Chapter 138
HANNAH
Mia was sitting at a table in the cafeteria all by herself, sipping a milkshake. I grabbed Willa's arm and guided her that way. She finally saw who I wanted to meet but allowed me to lead her along.
Maybe she was really going to give Mia a chance after all.
It was nice to see the way Mia's face lit up when she saw me. It made me feel even more certain that I was doing the right thing.
"Hi, Hannah. Willa," Mia said cheerfully.
"Hi," Willa said.
There was no trace of cheer in her voice. But it was okay because Mia didn't seem to notice.
"Where's your food?" Mia asked.
"No food for me yet," I said. "I got something for you."
Mia quickly put down her milkshake to take the fancy envelope that I handed over to her. She turned it over and over in her hands, obviously impressed at the look and feel of it.
I knew exactly how she felt. I was impressed too. If an invitation card could be so fancy, I imagined what the ball would be like. Having never attended any event at my mates' pack, I was so looking forward to it.
"What is it?" she finally asked.
"It's an invitation to the Ice Stone Ball the Wallaces are hosting," I answered. "It's the ball of the year."
Mia stared for a moment, then she burst into smiles. "What? Are you kidding? You mean I actually get to attend?"
I grinned. "That's what the invitation is for."
"Oh my gosh! I heard about it. I never thought..." She trailed off, and for a moment her thoughts went elsewhere. "I really have to find something perfect to wear. I don't think I have anything good enough."
Now I laughed and pointed at her nice clothes. "If you ask me, that won't be a problem. You always know exactly what to wear."
She waved off the compliment. "To school, yes. But not to a ball, the ball. I heard it's like the biggest event in these parts. Have you ever attended it before?"
"No. In that, we're the same. We'll both be attending for the first time." I said.
When she started to tuck the envelope in her backpack, I remembered something. "Oh. There's a bracelet in the envelope. You'll have to wear it or you won't be allowed in."
"I'll guard that bracelet with my life." She giggled and reached over the table to pat my hand. Her smile was warm and sincere. "Thank you so much, Hannah, for inviting me. It means a lot to me. I told you, didn't I, that everyone is talking about it, hoping they can get an invitation. Honestly, I'm surprised you even invited me."
"It's just close friends coming this year, and you qualify as one."
Mia beamed. Willa made an impatient movement, and I saw her roll her eyes at the ceiling when Mia wasn't looking.
I sighed inwardly. Okay, so maybe she hadn't fully bought into the idea of giving Mia a chance after all. When would that be? I wondered. Or maybe she was just jealous.
"So tell me, do you have a dress yet?" Mia asked, leaning forward, her eyes darting towards Willa, to include her in the conversation.
"Not yet," I said. "But I'm sure with Willa's help I'll find one. Isn't that right, Willa?"
Willa made a noncommittal sound.
"Hello girls," A voice came suddenly, and a group of girls immediately rounded our table.
I recognized them at once. They were seniors and in the same class as my mates.
I opened my mouth to say hello when I noticed they all had their eyes fixed on Willa. One of them gave me a dirty look and flicked her hair over her shoulder, but smiled at Willa.
Willa, always sensitive to the mood, noticed.
"Can I help you girls?" she asked coldly.
"We heard the Ice Stone ball is coming up," the girl who had given me a dirty look said, her smile widening.
"We heard it's going to be strictly by invitation," another girl said.
A third nodded. "We would love to attend. Do you have the invites?"
"As a matter of fact, I do." Willa reached for the zipper of her bag. The girls leaned forward eagerly. Willa yanked the zipper closed and splayed her hand over the bag. "But I'm not going to give them to you. You know why?"
The girls looked at Willa and then at each other in confusion.
Willa smiled, "You saw Hannah sitting right next to me, yet you ignored her. Wrong move, girls. She's the one who's been permitted to hand out the invitations. You don't expect her to invite you now, do you? Not when you're all being assholes."
The girls glared at us.
"Why are you suddenly licking Hannah's ass, Willa?" the first girl asked. "What? Are you her puppet now? Does she call the shots at your pack now?"
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