Chapter 2

Adina’s POV

"You should go to the party," Aurora said for the umpteenth time today. She was in my dorm room, spread on my bed, and munching on a huge bag of chips.

“I already told you…”

"Giovanni personally asked you." Exasperation worked its way into her voice as she pulled herself into a sitting position. "Do you even know what that means?"

I whirled my chair around from my reading desk. “Aurora, those guys are nothing but trouble. Think about it. What reason could he have to invite me to a party, after ignoring me the whole of last session?”

“He didn’t ignore you. It’s more like…”

"He had no idea I existed," I shrugged. "And I want it to remain that way. The Malvettis and the Riveras are on two opposite ends of the earth, and I am not going to delude myself into thinking this will yield anything positive for me."

"Okay!" Aurora raised her hands in mock surrender. "But how about you think about it this way? Throughout our freshman year, we barely had any social life, especially you. I attended a few parties that were made accessible to everyone, but you sat here, poring over your books."

“And I had the best results in the class to show for it,” I cut in. It was the only good thing I had working for me, other than this scholarship. And I knew I needed to work my ass out to keep it.

"Maybe your grades aren't everything you need, Adina. Most companies out there at the point of employment want to know what extra-curricular activities you engaged in."

I shook my head emphatically. "Lucia's party isn't an extracurricular activity, and I already volunteered to chair the committee planning the University's next ball. That is more than enough."

Aurora groaned into her pillow, and I turned around, going back to my book. But in a second, she was right behind me, pulling me out of my seat.

“You don’t have to talk to Giovanni,” she muttered as she pulled me to my closet, pushing the doors open. “All you need to do is have a good time and come tell me all about it. I promise not to bother you about this again.”

“Aurora…”

“Scout’s honour.”

After another hour of convincing and picking out a dress, I found myself in front of Lucia's family's house. I felt out of place the minute I pushed the doors open.

It was loud in here, so loud that I found myself wincing. I pressed my hands against my ears to block out the sound, then stood there, my eyes scanning the living r

Red cups were littered around, and students loitered on every surface, dancing, laughing, talking. This wasn’t my space. How on earth had I let Aurora convince me to be here?

I turned around to take my leave when a pair of heels stopped in front of me. My eyes drew from the stunning heels to the rest of her frame. She was in a very short leather skirt and a fur top I knew I could never afford.

Her perfectly curled auburn hair billowed behind her, completing the look.

Lucia.

"Are you lost?" she sneered, barely moving her lips. Her eyes scanned my outfit, a bland long skirt that reached my ankles, and a corset I borrowed from Aurora. There was no way I could step out of my dorm that way, so I threw a black scarf over the corset.

“Lost?”

"Because I personally prepared the guest list, and I don't remember putting your name in there."

"I… er…"

“Cat got your tongue?”

Her eyes took in the invitation I was clutching on to, and she snatched it at once, peering at the handwritten note on the bottom. A soft smile made its way to her lips, and she shook her head slowly.

“I knew it!”

“Knew what?”

"Girls like you who act like they are immune to the Giovanni charm are actually the ones banging him behind the scenes." She took a cold step towards me, her perfectly made face leaning towards mine.

"I don't care what Giovanni does with you, because I have to admit, it is practically impossible to resist his charm. But don't be like all the other girls and fall in love with him. You have heard of his record, right?"

“I think you are making a mistake here,” I muttered, shaking my head. “I didn’t come for Giovanni.”

She looked at me like I was a clown. “Who signed the invite in your hands?”

“I mean, he signed it but…”

“Whatever, Adora,” she waved her perfectly manicured nails in the air. “Be careful with the red cups. They are spiked.”

Laughing, she stalked away from me, leaving me feeling worse than I did a few minutes ago.

“Adina,” I muttered under my breath. “My fucking name is Adina and not Adora.”

“You made it!” Giovanni suddenly appeared in front of me. He looked breathtaking, standing in front of me. “I thought you wouldn’t come.”

“This was a mistake,” I blurted. “I am going back home.”

Suddenly, Giovanni grabbed my hand, pulling me further into the living room. “You are already here,” he muttered. “Might as well enjoy it.”

"There is nothing to enjoy sitting in the midst of kids, drinking alcohol, and smoking like a chimney."

He laughed. “Don’t say that in front of my friends if you don’t want to be thrown out of here in a second.”

“That is kind of like the point.”

His hands reached for my hair, ruffling the curls I had taken my goddamn time to put in order. Great. Now, I looked like a chicken who had just been roosting.

Giovanni didn’t let go of me as we took a turn into the dimly lit hallway, getting out a minute later into a second living room. This one was less populated, with even dimmer lights and wine leather couches arranged in a circle.

Their chatter suddenly halted as ten pairs of eyes fell on me. I stopped moving, my chest suddenly pounding hard.

I needed to leave.

This didn’t feel good.

“Come on,” Giovanni drawled, pulling me into the room. “The games are about starting.”

“What game?”

“Truth or Dare.”