Luck is a stupid thing. Mine ran out the moment Dad went bankrupt.

A few paces away from us, stand no other than, Spencer Wright and his sister.

Nathan reaches them first and lightly taps on Savannah's shoulder, drawing her attention from Olivia and Everly to us.

Kristian clicks his tongue and tightens his hold on my waist as he strides to them, forcing me to go ahead too. "Look who we have here." A smug smile cuts from one side of his face to another.

Olivia stops talking and angles to us.

Spencer's eyes latch on me and all I can wish for is to evaporate. 

With hesitant steps I walk beside Kristian, holding Spencer's gaze for a long moment trying to figure out his thoughts, but he keeps himself cold and blank.

"Siblings," Kristian greets them mockingly and stops across from them, with only the stand between us.

Spencer ignores him, his gaze jumps to where his fingers are pressing into my side. Savannah with a tight expression offers a small smile.

I take a second to appreciate her sense of style. The dark blue dress she's wearing hugs her body perfectly and in this light, it appears black. Brilliant bright blue sapphires of her necklace are the exact same color as her eyes. Her knee-high black boots with needle-like heels make her the same height as mine. She has her hair tied up in a high ponytail and it tumbles down in beautiful light brown curls down her chest.

"I don't think you've met," Kristian starts, pointing at them with his free hand. "Pa's other kids and," he pauses, motioning to me. "Gracie Stewart." His eyes take on an odd gleam, one I notice immediately, trouble is coming.

Savannah smiles kindly at me, but before she gets the chance to part her lips, Kristian goes on, "You know the Stewarts, the same one who went bankrupt then the guy shot himself in the head."

I go rigid and angle myself to him, paying no heed to his arm glued to my waist, and watch him with raised eyebrows, schooling my emotions and expression. Though no matter what, I can't stop my body from shaking with rage.

"Kris," Savannah softly warns him, but clearly he hasn't had enough.

"Actually based on Pa's description, no penny left and a crippled brother along with a somewhat jobless mother and... you're jobless too right, babe?" he looks at me, arching a wicked eyebrow at me. "You are... they are quite the picture of a sad broken family. Unfortunately, that sums her up for a short introduction."

Deep breaths through my nose and out of my mouth are the only reason keeping me from screaming profanities. Everyone's gaze attaches to me.

I ball my hands at my sides, the pain of my nails digging into my palms a good distraction as I narrow my eyes and lightly say, "Actually family reminds me of, did you force your ex to abort her- no sorry, your baby?" I tsk and shake my head with fake disappointment, ignoring the few gasps of shock. "Not quite the responsible rich guy behavior now is it? She wanted to keep the baby, right? And it probably would have been a year old by now... only if you hadn't blackmailed her." I press my lips into a thin line.

He clenches his jaw and if looks could kill I'd be dead ten thousand times over as I hold his glare.

I plaster a smug smile. "In fact, sum reminds me, the sum of money you lost in a single trip to one of Vegas' cassino's... it cost you over a hundred grand, right?" I raise my eyebrows and his nostrils flare. "Did your pa make you work for it and earn it?" I smirk, his anger and annoyance washing away my rage with satisfaction. "Although I doubt you'd ever be able to earn that much but hey, who am I to judge a spoiled rich guy."

"Kris, for real?" Savannah's shrill voice finally makes me look away from him. From her shocked face and Spencer's impressed yet surprise expression, I take a wild guess that they didn't know about these little pieces of scandal.

Nathan shakes his head subtly at me with pleading eyes. So much for not causing drama. But he started it! I had to attack him back.

Kristian sets his hard glare on her before turning to me. "I see you haven't changed your little habit of keeping tabs on everyone, babe," he mutters through gritted teeth.

I smile innocently at him and lift a shoulder. "Old habits die hard."

All this information goes back to the time I was still the Gracie Stewart, rich and influential. Even though these few months felt like a lifetime it doesn't change the fact it hasn't yet been a year from the day we lost in the court and everything along with it. And my dad.

