“Don't think you’re getting out of this bet,” Ileana sneers, and I'm surprised to see how well she fits into this pit of snakes. She might be a first year, but she's just as vicious as the other two Idols. “My father has a team of secret police, and I'm not afraid to use them.”
Her threat does not go unnoticed, but I ignore her as I rise to my feet, head off in search of Zack, and hope that the Idol guys turned down whatever ridiculous bet that he came up with. If they realize it’s a ruse, too bad. If the girls tell, Harper automatically loses.
“Oh by the way,” Harper calls out, and I turn around. She lifts her left hand and flashes me a massive rock on her ring finger. The ring that she's wearing, I bet its worth is in the millions. The necklace I wore tonight to piss Tristan off feels like a cheap trinket from Claire's in comparison. I manage to keep my expression calm, my face schooled, even though on the inside I feel like I might puke. “Tristan and I are engaged now. Thought you might want to know that.”
She, of course, waits until after I make the bet to throw out that bit of information. That sneaky, psycho bitch. But you know what? The best revenge of all is that I'm still not worried. If I want Tristan, I can fucking get him.
Without saying a word, I turn and walk away, a new plan hatching in my mind.
Not only is my bet with Harper part of my revenge plot, but for my father, I’d do anything. There’s more riding on all of this than just my damn pride.
The ski lodge is a mess of duffel bags, backpacks, and milling students. Everyone is dressed to suit the weather in beanies, scarves, ski pants, and boots. Miranda looks absolutely gorgeous in a head to toe lavender look, while I rock a pink outfit that she purchased for me as a surprise. I couldn't even begin to tell her how thankful I was; if she hadn’t gotten this for me, I would be wearing jeans and a hoodie.
Jessie and Andrew sip hot chocolate on the large couch while the staff check us in, and start handing out room assignments. Me, I'm too busy watching the double doors with the deer carved into them. Zack seems to realize that I'm waiting for someone, but he doesn't say anything, pulling his beanie low over his ears and watching me. The way his eyes follow me across the room makes my body ache and throb with the memory of our kiss and the hardness between his thighs.
I wonder what it would've felt like to reach down and cup it …
My cheeks flame, and I adjust my own pale pink beanie as Zayd’s howling laughter fills up the entire room with its soaring ceilings and wood beams. There's a fire crackling in the fireplace, the one that’s so big that five students could stand inside of it comfortably. It should be homey in here, but it's difficult to enjoy it with the Bluebloods around.
I sit down on an armchair while Miranda tells a story to Jessie and Andrew, gesturing so wildly with her hands that within a few minutes, she’s got a good dozen people listening and chuckling. Creed watches his twin like a man starved, desperate for her affection and still denied it. That's my continuing revenge on him. As long as he continues to be a dick, his mom and sister are on my side.
Tristan, on the other hand, is about to get a huge slap to the face.
I'm so busy watching that door and waiting, that I don't notice Zack is gone until he comes back, offering me up a cup of hot chocolate and a smile.
“Here,” he says as he hands it over to me, a dollop of whipped cream and chocolate sprinkles on the top. I cover it with my hands, grateful for the warmth after being outside. It was a long walk from the parking lot to the lodge's front door. “Revenge requires sustenance after all.”
I grin at him as I take a sip, his huge body perched on the arm of the chair I’m sitting in. I'm tempted to lay my hand on his knee, but why? What would that even mean? So instead I keep my hands cupped around the hot chocolate, and sip slowly.
Mrs. Amberton hands me a key to room 301 and tells me that Miranda and I will be sharing. The whole school knows by now that Miranda and Jessie are dating, so Jessie is put in a room with a random Pleb girl I've never seen before. Andrew and Zack are paired up, and my palms start to sweat as I notice Tristan heading up the stairs toward his room. I'm not ready for him to leave yet. Not just yet …
As if she's taken classes on how to make a grand entrance (as far as I know, maybe she has), the double doors fly open with a swirl of snow and in walks Lizzie, dressed head to the toe in designer athletic wear, her red and black plaid jacket slightly unbuttoned, just a hint of cleavage showing.
She sees me right away and I stand up, handing my empty hot chocolate to Zack before she throws her arms around my neck and gives me a huge hug. Last night, I messaged her to make peace. In reality, I've added her name to my list and crossed it off in the same go around.
Based on the conversation I had with Lizzie last night—most of which consisted of her profusely apologizing to me and begging for my forgiveness—she doesn't know Tristan is engaged. I can tell by the way she talks about him, that she’s still in love with him. When I glance over my shoulder and see him frozen on the stairs, one hand white-knuckled on the banister, his eyes all for her, I know he's in love with her, too.
