MEAN GIRLS DON'T CRY

Lily's POV

Chloe Ashford destroyed me once.

She pretended to be my best friend, eagerly setting me up with her stepbrother Vincent—when really, I was just a cover for their twisted relationship.

She fattened me up, used me, and when she got bored, tossed me aside. A broken nose during gym class, nearly drowning by the pool, framed and cyberbullied until the whole internet turned against me. I dropped out. Had a complete mental breakdown. And then I jumped.

But when I opened my eyes again, that line was playing on repeat—"Let me introduce you to my stepbrother."

Somehow, I was back. That same party night.

"Lily! LILY! Over here!"

Chloe waved at me, her arm hooked around some guy's.

I wove through the crowd with my plastic cup of cheap champagne, the bass so loud it felt like my eardrums would burst.

"This is Vincent Ashford," Chloe said, batting her lashes at me. "My—STEP—brother."

She leaned in close, whispering in my ear. "He's the heir to Ashford Industries, you know. Better seize the opportunity."

Vincent leaned against the bar, lazily swirling his drink. Messy dark brown hair, stormy gray-blue eyes, white dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows and two buttons undone at the collar. The "Golden Boy" of St. Judia Academy. The guy every girl wanted.

The first time I saw him in my past life, my heart raced so fast I thought I was having a heart attack.

This time? All I felt was disgust.

"Hi, Vincent," I said, keeping my eyes down.

His gaze swept over me coldly, lingering on my overweight body for less than a second before looking away.

"Vincent, don't be so cold," Chloe said, slinging her arm around my shoulders with an even brighter smile. "Lily just transferred from public school. You'll help me look after her, right?"

"I'm getting a drink." He walked straight to the bar.

"Don't mind him, that's just how he is," Chloe said with a shrug. "But... he's SO sweet to the people he likes."

She winked, deliberately hinting at something.

I smiled back. Guys immediately swarmed around her.

I stepped away from the crowd, noticing those gray-blue eyes had been tracking Chloe the entire time—or more accurately, tracking the guys surrounding her.

Pathetic. In love with his stepsister and stuck playing it cool.

"Lily, what're you spacing out for?" Chloe appeared beside me again. "Come on, let me introduce you to more people!"

"I need to use the bathroom."

In the bathroom mirror, a round face stared back at me. Thick black-framed glasses, a baggy T-shirt.

I took off my glasses and splashed cold water on my face. Had to think of something. Couldn't let them screw me over again.

When I came out, I saw Vincent sitting alone in a corner of the terrace, clutching an empty glass, his expression heavy.

Right—today was his mother's death anniversary.

I pulled out the homemade chocolate chip cookies from my bag. I'd originally made them to butter up Chloe, but now they could serve a different purpose.

I walked over. "Drinking too much'll mess up your stomach."

Vincent looked up. "Nobody asked you."

"I'm not trying to," I said, placing the cookies in front of him. "Just... your mom probably wouldn't want to see you torturing yourself like this."

His pupils contracted sharply.

Before he could ask anything, I turned and walked away.

Five minutes later, my phone buzzed. A friend request from an unknown number.

I accepted.

Vincent: Did you make these?

I didn't reply. Two minutes later.

Vincent: What's in them?

I typed slowly: Chocolate chips, sea salt, vanilla extract.

The phone went silent for a long time.

Vincent: They taste exactly like the ones my mom used to make.

Vincent: How'd you know?

I stared at the screen and rolled my eyes. How did I know? I DIDN'T. It was just my recipe. But it just so happened to comfort this pathetic mama's boy in my past life too.

I typed: Just a guess. Figured you needed it.

Vincent: I don't eat sweets.

I smirked: Then why'd you finish them all?

The phone went silent again.

Back at the party, Chloe was surrounded by a group of guys, laughing like she didn't have a care in the world. But when she saw Vincent holding my cookie tin, her smile froze.

She pushed past the guys and headed straight toward us.

I kept my head down, counting silently—three, two, one.

"Vincent!" Chloe's voice came out sharp. "What're you eating?"

Vincent gave her a flat look and took another bite. "Cookies."

"Who gave them to you?"

"Does it matter?"

Chloe's eyes locked onto me. Her eyes went cold for a second. But she quickly adjusted her expression, putting on a sweet smile. "Lily made them? Wow, how THOUGHTFUL~"

"Yeah." Vincent took another bite.

"But Vincent NEVER eats sweets, right, Vincent?"

"Changed my mind." Vincent's gaze stayed on me. "I really like them."

Chloe's face went completely pale.

"Chloe, I'm kind of tired," I said quietly. "Gonna head back to the dorm."

"Wait—" She grabbed my arm. "You haven't carried my bag yet!"

"Oh, sorry." I obediently took her Hermès bag like a good little dog.

As I turned to leave, I caught Vincent through the crowd, watching me with a thoughtful look.