Chapter Twenty-One ~ Sabotage-1

So Jada was the girl Cole was cheating with. Everyone else seemed oblivious to my realization. In fact, Cole and Penelope's hands were now linked and Jada looked as if she was trying not to notice. "I think I know the way through now," Poppy said. "It's actually pretty simple. One big arc," Penelope said. "Anyway, we should go do a lap, my parents are so excited to see you, Cole." Her voice was high, and she looked to me with a calculated gaze. "You alright?" Felix asked, squeezing my hands. "Uh-huh," I said. I squeezed back. "I think I'm just out of breath from the maze." Poppy and Jada were busy picking at a tray of food. I had no idea where Ella had gone. "Was it because I said..." Felix said, pulling me aside. "You were my girlfriend?" "Oh, no," I said. "I just—I'm just feeling a bit dizzy." He led me to a loveseat towards the edge of the room, picking up a jug of water and a cup on the way. "Here." I sipped it. What did this mean? I should've be reporting this to Penelope right now, but her and Cole were now pacing around the room, laughing with Penelope's relatives and pretending as if they were in love. "Josie, are you sure you're alright?" he asked. His eyes searched mine. "Yeah," I said, maybe a little too forcefully. "I think I need more champagne." We caught up with Poppy and Jada again. "Check it out," Poppy said, taking a cherry and trying to tie the stem with her tongue. "You're a disgrace," Jada said, laughing as Poppy made faces, her lips contorting. "Mm-mm," she finally popped it out. "Oh shit." Jada and Felix laughed. "I need to touch up my lips now," Poppy said. "Ugh, these are sour." "Bathroom?" Jada asked. Her eyes flickered to me as an invitation. "Yeah," I said. I smiled back to Felix. "Be back in a bit." "Seriously? First Cole, now you guys?" Felix shook his head. "Ella's around here somewhere," Poppy called back, dismissing him. "So, what did you guys get up to in the maze?" If only Poppy knew. Did she know? I watched her carefully. Her brother and her best friend hooking up. It was such a scandal. Seriously, I knew Cole was cheating but, even as a paid spy, I had no idea it was with someone so close to him. Some random girl, sure. But Jada? "Not much," Jada said. "It was so cold out there, I was just glad to find the end." I had barely felt the cold between Felix's proximity and the discovery of who I thought was Cole and Penelope. I still couldn't quite comprehend that it was her. "Ugh, tell me about it. Lucky Ella had a jacket." Poppy was still wearing it over her lavender dress. I used the bathroom and then touched up my lipstick. Most of it had come off in the make-out session I'd had with Felix. I framed my lips carefully, fanning them so they dried. "What about you?" Poppy said, eyeing my heavy re-application. "Felix and I were... distracted." "So, are you guys official now?" she asked. She spoke in a low voice, but I knew Jada would be joining us at any moment. "He..." my voice trailed off as I finally let it sink in. "He introduced me as his girlfriend." Poppy let out an excited squeal and hugged me. "Ahh, I'm so happy for you guys. Felix really deserves to be happy. Especially after all he's been through." My heart twisted painfully. The guilt—which always seemed to be present in my gut these days—grew heavier. "Congrats," Jada said, moving towards the vanity to wash her hands. Then, she popped off the top of her lip gloss and reapplied. "Let's go celebrate," Poppy said. "To romance!" I had to admire her peppy-ness as she dragged me and Jada back out to the ballroom. My feet were starting to ache in the heels, and I wished I'd worn a bra so I had more support. Penelope was still holding Cole's hand, and now she was walking up a set of stairs adjacent to the stage the band was playing at. I scanned the dance floor, not exactly sure who I was looking for until I spotted them. Bright green hair disappearing into a room to the side. "Be right back." I lifted the hem of my dress so I could walk without fear of tripping as I zig-zagged through the people, hoping to catch Ella. I saw her look over her shoulder and close the door behind her. But I was already on her tail. I patted my hand on the door, knocking softly enough that it didn't cause attention. "Ella!" The door opened a crack, and when Ella saw me she let me in. It was dark, except for a few screens alight. "Hey, Joselyn" she whispered. She didn't seem phased by my presence as she span around and assessed the computer system. "What are you doing?" Ella gave a wicked grin. "Taking this bitch down."