Keke and I spend the next several hours at the mall brainstorming with Tree and Taylor about my trading game, and the longer we spend researching and discussing it, the more I think it's a viable option. It turns out trading has been a thing forever. Even the ancients used barter systems, which I guess I knew but never really thought about before. People do it all the time, and one woman actually did get a house by trading up. We make plans between occasional customer orders of ice cream cones, and by the time I leave the mall for Maddie's party, I have a pretty solid game plan. Tomorrow I'm going to meet up with the girls and film my first trade request. And I'm going to stick with Vale's idea and use a highlighter. Perfect starting point.

I go back to my house to touch up my makeup, just in case I do actually see Lucas Fowler at the party. No one is home when I walk through the front door, which isn't that surprising. My mom probably took Viv to go get a pizza, my little sister's favorite food. I'm not at the house long when I hear a horn honk in three quick successions. Our code. I peek out my window and see Vale's red car sitting in my driveway. Tyler is already sitting in the back seat, probably having moved just moments ago. It's Vale's rule. I'm his number one and everyone knows it, so I get the front seat. I always thought it was kind of stupid, but no one else seems to care all that much. Probably because they enjoy ramming their feet against the back of the front seat to piss Vale off.

After one last glance in my bedroom mirror to check that my makeup looks okay, I run back outside and jump in the passenger seat of the car. I rub my lips together in his visor mirror, and he smirks beside me. "Shut up," I growl, and both the guys laugh. "I mean it. I'm already nervous enough about going to my archnemesis's house. I don't need you two bozos making fun of me already."

"We're not making fun of you," Tyler says, but his tone says differently. I glare at him through the mirror.

"I'm definitely making fun of you," Vale says, and I slug him on the arm playfully as he turns the corner. "So you're really banking on Lucas being there, huh?"

Tyler shakes his head. "I just can't believe you still have a thing for that guy. It's been four years and all you guys have ever done is flirt a little during lunch. When are you going to give up on that one?"

I roll my eyes. "I'm not trying to look cute for Lucas," I lie, and then I look at them both to see if they're buying it. They're not. "Okay, fine. Maybe I am. But so what? It's harmless flirting. And besides, I have to find something to do while Maddie tries to bang my best friend." I shudder at the thought and look back over at Vale. He doesn't seem at all affected by what I've just said.

Tyler scoffs. "Oh please. Maddie Shaw has been trying to get into Vale's pants since the tenth grade, and it hasn't happened yet. Just like you and Lucas, I think the whole Vale and Maddie ship has sailed. Or sunk."

"Definitely sunk," Vale says, and I smile, pleased with this statement, and turn to look out the window. "And to prove it, I'll be the DD tonight. That way I can have my guard up, and she won't be able make a move while I'm drunk."

My smile spreads even further across my face. "Good thinkin', Lincoln." And I don't say this part out loud, but maybe if I get buzzed enough, I can finally make the right move on Lucas. Although I doubt Vale will let me get that far. His guard won't just be up for Maddie. He's super protective, almost worse than my dad. Well actually, he is worse than my dad. My dad has never given one of my boyfriends a rough time, but Vale does every single time. I swear he's the reason why my last boyfriend dumped me. Poor Nate just couldn't handle my best friend throwing daggers at us every time he put his arm around me. Let's just say that relationship didn't last long.

We pull up to Maddie's house, and I'm not surprised to see there are a ton of cars lined up out front already. I can hear the music blaring from half a block away, and my stomach tightens as we get out of the car and walk up the steps to her huge house. When we reach the front door, Vale makes to knock on it, but it opens before he has a chance. And there she is. Maddie Shaw, looking as gorgeous as ever in a pink crop top with a tiger on it and a pair of black jeggings. Her ginger red hair is pulled back in a long Elsa braid, and she's holding a drink in her shaking left hand.

"Vale," she yells in greeting, her voice high pitched and excited. She steps forward and gives him a hug, and I feel my blood rising to my ears already. She smiles at Tyler, and then frowns when she spots me. "Oh. Hello, Genevieve. Didn't know you were coming." Her nose is wrinkled like she's just smelled something disgusting, and I put on a fake confident smile.

"Hello, Madilyn," I reply, matching her tone. She frowns at me and folds her arms across her chest. "I couldn't resist such a great party when my best friend Vale told me about it. Hope you don't mind."

This seems to strike a nerve with her. "Of course not. And I love your outfit, by the way. It looks very thrifty. You know, I always respect how people can turn thrift shop finds into something somewhat decent." Ah yes, the backhanded compliment.