It's safe to say, by the looks of it, I just provided fresh pieces of gossip for Everly and Olivia.

His fingers dig into my side, his glare burns through me but I don't back down.

"I'm Savannah," she announces offering her hand to me, making me look away from her stepbrother, defusing the tension. I can't help but return her bright smile and shake hands with her. She points at Spencer. "My older brother, Spencer."

The glacial glare Spencer throws at her doesn't skip my notice, before he curtly nods at me and shoves his hands into his pockets.

Interesting.

He's going to pretend he doesn't know me? Interesting indeed. This night might turn out to be more fun than I had initially thought. I hold back my smirk and arch an eyebrow.

"Don't mind him, he's a little on the introvert side of the scale." Savannah awkwardly laughs not before shooting a pointed look at him.

"Would you guys like a drink?" I ask, only to spare her from further embarrassment. I really need to teach this guy how to treat his sister in public.

Relieved, she nods as others agree too.

I turn to Nathan with a tight smile, and in a fake sweet voice send him off as others start throwing their orders at him. At least I can get rid of him for a few minutes.

"Dad talked a lot about you," Savannah starts. My face falls. Oh shit. Unaware she goes on, "I was really excited to finally meet you in person, he kept saying you're really bold, which coming from him is a compliment, and he never compliments anyone."

I force a laugh and push my hair behind my ear. 

"So you still go to college?" She places her elbow on the circular black marble top, avoiding touching the two empty glasses on it belonging to Olivia and Everly.

I nod, but my eyes dart to Spencer for a beat. His expression is unreadable and his eyes are fixed on Kristian's hand gripping my side. I wish I could read his thoughts.

Nathan returns and stands next to me while Kristian stays on my other side. Next to him Everly and Olivia situate themselves around the small round table. Across from me and on Nathan's right, Savannah and Spencer stand.

Savannah's smile widens. "And how's that?"

At that moment, Spencer's gaze lock with mine. A corner of my mouth lifts upwards. "Thrilling," I reply slowly and turn to her.

Kristian chuckles, "Believe it or not, she's the only person who can turn even college into a thrilling experience." He pulls me closer to himself. "She's always been the wildest of the gang."

Savannah eyes us suspiciously. "How do you two know each other?"

Oh fuck.

Just as I expected, Spencer's eyebrow raises slightly with interest.

Kristian on the other hand grins. "You were in high school, right babe?"

From the corner of my eye, I catch Spencer's features hardening at the word 'babe'. "We had seen each other occasionally but yeah, that was about ten days before my senior year's prom night... about four years ago."

He nods, satisfaction gleaming in his face as he turns to Savannah. "You remember everyone was talking about the girl I took to Pa's private island for a week, it was her." He inclines his chin to me.

Her mouth parts with surprise.

I resist the urge to kick Kristian for going into detail. "Actually five days," I correct him.

He laughs. "She's majoring in maths, that's why she's a little touchy on numbers."

She gasps and instantly beams. "Really?" Savannah turns to Spencer with excitement, not noting her brother's sudden sour mood, before turning back to me and grinning. Her hand waves at her brother. "He's getting his postdoc in maths." The pride and enthusiasm in her voice make me smile.

"Oh, really?" I pretend to be surprised as I raise both eyebrows and look at Spencer. He dismissively shrugs.

"That must be really hard," Olivia chimes in, ogling Spencer, making sure to lock her eyes with him through her lashes.

It takes a considerable amount of willpower not to roll my eyes.

"It is, in fact, he hardly ever has any free time. I had to drag him here tonight." Savannah says.

"I'm glad you did," Olivia instantly replies.

I fist my hand, trying my hardest not to glare at her. At least don't flirt so blatantly.

Right on cue, a server comes up and places our drinks on the table. I snatch mine and gulp down the cold liquid, inviting the burn of the alcohol and cool temperature of it.

Everly sips her drink timidly and fixes her blue eyes on Spencer. "But why spend so much time and energy over something that won't even earn you much?"

