Filed to story: Once Upon a One Night Mistake Book PDF Free by Simone Shirazi
“What the hell was that about?” she blurted a moment later, her wrist still encased in his grip.
Sebastian glanced over his shoulder and scanned the crowd. “I wasn’t interested in having a conversation with her,” he said simply, looking back at Taliana. “Now, go get your lunch and come out to the courtyard.”
Taliana was taken aback by his demand. Who the hell was he to tell her where she had to spend her lunch break? “Excuse me?”
“You heard what I said.”
Taliana let out a loud, disbelieving laugh as she finally snatched her hand back. “Why would I want to sit with you? This is the only time we have away from each other and I’m not going to spend that precious hour sitting next to you again.”
“Fine,” he answered, shrugging. “Go in there and sit with those underclass losers if you want to. But if you’re looking for Jude, he’ll be outside with me.”
Frowning, Taliana peeked inside the cafeteria, which just happened to be missing most of the seniors. There were freshmen and sophomores aplenty, even what looked to be a smattering of juniors, but everyone her age was nowhere in sight.
“Well, when you put it that way…”
Sebastian shook his head before motioning for her to follow him through a set of double doors on the other side of the hall. After blowing out a heavy sigh, Taliana chased after him and managed to catch the open door before it could slam in her face.
She was seconds away from cursing him for not being gentlemanly and holding the door, but Sebastian had quickly distanced himself, joining a group sitting at the base of a sturdy oak tree near the heart of the courtyard. There were at least twenty people gathered on one side, all broken off into their own smaller circles, but it was obvious they were all part of the same social echelon. Though there were quite a few familiar faces in that crowd, one seemed to stand out more than the rest.
It took a few beats for Taliana to place him, but she scowled when she did. She knew it was Michael Richardson based on those sly, hazel eyes and the same classic shaved-down haircut he’d had since fourth grade-not to mention context helped, since it seemed like the holy terror was still Sebastian’s best friend. Her staring had obviously caught his attention, and his lips quirked up into a devious half-smile when his eyes landed on Taliana’s exceptionally short hemline. She watched as he leaned in to whisper something in Sebastian’s ear. Whatever he’d said, it made Sebastian laugh, and Sebastian’s reply caused Michael’s small smile to turn into a full-fledged grin. Michael even had the audacity to send a wink in Taliana’s direction.
She gave him a middle finger in reply before stomping off in Jude’s direction and dropping onto the grass next to him, hoping she didn’t flash anyone in the process.
“Hi, sweetheart!” he exclaimed in surprise, a smile lighting up his face. “I was wondering when you’d get here.”
Jude gave her a brief squeeze, and she hugged him back. “How’s your day been so far?”
“All right, I suppose,” he sighed, clearly wanting to be anywhere but here. “Yours?”
Taliana shuddered and looked to where Sebastian was sitting just a few feet away. “It’s been pure hell,” she confessed. “Being stuck in a room with Cry Baby over there isn’t exactly fun.”
Jude chuckled. “Do you have any idea how many girls would kill to be locked in a room with him?”
“Way too many,” she grumbled, snatching an apple off his lunch tray. “It’s kind of sickening, actually. Have you seen the way they fawn over him?”
He nodded, looking slightly nauseous. “I’ve been witnessing this for longer than you have. You’d think they’d tone it down a little with Blair back in town, though.”
Taliana frowned in thought as she took a bite of the apple. “She left for a while?”
“Yeah, she kind of just disappeared one day,” Jude explained. “But you should be glad you missed out on the time when she and Seb were a couple. God, they were awful. But then they just sort of randomly split, and Seb never said why.”
“Whatever it was, it must have been bad.”
Jude cocked his head to the side. “What makes you say that?”
“Because Sebastian saw her in the hallway earlier and just about had a panic attack,” she explained. “I would have recognized her anywhere.”
“I still find it funny that you didn’t recognize Sebastian,” he laughed, wrinkling his nose. “I mean, out of all the people at the party, you end up sleeping with-
Ow! What was that for?”
Taliana glared as she retracted her hand from his knee, which she’d just slapped. “Don’t talk about that,” she whispered.
If there was one thing Taliana definitely didn’t want getting out, it was that. She could only imagine the reactions of the entire student body if they discovered she and Sebastian had hooked up. Not to mention she wasn’t too fond of the news getting to Zak, wherever he was. He may have been her ex-boyfriend, but he was still one jealous asshole.
Jude pouted in offense but didn’t heed Taliana’s warning. “What, you don’t want people finding out you slept with Sebastian?”
Unlike Taliana, Jude hadn’t bothered to lower his voice, causing a few people on the other side of their circle to look up. Even Sebastian had turned in their direction.
Taliana’s cheeks heated. “Jude!”
“He’s lying,” a pained looking Sebastian urged, though he said the words much too quickly to be believed.
Taliana’s supposed friend merely rolled his eyes. “I don’t see why you two are so keen on keeping this a secret,” he scoffed, waving a hand as if it were no big deal. “I mean, come on, I bet half the people here already knew the two of you hooked up. Honestly, you guys have wild chemistry.”
Someone a few circles over gasped, obviously having overheard Jude, and whispers started up in the once silent courtyard.
Sebastian’s eyes were wide in what seemed to be a mix of embarrassment and shock. “Jude, what have you done?”
Taliana was wondering the same thing. “Can’t you keep your mouth shut about anything?” she hissed, rising to her feet and grabbing his wrist so he would do the same.
Just like his cousin had done to her minutes earlier, Taliana yanked Jude out of the now noisy courtyard and into the hallway, seconds away from freaking out.
“Why the hell did you do that?” Taliana demanded. “I told you not to talk about it, Jude.”
“I didn’t think it was that big of a secret.” He shrugged, unconcerned. “Besides, I thought everyone had already figured it out after they saw you all close at the end of summer party the other day.”
“Did it look like everyone in that courtyard knew?” she seethed, swinging her arm to motion to the double doors. “How could you do that to me?”
His sour expression and defensive stance only succeeded in pissing her off more. She made a sound of disgust and turned her back to him, unable to look him in the eye. This sure as hell had taught her not to trust just anyone.
“Fucking hell,” she mumbled, dragging a hand through her hair. “I left California to escape from all this drama, but it seems to follow me no matter where I go.”
Jude sighed, seeming to finally realize what he’d done. “Talia, come on, it’s not a big deal.”
Taliana spun on her heel to face him. “Screw you, Jude. I should have known you would end up being an asshole just like your cousin.”