The Homecoming Masquerade (Girls Wearing Black: Book One)

  Chapter 28

  Nicky staggered off the dance floor and collapsed onto a stool at the bar.

  “I see you got your corsage,” said the girl next to her. It was Annika Fleming. A sad version of Annika Fleming. All the jollity that was her normal persona had been spent, and all that remained was a girl who was drunk.

  “How was it?” Annika asked.

  “How was what?” asked Nicky.

  “Dancing with Sergio.”

  “Did you see us out there?” Nicky asked, wondering how anyone could have seen her at all, thinking about how she felt like she was somewhere else entirely during that last dance.

  “No. Hardly anybody sees Sergio, even when he’s dancing with someone. He’s like that. But you have your corsage, and you look like a girl who’s just danced with an immortal.”

  Was she that obvious? Nicky was disgusted with herself. Not only had she allowed Sergio inside her mind, but she came away from the encounter looking like any other girl who had danced with a vampire.

  “I’m just a little tired,” Nicky said.

  “Honey, you look like you could use a cigarette,” said Annika.

  A second of silence passed between them, then they laughed. Annika laughed a little too hard. Nicky waited for her to finish before saying, “Jill tells me you’re not coming to my party.”

  Annika’s shoulders slumped. “No, I’m not,” she said.

  “You’re scared of Kim,” said Nicky.

  “You don’t know anything about it,” said Annika.

  “I know enough,” said Nicky. “You hate Kim Renwick. Not only do you hate her, but you hate everything she stands for. You hate that there are some people whose whole purpose is to keep other people down, and that it’s those people who have all the power in Washington. You hate the thought of going to Kim’s after-party, but you’re going anyway, and you hate yourself for it.”

  “Holy shit, New Girl. That was harsh.”

  “Calling it like I see it,” said Nicky. And she was. For reasons that weren’t entirely clear to her, she was being completely candid. It probably wasn’t the wisest strategy. Nicky had seen Jill out of the corner of her eye. She was ten yards behind them, watching. In a minute, Nicky would turn Annika over to Jill so the blackmailing could begin. As it stood, drunk, defiant Annika was going to be a difficult subject for Jill already. If Nicky angered her, she’d make Jill’s job even harder.

  “Maybe I should call it like I see it too,” said Annika. “Maybe I should tell you that you’ve signed your own death warrant tonight, and it’s a shame too, because I’m sure you would have had a nice future. You’re smart, you’re pretty, tonight you’ve shown that you have self-confidence in spades, but still you’re going to die. You’ve entered a contest you can’t win. And don’t start telling me Jill’s bullshit about a secret consortium. I don’t know who you’ve got backing you, but they’re not enough. All the Renwicks have to do is snap their fingers and the richest people in the world all show up and want to give them money. You’re right, Nicky. I do hate the way all of this works, I hate the game and I hate myself for playing it, but I do what I have to do. Come graduation, I’ll still be alive. And then I’m out of here.”

  “Out of here?” Nicky said. “Where are you going?”

  “None of your business,” said Annika. “But I guarantee you this. While the rest of these fools spend their entire lives kissing Kim’s ass, I’ll be living my own life, on my own terms.”

  Living in Brazil, Nicky wanted to add, with Hong Chung.

  But that wasn’t her line, it was Jill’s, and now was as good a time as any for her to deliver it.

  “Sounds great,” said Nicky. “Good luck with that. I really mean it. I hope that you’re able to get away from all this madness. See you around.”

  As Nicky stood to leave, she put her hand on Annika’s shoulder and gave a friendly squeeze, a gesture that wasn’t quite a hug, but was enough to tell her she wanted to part as friends.

  She’s all yours, Jill, Nicky thought, and she’s ready for some tough love. Don’t fuck it up.