He goes rigid and sets his hard glare on Everly. She uncomfortably shifts. Satisfaction swells in me.

Stiffly he answers, "Not always the financial income matters the most. Some people prefer to delve deeper than busying themselves with trivial and fleeting things such as money, and instead focus on understanding the world around them and make sense of it. Although I wouldn't expect my view to be comprehendible or agreed with since it's not the most common view in your... community."

I bite my bottom lip to hide my growing smile. Leave it to him to give the best answers.

Everly tightly smiles at him. I can bet she's cursing him in her head because she's doesn't have a reply to his statement, and she can't do anything about it, because after all, Spencer carries the Wright surname too.

"And it's not like anyone who studies maths is jobless," Savannah mutters before straightening herself and looking at Everly sharply. "He's a professor." A wide smile breaks across her face.

The sweetness of her simple act of taking his side and defending him has me admiring her. Their sibling bond is so pure. I doubt Mason would have backed me up like that... especially after the accident.

I wonder why Spencer thinks he has ruined his relationship with her. Savannah loves him as much as a sister can possibly ever love her brother.

I turn to Olivia right on time to see her dreamy eyes. Ugh. "Wow, you must be really hardworking for managing studying and teaching. But you need fun too. A little fun has never harmed anyone." she finishes with a sultry smile.

Out of politeness, he tries to smile, but it turns into a grimace and my subconsciously tensed up shoulders relax.

Smirking to myself, I take a small sip of my drink before making my mind and face Olivia, ignoring Nathan's worried eyes. "Livi," I start, smiling brightly at her.

Skeptically she turns to me. 

"Studying and fun, you must know all about that." Under the table Nathan grabs my hand and squeezes it, subtly shaking his head. I pull out my hand and glare at him before turning to Olivia and quirking an eyebrow.

She frowns with confusion. "What do you mean?"

With an innocent smile, I elaborate. "Well, you slept with a couple of your TAs to pass the courses, so you definitely know the best balance between fun and studying."

Her face flushes red with anger, her nostrils flare and the knuckles of the hand she's holding her drink with turn white. Kristian on my side guffaws.

Everly glares at me. I quickly glance at Spencer who's looking at anywhere but us, and Savannah's eyebrows are almost touching her hairline.

"Gracie, you're a sassy bitch. And for someone as broke as you, sass doesn't suit you anymore." Everly spits.

Maybe it's the alcohol or the events of the night in general, but I am itching for a fight so I snatch the opportunity.

"Oh sorry, my brutal honesty, or as you would call, sass, doesn't fit your backstabbing nature?" I arch an eyebrow at her. 

She slams her glass on the table and faces me wholly. "Fuck you. Grow up! Not everyone is going to love you and be obsessed with you Gracie. Why can't you just accept that? Why can't you accept that Alex dumped you?"

I laugh bitterly. "You know, you never seize to surprise me with the bars you set for being a bitch. But hey." I shrug. "I probably should get used to it. But you don't have the right to tell me 'grow up' when you slept with my boyfriend behind my back and got pregnant. I might be a sassy bitch but at least I'm not a backstabbing whore like you." I sip my drink, allowing it to cool my insides, already warm and flushed from the argument and my previous drink.

I watch her as she fumes, balling her fists, ready to throw tantrum, so I add, "I actually pity you. Always going after men who don't want you. It must be really sad."

She points her finger at me. "Don't you dare," she warns through gritted teeth.

"Why? It hurts to hear the truth? That you've always gone after the men who I've been with. That you always get my leftovers." I click my tongue and shake my head. "Okay, I won't remind you."

Everly appears ready to lunge at me when Kristian drapes his arm over her shoulder. "Okay ladies, time out. For one night, you've gone far enough." He shakes his head and eyes us both with pity. "And sorry to break it to you both, but not every man is dying to be with you two that you're making such a huge fuss."

I laugh so hard I almost lose my balance, but catch myself right on time.

He drops his arm from Everly and turns to me, frowning.

