Perfect Enemies

11

I avoided Kane as best as I could for the rest of the week. It was actually easier than I expected because he seemed to be employing the same strategy. My need to understand what had changed between us ate away at my conviction to stay away from him. I managed to hold firm, but it cost me every ounce of self-control I possessed. I was short-tempered and overall irritable for two solid days. By the time school let out on Friday, I wasn’t fit company for anyone, but Reyna had insisted we go to Blake Masterson’s party. I was especially conflicted about going because I was bound to run into a certain amber-eyed nuisance who was slowly creeping his way under my skin. I rationalized that it was probably best to go to the party if only to ensure that the mere presence of a man couldn’t keep me cowering at home —especially a man who tied my emotions in a knot. He reminded me of those theater masks where half the face was smiling, and half was crying. I couldn’t predict what he might say or how he might act. He hadn’t slipped into a neatly defined role among our student body like most new students. Kane laughed in the face of conformity, blew it a kiss, then did whatever the hell he wanted. I couldn’t even begin to predict what he might do at a house party where everyone was swimming in hormones and alcohol. I had to prepare myself in every way I could. And in my world, the proper attire could make all the difference. I had to pick an outfit that made me feel confident … but also sexy because I wanted to make sure Kane knew what he was missing. I mean, I didn’t want him, but I wouldn’t have minded him wanting me. The problem was, my outfit couldn’t be too sexy because that would look like I was trying too hard. This was one of the few times he would see me in something other than my school uniform. Whatever I wore had to be perfect. After an hour of floundering between patterns and solids, cotton and flannel, I finally settled on ripped jeans and a silky button-down with a delicate black camisole underneath. I left the buttons undone but tied the bottom of the two front panels at my waist. I slipped on brown leather booties with a short heel, set my hair in loose waves down my back, and made sure my makeup was on point. I felt cute but casual. Sexy but not slutty. Confident and committed not to letting Kane get the better of me. I’d told my parents I was going to bed about an hour earlier and turned on the security system after setting the alarm panel to silent. That way, I could quietly turn it on and off as I came and went. I’d turn the sound back on in the morning so that my parents wouldn’t know the settings had been changed. Once the lights in the house went dark, I crept downstairs and disarmed the alarm, then set it to away and slipped out the back door. Reyna and I lived about a mile from one another. Halfway between our houses, a large oak tree had become our meeting place on the few occasions when we’d snuck out in the past. Rey was first to arrive, waiting for me bundled in a heavy coat. “I should have worn something heavier,” I said as I approached her, hands shoved in my tiny pockets. The evening was cold, but we didn’t have a long walk. Had Blake lived much farther, we would have had to arrange for a ride, but as luck would have it, his house wasn’t but a couple of blocks away from ours. “Then you would have covered up that killer outfit!” “True, but that won’t do me any good if I freeze on the way there.” I started us in the direction of Blake’s house with quick strides to keep me warm. “Remind me again why we’re going to this party?” I was trying not to be cranky, but it was harder with every step I took. “Because my dad could send me back to Mexico at any moment, and this would be the last time I’d ever get to experience a high school party. I want to take advantage of every opportunity while I’m here.” Her voice was unaffected, but the truth of her words was a vise around my heart. She’d been taught at home by a tutor all her life, and now her entire existence was uncertain. I needed to get my head out of my ass and stop worrying about Kane so that I could focus on helping her. “I’m sorry, honey. You’re right. I want you to get to have some fun. And I promise I’m working on figuring out a solution to keep you here.” I bumped her shoulder gently as we walked. “Hopefully you didn’t have any trouble getting out of the house?” “Nope. My mom was passed out, and the guards Dad left to watch us aren’t all that diligent. I think they’re more worried about someone raiding the house than they are about me sneaking out.” “Hey, we’ll take that as a win.” “Absolutely.” When we turned the corner onto Blake’s street, a dozen or so cars were parked along the sidewalk. It would have been more, but a lot of us didn’t have our own vehicles. There wasn’t any point if we were just going to move to the city after graduation. Aside from the cluster of cars, the bass undercurrents of music hung in the night air as evidence of a gathering. The houses weren’t particularly close, so chances were slim that neighbors would report the party. The mansions on his street not only had large lots but backed up to a forested preserve, providing plenty of privacy. Blake’s house was an impressive Tudor monstrosity nestled among full-grown oaks and maples that would be gorgeous once their leaves returned. The house was primarily constructed of red brick but had two front-facing panels in the traditional cream-colored stucco with dark wood trim. It was stately yet quaint and alive with activity. We were arriving well after the party had begun since we’d both had to wait to sneak out of our houses. Laughter could be heard from around the side of the house where the party had spilled out into the backyard. I debated walking around to slip in from the back but decided against it. Instead, we let ourselves in the front door and took in the scene. The home had been renovated inside, so despite the traditional façade, the inside was open and well-lit with a sweeping great room and high ceilings. People were gathered in small groups throughout the space, drinks in hand and talking while Billie Eilish’s “Bad Guy” pulsed from the home’s speaker system. A wealth of drink options were scattered across the kitchen’s granite island that bordered the two spaces. Outside the large picture windows lining the back wall, more people were clustered around a flaming stone firepit.