It was after school by the time Cody found Hannah again. She was waiting for him in her car looking none too pleased when he swung his lanky body into the passenger seat.

“Hey, doll face,” he greeted her.

“That wasn’t funny, Cody. We’re practicing to prove a point, not just so you can get off whenever you want.”

“Ya know, you’re pretty good at slinging insults for someone who isn’t good at talking. And for your information, I wasn’t getting off. I was getting you the attention you need. The whole Golden Gate saw us kiss and then you slap me. That instantly gives you points in their eyes.”

“Really?”

“Really. The Goldens hate me after . . . well everything that happened last year.”

“So because I slapped you, they’ll like me?”

“It’s a step in the right direction. They’ll definitely want to talk to you to get the gossip.”

“So what do we do now?” she asked pulling out of the school lot.

“Take a right.”

“But home is—”

“Hannah! What’s rule number two?”

“Fine. But I’ll be a better driver if I know where we’re going.”

“Shopping. You need to dress the part.”

“What’s wrong with how I dress?”

“Nothing, if you’re running for congress.”

* * *

To Hannah’s dismay, Cody was directing her to the luxury district in the heart of Boston, not the outlet mall she was used to doing her shopping at. She cringed when she pulled up to Neiman Marcus and the valet opened the creaking door to her rust-bitten Volvo. It didn’t fit in with BMW’s, Audi’s and Mercedes that lined the glowing glass-fronts of the posh street.

“I don’t have any cash,” Hannah hissed when Cody came around to her side.

He winked at the valet and simply muttered, “Matthews,” before taking her hand and leading her into the gigantic department store. “You don’t pay the valet here. It goes on your account.”

“Oh,” Hannah murmured, suddenly feeling like she didn’t have a clue how the Goldens lived.

A petite brunette clerk rushed up to Cody the moment they were inside the glittering department store. “Mr. Matthews! We’ve missed you. And who is this?” The woman’s perfectly sculpted eyebrow arched as she took in Hannah.

“Hello, Bianca. This is my girlfriend, Hannah Stark.”

“Girlfriend!” Bianca barely recovered her composure. “Good for you,” she added softly touching Cody’s arm. “It’s about time you start dating again.” Then she turned her attention to Hannah. “Miss Stark, it’s a pleasure,” Bianca purred.

Hannah smiled politely and shook Bianca’s perfectly manicured hand, sensing she wasn’t pleased in the least to be touching Hannah. She really couldn’t blame the delicate sales woman. She looked like she’d been meticulously steamed and pressed. There wasn’t a crease anywhere on her, including her plastic-like complexion.

“What can I assist you with? Are we shopping for anything in particular today?” Bianca asked as she eyeballed Hannah with distain, probably wondering where to start.

From her scuffed loafers to her clearance rack cardigan, Hannah felt like a street urchin compared to the patrons in Neiman Marcus. Even the mannequins seemed to be looking down at her.

Luckily Cody saved her. “We’ll be doing our shopping on our own today,” he replied graciously and tucked Hannah’s hand under her arm, pulling her away from Bianca’s judgy little eyes.

“Do you not usually do your own shopping?” Hannah asked when they were out of earshot.

Cody snorted. “Bianca’s my family’s personal shopper. I come in once a year to have my measurements taken and then she just sends things to the house for me.”

“Seriously? That’s ridiculous.”

He shrugged. “You’re the one who wants to be a Golden. This is how it’s done.”

Hannah noticed that Cody didn’t say it was how he did things. Did he really not consider himself a Golden? Maybe the kids at school had kicked him out of their little elitist club, but it seemed the rest of the upper crust was still happy to take his money. She sighed deeply. Perhaps she’d underestimated how difficult it would be to crack the Goldens.

“Is this really necessary,” Hannah groaned as Cody navigated the racks of mesmerizing apparel with ease.

“Not much of a shopper, are ya?”

Hannah frowned. She wasn’t opposed to shopping. It was the blinding price tags that were making her sweat.

As if sensing her distress, Cody laughed. “Come on, I have a feeling we’re gonna need a pick-me-up if we’re gonna get through this.”

* * *

“Starbucks?”

“What did you think I meant?”

Remembering one of Cody’s earlier lessons, Hannah kept her comments to herself. He probably didn’t want to hear that she’d assumed he meant drugs or something illegal when he mentioned a pick-me-up.

They stood in line listening to obnoxious coffee orders being slung at the barista like some foreign language.

“What would you like?” Cody asked as they approached the counter.

Hannah stared at the board in wonder. What language was this? Some of the words were in Italian, some English and frankly some just seemed made up.

“Um, I don’t know. I don’t drink coffee.” Hannah admitted sheepishly.

“What? Hannah, are you Mormon or something? Because I draw the line at destroying your religious faith.”

“No. I’m not Mormon. But it’s good to know you have some morals.”

“Are you sure? No coffee, no sex, no fun. . .”

Hanna rolled her eyes and elbowed Cody in the side, which only made him laugh.

“How does Miss Perfect stay up late and study without coffee?”

Hannah scoffed at his dig. “I don’t need coffee. It’s a drug you know?”

Cody smirked. “Well it’s one drug you’re gonna have to get used to if you want to mingle with the Goldens outside of school. Spotting them without their Starbucks and cell phones glued to their hands is like spotting Bigfoot.”

“Fine. Can you just order me something mild?”

Cody laughed. “And here I thought you wanted to be wild.”

When it was their turn to order, he asked for two vanilla lattes. The barista looked grateful for the simple order and quickly served them. They retreated to a high-top in the corner of the coffee shop and sipped their lattes.

“So what’d ya think?” Cody asked gesturing to the coffee mug.

“It’s delicious. I can see how people get addicted to these.”

“I knew you’d be a latte girl.”

“Is that a good thing, or are you making fun of me again?”

“It’s not really a thing. It’s just you. You’re so vanilla latte.”

“You mean mild and boring.”

“You said it.”

“You’re right. I am boring. But that’s why I have to do this. I have the rest of my life to be boring vanilla-latte-Hannah. Harrison’s party is my only chance to be wild-and-free-Hannah.”

“What, Brown’s not known for its wild party scene?”

“How do you know I’m going to Brown?”

“Everyone knows you’re going to Brown, Hannah. The school posted it on the bulletin board freshman year,” Cody teased. “It’s been up there so long it’s turning yellow.”

“Oh.”

“Don’t worry, you’ll have your wild and crazy night. We just need to get you some new clothes, create some more buzz about you dating a bad boy and you’ll be Golden.”

“Ha ha, very funny.”

“Look at you! Already picking up on my sarcasm. Perhaps there’s hope for you yet.” Cody grinned and stood up. “Come on let’s take these to go.”

He led Hannah to the counter to get to go cups when a swirl of pink cashmere and glossy blonde hair cut them off— Savannah Huxley.

“I ordered an iced, half caff, ristretto, venti, four-pumps, sugar-free, cinnamon-dolce, soy, skinny, latte, no whip. This is clearly not sugar-free!”

“Was that even English?” Hannah whispered to Cody, who laughed.

Hearing their laughter, Savannah whirled around about to direct her wrath at them. But her mouth hung open when her eyes took in Cody, and then Hannah.

“Oh my god, Cody and . . . Hannah, right?”

Hannah nodded.

“I didn’t know you two were an item.”

“That’s because you weren’t supposed to,” Cody replied taking Hannah’s hand and dragging her quickly from the coffee shop.

“What did you do that for?” Hannah howled when they’d escaped Savannah’s glare. “That was my chance to talk to her.”

“Lesson number two. Always leave them wanting more.”