The Girl He didn't choose

p the sides before settling again. Lights blinked like a migraine I couldn't outrun. The w

er like fairy powder. People moved to make space for her without noticing they were doing it, the way water parts for a boat. She

he best friend with three purses stacked

the music. He'd already learned my drin

" I said. "Wi

lemon slice so dramatic it needed it

n the floor in ten minutes. That

f sight to the dance

s like she swallo

e that wasn't pity. "Y

ater and tried not to look like I wa

e bass. I didn't mean to look. I didn't even pick it up the first time.

, quick, like the sender wa

bag. That was the plan. I had my hand on the zipper when

ct

Vic

e you faint. The letters were so clear, it fel

for me. Stop pretending y

to. The preview sat there bright and ca

qu

the

ets, like that was a compliment that could fix anything. But standing there with someone else's shoes digging into my hip a

f. The club noise receded until all I could hear was my own breath

dress brushed past my booth with her friend, both of them gl

ice came out normal, which f

ain, making a tiny sh

right? Don't ma

om the screen, the human equivalent of standing on

at pays taxes and remembers to water plants. Don't ope

was returning to its rightful owner. Then I wrapped both hands aroun

f anyth

ized the exact shade of nail polish I like, "not pink, but pretending." Think of how he noticed my neckl

ward me, eyes catching mine across the room like a hook. She mouthed, Come here, and I shook m

ienne was allergic to leaving me alone

to believe gravity applies to it. Her hair was damp at her temple; she smelled like heat and cit

my sting an

e room like a queen inspecting her court. "We should go somewher

whispers, more cameras. "I ha

cheek, a tiny affectionate jab. "Live a lit

ho wanted to be near the heat. Mine looked more like a quiet kitch

reacted like a dog hearing a can opener, instinct, automatic

ked, aiming for lazy curi

ctly the right amount of arrogance to

ndensation ring my glass had tattooed onto the

with something normal, like a meme or a dumb joke about the DJ, maybe the universe could stitch i

ed. How's

the three dots appear, disappear, reappear,

he guy

guys. Not with my best friend. Not se

ed. I could hear my own heartbeat over the musi

like that," Vivi

up. "Li

e was a tiny crease between her brows, the one that only showed

nking. She pulled, I went. She shone, I reflected. It had a

because negotiating made

ered, already tugg

ers and flying hair, it was easy to forget my lungs felt like they'd forgotten how to inflate. Vivienne took my

er 1

and saying hi. She wasn't cruel. She was just... big. Loud. Magnetic in a way that bent metal if you stood

aking noise, the bass dropped into another chorus. My b

d, and Vivienne nodded, alr

at the entrance curled around the block; the security guard looked like he could bench-p