Vanessa sits at her desk across our small room. “Do people actually attend these workshops?”

My shoulders slump. If my friends’ reactions are any indication, the answer to that is a big fat no. “I don’t know. I hope so.”

“Want me to come by for moral support?”

“No, no. It’s fine. I just need to help one person. Then they’ll tell their friends and so on and so forth. Plus, I think the real difference will be in the one-on-one sessions at the tutoring center. Goals are personal.”

“Well, I’m really proud of you no matter what. And you’ve inspired me. Look, I bought one of those fancy paper planners.” She holds up the spiral-bound planner like a proud elementary school student with coveted new crayons.

“Impressive.”

“Well, it will be if I remember to fill the thing out.”

I have my doubts. An electronic planner seems way more V’s style, but far be it for me to keep her from attempting organization.

“Heard from Wes since the other night?”

“Yes.”

“Yes?” She turns in her chair, which I only know because it squeaks. I’ve turned my attention back to my desk to study my own planner carefully. I’ve kept this information to myself because Vanessa is currently still seeing red when it comes to Wes. He may have a boot on his foot and a basketball shaped hole in his heart, but apparently, this doesn’t save him from the wrathful blowback of hurting V’s friend.

I sigh. “He texted to apologize again for the other night."

"Still hasn't apologized for being an ass for the three weeks before that?"

"No. Maybe I made too big of a deal out of it. We were nothing—we never put a label on it.”

“Bullshit. Uh-uh. Don’t you dare let his behavior make you feel like you don’t deserve to be upset. That boy was falling all over you. I get that he went through some shit, but he doesn’t get a get-out-of-jail-free card just because he suddenly grew a conscious. You deserve more.

“All right, all right. Point made. You may step down from your soap box now.”

V smiles. “Good. What time is Gabby getting here?”

“Her mom is dropping her by after their campus tour.”

She stands and rubs her hands together. “Perfect. That gives me time to dress myself and then you.”

I don’t bother fighting. A little bit of V pampering and a night out with my two favorite girls sounds perfect.

“People are staring at me!” Gabby hisses and ducks her head.

“Actually, they’re staring at Blair.” Vanessa gives me a once over and her glossy, hot-pink lips twist into a smile. “You should let me dress you more often.”

I tug at the hemline of my dress as another guy openly checks me out in a way that does not make me feel beautiful. “It’s like major creep alert tonight.”

“Come on, let’s go to the bar. Those legs are going to get us free drinks.”

“Fine. I want to check my phone anyway.”

I haven’t given in and texted Wes back, but I’m anxiously waiting for each one he sends. It feels good to be on the receiving end of his attention, even if it’s just to clear his guilt.

“Oh no. We are not texting Wes tonight. You need to stop being available to him until he mans up and claims you. If you let him, he’s going to pull you back into that weird thing that’s casual but not because you spend all your time together, and its bullshit. He either wants you for real or he can take a hike.”

This coming from the queen of casual. At least before Mario. “I can see what you’re thinking. You aren’t me. You’re in love with him, and I just don’t want to see you get hurt if he decides to ghost. Again.”

I look to Gabby for backup. She shakes her head. “I’m with her.”

“I wasn’t going to text him. I just like re-reading the ones he sent.”

Okay, I’ve reached pathetic. I read it loud and clear on their concerned faces.

“You’ve made your point,” I say, rolling my eyes and leaving my phone in my purse as we belly up to the bar.

“So, Gabs, are you coming to Valley next year?”

Leave it to Vanessa to cut right to the chase. I’d been hesitant to ask about how Gabby’s day went. I knew this was hard for her and would be a big step.

“I’m not sure,” she admits and plays with her hair, twisting and turning it around her fingers so it covers the left side of her face.

“You just need to own it. Pull that hair away from your face and hold your head up proudly. You’re stunning, and people are going to stare. You show them that it doesn’t bother you, and it won’t bother them.”

Gabby doesn’t look convinced, but she does hold her head higher as the bartender comes to get our drink order.

“What can I get you ladies?” The bartender is a Valley grad student who Vanessa has dubbed the hottest guy on campus and also off limits. I can’t argue with her reasoning unless I want the bartender at the most popular bar in town adding me to the no-serve list.

“Hey, don’t I know you?” He points at me and narrows his eyes.

“Me?” I look around. “I don’t think so. I mean . . . we come in occasionally. I’m Blair.” I extend my hand to try to smooth over the awkward exchange.

He takes my hand and nods, recognition in his eyes. “You’re one of the Valley Wild girls.”

“The what?” V and I say at the same time.

“Yeah, your hair is pulled up in the photo, but I can tell it’s you.”

Bile coats my throat as he pulls out his phone, taps the screen a few times, and turns it toward us.

“Oh my God.” V’s voice is distant as I duck and push through the crowd to the bathroom. Everywhere I look, I see it now. The looks I’ve been getting all night aren’t guys checking me out, they’re guys picturing me naked in vivid detail.”

Tears threaten as I close the door behind us and lock it. I pace the dingy, smelly bathroom, wishing I’d made my getaway to the car instead of here. This space does not help the downward spiral of my emotions.

“What the hell is going on?” Gabby asks, looking a bit shell shocked.

“Breathe, sweetie. It’s gonna be okay. Mario is on his way. He’ll get us out of here and take us home where we can figure this out.”

“Figure this out? Ha! Everyone has seen me naked. Like, really naked, V.”

“I know. Fucking David. I’m gonna kill him.”

“David, your ex-boyfriend?” Gabby asks.

I stare up at the textured ceiling, feeling beyond humiliated as Gabby paces the floor and V scopes out the damage while filling Gabby in on the David drama from last semester.

“Why didn’t you tell me?” The way Gabby looks at me makes me feel horrible for not confiding in her.

“I guess I was afraid it’d make you even more hesitant to come to Valley if you knew how shitty people can be here.”

“Are you kidding?” She laughs. “There’s so much drama here I think I’ll fit right in. You had me believing Valley was filled with Ken and Barbie cutouts and I was going to be the weird scar girl. No one even noticed me out there. Which is probably in part because they were picturing my best friend naked.” She scrunches up her face in an apologetic frown.

V sighs and tucks her phone away. “Well, in good news, it isn’t just you naked on this horrible website.”

“That isn’t good news.”

“We’ll get them taken down, honey, I promise.”

“It’s too late. They’ll be saved and shared forever.”

They flank me and link their arms in mine. “What can we do to help?”

It’s a role reversal. I’m usually the one offering sympathy and comfort, or in V’s case, talking her down from cutting off someone’s balls.

“Nothing. I just want to go home and hang with my best girls. I’m not letting David ruin our night. I’ll deal with it tomorrow. Tonight, let’s just forget about it. Well . . . once we get out of here.”

“I think I have an old bottle of Apple Pucker stashed in our closet.”

For some reason, that sends us all into a fit of giggles, and I think maybe it might just be possible to survive this. Just as long as we’re together.