Page 101 of You Said I Was Your Favorite

My heart in my throat, I set my tray on the table before I sit down, scooting the chair close, leaving my backpack at my feet. I’m so nervous, my hands are shaking and I grip them together in my lap, trying to calm down.

I don’t want to show them just how freaked out I am. They’ll latch onto any sort of weakness I might show, and knowing Cadence, she’ll never let it go either.

“Where’s Arch?” Cadence asks me, her tone overly-friendly.

“He’s at that leadership conference,” Mya interjects, answering for me. “So is JJ.”

It’s hard for me to wrap my head around JJ being on the student council with Arch, but it’s true.

Cadence sends her a dirty look before turning her attention back to me. “I suppose Mya answered that question correctly since she’s currently fucking JJ.”

I blink at her, shocked she would say something so crude about her friend and JJ. “They’re coming back tomorrow.”

God, why did I bother telling her that? Though I’m sure she already knows thanks to Mya.

“Aren’t you worried he might meet someone new while he’s gone?” Cadence’s brows shoot up and I say nothing. I’ve realized over the years that sometimes it’s best to remain quiet. People can’t use your words against you that way. “I suppose you two could be fucking, but I don’t know. You seem more like the prudish type to me. There’s got to be someone better out there for him, don’t you think? There are hundreds of girls at that conference right now who are all probably gorgeous and smart. What if one of them—or more—caught his attention?”

My flinch at her words can’t be helped and she spots it, the knowing look on her face giving me serious evil vibes. “I don’t see how that’s any of your business,” I murmur.

“What? Him finding someone else? Or the fucking part? I mean…okay. Everyone knows you two are…together.” She wrinkles her nose in seeming disgust. “So we can all assume he’s fucking you. Or is he? I’m guessing you’re probably saving herself for marriage. Am I right?”

Cadence giggles but Mya doesn’t. Neither do I.

“You’re just jealous because we’re together and he’s not yours anymore,” I tell her, not holding back.

I’m tired of being quiet, especially with Cadence.

The incredulous look on Cadence’s face switches to her bursting into shocked laughter, her elbow shooting out, nudging into Mya’s side. “Please. Jealous of you? Give me a break.”

“Is that so surprising? That he’d rather be with me than you?”

“Of course, it is. I mean, look at you.” Cadence turns to Mya. “Look at her, right?”

“Stop, Cadence,” Mya says with a sigh, averting her head. She seems fed up, and I can’t blame her. “You’re being mean.”

“She’s being mean too.” Cadence waves a hand at me.

“No, I’m not,” I snap.

Cadence narrows her eyes as she studies me. “Look at Little Miss Virgin, speaking up for herself for once in her life. I’m surprised.”

“How do you know I’m a virgin?” I challenge. I mean, technically I am, though Arch and I have done…a lot. We’ve just never donethat.

“Come on, Daisy. You dress like a nun and no boy has ever noticed you the entire time you’ve gone here. I swear you’re just some sort of—novelty to Arch.” Cadence shakes her head, her lip curled in disgust. “I don’t get it.”

“Maybe Arch likes me for me and not because I just spread my legs for him on command like you did,” I retort, not even knowing if that’s true.

My words sober Cadence right up, her face turning red. “He doesn’t actually like you.”

“How do you know? You don’t even talk to him,” I point out. “Not anymore.”

He can’t stand her. He’s implied that much to me. Not that we sit around and talk about her, though I’m sure she wishes we did.

“I do too. He came to my party,” Cadence retorts.

“What party?”

Cadence shares another look with Mya, who I notice remains eerily quiet. “We got a house in town and partied all weekend. He was there with us.”

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