All I've Never Wanted (5 page)

BOOK: All I've Never Wanted
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Zack shrugged. "He's probably—"

 

"Ohmygod! Someone just spilled beer 
all over Parker Remington!" 
someone screamed. Everyone froze for one second, before they abandoned what they were doing to cram themselves into the living room, eager to witness the drama that was about to go down, and curious as to who was unlucky enough to offend a Scion so early in the year.

 

"Well, there's your answer," Zack said, chuckling. "This, I gotta see."

 

Despite the crowds, he and Adriana had no trouble making it to the edge of the circle, where Parker and a girl who had her back to them stood. The renowned playboy did, indeed, have a huge dark stain on his shirt, and surprisingly, he didn't look particularly upset.

 

When the girl turned, Adriana immediately saw why. It was the girl she'd met in the bathroom a few days ago, Maya. She didn't know why she remembered her so clearly, but there was something about her that stuck out from Valesca's preening socialites-in-training. Despite Maya's delicate appearance, she seemed to emanate a vibe that indicated she wasn't one to let herself be pushed around, which Adriana, who herself was no shy wallflower, appreciated.

 

Besides, it was clear Parker wouldn't be so quick to impose any sort of social pariah-dom on the poor girl--she was gorgeous. Even Zack, who was normally pretty laid-back when it came to expressing his opinions about the opposite sex, let out a low whistle.

 

Parker, not looking terribly upset, was saying something, but it was hard to hear, since everyone had formed the circle at a respectable distance from the two.

 

Adriana decided to take matters into her own hands, but before she could, she was surprised to see her brother step forward. "There's nothing to see here," he said firmly. And with those five words, the crowd reluctantly dispersed, though more than few cast surreptitious looks in their direction.

 

Zack was about to make his way over to Parker and Maya when Adriana laid a hand on his arm. "Wait," she said, tilting her head towards a tiny redhead who was barreling towards the duo at an alarming speed.

 

"Maya!" the girl cried, her gray eyes the size of saucers as they darted between her friend and the huge stain on Parker's shirt.

 

"Wh-what happened? Are you okay? You're—you're not going to be expelled, are you?"

 

"Not if I have anything to say about it."

 

Adriana watched, intrigued, as a good-looking, sandy-haired guy stepped up behind Venice, staring directly at Parker.

 

Then, as if the scene couldn't get more dramatic, the front door opened and who should come in but Roman and Carlo?

 

Well
, Adriana thought.
This party is finally starting to get interesting.

*              *              *

"Um…uh…" I was speechless as I just stood there, taking in the damage I'd done to a shirt that probably cost more than an average person's monthly rent. A shirt that belonged to Parker Remington, no less. I was painfully aware that the rest of the party had stopped and everyone was pointing and whispering, but I couldn't focus on anything except for the fact my life was pretty much over.

 

"I'm sorry," I finally managed, desperately searching for a place to set down the offending and now empty cup. Unfortunately, the nearest table was about twenty feet away. "I'm really, really sorry. I didn't mean to spill it—it's just—I'm a bit—well, I was in a bit of a hurry so I just rushed in here and I didn't see you and there's so many people that it just accidentally spilled—"

 

I knew I was rambling incoherently and embarrassing myself even more than I already had, but I couldn't help it. In my mind, I could see my chances of getting into Stanford, or any other good school, disappear in a puff of smoke.

 

The whole time, Parker just watched me with an inscrutable expression on his face. When I finally fell into silence, awaiting his next words with a Texas-sized pit of dread in my stomach, I somehow felt even more humiliated that I was basically groveling in front of someone for something as minor as spilling beer over him.

 

I mean, yeah, if it had been anyone else, I still would have apologized and tried to help him clean up, but the situation was only exacerbated by the fact Parker's a Scion. This time, I felt my cheeks heat up with shame and anger at myself for being too much of a coward to stand up to the Scions' dictatorial rule.

 

"Well, this wasn't part of my plans for tonight," Parker commented, lifting his sticky shirt away from his defined torso, which was clearly outlined through the soaked material.

 

I braced myself, wondering how to tell my mom my chances of getting into a top ten school were non-existent now.

 

"But it certainly isn't the end of the world."

 

Oh god. I was going to end up working at McDonald's for the rest of my life, subsisting on welfare—wait, what? "What?" I blurted.

 

I heard someone say something in the background, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw the crowd that had been watching us miraculously break up, but I was so overwhelmed by the hope that was coursing through my veins I couldn't quite focus on anything else.

 

Parker laughed, flashing me his signature charming smile and the accompanying dimples. His green eyes sparkled mischievously.

 

"It's just beer," he explained. "I won't die."

 

"But I ruined your shirt," I protested. I couldn't believe I was actually 
encouraging 
him to be mad, but this didn't feel right. I mean, last year, I'd seen someone get kicked out of school for stepping on the back of Roman’s shoe. Besides, I was still convinced there was a catch here somewhere.

 

Parker shrugged. "It's just a shirt, I have plenty."

 

"So…you're not mad?" I asked cautiously.

 

"Of course not. How can I be mad at such a beautiful girl?"

 

Coming from anyone else, the line would be corny as hell, but there was something about Parker that made everything he said sound smooth and charming.

