26 page)

196 | C A R A B E R T R A N D

movie star, and I could see that Amy was entirely enamored with him.

They presented us with flowers—a corsage for Amy, a bouquet for me—and after a few required photos with Ms. Kim, we were off.

If it weren’t for our driver, whom Amy and I had met that afternoon, standing next to it, I’m not sure how we’d ever have found our limousine. The entire campus main drive was filled with them, nearly end to end. It was an amazing thing to witness. Even at the biggest art galas I’d attended with my aunt, I’d never seen anything like this.

Amazingly, another bottle of champagne appeared in the limousine, adding to our festive mood. I couldn’t believe we could get away with it, but then I guessed what Amy said was true. As long as it wasn’t obvious or immediately life-threatening, everyone really did turn a blind eye on the night’s activities.

Thankfully the newest bottle was split between the group of us— instead of just Amy and me—and after another glass, I felt amazing.

Relaxed and excited and happy. I snuggled up to Carter and kissed him, rather boldly, as we rode in luxury to the dance. Carter was surprised, but obliging, and my friends were both shocked and amused.

“You should give Lainey champagne more often,” I heard Caleb say, and I laughed. Tonight was going to be incredible. I was sure.

THE HOTEL HOSTING the ball might have been fancy, but the ballroom itself was insane. It was opulently decorated in white and silver, with the tiniest touches of pale blue for color, and the entire room twinkled. I’m not even sure how the effect was achieved—a combination of candles, white lights, crystal chandeliers, and, just maybe, all the champagne I’d drunk—but the results were breathtaking. A true winter wonderland had been recreated indoors, all for our amusement.

For the second, maybe third time tonight, I was in awe.

“So this is what I was missing the last four years,” Carter said.

“This is way better than last year,” Amy agreed, though I think she was looking at Caleb more than the decor.

L O S T I N T H O U G H T | 197

The Ball was limited to sophomores, juniors, and seniors, and nearly all of them were there. To my surprise, even Jill had come, and I thought she looked like she was actually having fun. She was lovely in a simple sheath dress of royal purple that flattered her petite frame and her coloring. Her blue eyes were always impressive, but the purple of her dress made them riveting. She was with another sophomore, a shy boy I’d seen around campus a few times, who seemed like a nearly perfect match for her. It was clear to me that he was hoping tonight was more than a friendly date. However much I wanted to believe Jill returned the sentiments, I couldn’t be convinced.

As the last dinner dishes were cleared away, it was time for the real party. The room buzzed with excitement for the announcement of the Winter Court. The nominations and voting had taken place over the last month, but there was no drama and no surprise when Dr. Stewart herself—in a severe dress that, I wouldn’t have thought this possible, made her look taller and thinner than ever—read aloud the winners.

Naturally, Alexis was crowned queen.

She was beautiful enough on a normal day, but this was clearly her element. Her one-shoulder, floor-length dress was undeniably designer, with a smattering of beading that glittered artfully in the light and a slit that went to almost illegal heights. It was both elegant and seductive, and also a perfect, unexpected shade of winter white, a color you’d think would have clashed with all the white and silver decora-tions, but it did the exact opposite. It stood out in a way that made me think the whole room had been designed to complement her. Maybe it had.

Lightly tanned, with naturally pink cheeks and lips painted a dramatic shade of red, she was so luminous, it was almost impossible to look away from her. Her dark brown hair fell in waves from the crown of her head, and her dark eyes danced with the reflection from her sparkling tiara. Yes, Alexis had been born to be Winter Queen.

198 | C A R A B E R T R A N D

Amy, too, was elected part of the court. With her own unique beauty, not to mention her cleavage and miraculous confection of a dress, I think she drew almost as much attention as Alexis. The Court members started off the dancing with their dates, and I leaned back from my chair into Carter’s arms while we watched the couples glitter and sway on the dance floor. I was also surprised to see Alexis had come with Garrett. Maybe his affections were finally being returned.

They certainly made a good-looking couple, and seemed intent on each other during their dance.

