tbh

7. Royal Blues

Aislin knew everyone was staring.

She was staring desolately into her glass, her blonde hair tied into a messy bun with a few tendrils escaping to frame her face. Her eyelashes were lowered just enough so that only a glimpse of her bright blue eyes showed, and she was biting her lower lip for maximum effect.

She made a gorgeous picture of a wistful girl deep in her thoughts, and she knew it.

That was the thing about Aislin-she always had a spotlight whenever she went. Sometimes she hated it, sometimes she loved it.

But she never failed to make a show of it.

She turned to Ivy, who was still chattering like a chipmunk about the guy she just recently dated. Aislin had long since turned a deaf ear to her, uninterested about the girl's love life.

"And so he told me, with this sparkle in his eye as if he had so many plans for us-"

"Ives."

Her voice was quiet, but Ivy immediately shut up. She stared at Aislin, her wide brown eyes reverent.

"I have to go home." Aislin surveyed the bar, and almost all of the guys there turned to meet her inspecting eyes. There were a few gorgeous males that caught her attention, but all of them had the smiles of a player.

She should know; that same smile was curling on her lips.

She turned to Ivy. "See you tomorrow. Thanks for the drink."

Ivy nodded, looking disappointed for her to be going so soon. Aislin wanted to tell her that it wasn't going to work, even with all the drinks and parties Ivy had constantly invited her to. She was never going to become one of them.

But that was up to the girl to realize, and until then, Aislin was going to enjoy all the freebies Ivy would be dumb enough to treat her to.

Outside, Aislin hailed for a cab. She didn't have to wait for long; one stopped in front of her before she could fully raise her hand in the air.

"Beverly Gardens Park," she told the driver. "I'll give you fifty bucks if you're quick."

As the taxi sped up, Aislin leaned her head on the window and closed her eyes.

She was exhausted. Lately, she'd been feeling that way-lethargic, weary, and feeling bone-tired. Socializing with people-which before had been easy, fun and the natural way to do-seemed to be fast becoming a chore. She was tired of constantly competing with Maeve, posting her trademark witty insults on her blog, and ruling BHHS as the social hierarchy queen.

"I'm having a case of the mean reds," she whispered, her lips quirking on one corner as she said it. It was a line Audrey Hepburn had once said in the movie Breakfast at Tiffany's, and Aislin had always wanted to use it.

The taxi rounded off into Santa Monica Boulevard, and Aislin watched as a couple strode by. Their hands were interlocked with each other, heads close as they talked to each other intimately. Aislin briefly wondered if they were in love, then banished the thought away from her mind.

Of course they weren't.

By the looks of them, they were still in high school. Love for them was probably only a mixture of lust, infatuation, status, and admiration.

Been there, done that, thought Aislin. Didn't work, so fuck that. I'm through high school boys.

She swung open the door as the taxi stopped, and immediately received catcalls and wolf-whistles as a group of boys passed. She ignored them and bent down to pay the taxi driver.