Chapter 27

Rango said nothing as I practically dragged Jake away from the alcove. I was fuming and confused, and desperate to get the two guys away from each other. Just before Jake and I disappeared into a mass of people, I gave one final look over my shoulder.

Bianca and Rango were still there, watching us with twin expressions of malice. If looks could kill, we'd have been dead twice over. Was it because of that kiss? It had to be.

A sickening thought drifted to the forefront of my brain. Was I kept clueless to make the seduction look real? Kiss me, Jake had said.

I hadn't required much convincing, had I?

Turns out, I was just like all the other girls – eager for whatever he offered and too stupid to realize I was the only one being swept away. Probably, Jake was trying to do me a favor. I should feel grateful. I was grateful. But I was something else too – disappointed.

When Jake and I ducked into a side hall, I whirled to face him. "What the hell was that about?" I said.

He looked down at me. "What?"

"Oh come on," I said. "Don't play dumb. You knew Rango would be here tonight. Didn't you?"

He shrugged. "Maybe."

"How?"

"Rumor was he had an invitation." Jake grinned. "V.I.P. too."

My gaze narrowed. "Did you invite him?"

"You mean did I call him up, and say, 'hey Dingo, you wanna party?"

"You know what I mean," I said.

"Okay." His voice lost any trace of humor. "Yeah, I made sure he had an invitation."

"So he was here because of you?"

"No," Jake said. "He was here because of you."

I glared up at him. "Meaning?"

"Meaning," Jake said, "he knew you'd be here."

"How?" I asked.

He reached up to rub the back of his neck. "Bianca might've mentioned it."

My gaze narrowed. "At your request?"

"Maybe."

I made a sound of disgust. "Unbelievable. Why on Earth would you do that?"

"Look," Jake said, his voice softening, "you're gonna run into him sooner or later. You know that, right?"

"So?"

"So better with me than alone."

"And what was your plan?" I said. "To let him think we're a couple? And just hope he just goes away?"

I wanted to laugh. And cry. Me and Jake? A couple? It was an adolescent girl's fantasy. Supposedly, I'd grown up. Apparently not enough.

At the memory of that kiss, my stomach clenched. It had felt so real. To me, it had been real. Achingly real. But apparently, it had been real only to me. How pathetic was that?

"No," Jake said. "The plan was to piss him off."

"Why?" I asked.

"Why else? So he'd swing at me."

I squinted up at him. "Why?'

Jake shrugged. "So I could kick his ass."

"You can't be serious."

"Why not?" he asked. "You said you were cool with it, as long as Rango swung first. Remember?"

"No, I don't remember. And if even I did say that, it's not what I meant."

"Eh, close enough," Jake said.

"No, it's not," I said. "That's insane."

He said nothing.

"Well?" I said.

"Well what?" he asked.

I looked around. "So all of this? The dress? The champagne?" I swallowed. "That kiss? It was all about Rango?" I looked toward the entryway. Somehow, I summoned up a hollow laugh. "Well, I guess that's done. Time to head out, huh?"

All along, I had known tonight wasn't real. But somehow, I'd been telling myself I could enjoy this little game of make-believe and walk away when the story ended. God, I'd been such a fool.

His voice softened. "Luna, what's wrong?"

"Nothing," I said. "It's just time to go, right?"

"You wanna go?" he said. "We'll go. But we don't have to."

"Look," I said, "I know you were trying to do me a favor, and I appreciate it. Honestly." I sighed. "But, I dunno, I guess it's been a long day."

When disappointment darkened his face, I realized something incredibly stupid. He didn't want to leave, and I couldn't exactly blame him. I looked around. Music was still playing, the crowd was still pulsing, and if I wasn't mistaken, those two scantily clad girls near the archway were just waiting to make their move.

"Oh. Sorry," I said. "You're probably not ready to go, are you?" I summoned up what I hoped was a cheery smile. "That's okay." I glanced around. "I'll just, uh, call a cab or something."

"You think I'm gonna let you leave alone?"

"Sure. Why not?" I bit my lip. Except, where would I go? Did Jake really want me hanging around his place when he wasn't there? Or worse, what if later on, he brought home one of those girls? Or both of those girls?

Last night, I'd listened to him with Maddie. That had been bad enough. If I had realized it was Jake eliciting those sounds, it would have been a million times worse.

And what about tonight? How awful would that be? When I had just kissed him? When I'd felt his lips pressed to mine? When I'd felt him hold me close? When I'd allowed myself to believe he was actually kissing me back?

Suddenly, my lips felt cold and dry, just like my thoughts. Again, I glanced toward the entrance.

"You okay?" Jake said.

"Sure, I'm fine."

His eyebrows furrowed. He pulled out his phone and started tapping at the screen.

"What are you doing?" I asked.

"Texting Henry," he said. "Now come on." He took my arm. "Let's get you back."

I almost wanted to argue. The night was young, and part of me wished I had the stamina, or whatever, to stick around. But I hadn't been lying. It had been a long day. And somehow, I just didn't have the energy to pretend anymore.

The fairytale was over. Closed. The End.

What I needed now was a moment to regroup, before I lost it right here in the crowd. "I need to hit the ladies room." I said. "Can I meet you out front?"

"No."

"No?" I gave a hollow laugh. "So you're denying me bathroom privileges? Is that it?"

"No. I'm not letting you walk there alone."

"Why not?"

"Because Rango's still around someplace."

"I can handle Rango," I said.

"Uh-huh." Jake took my arm. "Now come on."

I couldn't decide if I was flattered or annoyed. Probably, I was both. This whole evening was turning into a mind-boggling mix of contradictions. It was enough to make me crazy.

Near the rest room entrance, I turned to Jake and said, "I'll be out in a few minutes."

"If you're not," he said, "I'm coming in after you. And I'm not kidding."

I stared up at him. "You wouldn't."

"Wanna bet?"

Actually, I didn't. So I turned around and headed into the ladies room.

Of course, the place was packed, with a long line of girls waiting for stalls, and a handful of others clustered around the wide mirror. If Jake weren't waiting just outside the door, I'd probably turn around and head right back out. But at this point, I'd only look stupid.

Reluctantly, I made my way to the sink, waited for an opening, and then pretended to wash my hands. As the warm water ran over my fingertips, I looked up, catching my reflection in the mirror. Who was I, anyway? A pretend-date in a borrowed dress?

I was so lost in my own thoughts that it took me a moment to realize something. Just over my shoulder, another face had appeared in the reflection. It was the face of Bianca.

And the way it looked, she was griping up a storm.