Sweet Revenge [sample - now a published book available on Amazon!]

twenty five

Beep. Beep. Beep.

"Shut up!" I yell at my alarm, as if it's a person. Of course, it doesn't stop, it just continues to beep until I slam my hand down on it. I groan and sit up, glancing at my phone. 8am. On a Saturday.

Morning! We have a tight schedule! Get ur ass outta bed!! Love u, A x

The text from Amber reads. Trust Amber to have the day of Homecoming planned down to each minute. I drag my body from bed and stretch out my aching muscles. Despite only going to the gym a couple of times a week now, my body still isn't used to the constant exercise.

I wander downstairs to see Kaidan and Will eating breakfast at the table.

"Morning. Want some pancakes?" Will mumbles through a mouthful of pancake. The maple aroma drifts into my nose and I almost succumb to temptation.

"Nope." I tell him as I open the fridge and grab the eggs. "It's Homecoming, and I need to fit into that dress." Will mutters something under his breath. I raise an eyebrow at him.

"Something to say, Will?" I blink my eyelashes at him. He rolls his eyes at me and flicks his hand, as if to say nothing. Sure, Will, sure.

"So, who's your date to Homecoming then?" Will asks me. Ever since he's graduated High School, I feel as if he wants to live vicariously through me. He's taking a year out before College, and his life purely exists of college applications and soccer. And sometimes house parties.

"None of your business." I tell him nonchalantly, stirring my eggs in the pan. Will stands up and frowns at me.

"Wait, you're actually going with someone?" He asks, looking concerned. Ouch.

"How nice of you to speak so highly of me, brother." I say sarcastically. Will leans around the cooker to make eye contact with me.

"It's not...Lucas, is it?" Will asks with anger in his tone. I laugh at the thought.

"Of course not, Will." I tell him. "I'm going with Pete." I wait for his reaction in suspense. Instead of yelling, shouting, or telling me that boys my age are immature, he simply nods.

"Pete's a good guy." He says, and then I hear a noise from Kaidan at the table. Will and I both turn our attention to him.

"Did you say something?" I ask him. He shakes his head quickly and places a forkful of pancakes into his mouth innocently. I shrug my shoulders and dish out my eggs.

"Is, er, Amber coming over today?" Will asks me awkwardly. I swivel my head to look at him so quickly that I feel a twinge in my neck.

"Why?" I ask.

"I, er, um, I was just wondering." He ruffles his hair. "Never mind." He quickly leaves the room in a fluster and I tilt my head to one side. I hear Kaidan chuckle.

"What was that about?" I ask him. Kaidan laughs again.

"Isn't it obvious?" He says. "He's got a thing for your friend." I step back, repulsed.

"Ew!" I say. "My best friend and my brother? No, thank you."

"You asked, Gracie." He puts his hands up in the air as if to surrender. And then, like clockwork, the doorbell goes. I open it to see my two best friends standing at the door, beaming at me.

"Homecoming day!" They say enthusiastically, doing jazz hands. Oh, god, what have I got myself into?

*

Amber has the day beginning with fake tan. Why I need to fake tan is beyond me. But here I am, standing almost stark naked (almost, don't worry) covered in strange brown mousse.