The morning after the charity ball, Ashwick Academy buzzed with the kind of electric energy that only came with major scandal. I walked into the dining hall expecting whispers about Julian’s dramatic proposal or Alexander’s intense interrogation on the balcony, but instead found students clustered around phones with expressions of shock and fascination.
“Have you seen it?” Roni appeared at my elbow, her face pale beneath perfectly applied makeup. “The photos from last night?”
“Which photos? Julian’s proposal got plenty of coverage.”
“Not Julian’s proposal. My kiss with Nick.”
She pulled out her phone, scrolling to what looked like a gossip website with photos from the charity ball. The main image showed Nick and Roni in the middle of what was supposed to be their usual performative kis