"I'm glad you like it," I reply, stepping into the house with Vale and Tyler. "I really like your outfit too. Did you get it from your fourth stepmom's closet?" Boom. Shots fired. The boys both laugh ahead of me while Maddie glares, and I know I've won this round. I run to catch up to the boys, and Vale puts his arm across my shoulders as we head to the kitchen. My eyes roam the room, hoping I'll find Lucas. But all I see are a bunch of older guys playing beer bong in the living room. One of them is Dennis, Maddie's 21-year-old brother who's been away at college for the last several years. To say I'm surprised to see him here is an understatement. He left years ago and always said he was never coming back.

We head to the backyard where we find several coolers full of different kinds of beers. I'm not much of a beer drinker, but I need something to take the edge off tonight, so I grab a couple, handing one to Tyler and opening one for myself. I take a few sips and wince at the taste. God, who drinks this stuff? Tyler takes a huge chug of his, and I just shake my head. Athletes. "Hey," I yell over the loud music. Vale looks down at me. "I'm going to go look for Lucas. Stay here."

He frowns. "Why?" He yells back.

"Because I don't want you to embarrass me when I find him," I reply, and Tyler laughs. "You too, Ty! Stay here. I'll be back."

I leave the boys laughing behind me and start my search for Lucas, taking a few more sips of my gross beer to loosen up. I find him talking to a bunch of guys from his old high school baseball team, wearing a baseball cap over his messy blonde hair. When I get closer to him, he sees me and smiles, waving me over. Good start to the night, I think, as I walk over, hoping I don't look like I've been searching specifically for him tonight.

"Hey, you," he says, and he doesn't have to yell since we're far enough away from the music to be heard. "What have you been up to?"

I take another swig of my drink and smile. "Oh, you know. Same old. Working at the restaurant. What about you?"

"Same," he replies, and I raise my eyebrows in amusement. "Not working at the restaurant. Just, you know, same old. Looking forward to college in the fall. Going to the University of Idaho to major in business."

"You gonna play for them?" I ask him, and I'm surprised when he shakes his head. "No? Why not?"

He shrugs his shoulders. "I don't know. I think I'm just over the whole sports thing. It was fun, but I only played it because I was good at it and was hoping to get a scholarship. But I didn't get one. Which I'm kind of grateful about, to be honest. I just want to focus on school for a while."

"Only school?" I ask with a smirk. "Nothing else?"

He grins back at me. "Well, maybe some other things. It is college, after all. Can't study too hard or I'll miss out on all the action." He takes a long gulp of his drink before he asks me, "What about you? Any college plans?"

I shake my head. "Sort of. Maybe. I don't know. I'm still trying to figure things out."

"What sort of things?" he asks, interested.

"Money things," I reply, and he nods his head, understanding. "But I think I have a plan to help make some extra dough."

Another smirk plays across his lips. "Oh yeah? Anything I can do to help?" He waggles his eyebrows at me, and I know what he's thinking. I slug him in the arm gently, and he laughs.

"Nothing like that, pervo," I say with a giggle. "But yes, actually. You can help. I'm starting a new TikTok channel tomorrow with Keke." His eyebrows raise, and I can tell his interest is definitely piqued. So I tell him about my idea to start doing trades in the hopes of getting something expensive enough to sell for tuition money, and about how I'm going to broadcast my journey on TikTok. We talk about it for several minutes as he asks questions, and the more he asks, the more excited I am to get started tomorrow. Or maybe it's the fact that I've almost finished my first drink and I'm starting to feel a little buzzy. I don't know. I just know I'm really excited to be talking to him about this.

At one point I look up and see Maddie and Vale talking by the pool. I watch them for a minute while Lucas talks to me and notice Maddie laughing at everything Vale says and finding any excuse she can to touch him. But Vale isn't really paying her all that much attention. He's focused on me as I talk to Lucas, and it's like I feel a disturbance in the force. I look back at Lucas and say, "Hey, it's kind of loud out here. Want to go somewhere quieter so we can talk more?" I can hear him just fine, but I don't like the way Vale is watching us like he's going to come here and interrupt the conversation any second.

Lucas smiles at me. "Sure." And we start heading around to the side yard, out of Vale's line of sight. I look back one more time and see Vale's expression darken slightly. He doesn't look happy, but I don't want to watch Maddie attempt to flirt with him all night. And besides, I know I didn't want to come to this party, but now that I'm talking to Lucas, I'm not going to lie. I'm really glad I did.

Author's Note:
Maddie Shaw and Lucas Fowler have entered the story! What do you all think of those two so far? As always, I'm looking forward to seeing all your thoughts.

I am now home from vacation, and currently I'm recovering from the flu. I guess that's what happens when you spend an evening screaming Ed Sheeran songs with 81,000 other people and... well, Ed Sheeran. Don't worry though. I'm on the mend. Fever just broke. I feel less like death warmed up and more like stewed garbage. But hey, progress is progress.

Next chapter is coming up very soon. And something tells me you're all going to love it. Can't wait to share it with you. Take care and stay healthy and safe until then, my dears!
XOXO,
~Aly