Chapter 199

After the talk with Olivia, I returned to class. She gave me a little smile as I walked past her to my seat.

It was a relief to know the bullies were done harassing me, but it was hard to keep my mind on what the teacher was saying when I suspected Olivia wanted to sell Wilson, Inc.

I wondered why none of the Alpha kids would speak to me even when I had to talk to them first. Their passive-aggressive ghosting didn’t hurt my feelings. It was another lesson about false friends.

Their friendship was no longer needed. I had Amy, a real friend.

Things became more difficult at lunch when some of the boys began doing elaborate stunts to invite the girls of their choosing to the prom.

One Alpha football player asked one of the popular Alpha girls by dropping balloons from the cafeteria ceiling with a banner that read, “Kylie, Be My Prom Date.”

She said yes with a kiss, and the cafeteria exploded in applause. After that, every guy began planning a stunt to outdo the previous invitation. A few more were ready now.

It would have been nice to be a part of the fun, but nobody would ask me to the prom.

Amy was watching another Alpha guy performing a singing invitation for his girlfriend, and I wondered if she wanted to be invited to the prom.

“Are you hoping somebody asks you to the prom?” I asked.

“I already have a date for the prom,” Amy replied with a dreamy smile.

“Oh, yeah. Justin,” I said. Amy was lucky. She didn’t have to worry about being asked. She knew she had a date.

I wished I had a date for the prom, too.

When that thought formed in my mind, Victor’s image followed. I could see him looking sensational in a tux, holding me in his arms while we danced to romantic music.

What was I doing? Victor is with Olivia now. Daydreaming about him taking me to the prom wouldn’t accomplish anything except cause me more disappointment and pain.

I gave myself a mental shake and watched another ‘promposal.’

Another football player carried a box out of the kitchen and placed it in front of his choice for a date. He opened the box to reveal a cake with a cartoon bomb drawn on it in red, white, and yellow icing.

On the box’s lid was a short poem. “I think you’re the bomb. Will you go with me to the prom?”

Of course, she said yes, and there was more applause.

The proposals were romantic and sweet, but they reminded me I would be in my apartment alone the evening of the prom, or maybe I would watch a movie again with Mrs. Carson.

I sighed, but I knew I was lucky to have things like a lovely apartment and a housekeeper. Plus, I had my best friend back in my life. But I yearned for more.

Truthfully, I was feeling a little jealous of the happy couples that seemed to be all around me. And I kept seeing Victor wearing a tux and holding out his arms to me in my mind.

“Just stop it, Daisy,” I mumbled to myself. “He’s probably taking Olivia to the prom, and it will be better for everyone if you’re not there.”

Amy noticed my dark mood and motioned for me to follow her.

“Where are we going?” I asked.

“To the roof,” she replied. “You look like you need a little sunshine.”

We climbed the flights of stairs to our haven on the roof and sat in the sunlight until our next class.

“Why did you look so sad in the cafeteria?” Amy asked.

There was no hiding my emotions from her. It was nice to hang out with someone who knew me this well.

“So, spill it,” Amy demanded. “What’s on your mind that’s making you look sad?”

“Maybe it’s because nobody is going to invite me to the prom with them,” I said.

“Who did you want to go to the prom with? You can ask them.”

I shrugged.

“Is Victor being with Olivia in the restaurant last night bothering you?” Amy asked.

“It was awful seeing them together,” I admitted. “I need to forget about him and move on.”

“Victor cares more than you think. He went outside to look for you last night,” Amy revealed.

“We were friends,” I said. “Maybe he just wanted to say hi.” I hoped he didn’t notice my sadness at seeing him with Olivia. I didn’t want his pity.

“I think it was more than that,” Amy insisted. “He looked upset, and he really wanted to find you.”

I shook my head. “My fake engagement to him is over. He is with Olivia now.”

“Do you want me to ask Justin if he has a friend who would escort you? We could have a double date.”

“Put a pin in that idea,” I told her. “It’s a big maybe. We’ll see how desperate I feel by then.”

“Do you like living in your apartment?” Amy asked. “I know it’s not Mr. Wilson’s mansion, but it's a lot bigger and nicer than the apartment above the restaurant where Dad and I live.”

“An expensive decorator doesn’t create a real home,” I said. “You have your dad living with you, and it’s the only place you remember living,” I said. “I used to dream about living alone in my own apartment. Now I know it can be very lonely.”

“I’ll come to see you all the time,” Amy promised.“You’ll get sick of me.”

“Never,” I said and put an arm around her shoulders when the bell rang. “Time for our next class.”

“Don’t worry, Daisy,” Amy said. “Things will get better for you soon.”

“If only …” I mumbled.

The rest of the day went smoothly. There were a few more promposals, but I didn’t let them bother me. Just because I didn’t have a date, it didn’t mean others shouldn’t.

When my classes were over, I went outside to the gate and saw a familiar car parked there.

It was Victor’s Lamborghini.

Memories of riding beside Victor in that car raced through my mind. They stopped me in my tracks, and I stared at the car.

Was Victor here to pick up Olivia?

Tears flooded my eyes, and I quickly wiped them away. I didn’t want him or Olivia to see me crying.

Why did I feel so sad? Victor and I were just friends, and I sent him away. Yet, he was almost always on my mind, and seeing him with Olivia was painful.

I had to get out of there and go home to my apartment. Victor wasn’t in the car, but he couldn’t be far away. And Olivia could come out of the school at any second.

Before I could get myself moving, he appeared at my side like magic.

“Hey, Daisy,” Victor said. “What are you doing?”

“I’m … um, going home,” I replied. “I catch the bus on Second Street.” I pointed north of the school even though Victor knew where Second Street was.

Crap! He probably thought I was hinting for him to give me a ride.

“Do you enjoy taking the bus?” he asked.

Be cool, Daisy. Don’t seem like you want him to give you a ride.

“The city buses are okay,” I replied. “There are many interesting people to talk to, and it stops anywhere I want to go.” Ugh. Of all the stupid things to say. I sounded like a jerk.

He gave me his teasing smile. “Does that mean you don’t want to ride with me anymore?”

I blushed deep red. Why did he ask me that?

“Aren’t you waiting for Olivia? There isn’t enough room for all three of us in your car.” The words slipped from my mouth before I could stop them.

“Olivia has her own ride,” he said and began leading me to the car. “I’m here to pick you up and take you to the mansion. Alex has good news he wants to share with you.”

“What …what good news?” I stammered. I didn’t dare hope it was the news I wanted to hear.

“He will tell you when we get there,” Victor insisted. He opened the car door for me. “Get in. I guarantee you’ll want to hear this news.”