Thanks to Sailee for sending me the cover above on Instagram ♡ I love hearing from you guys!

So much so, that I'm going to start doing 'comment of the chapter's to thank you for following my updates (I know it's frustrating not having the entire book). Also, I wish I could reply to everyone but I usually just don't have the time during the week, so this is a lil way to show I'm reading and appreciating your support.

Thanks so much for your comment on chapter four wordsofstardust ♡

✨ DOUBLE UPDATE ✨
Chapter Six dropping in just 12 hours!

"Nope, can't see her," I said as we concluded a sweep of the first floor. I was anxiously trying to worm us back toward his friends, but instead he seemed intent on finding my fake one. It was almost like he was purposely trying to catch me out.

"Is she the only one you came with?" he asked, humoring me as he followed me to the staircase.

I nodded meekly. "She begged me to come out too. I hate going to these things."

Lying was too easy. It was quite possibly a genetic trait. Some people inherit humor or intelligence, and here I was a lying natural.

"Surely she wouldn't just leave you if you came here together," he said doubtfully.

I shrugged. "She's always been a little flaky. She did want to come out because her boyfriend and her were fighting... maybe something happened."

"Well, she should have found you, you can't just leave people alone at parties."

I looked at him meekly. Now it was time for some bait. "I guess I should go..."

A smile arose as I saw him take it.

"You don't have to go, I can look after you," he gave another one of his trademark winks. "Can't have a flaky friend ruin your fun."

I don't know if I'd ever consider a frat party fun, but I appreciated his dedication to hitting on me.

"Come on then, the others are probably wondering where we snuck off too."

He took my hand again and I tried my best to brush off the flourish of butterflies that it stirred.

The party was now dense with bodies and my shoes were sticking to the floor. Doors to hallway rooms were opening and closing as party-goers broke off into smaller events. I watched curiously as we passed.

Then I realized we weren't heading back toward the staircase, but towards the garden. I side-eyed Felix, wondering if he was intentionally derailing my mission or whether he was actually oblivious.

"It's cold out," I noted when the air hit me. I hoped he'd take this as a hint for us to go back inside, but instead he wrapped an arm around me. I internally rolled my eyes. Good one, Joselyn.

He was warm though, and I had to work hard to brush off the comforting feelings a body enveloping me brought forward. I saved it in my memory bank, maybe I could revel in this feeling later, the next time loneliness struck me and I forgot what it felt like for someone to be close.

I shook the image from my mind. Maybe the alcohol was starting to run its course.

"We should go back ins—"

I'd barely gotten my words out when I saw a commotion catch Felix's attention, and my gaze followed. Across the garden were two people arguing—two tall redheads, both with identical features contorted into scowls.

"I'm not talking about this, Poppy," Cole said, his voice just registering as a yell. "I'm not talking about her."

My ears were pricked, trying hard to burn every word into my brain. Penelope.

"Well, what the fuck are we supposed to do, then? Pretend this isn't happening?"

"Shit," Felix said. "Can you hold on a minute?"

I had to stop myself from following him. If I seemed like an eavesdropper it was likely the group would shun me, and that wouldn't help my case. Penelope was clear she wanted a long-term scout, and if I wanted to keep getting paid, I couldn't be seen as a snoop.

Felix addressed the twins in a hushed voice when he reached them, so frustratingly quiet that I couldn't pick up his words. I watched his body language carefully. It looked as if he was used to ceasing fights between them. Poppy was giving him a death glare while Cole looked relieved. After a few moments more, Poppy threw up her hands in defeat, storming off in my direction. I averted my gaze as she crossed her arms over her chest.

"Sorry about that," Felix said. Cole was now pacing, his hands running through his golden hair. "I just need to do something, do you think I could meet you back in the kitchen?"

I tried to bite back my annoyance and simply nodded. "What's going on?"

Felix gave a light chuckle, but beneath his nonchalance, I sensed he was masking something serious. My own curiosity was spiking, adding to Penelope's demands for information.

"Girl problems, of course."

Felix was watching my reaction carefully. Did he know? Was he trying to gauge something? I felt uncomfortable, like any second I could give something away beneath his scrutiny.

"Well, good luck with that," I said, putting on a sympathetic smile. "I should go, though. I need to make sure my friend is okay."

"Of course," he said. "Sounds like we've both got relationship issues to sort out."

I laughed, because I did. Even though they weren't mine, I was growing more and more invested in Penelope's relationship. As for Felix... I wondered what exactly his story was. "I guess I'll see you in class."

"I guess..." Felix trailed off, testing me with his gaze.

With a smile, I tilted my head, trying to play as innocent as I possibly could. "What?"

He shook his head. "Nothing. I just look forward to seeing you around."

"Look forward?" I challenged. If I looked like I was interested in him, perhaps he'd mistake my interest as purely romantic.

He leaned in, and for a moment I thought he was going to kiss me goodbye, leaving me frozen. But instead he whispered in my ear. "We've declared war, remember?"

"And Poppy said what?"

I braced myself against Penelope's piercing tone as she paced in front of the webcam. She was in a hotel room, apparently back in the country for now, but still in LA, far enough away to be helpless.

"Something like, are we going to pretend this isn't happening." I tried to subtly put the spoonful of oats into my mouth while she turned around, running her fingers through her cascading black hair.

"What isn't happening? You didn't hear anything?"

"Felix broke them up before it could escalate."

"And you just left after that?"

I shrugged, suddenly feeling guilty. "I didn't want to raise any suspicion. You said you wanted me to do this long term, right?"

