"Are you going to press charges?" Millie says over the phone.
It's late, and we're on a group call, dissecting the events at Bean & Bored. I needed their advice—Millie's always been the closest thing I have to a legal counsel and Kristy is basically just Kristy. Opinionated and realistic. Though, of course, I left out the part about Peyton. No need to stir that pot.
Kristy's side of the call is a mess of sound. Tallulah's crying about her sparkly pink shoes, insisting she needs them for school tomorrow. Kristy's mum has asked everyone in their house to look for the shoes but Kristy doesn't want to and has locked herself in the pantry. Typical Kristina Jones.
Millie's more composed, casually telling us she's waiting for her toenails to dry. Meanwhile, I'm sprawled on my bed, my phone on speaker, and clothes scattered everywhere. Tomorrow's the first day of school, and I'm lost in the chaos of pairing outfits. It's practically a sport at this point.
"Press charges? Why?" Kristy whisper-yells.
"Have you not been listening?" Millie's voice is heavily laced with disbelief, "She said Rafe has her iPod."
"Not the iPod," Kristy groans, sounding like a Kardashian. Millie audibly sighs.
I'm practically stuck deep in my wardrobe looking for my mustard yellow blouse-technically, it is Julia's, but she no longer wears it now that she's pregnant, so I'm claiming it default. I'm pretty sure I did sneak it between my clothes while folding laundry the other night.
"No Millie I'm not going to press charges against Lord St. Clairmont."
"Why? He is clearly in possession of a stolen item so he has to at least explain himself."
Classic Millie. Always trying to take up pro bono cases for the greater good. Perhaps she'll do a better lawyer than me.
"He already explained himself at Bean & Bored."
"What did he say?" There is loud munching on Kristy's end of the line. "Has any of you guys tasted raw rice? Because don't—it tastes like gravel."
"How do you know what gravel tastes like?" I scoff. Millie's probably making a disgusted face on the other end.
"Long story," she deadpans, clearly uninterested in going into details. "Now spill. What did Rafe say?"
I huff. "He said he got it from Dollar Tree and promised to bring the receipt tomorrow." I find the spaghetti top well hidden at the back of the wardrobe if I wasn't determined I would never have found it. There is a note folded inside. It's Julia's handwriting.
If you found this, congrats, but stop "borrowing" my clothes. Seriously, Rosie.
I laugh. Siblings.
There's silence for a beat, the kind that hangs when no one wants to say what they're all thinking.
"Dollar Tree?" Millie's voice is full of skepticism.
Yep. He claims he got it there. Tomorrow, he's coming to school with the receipt."
Kristy's snort is unmistakable. "Oh, sure. Totally makes sense. He probably got it next to the gold-plated caviar crackers and the diamond tiaras."
"Maybe he's telling the truth," I offer, but even I don't sound convinced.
"Please." Millie's tone is sharp. "No one buys an iPod from Dollar Tree. You need to grill him tomorrow. Hard."
"And make sure he doesn't think he can just flash some sketchy receipt and walk away, "Kristy adds. "I mean, he still owes you groveling time."
I raise an eyebrow. "Groveling time?"
YOU ARE READING
To Everyone But Us
RomanceRosie didn't ask for the spotlight. But she's getting it anyway. When a list of "Goals" is leaked to the entire school, everyone's talking about it-and Rosie finds herself at the center of the drama. Mostly because this person has stated that he wis...
