Chapter 18: Dresses and pearls - Monet

I turn around in the mirror, criticising my appearance from every angle. I've never really had many chances to wear heels apart from prom dances, but I love how it gives me some height. I'm not that short, but next to athletes, I look like a dwarf, especially next to Luke.

I'm wearing a simple, classic black dress from Mrs. Murray's closet, and pearls in my ears with my hair pinned back, looking sophisticated. The only problem is, this dress is tight as hell, and when I turn around, it stretches over my ass, accentuating my derriere.

"You look smoking hot!" Amy comes to stand next to me in the full lenghth mirror, her cream silk dress the perfect contrast against her dark hair, showing off her pale skin beautifully. "I wish I had your tan."

"You are perfect."I tell her. "I could tell you I wish I looked like you, tall and slim belonging on the runway."

She sighs dramatically. "You are so right."

Coach Murray looks very jittery on the way to the banquet. I never thought much of how a coach in his position may feel like, how much pressure he is under, but he has to be good if they extended his contract. Mrs. Murray is trying to calm him down, though, whispering affirmative words to him. I love watching their dynamic, this is probably what a healthy relationship looks like.

Amy grabs two glasses of champagne from a passing waiter who stops dead in his tracks and looks at us skeptiacally.

"Put it back." He says sternly, making me chuckle. "I know for a fact the coach's daughter is not twenty-one yet."

I have to keep my laughter in when she deposits the two flute glasses back on the tray.

"Thank you miss Murray, there are sodas and juice at the bar,." He says before walking over to people who clearly are allowed to drink.

"That asshole."Amy scoffs. "We're gonna need to come up with a plan, and steal some alcohol somehow."

I look around the hall, but I don't see Cole and Luke yet. We're at the bar waiting for our sodas when Amy nudges me, nodding her head to the entrance.

Of course they brought dates.

Cole looks as handsome as I though he would. His usually unruly curls that flop over his forehead, is slicked stylishly back, showing off more of his chiseled face. He looks amazing in his black suit and tie, Stacey in a red coctail dress that looks like her panties will show if she bends down.

Luke spots us and walks over to us with Ray clinging to him.

"That bitch." Amy mumbles under her breath.

It's fucking stupid how both of us are yearning after men we cannot have when there is a while university of options for us.

"Ladies." Luke says in way of greeting, and of course he picks me up when he gives me a hug. I don't miss the blush on Amy's cheeks when he kisses her lightly on the cheek.

Cole steps up to me, untangling his arm from Stacey, and he kisses me softly on the forehead. His scent creeps all the way to the back of my lungs, nesting inside me. Am I imagining things, or does his lips linger on my skin?

"You look really beautiful." He says as he steps back, his hand coming out to rub the pearl in one of my ears.

"Thanks to Mrs. Murrays's closet. I didn't think I was going to need anything formal so soon." I smile, fingering the lapel of his jacket. "You clean up nice, too."

His eyes darken and the slight smile on his face disappears when his eyes burn into mine. "So what are you and James now? It seems things are getting serious."

I was waiting for this question, especially since his reaction last night when he saw James' lips on mine.

"We're just talking, getting to know one another."

A dark, sleek eyebrow lifts on his chiseled face , and he shoves his hands in his pockets. "Didn't look like just talking to me."

I tilt my head, looking past him to the girl who were in his dorm suite, who he was fucking. I don't ask him questions about what he's doing in his love life. "Are you and Stacey an item? You know, shes your date and everything."

"I had to bring a plus one." He frowns. "She doesn't mean anything to me."

I can't tell him that it didn't look like nothing to me, because then I would blow my whole cover and he would know that I was spying on them.

"Cole!"Coach calls his name and he turns around. "There's someone I would like you to meet."

"I have to go." He turns back to me. "Save me a dance."

My mouth drops open in surprise and amsusement. Cole Brown doesn't dance, and it would be the spectacle of the year if he actully followed through. I'm definitely saving him a dance just for the shits and giggles.

Stacey comes over to me with a sweet smile that I don't know if it is fake or real.

"It's so good to see you again." She comes in for a hug and I have no choice but to hug her back. "Cole has told me so much about you."

"He has?" I ask surpirsed. That has to be a lie, because apart form Luke who Cole probably trusts with his life, Cole doesn't talk about us to people.

"We should really hang out sometime." She continues, but I don't have the heart to tell her I really don't want to get to know her.

She's the girl on her knees, getting the treatment I wished I got. And I don't like her. The way she's smiling at me seems fake.

"Monet, I just saw one of my mother's friends who is dying to me." Amy smiles sweetly like butter can't melt in her mouth. "So sorry to steal her away."

I gladly get stolen, and Amy scoffs harder as soon as we're out of earshot from the other two girls.

"I can't believe Luke brought her!" She looks around to where both Luke and Cole are talking to an older guy with Coach by there side.

"He had to have a date."

"He could've asked me! I was already coming anyway."

I want to remind her that Luke is off-limits, but how can I preach to her when my eyes keep going to the ultimate forbidden fruit?