Paradise Lost (Private 9)

"Oh my gosh, I am so in. Paige filled me in on the deets when I got here," Amberly said, the skirt of her blue flowered dress billowing out in the breeze. "And he's, like, Africa hot."

"And you're, like, five years old," I replied, mocking her voice by pitching mine up two octaves.

35

"God! What's your problem?" Amberly asked me.

"Do you really need me to explain it to you?" I replied. "I knew you were an airhead, but I didn't think you were that stupid."

Amberly's jaw dropped, and Noelle grabbed my arm, yanking me away from the others. "Okay, you need to chill. This is supposed to be a vacation."

"Well, it's not going to be one if I have to deal with her the whole time," I said through my teeth. "Do you even know what she's done to me over the past week? Talking down to me, trashing my room ..."

"I'm aware, but you're going to have to let bygones be bygones," Noelle said. "Otherwise you two are going to drive me crazy. And I, for one, am here to have fun. Aren't you?"

I took a deep breath and looked around at my gorgeous surroundings. My eyes went straight to Upton. "Yes."

"Good. Now let's get back over there before they start thinking we're lesbian lovers having a spat," Noelle said.

I laughed out loud. Noelle was right. I was here to have fun. And I could avoid Amberly for the next few weeks. When I returned to the circle, I stood between Kiran and Taylor and averted my gaze from the little china doll. See? No problem.

"Everything okay?" Tiffany asked, joining us.

"Fine. We're all good," Noelle assured everyone.

"Good. Then shall we officially kick off the Upton Game?" Paige suggested.

"Wait. Poppy's not here yet," Kiran protested.

"She's not flying in until tomorrow," Taylor added.

36

"Her loss," Noelle said with a smirk. "By then the game could already be won."

The girls all laughed devilishly, and I rolled my eyes. This whole thing was just so silly. But they seemed to be enjoying it, so who was I to judge?

"May the best girl win," Paige said, lifting her glass.

They all reached up and clinked their glasses together. Everyone but me. Because A, I didn't have a glass, and B, I was not going to be participating.

"I'm rooting for you, Taylor," I said, as our klatch broke up.

"Thanks!" Taylor cooed, hand to her chest.

"Everyone likes an underdog," Paige snickered.

Taylor's face dropped as the girl sauntered off in Upton's direction. First impression of Paige Byan? Ice-cold bitch. I wanted to trip her, but I didn't have the guts just then. Maybe later.

"I don't like that girl," I said under my breath.

Taylor swigged the rest of her drink. "Join the club."

"Wow. A mean word from Taylor Bell? Times have changed," I joked. A comment like that was very un-Taylor. She had always been the most doormatty of the Billings Girls.

Taylor smiled in an almost apologetic way. The wind tossed her curls in front of her face, and she casually swept them back.

"It comes from no longer having to answer to the Billings hierarchy," she said, taking a deep, cleansing breath. "You'd be surprised how freeing it is."