"Payton." I put my hands on my hips. "Explain to me why we're at Wings Atomica again."

"Because I wanted to check out their new 2-for-1 deal!" Payton enthused. "Buy two hot wings, get one free!"

I gave her a blank stare.

"Okay, you caught me," Payton admitted. "I wanted to see Ezra. He's been so busy with his job lately, I feel like I haven't seen him in forever!"

I sighed. "Does Ezra seriously have to work in that carb-infested restaurant? I feel like I've gained three pounds just looking at the menu."

"We'll make it quick!" Payton squealed. "And then we can check out the new club near Zephyr Bridge that just opened!"

Grudgingly, I gave in. "I guess we can… and Wes does work here too…"

"Yay!" Payton grinned.

Next to me, Mia smirked. "So that's why you look all dressed-up tonight, Payton. Even more so than usual."

Payton was wearing a green satin Cartier dress with black Ouch Ouch Pretty Feet platforms, Mia wore a black Diane von Furstenberg sheath dress and two-toned black-and-white Manolo Blahniks, and I wore a black and gold Versace confection with my favorite pair of Louboutins.

We were all dressed up for a night on the town. It was such a shame though that thirty minutes of showing off my new outfit were going to be wasted at a fast food joint.

Oh well. Maybe I'd come across some juicy gossip to tell everyone on Monday…

At last, our waiter arrived. "Welcome to Wings Atomica, may I take your order—Payton? Babe, what are you doing here?" Ezra inquired.

"I wanted to see you!" Payton cried.

While Payton and Ezra began to chat away, I looked around the restaurant. At a table nearby, Jack Carver, a greasy, grimy douchebag college guy polished off one, two, three… no, eight baskets of wings. He then licked his fingers with relish. Gross.

"Check it," I nudged Mia. "Looks like someone needs to work on their table manners." Mia snickered.

The door to Wings Atomica jingled, and a couple entered. Wait… is that Julian and Koh?

It was.

Payton, Ezra, and Mia all looked in their direction.

"Kohlian is here!" Payton squealed.

"Kohlian?" Mia inquired.

"It's their ship name!" Payton replied. "Look, they're sooo cute together!"

We watched as Julian and Koh took their seats at a red vinyl booth.

"Stay here," Koh ordered him. "I'm gonna order."

Julian looked surprised, then nodded. "Don't forget the hot sauce."

"How could I forget?" Koh smirked, laughing.

The door to Wings Atomica jangled again, and it seemed like the whole football team and cheerleading squad from our school entered. They had a game today, I recalled. We had decided to ditch the game for a shopping trip to La Jolie, the new boutique that had just opened in town, instead.

As my cheerleader friend who'd been hitting on Julian started to step in Wings Atomica, she suddenly screamed, crashing to the floor in a crumbled heap.