AllFreeNovel
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It probably cost more than my first year’s tuition.
It’s not that I haven’t worn fancy dresses before. My father’s engineering firm sometimes had formal to-dos that I was forced to attend. But I was brought up to be careful with money. Expensive clothes—the kind you wear once a year—were rented, not owned.
“I… can’t wear that,” I croak.
“Exact same thought crossed my mind. But now that I’ve fixed your face, I honestly think you can pull it off.” She gives me an impish smile, rendering further bitching pointless.
I’m not even sure how Kat convinced me that I’m going to the Burnout with her. I think there was passive-aggressive blackmail involved, but after the fifth swig of tequila, things got a little blurry.
She squawks when I want to take my backpack with me. Sure, it’s not a Marc Jacobs or anything, but my dad literally gave me five minutes to pack my shit.
“My medicine’s inside,” I tell her. “I can’t go anywhere without it.”
Her mouth pulls into a rueful half-smile. “Only tonic I need is—”
“A G and T?” I cut in dryly.
She grins. “Look at us, already finishing each other’s sentences and shit.”
“Where are we going?” I ask as she locks our room behind us.
“The Summer Burnout.” She narrows her eyes at me as I follow her down the hall. “LiketheSummer Burnout?” Then she stops walking. “You’re not from around here, are you?” Her head tilts. “Thank God. I thought I’d run out fresh souls to corrupt. Thisisgoing to be fun.”
Willow is showing another freshman to her room further down the hall. I stamp out a brief flare of jealousy when I peek in and see how tidy it is.
“Hey, nerd,” Kat says, slapping Willow on the ass as we pass.
Willow squeals in surprise and sends Kat a wide-eyed stare.
“See you at Bailey’s?” Kat asks.
“Uh…”
“Thought so.” Kat turns her back on the girl, sending her curtain of blue hair over her shoulder with a dismissive flick of her hand. She’s in a yellow corset-dress with short, puffy sleeves and white thigh-high boots. It shouldn’t work, but somehow it does.
Kat digs her finger into my arm. “Everyone who’ssomeonegoes to the Burnout. Those who don’t…” She stabs a thumb over her shoulder toward Willow. “They’re nobodies.”
“That’s kinda harsh.”
“That’s kinda Pinecrest,” she replies whiplash fast. “Get used to it, noob.” Her eyes glance over my outfit again. “And would you stop doing that?”
“What?”
“Looking so fucking uncomfortable.” Then she pats my shoulder. “Don’t worry. I’ve got more tequila in the car.”
