High School Hit List (CLIQUE BAIT)

24. flowerbeds and mistakes

"Thanks for your support," Max said with a smile that induced shivers down my spine.

I looked to Zach, whose eyes were flickering between Max and Lola as if deciding how he felt about what he just witnessed. I guess we had that in common.

I was so absorbed in processing their exchange that I almost jumped when someone's arm snaked its way over my shoulder and squeezed me close against them. "What did you think?"

William's mossy eyes were shining, looking even more piercing as they contrasted with the flush in his skin. His hair was pushed smoothly out of his face with moisture and he just looked so alive, his scent and heat entrapping me.

"It was brutal," I said when my mind and lips finally found the ability to work together again. "I can't believe you'd subject yourself to that."

William laughed, and I felt his chest rise and fall against me. The way his arm was around me could have been just a friendly gesture, or for the show of our relationship. I couldn't tell which.

"But congratulations," I went on. "You played really well."

"Wow, a compliment from Chloe Whittaker?" he asked in mock surprise, his voice low enough for it to appear like an intimate remark to those around us.

"Don't get used to it," I said, smiling despite my words.

"Wouldn't dare it. Anyway, we better shower. We'll see you girls back at Maddy's, right?"

"I think that's the plan."

He slapped the shoulders of both Zach and Max simultaneously before the three of them headed towards the showers. I turned to look for Maddy, who had been beside me moments ago, but she was already talking to number two from Richmond Prep.

It was almost getting dark by the time all of us minus the three on the team piled into the chauffeured car which was taking us to the Danton house. From the sounds of things, the girls just wanted to get drunk, while Piers and Francis were discussing something, their voices kept low.

When we arrived, the huge house was already crawling with caterers and cleaners. Unlike some of the other modern mansions which had hosted the recent parties level one had attended, Maddy's house was a lot more classic, carrying a rustic feel to it with its wooden panels and the flowerbeds in the windows.

Maddy invited us into her home by finding two expensively branded bottles of wine on top of a cabinet and passing them into the hands of her guests. She laughed, tossing her ink black hair over her shoulder before pulling a third off of the shelf, pulling the cork from the top and downing at least two large gulps.

Sophie rolled her eyes. "Always a show off, Mads. Where are your glasses?"

After we'd each toasted to Arlington's win – despite the actual players not even being there yet – the girls went into what looked like a room dedicated to being a makeup studio.

"My Dad had it built so the paparazzi wouldn't catch him without his face done," Maddy said, rolling her eyes as she threw herself onto a plush leather chair which was angled towards a shiny crystal counter-top. "And Mom loves to make herself look like a drag queen, so it works."

I thought we'd ventured into the room to touch up our own make-up, but when Maddy started clearing space on the counter before pulling out a baggie identical to the one Lola had snuck into Max's waistband, I knew my thoughts were much too naive.

"It's good stuff," Lola said, perching besides Maddy, her skirt stretching over her wide hips. "Jonas already wants more."

I tried to keep my breathing steady, I knew if they knew that I was so innocent and inexperienced with all of this then I'd be left vulnerable. So I kept my cool, and leant against a table on the far end of the room, watching from afar.