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Mr. Halifax not looking at my pictures was really messing with my head. Especially after my dad’s advice. I was going insane.

So I was going to dance with Mr. Halifax tonight. I was going to feel his hands on my body if it was the last thing I did. I walked back over toward the trapdoor. “Have a fun night with Axel. Don’t do anything I wouldn’t do.” I waggled my eyebrows at her.

“What if Jacob doesn’t respond?” she asked.

“Then I can dance alone.”

She frowned. “You mean dance with Mr. Halifax.”

“Maybe. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Soph, wait. Let me text Axel and see if he wants to go.”

“See if I want to what?” Axel asked as he climbed into Scarlett’s room through the trapdoor I was just about to leave through.

“Sophie’s going to go to that new club. Maybe we could go with her?”

“Were you going alone?” Axel asked. He lowered his eyebrows in that protective older brother way.

“I don’t need someone there to protect me,” I said. “Mr. Halifax is going to be there. He’ll make sure I’m safe.”

“But you didn’t hear him talking about it,” Scarlett said. “You overheard other teachers saying they were going out. Mr. Halifax might not have even been invited.” She glanced at Axel.

“Who in their right mind wouldn’t have asked Mr. Halifax to come?” I laughed. “He’ll be there. I know it.”

Axel cleared his throat. “I’m down if you are,” he said to Scarlett.

“You guys really don’t have to change your plans for me,” I said. “Enjoy your night in. I’ll be fine.”

The two of them glanced at each other.

“No, we’re in,” Scarlett said. “Just give me a minute to change.”

I really hadn’t meant to force them to come with me. But I was a little relieved that they were coming. Yes, I was very capable of dancing alone. But clubs really could be shady. And I had this weird feeling in my stomach.

We all made our way outside and climbed into the Uber Axel had ordered. I was a bundle of anticipation and nerves colliding. Whenever I felt this way, something exciting was about to happen. I couldn’t sit still and I couldn’t think straight. And I sometimes ended up doing something stupid. Rarely, but sometimes. Having my friends with me would help me not take things too far. Like pulling Mr. Halifax into the restroom and having my way with him.

That’s what Operation Mascot was for. Tonight was about making Mr. Halifax crack and finally touch me. It was about the game. I’d been losing for so long and I just needed one win.

The line outside was long, but Scarlett and I had no problem cutting. The bouncer stared down my legs and his eyes gravitated to my hand on Scarlett’s hip.

He smiled and lifted the red rope separating him from the entrance.

At the last second, Scarlett reached behind her and grabbed Axel’s hand. The three of us slipped past the line.

The bouncer’s eyes narrowed at Axel. “Hey, you can’t...”

But we were already running into the crowd, getting lost in the sea of people.

I burst out laughing as soon as we were hidden. “Smooth move, guys!” I yelled over the blaring music. It was so loud it felt like it was reverberating in my whole body.

“I wasn’t waiting an hour to get into this place,” Axel said. “Who knows what the two of you would have gotten up to.”

I smiled sweetly. “Me? Up to something? Never.”

He laughed and put his arm around Scarlett. “Drinks?”

She nodded.