BRIAR’S POV
“Briar, what’s going on?” Eli whispers right next to me.
I’m unable to answer or explain it to him. How do I say I met my best friends who are sort of bullies I used to hang out with without sounding like a b***h myself?
I can’t.
The last thing I want is Eli looking at me like Tavian does, yelling at me to never show my face in front of him again.
He’d never understand what I needed to do to survive.
He’d hate me.
I shiver, trembling at the thought of Eli’s scorn until I can take a deep breath and strengthen my resolve again. I force a smile and turn around.
By now they’ve drawn closer; Daphne and Nicole. Both their dresses are made of flashy sequins that glimmer shades of blue and green under the light of the chandelier hanging above us.
They take a stance with t
