Mark My Words

86 | Special Guest Star

Georgina Saber, the bane of Joanna's existence, leant towards Rosalie and put a hand to the gold foil-accented wallpaper next to Rosalie's head. She was looking sharp in that slick black tuxedo, her long, tight braid spilling over one shoulder and framing the deep smile lines on her olive-toned complexion.

Rosalie swallowed hard. It felt as though the blood in her system was draining and merging with the red carpet at her feet.

"G-Georgina," Rosalie stammered.

Behind her, caught in one of Dylan's playful headlocks, Joanna Spencer stilled. She looked up at Dylan, who froze, eyes wide and meeting hers with just as much horror. His grip loosened, and in an instant, Joanna straightened and spun around, her ginger curls slapping Dylan in the chest.

Rosalie thought her jaw might fall off from how tightly she clenched her teeth, lips spread into a painfully strained smile. "What a pleasant surprise. What're you doing here?"

Only Bradshaw kids were able to attend—them, and the dates of Bradshaw kids.

Who could Georgina have gone with? Rosalie thought, desperately trying to rack her brain for the list of upperclassmen lesbians.

Georgina smoothed a hand over the front of her vest, head tipped to the side, her psychotic smile masked as something "quirky". It just made Rosalie's head spin in a sludgy pool of discomfort. "I was asked to come, Rosie."

"By who."

Rosalie's eyes widened. Her shoulders stiffened, dangerously close to where Joanna was now hovering just behind her, partially obscured by Dylan standing guard between them. It was Rosalie and Georgina until that moment when all of Georgina's attention shifted.

"I could ask the same of you," she said. Her slow, eerie gaze casting a shudder up Rosalie's spine.

"No one," Rosalie said.

"Is that so? That's a lovely ensemble you have. Who inspired it, Zendaya?" Georgina said, her eyes sliding down Rosalie's frame and back up with a wink.

Rosalie's fists clenched at her sides. She never felt this urge before. It gripped her by the throat with its violent fists and shot her adrenaline through the roof. It was everything she needed to wind her foot back like she did the day she kneed Lennie in the family jewels.

But, then, Dylan was putting an arm out in front of her and grabbing hold of one of her fists. "Yes, and I'm often told I look like Zac Efron."

"A straight circus love story, how on brand," Georgina said, her smile tightening with her narrowed eyes. Rosalie's palm was sweating against her clenched fingers against Dylans' dry, coarse hand. "I heard a rumor that Rosie made quite a scene to get you here."

Rosalie really hoped Joanna stayed behind them, but alas, she could already see Joanna's ginger curls lingering at Dylan's opposite side.

"I did," Rosalie said. "And you still haven't answered Joanna's question."

Georgina was staring intently at Joanna until that moment. Rosalie's jaw clicked, her teeth squeaking from how she ground them together in frustration. Georgina took her sweet time looking Joanna up and down before licking her bottom lip on the way to reaching behind her to grab the hand of the person behind her. Rosalie hadn't even thought to consider that Georgina's date was even in line with her, but sure enough, she stepped to the side in her massive stiletto heels and revealed—

Arthur Hendrix?

"Art?" Rosalie said, too stunned to even be pissed.

The guy looked like a noodle in comparison to Georgina. He was sporting his Stud.Co. camera for the event and, to top it off, was wearing a tux. Considering everything Rosalie had heard, she expected Georgina to at least bring a Bradshaw girl.