I’d bought them with the credit card I was only supposed to use for emergencies. In my defense, I’d seen Liam buy tons of stupid stuff, and I never used the card. Until now. I’d bought the heels two weeks ago when Sophie and I were back-to-school shopping. I’d been waiting this whole time to get in trouble.

But…neither of my parents noticed. Sophie let me keep my new shoes at her house so that my parents never saw them. I could only imagine my dad’s reaction to these based on how he’d reacted to my skirt. Luckily, I’d never have to find out, because I wasn’t planning on ever taking them home.

“Here,” she said, pulling out my brand new Odegaards.

“Thanks, Soph.” I put my hand on her shoulder to balance as I pulled off my flats in exchange for the much more sophisticated heels. They were a matte white with the signature blue bottom. Classically elegant. And the blue complimented my blue blazer.

“You look so bangable,” Sophie said.

I laughed. But I felt bangable. The makeup, the contacts, the skirt, the shoes. I took a deep breath. I looked grown-up. I looked ready to crush this school year and win over Axel Stevens. Finally.

“You ready for this?” Sophie asked.

I struck a pose, jutting out my hip. “Absolutely,” I said, sounding much more confident than I felt. My heart was beating so quickly I was worried it was going to explode.

She laughed and looped her arm back through mine. “Axel is gonna drool when he sees you.”

I hope so. My stomach had started doing cartwheels last night and hadn’t stopped. And as we made our way up the final steps to Empire High, I almost felt like I was going to be sick. I only got one first impression for senior year. And this was it. If Axel didn’t look at me as more than a friend when I walked through those doors, I would literally die. But I had a feeling everything was about to go my way. I was ready.

An underclassman opened up the door for us as we approached.

“Thanks,” Sophie said to him with a wink.

He looked like he was going to piss his pants with excitement. Sophie had that kind of effect on guys. And today…I hoped I did too.

A gust of wind hit us when we walked into the school, blowing my hair just so. It was like we were walking in slow motion as heads turned away from lockers to watch us in our grand entrance. I wouldn’t have been surprised if people were snapping photos. This was basically a red-carpet entrance. Or a New York fashion week catwalk. I was unstoppable.