Pen sighed dramatically. "I need to know what they were talking about."

"I can try and work out more tomorrow. I'll see them in class."

She shook her head. "It's too late. I'm coming home tomorrow."

"You are?"

"Of course. I have a few days spare and I want to see my boyfriend." She made the word sound like a cuss.

"So... what does that mean for me?"

"Keep doing what you're doing. But don't give up when you're getting close to getting more information. Ugh, I just want to know what they were arguing about."

"Well, I didn't see him with anyone else. It was just the others. It's a pretty close circle."

"We're a close circle. God, I'm supposed to be there. I will be there. This will work out. I have you as eyes, after all."

She sounded like she was trying to reassure herself, and I let her continue to ramble. She was now using the webcam to apply a layer of lip gloss.

"I know Cole better than anyone. If what I'm suspecting is true, then... I know what to look for."

"What do you think is going on?" I asked.

She waved me off. "It's nothing. It will be nothing. Anyway, I have to go. But... be careful."

"Of course," I said. With a paycheck this big, I had to be.

"Be careful with Felix, I mean," she said, catching me off guard. "He can be... deceptive."

I hastily swallowed the mouthful I had just taken before I coughed it out. "Uh, yeah. I figured."

She narrowed her eyes. "Everyone falls for him and the last thing I need is for you to do the same. Use him, but I swear to god if you start getting all—"

"This is business" I gave her a tight-lipped smile. "I'm keeping my distance. Emotionally, that is."

Seemingly satisfied she tapped her nails to the counter. "Good. Okay. Anyway, I'll be back soon to take over. In the meantime, make sure you keep sitting by them. See you!"

The line died before I could reply.

I spent my Sunday catching up on my college work, but the tangles of dread that usually pulled my attention from marketing theories to the gnawing loose threads of my past were replaced with a new distraction. Penelope. Her tasks, more precisely, and to be exactly specific: Felix Bradford.

How silly it was that the handful of flirtatious encounters were playing on my mind, but for some reason his infatuation with me was catching me off guard. If my job were to fail in any way, it'd be because of him. With eyes as piercing as his, I was worried Felix would see right through me.

A letter arrived Monday morning, and not exactly one I had been anticipating. As soon as I recognized the handwritten address on the back, I dropped it in repulsion, as if the ink were laced with acid.

Mom.

Immediately I wondered if Sebastian had anything to do with her knowing my address, and maybe he did. But more likely, she'd grown bored and hired a private investigator to track down her long-lost daughter or something.

I wanted to burn it.

But, deciding to turn down my childish impulse, I picked it up from the floor and shoved it inside the drawer closest, knowing that pretending it didn't exist wouldn't make it disappear. But maybe I could forget about it long enough to survive the day.

Throwing one of Pen's designer jackets over what might've been an outfit that passed as an original Joselyn-look, I made a beeline for the bus, hoping to make it ten minutes early to secure my spot at the very back of class. Monday morning lectures were particularly empty, and so I knew my chances were good. Or so I thought.

As I entered the lecture theatre and pulled my headphone nubs from my ears, cutting off the song I'd been listening to as I kept my walking pace from the bus stop, I noticed a figure sitting in the exact spot I'd claimed last week. And he was holding two coffees.

I begrudgingly strode up the aisle, watching Felix Bradford's smug look as I approached.

"Where are your friends?" I asked.

He shrugged and held out a coffee.

"I don't drink dairy," I said.

"Good thing it's black." He patted the empty seat beside him.

I glared at him with skepticism, before I remembered that being cold with him would only hinder my job. Trying to inject the light flirtation we'd bounced between on Saturday night, I edged into the row and took the seat beside him. For some reason, without the atmosphere of the party and ease of intoxication, I felt a physical wariness at his proximity.

"And what is this?" I asked as I took the warm cup into my palm. "A peace offering?"

He gave one of his stupid winks. "It's a little too early for a white flag from me. You're going to have to wait and see."

I rolled my eyes. This boy was ridiculous.

"You know, you're sort of familiar to me, Josie."

"Well, you've known who I am a week now," I said, making sure my knees were angled away from him. I was wearing a denim skirt with tights, a mismatched combo that I was now doubting.

"I mean, I think I've seen you around before. Before college."

My entire body stiffened, and I had to force myself to relax the grip on my coffee cup. I pulled out the fold-out lecture table and reached for my notebook.

"I didn't grow up nearby," I lied. "You must be mistaking me."

Not even I recognized the Joselyn from before.

"My bad," he said with a dismissive chuckle.

Professor Malcolm was now preparing his notes, and I almost sighed in relief when I noticed Jada come through the door. She had an all-knowing smirk on her burgundy lips.

"Hey, Felix. Josie, was it?" she said with a nod to my direction. My cheeks were flaming, half from the coffee and half because I knew what she was thinking. She'd seen Felix flirting with me at the party, and now we were sitting together in class.

She tentatively took a seat in the row in front of us, close enough that she could have a murmured exchange with Felix before opening her Mac and facing the front.

The twins didn't show to class.

Whether it be Penelope's return, their fight from the party, or something else entirely, I wasn't sure. I texted Penelope and tried to focus, to little avail. It was hard to ignore the heat of the body beside me, the intensity of his rosemary-tinged scent and his unmistakable attempts at gaining my attention. The bump of a pen, the clearing of his throat. I tried to stop my eyes from wandering from my notes, but every now and again I'd be caught off guard.

And God, he was cute. But more than that, he was terrifying. Especially if he knew even a snippet of my past.