Page 39 of Unmasking My Dark Knight

I didn’t expect to run into Romeo at all. I tried to keep my distance from him tonight because I knew I’d make a fool of myself if I talked to him. He was too cute, and he always got me so flustered. It was different when he was just hanging with my brother, and I came by to bug them. But here, in front of the entire senior class? No way.

“You're totally drunk right now!” He furrowed his brow.

I stared at him blankly, gripping pretty hard onto my tumbler. It’s okay to lie sometimes. “No.”

“Why are you lying?” he said sternly.

“I’m not!” I barked at him.

“Yes, you are.” Romeo jerked his head, looking around us.

“You don’t know anything,” I told him, trying to leave, but he pulled me back with the tumbler. He was so strong that it felt like I was sucked into his body. He looked deep into my eyes, daring me to fight back.

“You’re stumbling,” he said with this air of arrogance I’d never seen from him. He successfully took the tumbler from my hand and opened it to smell it. “Lemonade?”

“Yaasss. That’s Mike’s lemond-aid. Give it back!” I tried to grab it, but he lifted it. It didn’t help that he was like some giant tree against me.

“You shouldn’t be drinking even if it’s something as weak as Mike’s. You’re what… like twelve?”

I gasped, my cheeks burned hot.

Lemonade bubbled in my stomach as a rush of embarrassment hit me at my core.

“No! I’ll be fourteen in a few months! Come on, gimmeeee my drink!” This time, I was able to grab it, and we both fought over it like a tug-of-war.

“I’m serious, Ivy Jade. You shouldn’t be drinking this kind of shit. It’s not good for you. Try it when you’re older.”

“Why should you care? My parents allowed these drinks to be in my system, and… you’re not my father!" I was already being told what to do twenty-four seven by my parents, but to hear it from Ro—the cute senior boy from high school—made me feel even more ridiculous. Smaller than what I was. Like I was a snotty little kid.

Panic at the Disco sang their hearts out on the stage. The catchy melody had the guys idiotically running and pushing each other in a mosh pit, while the girls sang the word 'wedding' along with the band. Everyone was enamored by their punkiness, but I wasn’t impressed by them or Ro.

“I’m giving you one last warning, Ivy Jade.”

“Just stop, Romeo.” I finally got it back, but I pulled so hard that the lid popped off.

Three bottles’ worth of Mike’s Hard lemonade splashed right into my face; ice and booze shot up my nose and into my eyes.

Whether it was the smell of liquor or the shock of embarrassment, something filled up my mouth and sprang out of me like a fountain.

I puked all over the floor and all over Ro’s sneakers.

“Oh my god!” he said, shocked as I started to cough, clearing my throat.

His black and white Converse were pink and wet.

“Gross…” I heard Gustav shout over the loud music that blared around us.

My blown-out hair was drenched. My St. La Vie bikini ruined. The only thing I could do was pout at him. Words couldn’t even configure themselves into sentences. My tears welled uncontrollably.

“How dare you!” I stumbled backward.

“Ivy…” he began, but I ran off crying.

Everyone at the stupid graduation party laughed at me, even the band stopped playing to watch my unraveling. I heard Tallulah call my name from a far distance, but all I could do was run back to my room upstairs.

I hated Romeo Scott more than anything.

And I never wanted to see him again!