Chapter Five

~Beatrix Pov~

"Sneakers," Justin said.

I followed his eyes down to my feet.

"They're comfortable," I said.

"Hold on. I might have something."

He crossed the room, dug around under his bed, and came back with a pair of sandals. He handed them over.

I held one up. "Not my size."

Honestly, that made more sense than the dress did.

"Let's go with the sneakers, then," he said.

It could actually work. The gown was long enough to cover my feet.

"Your hair," he said next.

"What about it?"

"Leave it down."

"And if I don't?"

"It's just a suggestion." That easy smile again. "Your call."

My hand went to the messy knot I'd tied hours ago. I pulled the band out, and my hair fell around my shoulders. It felt so much lighter.

"Mirror," I said.

He rolled his eyes. "You can trust me."

He was grinning. I squinted at him.

"I still need a mirror."

He scoffed. "Coming right up."

He grabbed one and held it in front of me. I looked, and a gasp slipped out before I could stop it.

The dress fit perfectly. It hugged every curve I'd spent years trying to hide. I barely recognized myself. It had been a long time since I'd liked the girl in the mirror.

"Are you going to stare at yourself all night?" he asked, lowering the mirror.

I looked up. His gaze was lazy, but underneath it, it felt like he was trying very hard not to look at me.

"We really need to go," he said, pointing at my hoodie and joggers, still lying on his bed.

I picked them up and followed him out. This time we walked slowly, and before I knew it, we were back behind the tree.

I stuffed the hoodie and joggers into the hollow of the trunk, folding them carefully, like they might complain.

Justin watched. Then he burst out laughing.

"What?"

"Nothing." He mumbled between laughs.

"What' do you find so funny about this?" I whispered. His laugh was contagious and I couldn't help smiling

He was still laughing as he wiped the corner of his eye. "Okay. See ya,".he said and turned to leave.

I caught his sleeve before I could think.

"Where... are... you... going?" I asked, stammering. Honestly, I had no idea what I was doing.

His eyes drifted past me to the hall gate.

"Do you want to go in together?" he asked, a smile forming on his face.

"No!" I blurted out.

He chuckled, and flickers of gold caught the light in his deep brown eyes.

"I'd love for us to go in together, though," he said, smirking.

I sighed. They even used the same line. Why should I be bothered when all of this was just a game, and one of them had to win?

"I can go in myself," I said.

He took a step back. "See you then." He turned to leave, then called over his shoulder, "Try not to trip on your sneakers."

I watched him disappear around the corner. Then I looked down at my sneakers.

"Very funny," I muttered.

I stayed there a moment, one hand on the trunk. The hall glowed red and pink in the distance, doors wide open, people going in.

I smoothed the front of the gown, took a breath, and walked toward the light.

The music was so loud that you'd think we were in a club, not Haneul.

I noticed the stares, of course. My hand tugged at the hem of the gown, and I wished I could go back. In my whole year at Haneul, I'd only ever spoken to Penelope, who I'd thought would be a friend. Coming here alone was basically making things hard for myself.

Kai was the one who'd invited me, but as I searched the crowd, I found him surrounded by a group of girls. Cruz was next to him. I didn't see Justin.

I spotted an empty couch and sat down. Luckily, there was alcohol on the table beside it.

"You actually came?"

I looked up. Bryan. I rarely heard him speak, only when he addressed the school.

"Yes," I said, adjusting myself. "A few minutes ago."

I still couldn't believe someone like him would join a dare. He never had any emotion written on his face.

It was awkward. He didn't speak, and I didn't know what to say. Bryan gave off a strict vibe, like a teacher.

"They're loud," he said finally, and I gulped. "Enjoying a party is fine, but they'll have hangovers tomorrow."

I almost let a cough slip.

"You don't like parties?" I asked. He kept looking straight ahead.

"I wouldn't say that. There has to be a balance."

"Right." I followed his gaze and found Cruz.

"The dress looks good on you," he said.

My eyes flicked toward him. "Thank you."

He picked up a drink, poured some into a cup, and passed it to me. I poured myself more.

I think we talked for a long time, but I couldn't remember much, since I wasn't exactly sober. What I did know was that he was surprisingly easy to talk to.

"Trix?" Kai's voice cut in. "When did you arrive?"

He said it like he hadn't invited me in the first place. Maybe I was being dramatic, but he did love talking to a lot of girls.

"I've been waiting for you," Kai added, and I chuckled, and then hiccupped. Bryan chuckled with me.

"They're both drunk," Cruz said.

"I'm not. Are we, Bryan?" I turned to him.

He shook his head.

"What Bryan said," I replied.

"Let her cool off for a while," Cruz said, moving over to Bryan. "I'll take him. He doesn't drink, so he's going to be a mess tomorrow."

"Bye!" Bryan said, giving me a small wave as Cruz slung an arm over his shoulders and they walked off together.

"Are you feeling alright?" Kai asked.

I nodded, and wow, you should have seen his face. He actually looked concerned.

"Hey, why did you invite me, though?" I asked. That caught him off guard, and I chuckled. "I'm not like them. The type you surround yourself with."

My gaze drifted to the girls he'd been talking to earlier. They were glaring daggers at me.

"It's boring to be the same as everyone else," he said.

"So I'm fun? Or suddenly fun?"

"Actually, yeah. You're different, and different is good." A warm smile.

Was I really letting this play out? I knew I didn't mean a thing to either of these boys, but hearing it felt good.

"And the dress?" I asked.

He looked down at me, taking me in.

"You look beautiful."

I started coughing.

"Water?" I managed, and he stood to get it.

It was all lies. No boy had ever called me that. It was stupid to even think about it.

Then the mic came on. A girl's voice, bright and sugary, said something about Haneul's Valentine tradition, about crowning, about a scapegoat. I wasn't sober enough to follow.

Within seconds, I felt it. Liquid , pouring down on me.

I didn't want to look up. I couldn't. The laughter turned into echoes, and I knew, I freaking knew, I was the one they were laughing at.

My whole body was covered in red. It smelled like dye. I stood up, my senses rushing back, and I sobered up instantly.

"Trix," I heard Kai call, but I couldn't turn toward his voice.

The door opened, and Justin walked in, looking toward the noise. His eyes found mine.

He froze. So did I.

For one second, I thought he'd say something. Do something.

Then he looked away.

Just like that. His gaze slid off me, and he turned to the girl beside him and started talking to her, as if nothing had happened.

The laughter kept going. My chest tightened.

I hadn't needed the tracksuit after all. Whatever I wore, I was always going to be the one they laughed at.