“Are you enjoying yourself?” Carter whispered to me as his fingers traced lightly along my arm. It was a fairly innocent touch, as far as touches went, but I shivered in response.

“This is
fantastic,”
I whispered back. “I can’t believe you never came to one of these.”

“I was just waiting for my date to get here,” he said and kissed me lightly on the cheek.

I was in heaven.

For a little while anyway. Then, almost literally, my own personal hell broke loose.

oon enough we were all dancing—the floor was packed and barely fit everyone—and though I’d never done much of it S before, I found it came naturally. All you needed was good music, some rhythm, and a bottle of champagne to start the night, all of which I had. After what seemed like hours but was probably only one, I finally took a break to go to the restroom and catch my breath. Instead of the opulent but crowded bathrooms in the main foyer, Carter and I slipped out to a quieter set through a side door behind our table. Unsurprisingly, the corridor was deserted.

When I came out of the women’s room, my date was missing. I waited for a minute before deciding he must have gone back to our table. But he wasn’t there either, or on the dance floor. In fact, he wasn’t anywhere I could see in the ballroom. At about this time, I also realized that I’d misplaced my lip gloss, so I went back into the corridor to search for it and my date.

I found my lip gloss where I’d left it on the bathroom counter, but no Carter. The hallway was still empty. I was about to head back to the ballroom when I heard what sounded like crying. I thought it was

200 | C A R A B E R T R A N D

coming from some kind of service entrance around the corner from the bathrooms.

As I was walking toward whoever it was to make sure they were okay, I also heard a familiar voice say, “She’ll break your heart, Carter, she will. Please. You know how I feel.”

There was only one Carter in the vicinity of Northbrook, and there was only one person bold enough to try something like this on a night like this. I rounded the corner to find a girl in an exquisite ivory dress crying lightly and standing way too close to my boyfriend, her pale hand clutching his arm.

Carter sighed and started to say, “Alex, you know I don’t…” but that was all he got out before she leaned in even closer and kissed him.

On the mouth. With tongue.

Carter, thank God, looked a combination of shocked and angry, and was already pushing her away when I squeaked in outrage. They both turned toward me in surprise. Carter’s face was frantic, and Alexis…looked devastated, beautiful—honestly, even all sniffly and mauling my boyfriend the girl was gorgeous—and practically murderous.

“What the hell are you doing?!” I said, looking at the two of them as I stalked forward. To my surprise, I didn’t shout. My voice was low and dangerous and I barely recognized it.

“Lainey, I—” Carter began, but it wasn’t him I was worried about.

“Not you.
You,”
I said, and pointed toward Alexis. I’d expected her to make another play for Carter at some point—it just wasn’t in her to give up—but I’d never dreamed it would be so soon after our delicate truce or, of all nights, tonight.

Alexis sniffled again. After seeing and hearing her pleading, I believed she was truly interested in Carter, as more than a conquest, and that she was upset about his rejection. For half a second I also believed she was going to admit all of this to me and apologize. But as the say-L O S T I N T H O U G H T | 201

ing goes, old habits really do die hard. She stiffened and glared at me.

“I’m seducing the guy who should be my boyfriend. Do you mind?”

she hissed.

I couldn’t stop myself. I slapped her.

She recoiled in shock, her own hand covering the spot where mine had cracked across her cheek, before she turned and ran around the corner out of sight. For my part, I stared at my hand like I didn’t recognize it. I’d never hit someone in anger before. I’d never even considered it. And for all my years of kick boxing and martial arts, I had no idea why I’d slapped her instead of punching her in the mouth.

I’d been trained to do it, had dreamed of doing exactly that, but when the real opportunity presented itself, I’d missed it completely.

Carter reached for my hand and went into rapid apology mode.

“Lainey, I’m so sorry. I just…thought I’d listen to her, she was so upset, and then…I never expected
that.
I
didn’t
encourage her, I swear.

