Total pages in book: 77
Estimated words: 75578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 75578 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 378(@200wpm)___ 302(@250wpm)___ 252(@300wpm)
I should be happy for him. I mean, I am.
But I’d be lying if I didn’t say that a sizable piece of my heart is breaking over him leaving. Of course, I knew this thing wouldn’t last. Couldn’t last. He’s my stepbrother, for fates’ sake! A real relationship was an impossibility.
But I can’t help thinking about how incredible it was to have Wilde’s attention and focus these past few weeks. To realize that despite his dickish ways, he’s actually in my corner. An alpha-hole who wants me.
I watch Wilde signaling the team with a slash of his hand, and they instantly score a touchdown.
The thing about Wolf Ridge High Homecoming games is that you know we’re always going to win. There are a few games throughout the season when we lose. They’re predetermined by Coach Jamison, and only he and the players know. A lot of the finesse of our players is showmanship. They entertain us with their play-acting. Pretending to be human players who suddenly pull out a few spectacular moves. The Wolf Ridge audience marvels more at the choreographed misses. It’s like theater.
So far, they’ve kept the scores even. We’re at 21 to 21 by halftime. The cheerleaders do handsprings along the sidelines.
Our very lame marching band–because Wolf Ridge is all sports and no arts–heads out to the field for the halftime event, and then J.J. gets out there and takes the mic. “All right, folks, it's the moment you've all been waiting for. Time to reveal this year's Homecoming royalty.”
I roll my eyes at Lincoln and Lauren. “As if there's any mystery. It's always the same people.” I touch Lauren's arm. “I threw in my vote for you though, of course. Not that it will mean anything here.”
Lauren shrugs her shoulders. “As if I care. I voted for you, too, girl.”
“So what's the scoop with your date to Homecoming?”
“My boyfriend is flying in from New York tonight.” She shrugs. “I don't know, I think we're about to break up, but at least I have a date.”
“Oh no, I'm sorry.”
“No, it's okay. We're in different states, and we're changing. We've grown apart. It makes sense to break up. And if we get back together when I move back East for college, that's cool.”
I'm starting to think Lincoln and Lauren are the most emotionally-developed people I've ever known. I guess that's what happens when you lose your mom. You get perspective on the things that really matter.
“For the junior class,” J.J. announces, “Ty Wolstein is the prince.” The crowd cheers. “And his princess is…Melanie James!”
More cheering.
He waits until Melanie and Ty come out and receive their crowns, scepters, and sashes.
“For the senior class, this year's Homecoming king is…Abe Oakley!”
“Big surprise,” I mutter.
“And the Homecoming queen for the senior class this year is Rayne Lansing.”
I slump lower in my seat. “Fuck.”
“Ra-ayne!” One of the volleyball players calls out in a sing-song tone twisting to look at me.
“What the fuck is happening?” I feel the heat surging to my cheeks. This is the most humiliating moment of my life, and I've had a lot of humiliation, let me tell you.
Lincoln and Lauren meet my horrified stare with confusion. “What is it?” Lincoln asks.
“I - I don't know! They're fucking with me. This is some big mind fuck to embarrass me.”
“Well, maybe you just won?” Lauren offers.
I shake my head. “There’s no way in hell I won.”
Five rows ahead, I see Casey Muchmore stand up and look at me.
Oh, shit.
She marches up the stairs toward me. I would love to say that I puffed up my chest and stood up to her, but the shock of the announcement was too much. I literally cower in my seat. She takes my elbow and urges me to my feet. What throws me completely off is the smile on her face.
“It's you, Runt. Didn't you hear?”
“I'm sorry, Casey.” I shake my head. My legs are trembling. “I don't know what this is about.”
“Come here.” She tugs me. “I do.”
I don't know what's about to happen to me, but I am sure it's awful.
“No,” I whimper.
That whimper throws Lincoln into action. He surges to his feet and grabs Casey's arm. “Hey, let her go.”
For a moment, I think there's going to be a fight. And it's going to be the worst thing ever. Because if Casey swings on Lincoln, it's a lose-lose for him. Either he swings back on a girl, and will be destroyed by everyone in these stands. Or he looks like a wimp getting knocked around by a girl who doesn’t look nearly as strong as she is.
But Casey just holds her hands in the air, palms out as if to show she has no weapons.
“There's no trick, Rayne. You won Homecoming queen.”
“Rayne Lansing. Get down here. Where is our tiny queen?” J.J. says over the loudspeaker.