Chapter 42
“Ow!” I wince as I grab my shoulder, rubbing the spot Valerie just slammed into.
“Sorry,” she calls out over her shoulder, her steps not faltering. “Hope that wasn’t your stitching hand.”
I scoff as Eliza puts a hand on my shoulder. “Jealous bitch,” she mutters so June doesn’t hear.
“You good?” she asks me.
I nod.
We just finished changing back into our practice clothes and have assembled for our final dance practice.
As the three of us make our way to our usual corner, Eliza continues. “No, seriously, your dress was a dream,” she gushes.
I blush. “Really?”
(63.)
“Cool dress, April,” one of the contestants–Bea–says as she passes me.
Eliza nudges me. “See? If that was the contest, you’d definitely win.”
Just as the three of us sit down, a sudden hush falls over the room, and I turn to the entrance to see what caused it.
Lara Ellington stands at the door looking as gorgeous and poised as ever in dance clothes that look like they cost about the same as my yearly tuition.
Next to her is a woman who looks only a couple of years older than Lara. They have the same gorgeous auburn locks, and where Lara’s eyes are dark green, the woman’s are lighter, and they sparkle as they take in the room.
I gasp when Eliza grabs my arm. “That’s Lily Ellington!” she whispers.
My stomach does a tiny little flip.
Lily Ellington–the world–famous designer. Lara will wear a dress designed by her mother, and next to it, mine will look like a filthy rag-
“What do you think they’re doing here?” I ask Eliza.
Lily is deep in conversation with Anna and Easton, and as we watch, she nods to her daughter and follows the two of them to who knows where.
Lara takes a deep breath, clutches the little duffle bag in her hand, and walks further into the room.
Unlike the other girls, I turn away and try not to stare–or at least make it less obvious. Everyone else’s eyes follow her to the corner she picks for herself.
She crosses her legs and sinks gracefully to the floor like the elegant model she is.
“Should we ask her to sit with us?” June asks, peering around me to look at Lara.
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Eliza’s eyes widen. “Are you kidding? She’s like miles out of our league.”
If Eliza’s saying that, then June and I aren’t even on the same planet of leagues.
June shrugs. “I dunno, she looks lonely.”
She turns back to the Rubik’s cube Jessica found for her a while ago, which she’s been obsessed with trying to solve.
I glance back at Lara, seated alone, away from everybody else. Her back is ramrod straight, and she’s staring ahead with what Louise would call ‘a resting bitch face.‘
63
With her staying away from the house during the competition and not relating with anybody other than the Ashfords the few times she’s here, one would easily conclude that she doesn’t want anyone approaching her.
But maybe June is right–she’s so far out of everybody else’s league that she’s all alone on her high pedestal.
***
After our last dance practice, Easton gathers us for one last announcement.
“The ball will start at seven pm sharp tomorrow evening, as per your earlier invitation. But you are required to be on the receiving line five minutes prior.”
He flips through a clipboard. “May the following contestants step forward? Gabriella Vaughn. Cassandra Kilorn. May Rush.”
The three girls step forward, and Eliza and I exchange a questioning look.
“Your dresses were uninspired and basic. In addition, your etiquette skills have been sorely lacking. Miss Kilorn, you have two left feet, and Miss Vaughn, you can’t follow a beat to save your life.”
Snickers scatter around the room, but they die as soon as Easton continues. “Spend tonight packing. Vehicles will arrive tomorrow morning to take you back to your residences.”
Gasps echo through the room, including from me.
I know he’d mentioned elimination earlier, but I guess I, along with everyone else, had forgotten that it was a possibility.
May slaps her hand over her mouth, but it does nothing to muffle her sobs. The rest of the girls try to be brave, but I can see how hard and unexpected this news hit them.
To the rest of us, Easton says. “You have the whole of tomorrow to rest up, practice your dances on your own, and get ready for the ball. See you all here at six–fifty five pm sharp. Dismissed.”
The three girls‘ friends swarm around them, and May dissolves in a puddle of tears.
“Oh God,” Eliza whispers. “I forgot for a second that this was a competition.”
“Yeah,” I whisper. “Me too.”
“That’s why you always have to bring your A–game,” Valerie’s loud voice carries through the room. She crosses her arms, watching the
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:
scene with barely concealed glee. She shrugs. “Then again, there are some who just aren’t cut out for an affluent life to begin with.”
Gabriella growls and launches for Valerie, but her friend, Jamie, holds her back.
“See?” Valerie giggles behind her hand. “Heiresses don’t brawl, dear.”
C63 )
She turns and saunters away. Only one member of her posse follows behind her, and when she looks behind sadly, I recognize May as the other lackey. Valerie doesn’t even regard her.
“See you later, dearies,” she says in a sing–song voice as she leaves the ballroom.
“Valerie designed my dress,” May cries on the floor. “She told me it was gorgeous!”
Eliza sighs. “And that, ladies and gentlemen, is Valerie St Claire’s real colors.”
I steer her and June away from the crowd, unable to watch any longer.
When I say goodbye to Eliza, I hug my friend a little tighter than normal. She smiles when we pull back. “Sister–wives, right?”
I nod. Even though I won’t win, I really hope Eliza does—if that’s what she truly wants. “Sister–wives.”
In our room, June plops on the bed. “You okay, Summer?” I ask her. “Are you in shock?”
She shakes her head. “It’s a competition, right?”
I clear my throat. “Are you scared they’ll eliminate me?”
She shakes her head almost immediately. “You have the best dress, and Nathan has a crush on you.”
I roll my eyes, not even giving her statement any regard. “Sure, Summer. Go get ready for bed.”
She grins and hops off the bed.
Later, when we’re cuddled in bed, I keep seeing Gabriella, Cassandra, and May’s faces fall as they were eliminated.
Tomorrow, they’re going back home.
While I feel bad for them, I also kind of envy them. I miss home. I miss Lou, It pretty much sucked, but I miss my old life.
Amid my mind running a mile a minute, I manage to fall asleep. I don’t know for how long I’ve slept when commotion outside my room wakes me up.
A soft, urgent knock sounds on my door, and it opens before I can call out.
Eliza pops her head through.
“April!” she whispers urgently.
I sit up gently, careful not to wake June. “What?”
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She shakes her head, her face tight. “You have to come see this, babe.” Her voice breaks. “I’m sorry.”
My heart skips a beat. “What is it?”
She swallows. “It’s your dress.”
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