"Funny you would say that," I manage to say, after calming myself a little. His brows draw closer as he squints at me. I wave my hand dismissively. "Come on, don't act like you weren't obsessed with me for the longest."

He glares at me as I take a small sip from my drink. He opens his mouth, and I can see the rage burning in his dark eyes.

I giggle. "Oops, did I say something wrong?" I narrow my eyes, pretending to think before widening them. "Oh, got it. I used past tense. It should have been present, right?" I grin at his glowering face.

Gosh, irritating these snobs is so much fun. I should do it more often.

His lips pull back, his face is red and I can literally see it in his features he's seconds away from blasting, but I ignore it.

"Aww." I pinch his cheek. "Don't act so touchy. I rejected you four years ago, you should have been able to move on, babe." I keep on grinning.

"You're going to regret this." He jabs his finger at me.

I fake a gasp. "Oh no, I'm scared." And then giggle again shaking my head. I'm damn sure he wouldn't dare to even think about harming me. At least not until his dad's work isn't done with me.

I pick up my drink and wave at them. "Anyway, my feet are killing me and I'm fed up with your bullshits. I'm out." I turn on my heels and saunter to the welcoming sofas.

"Mind if I join?" Savannah's soft voice halts me.

I smile at her. "Not at all."

We flump down on the comfortable sofas and moan together before bursting into giggles.

"I wanted to sit for so long, I didn't know how to say it." She shakes her head, placing her drink on the table in front of us before leaning into the backrest.

I laugh. "You should have given me a hint; I've been waiting for the opportunity."

She gazes at me curiously, long enough that makes me self-conscious. I straighten a little and arch an eyebrow at her.

"Are you always so..." her voice trails down, as if looking for the right word.

I grin at her. "Blunt? Yeah, well sort of. It's more like I have a magnet for drama."

"Wow, life never gets boring for you."

I shrug, still smiling. "I suppose not."

She fiddles with her fingers as the silence stretches. I gaze at the small circular table Everly, Olivia, Kristian and Nathan are still huddled around it, but Spencer is nowhere in sight. I scan the area, but there's no sign of him in the VIP area. Even though with every fibre in my body I want to find him, I give up.

Instead, I glance at Savannah. "I love your style," I blurt out.

Her focus snaps to me. A wide smile breaks across her face, her eyes lighting up. "Really? Thanks." A beat of silence goes by again before she turns to me hesitantly. "I would love to go shopping with you... I mean, of course, if you'd want to," she mumbles the last part.

I watch her curiously. Is it possible she feels out of place? Maybe because she wasn't with the rich kids from day one?

Neither can I ignore the bitter taste in the back of my throat. Shopping. I probably won't be able to afford anything from the shops she frequents anymore. But for politeness's sake, I hide my discomfort and reply, "Sure, that'd be great."

Her smile returns "Awesome." Quietly she adds, "I haven't gone shopping with anyone since I graduated from college, it's been almost two years, it'd be nice to have someone."

My gaze flickers to Olivia and Everly, they're probably like the rest of the girls she has to put up with. "That's boring."

She sighs before picking up her drink and sipping. "I don't want to be pushy or anything... usually most of the girls stay away from me... I was hoping if we-you-" she stops and shakes her head. "Never mind," she mumbles.

Before I can probe her to go on, Spencer returns, phone in hand.

"Where were you?" she asks, frowning at him as he sits next to her.

"Answering a call. Why? Did I miss another round of fight?" his gaze jumps to me, an unreadable emotion flickering in them.

I huff and roll my eyes.

"Spencer," she hisses and he lifts a shoulder with indifference. She turns to me, apologetically adding, "I'm sorry, he-"

I wave my hand. "Don't worry. I know someone who is just like him." I force a tight-lipped smile, shooting a pointed look at him. He glares back at me.

Odd.

Is he mad at me?

A young woman comes by and places a drink in front of him and he thanks him before she hurries away. Savannah sends him a disapproved look but he drinks anyway.

She fiddles with her fingers and turns to me. "I'm also really sorry I couldn't make it to your dad's funeral... no one told me about it."