 

"Maya! Wh-what happened? Are you okay? You're—you're not expelled, are you?"

 

I turned to see Venice rushing toward me, wide-eyed and panicked.

 

I was about to tell her that yes, everything was fine, but before I could get a word out of my mouth, James suddenly materialized. He looked decidedly less laid-back than before, and in fact, his mouth was set in a grim line as he stared Parker down.

 

"Not if I have anything to do about it," he said quietly.

 

"Really? And what are you going to do about it?"

 

The blood ran cold in my veins. I would recognize that voice anywhere.

 

Venice gently tugged on my arm, and I robotically took a step back so that James was facing Parker and Roman by himself. I saw Carlo move over to stand next to Zack and Adriana. I don't remember seeing them arrive on the scene, but I shouldn't be surprised. They always moved in a pack.

 

"I'm not going to stand here and let you push Maya around just because she 
accidentally 
spilled beer on you," James declared, even though he was looking straight at Roman now.

 

Roman's eyes narrowed and his gaze moved slowly, methodically from Parker's shirt, to me and Venice, and back to James. "I don't think you're aware who you're talking to," Roman said. His tone of voice had changed. It was casual, almost cavalier, which frightened me more than if he'd been screaming and raging.

 

"Oh, wait, I forgot, I'm talking to the mighty Scions," James said sarcastically. "How stupid of me. I should be bowing and scraping before you right now, shouldn't I?"

 

I exchanged a horrified glance with Venice. 
What are you doing?
 I wanted to scream at him. I didn't know James that well, but he was a nice guy, and I couldn't even bear to think what's going to happen to him after tonight.

 

"Maybe if you did that right now, I might be inclined to show some mercy in dealing with you," Roman declared.

 

I felt myself bristle at his choice of awards. He really did sound like some medieval king talking down to his servants.

 

Apparently, James felt the same way, because he didn't back down. "I don't think I need mercy from the likes of you," he responded, clenching his hands into fists. "You and your friends think you can do anything just because you're rich, but let me tell you something, money can't buy you dignity, or respect."

 

"I wouldn't be too sure about that." Roman's lips curved up into a cruel smile. "Especially when you wake up one morning to find out your parents just lost their job."

 

James' nostrils flared. "Don't you 
dare 
pretend you know 
anything 
about my family!" he roared, raising his fist.

 

Venice let out a small yelp next to me, but I'd had enough. I quickly grabbed James' wrist and forced it down. I'd noticed Carlo had gotten ready to defend his friend and knew James would not be the winner.

 

"That's enough!" I cried, stepping in front of James.

 

"Maya, what are you 
doing?" 
Venice whispered urgently from the sideline.

 

I ignored her, and lifted my chin, gazing into Roman's stormy orbs. For the first time, he looked taken aback.

 

"Now you listen, and you listen good," I began fiercely, fueled by over a year of suppressed anger that was bursting to be let out. "I don't 
care 
that your family founded this stupid town and this stupid school, I don't care how much money you have in your trust fund, or how everyone else worships you just because you happen to be lucky enough to be born with good genes and into a rich family. I am 
sick 
and 
tired 
of you bossing everyone around like they're your servants! They're not, and even if they were, you should at least treat other people with some respect! You have done absolutely nothing by yourself to earn anything you have!"

 

"Maya," Venice squeaked, her face whiter than white.

 

I knew I should stop, but I couldn't. I'd already dug myself in too deep, and I was on a roll. The words came out so easily I was barely aware I was even saying them. "Nothing gives you the right to threaten other peoples' lives and futures the way you do!" I continued. "Who are you to determine who gets expelled or whose parents will lose their jobs? You're just a teenager, for Christ's sake! Stop acting like you're god, because you're 
not! 
As far as I'm concerned, you're nothing but a spoiled, tyrannical 
brat 
who throws a temper tantrum anytime something doesn't go your way!"

 

I was panting by the time I finished, and it was the only sound in the room. The rest was dead silence.

 

Everyone—Venice, James, the Scions, the people at the party—just stared at me in shock.

 

I swallowed hard, hit by the urge to bolt. Though I'd felt free and relieved when I was reaming Roman out, I now felt suffocated.

 

Without waiting for a response, I pushed my way through my mass of frozen classmates and sprinted through the door, not stopping until I'd reached Venice's car. I leaned against the driver's side, where no one could see me, and closed my eyes, breathing deeply. The fresh night air felt soothing against my heated skin, but I still felt like I was about to throw up.

 

I couldn't believe I just did that. A year of forcing myself into anonymity, all down the drain in one night. But still, at least I had my dignity intact. I knew if I'd just let it go on the way it had back there without saying anything, I would regret it for the rest of my life. It was about time someone stood up to the Scions, and if colleges wanted some lemming with no backbone, well, I guess they weren't the right ones for me.

 

"Maya!"

 

I looked up to see a distressed Venice. "Ohmygosh, I'm so sorry," she cried, throwing her arms around my neck. "This is all my fault! If I hadn't—if I hadn't made you come tonight, none of this would've happened!"

BOOK: All I've Never Wanted
3.5Mb size Format: txt, pdf, ePub
ads

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