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“That’s all I need,” came a deep voice, Dorian’s voice. He chuckled, and judging by the female laughter that followed, something told me he’d gotten Ares’s mom in on this. I was well aware all of the Legacy families were close. Some shuffling occurred through the speakers. “Listen up. This message is for one person, so the rest of you fuckers can go about your business.”
“Dorian,” Mrs. Mallick gritted, but the smile in her voice couldn’t be denied. She was disciplining him clearly because she felt she had to in that moment. “That’s your one warning. I mean it.”
“Sorry,” he said, though he didn’t sound sorry. He sounded playful, and my tummy tossed. It was rare I saw him this way. In fact, only one time.
It was the day we’d destroyed that house together, Principal Mayberry’s house. Ironically enough, I’d goaded him to do it, and surprisingly, it’d been one of the best times of my life. It’d been freeing for me too.
“Like I said, this is for one person,” Dorian stated again, and my stomach clenched. I didn’t necessarily know if I wanted to hear what he had to say. Honestly, it was easier just being mad at him. It was easier pushing him away and not having to feel the brevity of my own reasons. I may have called him fucked up, but I definitely had my own issues. He cleared his throat. “So if you’re not Noa Sloane, you can continue on with your previously scheduled broadcast.”
People stopped talking in the hallway.
Some even gasped.
For all they knew, Dorian was about to ruin my life again. The last time he’d placed me before the entire student body, he’d been removing my name.
“I messed up with this girl,” he continued on, my heart racing. “And I told her in a letter, many letters, how I was going to not mess up anymore. I promised her I’m going to be human, and this is me being that.”
I stared around the hallway. All eyes were on me.
“My reason number sixteen talked about anger, control. So this is me putting it all out there and handing it completely over to you, Noa.”
More gasps sounded, and I hugged my books.
“I’ve asked you out recently, and you both swiftly and reasonably shut my ass down. Sorry, Brielle. I mean, Principal Mallick.”
Muted laughter occurred over the speaker. I was assuming from our temporary headmaster.
“Ten seconds, Dorian,” she said.
“Noted,” he returned, chuckling, and I listened with bated breath for what he was about to say. I was actually anticipating it like an idiot. I really needed to stop getting my hopes up for this boy.
“So here is my official declaration, in which the public humiliation following said declaration will only be for the benefit of this girl. She’s trying to teach me a lesson, and I deserve to be taught one.”
He sounded serious, no humor at all in his voice.
“So once again, I’m asking you to go out with me, Noa,” he said. “I want you to get to know me and see that I’m for real about all I’ve said to you. I also want to get to know you, but I’m a stubborn SOB, so here’s some incentive so I don’t have to wait too long for your answer. I, Dorian Riley Prinze, will play in a dress every home football game until I hear back from you. I’ve never worn a dress, but I have a feeling it will be just as humiliating as it sounds. The ball’s in your court now. Have fun with it.”
He handed the mic over after that, saying as much to Ares’s mom, and I stood in the hallway slack-jawed.
“Proceed with your classes, everyone,” Mrs. Mallick said, and both snickers and gasps in the hallway commenced. Almost instantly, I got a text from my brother. He wanted to know if I heard the announcement just now.
I definitely had.
Shaking my head, I told my brother as much, and I laughed too. Dorian couldn’t be serious.
“I see he stopped being an idiot.”
I looked up to spot a familiar face, but I’d be honest. It was one I was starting to forget as of late.
Bow Reed had still been keeping her distance from me, but I noticed she hadn’t been sitting with the rest of Legacy at lunch when I saw them. I didn’t know if she was opting to eat somewhere else or what, but she hadn’t been sitting with them.
She had a gray sweater on with the Windsor Prep crest, her signature ruby brooch right in the center of her dress shirt. The bright ruby matched the ones in her ears. Her hair was up in two space buns. This girl couldn’t manage to not look cute for the life of her. Her head tilted. “And I’m pretty sure he’s actually going to do it. He’s never gone to such lengths before. Hell, I don’t even know if I’ve ever seen him date.”
Boys like him probably didn’t. Not when they could get anything they wanted.
“I’m glad he is.” She pushed a tendril of hair behind her ear. “And though I didn’t need to be told, I knew he was wrong about you.”
So she’d been told the truth, had she? Of course, she had. Dorian and all the guys were her family. My back hit the lockers. “I never lied to you, Bow. And I’m sorry I gave you a reason to think any different.”