I frown. The surprise is enough to overpower the pang the phrase your dad's funeral sends through my heart. Why did she want to show up?

"If it's not too much, I was hoping if I could either meet your mom... pay a visit at her home, or even have her number to call." She bites her lips nervously.

My mouth hangs open. I am beyond confused. "T-there's no need for that."

"Oh, no, there is. I really need to apologize to your mom-"

"What for?"

She halts and realization sparks in her eyes. she warmly smiles at me. "I think you don't know, but Kristian is our stepbrother, our mothers are different. Our mom." she glances at Spencer for a moment, he quickly looks away. She turns back to me again and continues, "Used to be really close to yours. In fact, your mom is the only reason Spencer could start studying at Harvard. If she hadn't supported our mom, I can't imagine in what state we would have been."

I gape at her, then stare at Spencer, who is yet again busy avoiding me. The engines slowly turn in my head. Mom already knew Spencer, that's why she didn't ask anything when she saw him. For all this time I thought she didn't care.

And Spencer knows my mom too. Why didn't he say anything to me?

"She used to visit us a lot. I really feel bad for not showing up, only if someone had told me." She shakes her head.

With effort I divert my focus back to her. "My phone's in my coat's pocket, but before we leave, I can give you her number."

She smiles brightly at me. "Thank you."

Just at that moment, Kristian points at Savannah and she furrows her brows. He motions for her to go to him and with a huff she pushes herself to her feet, excusing herself and leaving Spencer and me alone.

I drain my drink and place it on the table. "So, you're ignoring me now?" I cross my arms in front of my chest.

He nods, looking the other way, at the people dancing and enjoying the weekend on the dancefloor.

I glare at him long enough that he blows air through his parted lips and meets my eyes. "What?"

"Stop ignoring me."

"We decided to stay away from each other."

"You decided," I correct him sharply.

He shrugs and downs half of his drink. "Entertain yourself with your friends. Your babe is surely waiting for you." The venom dripping from the nickname would have put a snake to shame.

"It's not what it looks like," I huff.

"I don't care," he snaps and looks away.

A blanket of silence falls over us, even though the music from the other side fills the area, it doesn't nullify the heaviness of it.

"You told me like you barely knew him." He turns to me, his features pinched with either anger or annoyance. It's hard to tell.

"It's true."

"You've slept with him," he seethes, glowering at me. A beat later his eyes widen and he looks away, downing the rest of his drink and slamming the glass on the table. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to say that out loud," he mutters, clenching his jaw so hard a muscle flickers.

He is jealous.

I hold back my smile and scoot to him, leaving one person's breadth between us. "It was four years ago, I was still in high school," I tell him in a softer voice.

"You lied to me." He turns to me, an emotion flashes in his eyes, but quickly goes away, not giving me a chance to figure out what it was.

"You didn't tell me you knew my mom."

He sighs.

"But, there's nothing between me and Kristian. We were never even serious to start with."

"You don't have to explain anything to me, it's none of my business," he mumbles, gazing at his hands.

"I know, but I want you to know." I watch him closely, but his face is as blank as it can possibly be.

I sigh and rest my head on the edge of the backrest. "I'm glad you came here tonight," I admit softly, surprising myself.

He scoffs, "You're drunk."

"Buzzed," I correct him again and he rolls his eyes.

I want to reach out to him, to touch his hand, to feel him but I don't in fear of him walking away. Instead, I gaze at him intently. From the corner of my eye, I catch Olivia's attention slithering to us and a plan pops into my head.

I straighten myself and smile. "Dance with me."

∞ ∞ ∞

Oh well, told you guys this chap was long xD I hope it didn't bore you.

So tell me your thoughts on Olivia, Kristian, and Savannah =)

I hope you enjoyed this double update, don't forget to vote if you did and comment your thoughts!

Next chapter will be up tomorrow =) [no, it won't be a double update XD]

Thank you so much for reading *.*

Stay safe, lots of love, happy reading! <3