Gilded Apples; Chapter 8

"How was the party?" Nadia asks, sliding into her desk.

I sigh, slumping forward to rest my chin on the desk. "Boring. As always. I'm just glad I was seated next to Allura."

"When did Allura get back in town?" Nadia asks in surprise.

"The day before yesterday apparently."

Nadia hms, pulling her textbook out. "I bet Celine knew that."

"Knew what?" Celine asks as she perches on the edge of her desk.

"Allura's back in town," I answer.

"Are you saying you don't follow your brother's girlfriend on social media?"

"Of course I do," I answer defensively, sitting back up.

"How do you have socials and still manage to live under a rock?"

I shrug. I was so used to Mom's rules for limiting my presence online when I was younger, the habits were ingrained in me. Not to mention, I didn't mind having such a small presence online.

Celine shakes her head. "Anyway, we missed you Saturday."

"I wish I had been able to come. The party was so boring."

"Aw, poor baby. Still the only minor forced to attend?"

I nod. I wasn't about to tell them about my run-in with Chase at the party. That would be hard to explain away.

Celine's phone buzzes. Probably Hugh, again. I make eye contact with Nadia as Celine lifts her phone. Nadia rolls her eyes.

"Oh. My god."

I look over at Celine. She's staring at her phone screen.

"The Hunter Pass Academy closed indefinitely for repairs after fire burns down most of the class buildings. The all-boys school will now be looking to place their students in other private academies nearby and within the state. Until placements are secured, the boys will be getting a prolonged break from school." Her head snaps up. She's smiling broadly. "Do you know what this means?"

"Celine," Nadia says gently. "You are a bit too ecstatic about a fire burning down a school."

Celine looks between us. "Do you know what this means?" She reiterates.

"For them?" I ask, a bit confused. "They have to go to a strange new school?"

Celine sighs in annoyance. "No, dummy. Vanderbond is the closest private school to Hunter Pass. That means they'll defiantly be placing some of the boys here! And have you seen the Hunter Pass social pages? They have the cutest boys."

"Don't you have a boyfriend?" Nadia points out.

"Who needs to be reminded he's replaceable."

"That doesn't sound toxic at all," Nadia drawls.

"But," Celine carries on, ignoring Nadia's comment, "I'm thinking more for the two of you. Maybe I can finally get you girls boyfriends and we can go on a triple date. All of them are from money so they'll be well-mannered, groomed, and money never hurts."

"I'm an heiress," I remind her. Of the three of us, I was undoubtedly the one with the largest inheritance coming. Especially since most of my brothers were making their own way.

"Why must you make my job as matchmaker so difficult?" She demands.

"Maybe because, oh! That's right," Nadia gives Celine a hard look. "We didn't ask."

Celine is too busy digging through her phone. After a moment she flips her phone toward us. "Just look at these boys. Tell me you don't think they're cute."

She's showing us the page for Hunter Pass Academy. Nadia begrudgingly takes her phone and I find myself leaning in without thinking. It's on the student leadership lineup for the year. Nadia flicks through the pictures. Lacross, soccer, mathletes, science teams, model UN, speech and debate, and my mind is gone. If I hadn't recognized the photo, the name would have cued me in. It's Chase Princeton. There was a chance that Chase Princeton would be coming to Vanderbond Academy.

"Did you see one you like?" Celine asks as I quickly look away.

"What? No."

Nadia even looks up this time. "I will admit that some of them are cute, but that's all. I would like to remind you that I want to focus on my studies."

Celine waves a dismissive hand at her before pointing at me. "You recognized one of them, didn't you? Which one?" She demands.

Nadia looks down at the phone. "Chase Princeton?" She asks, reading the name off the screen. She looks up again. "As in Princeton Law Group? Didn't your brother intern with them?" She asks, head turning toward me.

"Have you met him?" Celine asks excitedly, leaning forward. "Do you like him?"

If I said no, I could be caught in a bad trap. "He. . . was at the party with his dad this weekend." Celine is perking up. "But I don't like him. We barely had the chance to talk."

Before she can grill me further, the bell rings. Snagging her phone from Nadia, she gives me a warning glare. "This conversation isn't over."

Screwed, screwed, screwed. I was so screwed. Maybe she'd forget about it by lunch.

She defiantly didn't forget it by lunch. In fact, she's the first to our spot, a rarity.

"Please let it go," I moan as I sit down across from her.

Celine shakes her head. "You told us you were the only person your age there. Then you admit there was a guy there, but you 'barely talked'," she adds air quotes to emphasize her point. "You're hiding something."

"She won't let it go," Nadia warns as she sits down between us.

I sigh. "There's nothing to tell. He was there with his dad. We weren't close enough to talk during dinner. We talked for like two minutes after before I split."

"About," Celine prompts.

"Nothing. Really," I use my warning tone with her. I really didn't want to get into the whole Blanc/Farley thing right now.

"Do you at least admit he's cute?"

"Don't even think about trying to set us up." Chase was most likely the most likely person to figure out who I really was. He had known me when I was a Blanc. He could recognize me. I could slip up. It was a dangerous game I didn't want to play.

"Oh, come on," Celine practically begs.

"You don't even know if he's going to be coming to Vanderbond," I point out in exasperation.

"But if he does?"

"No!"

Celine pouts. "At least you didn't deny he's cute. I suppose that means there's hope for you."

Time to change the subject. "How did the Fairest scouting event go?"

Celine instantly perks up. "It was so much fun. I'm sure you would have enjoyed yourself."

Nadia nods. "You would have. They were letting friends do group sessions."

"And the workers were so nice. They had like two or three at all the stations just to take pictures with your phone so you could have some. And they let you see some of the behind-the-scenes for editing. They had an actual photography director there, and she was so chill. Oh, and. . ."

Celine keeps rambling on, pulling out her phone to show off photos as well. I don't really care that much, but at least it's gotten her mind off Chase for the moment.