I…”

I let him go on for a while, mostly because I was still in shock, but also because honestly, it was a little amusing to see him so thrown off balance. Eventually I came to my senses.

“It’s okay,” I interrupted. “Well, it’s
not
okay, but I’m not mad at you. You probably shouldn’t have listened to her, but that’s just you being too nice to everyone. Especially her.”

His relief was instantaneous. “I’m so sorry,” he repeated and wrapped his arms around me. I wiped the remnants of red lipstick off his lips and then briefly covered them with my own. “I can’t believe she did that,” he said.

“I can. I’m having a harder time with the fact that her tongue was actually in your mouth, but I can believe she did it.”

He reddened in embarrassment but then glanced down at where my hands were pressed against his lapels. “I also can’t believe you hit her.”

202 | C A R A B E R T R A N D

“That
one I am surprised about,” I admitted. “I…didn’t even think.

I just did it. I’m sorry I did, sort of, but maybe it will finally get her to leave you alone.”

“Maybe,” he said, but I’m not sure either of us believed it. “Let’s go back. Forget this and have fun.”

I was in complete agreement, though I was certain I wouldn’t forget it for a long time. I think we both knew that Alexis wouldn’t tell anyone what had happened; she might get some sympathy because I’d hit her, but overall it was too embarrassing for her. It was definitely no coincidence that she’d run into him in the side bathroom hallway and decided to pour her heart out. She had to have been watching for an opportunity to get Carter alone, and she also had to have been planning this.

At first I’d been unable to understand why she’d done it tonight, a night during which she was the absolute star, but I finally realized that
was
why. Tonight was
her
night. Maybe she thought she could make it perfect by winning Carter away from me. On top of that, as she’d breezed past me around the corner, I noticed a distinct smell of alcohol mixed with her perfume. Like most of us, Alex had been drinking, and whatever she’d had was stronger than the champagne I’d filled up on.

It dawned on me that maybe the champagne had been a major cul-prit in my violent reaction. Even with dinner, I reluctantly admitted that I was still a little drunk. Maybe more than a little. I sent Carter to get me some water as soon as we got into the ballroom, which gave me a chance to fill my roommate in on what had happened. Amy was appropriately outraged, but also thrilled by the fact that I’d hit her.

Caleb was equally impressed.

“That stupid bitch!” Amy nearly shouted. “I hope you left a mark on her too-pretty stupid face!” I wondered if Amy wasn’t a little drunk too.

L O S T I N T H O U G H T | 203

Carter returned with my water. It was cool and very, very welcome.

I already regretted all the champagne, and I was afraid I would regret it more tomorrow. As I sipped gratefully, I looked around the room and was surprised to see Alexis had already returned. She looked almost as if nothing had happened. Her cheeks were a little redder than before, and maybe her eyes were a little red, but I saw her gesturing to her ankle and limping up to her date. Garrett bent down and gently lifted her foot, moving it around as if it were something almost too precious to hold. She sniffled a little, and he practically picked her up and set her in a chair.

So this was how she’d cover up her tears and red face. It was a brilliant plan, and with her Heraldic gift, I’m sure Garrett was utterly convinced she’d tripped and twisted her ankle. Probably even without her gift. As I watched, he leaned over and kissed her tentatively. In response, she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him back, in a very good simulation of what she’d just done to Carter. I made a little gagging noise.

“Unbelievable,” Carter muttered, following my gaze to where Alex was making out with her replacement guy. Carter shook his head, and then said hesitantly, “I, uh, ran into Jillian while I was getting your water. She asked if she could have a dance, and I couldn’t say no, but…after what just happened, I thought I should warn you first. Do you mind?”

I actually did, a little. I’m not sure it was rational, but I suddenly didn’t want any other girl except Amy within touching distance of him.

Maybe not even Amy. Realizing how ridiculous that was, I gave my brain a mental slap. I would not be
that
kind of girlfriend. So I said, “Of course not!” Then I added, in what I thought was a hysterical joke, “Just try to keep her tongue out of your mouth, okay?”