Lily by Any Other Name by Julie C. Gardner

Author:Julie C. Gardner
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: First Love, High School, Family Relationships, Love Triangle, Friendships
Publisher: Inkspell Publishing
Published: 2017-09-03T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter Sixteen: In Which She is Called a Lost Girl. Or Boy. And a Dumbass.

Conejo’s Mountainside Estates are protected by enormous, iron gates. Residents pay a hefty monthly fee to staff a security tower with a guard. The fountains on either side of the tower are already frothing with dish soap when we arrive. For years, this sudsy prank has signaled a party raging somewhere inside.

“Looks like Ivory Liquid,” Sarah notes, turning into the lane for non-Mountainside residents.

“I’ll bet Madison Franklin has never done a dish in her manicured life.”

“You’re so right.” Sarah snorts. “That girl’s got more important tasks for those precious hands.” She pulls up to the guard, and I consult the secret gate-code scrawled on Madison’s flyer. She made a kajillion copies.

Not so much a secret.

Sarah lowers the window on her Volkswagen bug. From the passenger seat, I see the guard’s badge reads Clyde Cuthbert. I also see he’s working on a sandwich that’s roughly the size of my femur.

“Good evening, Mr. Cuthbert,” Sarah says. “We are invitees of the Madison Franklin soirée. Ms. Sarah Steinberg and Ms. Lily Anderson. I’m sure you’ll find our names on the list.”

“No list.” Clyde wipes mustard off his mouth with his sleeve. “Just need the code.”

Sarah bats her lashes. “Lucky for you, we’ve come prepared.” She turns to me for the number.

“4-0-3-6-2,” I call out.

“Yeah. My lucky day,” he says. “I’d better head to Vegas, pronto.” He hits the button to open the gates, then tackles another mouthful of sandwich. I’m pretty sure every deli meat known to humanity is within those slices of bread.

“I like that Clyde,” says Sarah. “Maybe I’ll ask him to prom.” She pulls through the gates and makes the second left, as directed by Siri.

“Please, Sarah. I have enough worries without you reminding me that prom’s only a couple months away. We’re about to throw ourselves into the lion’s den. I need to focus.”

“I’m just saying. Since Sammy bailed, I have limited options. If Clyde were my boyfriend, at least I’d be well fed. Yes, sir. I’ll take the twelve-inch sub sandwich. Sir!”

“You always were a fan of lowered expectations,” I laugh. “You might as well ask Walt Wiener to prom.” Sarah flashes me a dark look while Siri chimes in.

Turn left onto Morning View Lane.

“This is her street,” I say. “I think she’s on top.”

“Naturally.” Sarah smirks.

As we roll up the steep incline, I can already feel music thumping in my chest. Or maybe it’s my heart. In any case, my body’s pulsating. And not with excitement.

“I still can’t believe the Franklins got the Breach Boys to perform,” says Sarah. She shakes her head and squints out her windshield as if she might be able to make out their lead singer from the driver’s seat. “I’m getting all steamy thinking about seeing Brady Breach in person.” She sighs. “And Madison actually knows him. Remind me again. Why am I not best friends with the girl?”

“Because she represents everything you despise about females?”

“Right.”

“But seriously, Sar. Forget about Brady Breach for a second and promise you won’t ditch me tonight.

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