Chapter 73


    ke lets me go at this and steps back stiffly, obviously nervous. "H-Hi, it''s so nice to run into you again, I didn''t even ask, do you live in the city?"


    I nce nervously at Virgil and Dale who are even closer now and I wonder how I''m going to get rid of ke before he gets hurt.


    "No, I stay in the countryside." I reply truthfully, there was no need to give him false hope.


    His face falls at this and I''m seriously considering advising him to invest in sses. "Oh, um how long are you going to spend in the city?"


    I nce at Virgil and Dale one more time and my palms get sweaty when I see how much closer they are, I needed to get ke out of here and fast. "A couple weeks."


    He perks up at this again. "That''s awesome, here''s my phone number, just call me whenever you''re free, we could hang out." He offers, handing me the paper.


    "I''m in a hurry though." He adds regretfully, stepping back. "It''s nice meeting you again, Hayden, and your hair is pretty." He throws over his shoulder, disappearing into the crowd.


    I just slowly sit at the fountain''s edge, there''s no need trying to get to my friends now because they''re already here.


    "What''s that?" Dale asks suspiciously, eyeing the piece of paper that''s crushed in a fist.


    I quickly hide my hands behind me for reasons unknown. "Nothing." I reply quickly.


    Virgil just stares at me quietly and I gulp. "I just bumped into him and had a polite conversation, you all didn''t have toe over here."


    "Exactly what I''ve been telling them." Shana says huffily, starting in the direction they hade from.


    The beauty salon where we get our hair and nails done is even worse than thest, here the manicurists are tantly flirting with Virgil and Dale and they''re weing it.


    "Please don''t make a fist, you''ll ruin the paint job." My manicurist says unhappily for what must be the fifth time.


    Taking a deep breath, I mumble an apology and try to rx, starting with my fists even though right now I want to knock someone''s teeth out.


    I lean back and close my eyes, trying to think happy thoughts.


    "You okay, Hay?" Virgil''s voice alerts me and I open my eyes to see him staring down at me with amusement dancing in his eyes.


    I grind my teeth


    He knows


    I don''t know how but he knows about ke and is trying to get back at me for hiding it, well two can y at that game. "I''m just fine." I smile tightly up at him, closing my eyes once more.


    We spend less time getting our nails done and I keep my eyes closed for the entire duration, hearing Virgil tantly flirt with the pretty girls here is bad enough, having to watch them do it too, is just in cruel and if I see another manicurist caress Virgil''s hand again, I''m yeeting the electric nail driller at their heads.


    I''m so over-eager to get out of the salon that I don''t evenin about the fact that Shana had made my manicurist and pedicurist paint my nails a pale pink instead of the neutral color we had agreed on.


    I don''t even remember our next destination, stomping out of the beauty salon in a huff. The beauticians working in the salon had held Virgil and Dale back, no doubt to collect their phone numbers and I threw my card at Shana who luckily was too excited to use the card to interrogate me about my sour mood.


    That''s how I end up pacing in front while waiting for them, my freshly painted nails digging into the inside of my palms.


    "Are you okay, Hayden?" Shana asks carefully and my head flies up to see just her walking out.


    "I''m just fine." I say tightly. "Where are they?"


    Shana gives me a knowing look but says nothing. "They said they would catch up with us, let''s go."


    The walk to the store is quiet and I''m grateful for the milling crowd because that means I can pretend to not see Shana peeking at me from the sides of her eyes.


    "Hi, how may I help you?" The attendant in the clothing store says brightly when we go in, she''s dressed from head to toe in designer clothing and her smile looks stic.


    "Just direct me to the lingerie section." Shana says in a brighter voice and my heart sinks to my legs, we''re actually doing this??


    "You were serious??" I demand in horror as she starts pulling me in the direction that the attendant had pointed us in.


    She just gives me a nk look. "Why would you think I am?"


    I shrug helplessly, the truth finally hitting me hard, of course, Shana wouldn''t be joking about something like this. "I don''t know."


    She pulls me into the dressing room and ces both of her hands on my face. "I know how you can get back at Virgil."


    "What? You know what?" I demand, shocked.


    She just gives me a self-assured smile. "I''m not blind like Dale." She scoffs. "That idiot is just basking in all that attention while Virgil is trying to spite you."


    I take a cautious step away from here. "Uh-huh, so why would you think I care about what Virgil and Dale are doing or not doing, and secondly, how does dragging me into the lingerie section resolves it."


    "Oh just trust me." She smiles evilly, rubbing her palms together.


    I take another cautious step away from her. "That sounds terrifying, I''m not sure I want to be a part of whatever devious ns you''re cooking up."


    She just rubs her palms together some more. "Who says it''s optional?"


    I gulp and watch her eyes twinkle, her blue hair looks really good on her so I tell her this. "You look like a clown''s assistant with that hair."


    She barely spares me a nce, her eyes still twinkling. "Thanks, Hay, you too." She replies distractedly and takes my wrist again to pull me into the lingerie section. "Say, Hayden, do you remember how to put on garters?"