I barely remembered saying goodnight to her before escaping into my room, where I sat for the next hour or so, reliving that dance and the way she’d looked before she noticed me watching her. She didn’t come to my room that night, and I hid the disappointment well as I crawled into bed.
In the morning, I awakened to the weight of her head on my chest and her hair tickling my nose and started to smile until it sunk in that she’d crept into my bed, and I hadn’t even noticed. My eyes flew open with the realization, and I cocked my head to look down at the top of hers. How the hell did she do that? I never let my guard down to that extent with anyone, not even family.
I stayed there for another few seconds even though I knew I shouldn’t, but who’s to know? She’s fast asleep. That didn’t last long, though, before my body started reacting to having her near, and I eased her off me and got out of bed.
I didn’t have to make a mad dash for the shower like I did the day before, but it was close. I turned the water on cold and dunked my head before adding some warmth to the stream. She’d run me out of my bed two mornings in a row. Why that should make me smile like an idiot in the shower is anyone’s guess.
It was becoming more natural for her to be around the family, I noticed at breakfast, or at least she seemed more at ease. She was still blushing at being caught in my bed, though. This time when I left the shower, she was still there. I’d only wrapped a towel around me since I expected her to make another run for it but imagine my surprise when she was still there tucked up tight, her arms now hugging my pillow close.
I should’ve ducked back into the bathroom and grabbed a robe or gone into the walk-in closet to get dressed, but instead, I stood there looking down at her angelic face in sleep. Her eyes came open moments later as if sensing me there, and as our eyes met, I was sure she’d been remembering the same thing I was, our first dance.
She made a hasty retreat after apologizing for invading my bed again, leaving me laughing at her clumsiness as she almost tripped over my feet. “Sorry, sorry!” She moved so fast I barely got to see her legs and ass in the short silk pajamas I’d bought her. I’m really cruel to myself, I see. How could I know that the things I’d bought her to wear to bed would come back to haunt me?
When we got to school that morning, there was a buzz in the air that felt different from the last two days. People were looking and whispering as we got out of the truck, but no one got close. It also looked like an even bigger crowd had gathered around the perimeter of my parking space.
I should’ve known something was up when the twins disappeared as soon as they stepped down from the Hummer, but my mind was already on tonight and what I had planned. That is until Lance walked over and put his arm around my shoulders. “Nice moves, bro. I didn’t know you had it like that.”
“What’re you mumbling about?”
“Oh, you haven’t seen it yet?” He opened his phone and pulled up the school forum site, where a video started to load. I was afraid I knew what it was before it loaded, but there wasn’t much I could say or do since she was leaning into me to see the screen. “Oh, my Lord!” Her whispered words said it all. My beloved sisters had recorded a short clip of us dancing and posted it for all the world to see.
“What the…” I looked around for the two of them, but they were long gone. Didn’t we have this conversation? I was more annoyed by the blatant disregard than the actual content; I can have it off there in seconds. I know they did it to get under Victoria’s skin. I’d informed them that she was going to live on that thing to get information since none of her girls were present, and from the changing tide where people were now freely airing their grievances against her, no one else was going to keep her posted.
Still, I don’t want either of us on display on that platform. Gianna seemed to be warier of the attention than annoyed that the video had been posted, so I didn’t lose it. But the twins are gonna have to pay. I'll think of something that's sure to leave a mark.
My phone beeped in my pocket, and I saw an alert from our private chat. ‘You can’t penalize us for doing what you asked us to do. Since Victoria is no longer here, this is the only way.’ I smirked and started to put the phone away when I stopped and did something else I hadn’t planned on. I added Gianna to the group chat that the twins, Lance and I were part of for the last two years.
“Don’t forget to call your dad.” I reminded her after dropping her off at her class before the first bell.
“I won’t; see you at lunch.”
“I’ll be here.” I watched her walk in before walking away to join Lance, who was waiting for me at the end of the hallway.
“I distinctly remember the girls saying they were going to call you last night. You couldn’t stop them from doing this?” He snort laughed.
“As if they’d listen to me. You should know by now that I don’t tangle with you Russos when you get something between the teeth. Speaking of which, did you ever find out who was tracking you yesterday?”
“It was a misunderstanding, nothing to worry about.” He didn’t look like he believed me but chose to drop it all the same.
I didn’t approach Pop’s new spies right away; I hadn’t had time to think up a plan of what to use them for. My first thought is to sic them on her, make them her watchers, but that’s my job until I vanquish her enemies anyway.
The school day came to an end none too soon, and I could barely contain myself for the few hours between the time we arrived at home and the time we were supposed to leave.
While she got ready to go see her dad, I had some last-minute stuff to take care of, like programming my phone to call me about ten minutes into the visit.
VICTORIA
My room was a mess. I’d spent most of the morning looking up my rights per the expulsion, and so far, it wasn’t looking too good. I still didn’t know who’d made the video they claimed they had, but I can take a wild guess; it had to be Gabriel Russo. As to who got me expelled and in such great haste? Everyone knows the Russo family is one of the school’s biggest donators, as well as one of them being on the board.
It’s not fair; no one should get in the middle of a petty family squabble which is all that was and what I would’ve told them had I been given a chance. Instead, I’ve been kicked out of the school that was my only claim to fame with no prospects of ever going back.
While I was riding the wave of injustice, I decided to check the school’s forum, which I knew they wouldn’t boot me from for at least another week when they finally got around to it. I wanted to see what everyone was saying if they even knew. I wasn’t surprised that none of my friends were there. Two had been expelled right along with me, and the other two are nowhere to be found, something I find highly suspicious, but later for that.
I logged on and released the uncertain breath I’d been holding when I wasn't blocked. The board was full of activity, and it all seemed to surround a video titled Lovers Dance. “What’s the big deal about a dance?” I almost scrolled down, but something stopped me, and I gave in and hit play.
The next thing I remember is screaming, and then my room looked like this. Becky came rushing into the room, “What happened? She looked around as if expecting an intruder.