A few of Lizzie's friends are with her, all of them wearing matching Coventry Prep beanies, the school crest sewn into the side. It's a little cliquish for my taste, but it's nice to see a swarm of queen bees sweep into the room that are actually on my side. It has not escaped my notice that the Bluebloods are bristling.
Lizzie's guardian approaches the counter and starts up a conversation with some of the Burberry Prep staff, wrapping her arms around Ms. Felton. A smile works its way onto my lips before I turn back to Lizzie herself.
“Our school doesn't do second-year trips, so it was a nice surprise to get your invite,” she says, her own engagement ring sparkling as she reaches up to tuck her black curls behind one ear. She turns her amber gaze over to Zack, and they both smile sheepishly before turning their attentions back to me.
The last time I was in the same room with the two of them, I was having my heart broken in two. This is so much better because this time, it's Tristan and Lizzie who are going to feel that pain. Part of me aches at the idea of Lizzie getting hurt; she's so sweet and genuine. It's impossible to imagine her making that bet with Zack way back when. Either the two of them have changed immensely since then, or else they're as full of shit as the rest of the Bluebloods.
“I'm glad you're here,” I tell her, and I mean that, even if it is all a part of my plot. Ugh. It shouldn't be this hard for me to extract vengeance. I'd rather just be a naïve, happy chick with no vendettas. I decide that once I graduate from Burberry Prep, I'm done with revenge plots forever. “I don't ski, and I hear learning isn't exactly easy. I need you guys to take turns babysitting me in the lodge.”
Lizzie chuckles, and it's such a gentle, cultured laugh. She's pretty, too, and nice. I'm damn near positive she's as close to perfect as any human being ever gets. That is, if you ignore the bet she made with Zack,
Like a viper, Harper slithers over to us, flashing her own ring in Lizzie's face.
“What … are you doing here?” Harper grinds out between her perfect, white teeth. She flashes me a look of pure venom that I pretend not to notice. Lizzie's face shuts down as soon as she sees that ring, and a tension creeps into the air that has nothing to do with me. I'm not even involved in their resulting stare down.
“I was invited,” Lizzie says, managing to maintain a fairly neutral expression. Impressive considering Harper's devolved into an ugly monster in the same span of time. Right on time, Tristan appears on Harper's left, his gray gaze focused on Lizzie. But only for a second … He then moves his attention over to me, and I'm almost startled by it.
“Oh, honey,” Harper purrs, latching onto Tristan's arm. The way his mouth wrinkles into a sneer when she touches him tells me all I need to know. He doesn't like her, never will. Not that it matters. He'll marry her anyway if it's what'll give him the most money and power. My stomach twists into an infinity-shaped knot. “The Working Girl invited your old girlfriend to ski with us. I'm not impressed.”
“What do you want me to do about it?” he snaps at her, his face impassive. “I can't exactly kick Lizzie and Charity out into the snow, now can I?” Harper gapes at him, flicking her tongue against the side of her mouth and leveling her glare on Lizzie. I may as well be invisible. After all, it's not me that her fiancé’s in love with.
Not yet, anyway.
In my heart though, I wonder if I'll ever be able to wedge Lizzie out of that special place in Tristan's chest. She could very well lose the bet for me. I exhale sharply, and Zack reaches down to take my hand, giving it a squeeze.
“You're engaged?” Lizzie whispers after a second, looking at Tristan from hurt baby doe eyes. I feel like I might cry for her. Damn it. Damn, damn, damn. Well, I'm glad I already crossed her name off the list. This is too much. “You … could've told me.”
“Publicly? At a party? Like how you told me?” Tristan snaps, his nostrils flaring. He's trying to maintain his composure and failing miserably. Harper looks gleeful right about now. I want to beat her up for them both. “Why should I? What are we to each other? Clearly, not friends.”
Lizzie's eyes blur with tears, and I grimace, squeezing Zack's hand back for comfort.
“You're right,” she whispers, “we're not friends. But that's okay: I didn't come here for you.” She reaches down to take my hand, notices Zack's curled around it, and raises her brows. I quickly shake him off and grab onto her, pulling her away from the crowd and up the stairs.
I think that's enough revenge for us both.
This time, however, it doesn't taste quite so sweet.
Lizzie falls asleep on my bed, so I take hers, and Miranda ends up staying with Jessie. I wonder if they're um, sleeping together, but I'm too nervous to ask, so I don't say anything. We spend the next morning sitting in the lodge and eating from the buffet, sipping hot cocoa, and talking about the summer.