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  “Mom.”

  “Say you’ll be there, and I’ll let you go back to sleep.”

  I sighed. I knew my mom. She’d keep me on the line until I had to go to school. She’d done it before, knowing I couldn’t bring myself to hang up on her. It just felt wrong, even though she treated me like she was my annoying older sister at times.

  I’d take Zeke. Hell, at this rate, I’d take the entire group: Brian, Branston, Penny, all of them. Mara.

  “Fine.” I gave in, needing to sleep. “Just text me what time later. Love you, Mom. Bye.” And I ended the call. That wasn’t hanging up, in my mind. We’d discussed things. I’d agreed. The conversation was resolved. I was just getting off before she could remember to add limitations, like I had to come alone to dinner. If she texted, I could say I never got it, because I wasn’t above being immature like that, not for dire situations like family dinners.

  On the way to the bathroom for a quick piss, I texted Mara.

  Me: You get home okay?

  Scrolling, there were a few more texts. One was from Tasmin.

  Taz: Hey! How are you?

  I deleted it, tossing the phone aside. I was crawling back into bed when Mara’s response came through.

  Mara: I did. See you in a few hours.

  I didn’t reply, just collapsed into my pillow and hoped for more shut-eye.

  5

  Aspen

  Students at FCA had recently successfully petitioned not to wear uniforms anymore, so I was still getting used to that. We’d had to wear uniforms for elementary school, and then also at Hillcrest, so coming back and finding out I could wear normal clothes had been a kick. I’d loved it, until I realized the scholarship kids were being targeted because of it.

  Not cool.

  Not that we had a ton of scholarship kids, but there were a decent amount. Not every kid came from a wealthy family at Fallen Crest Academy. Just the majority of them.

  Anyway, as I approached school, I instantly knew what I was witnessing ahead of me. One of the scholarship kids was being targeted by the mean girls: Penny Lancaster, Kit Carlson, Deja Lorenze, and Mara Daniels, though Mara usually kept off to the side. And the last one was Ria Richter.

  I didn’t know the girl’s name, but she was crying and holding her backpack against her chest.

  Penny laughed at her, crossing her arms. “I’m just saying, walk away. You weren’t invited this weekend for a reason.”

  Annnnd that’s why I chose to hide my eavesdropping.

  I walked right past the girl, going around the others too, and veered through the crowd heading toward school.

  I wasn’t a warrior woman. I wasn’t about confrontation at all. If it involved me, I’d stand my ground. Or I’d probably name-drop my parents. And if worse came to worst, I could spew out my brother’s name, the alive one. I knew he was known about by certain power players in this school, i.e., Zeke Allen. But in general, I tried to avoid doing any of those things. Wallflower. Invisible girl. Those were my choices for a reason. I was not brave and courageous enough to take on the mean girls of Fallen Crest Academy. They were ruthless.

  “Hey, Aspen.”

  I almost dropped my book as I jerked around in front of my locker.

  Then I relaxed. It was my partner from biology.

  “Oh, hey.”

  She gave me a smile. “How was your weekend?”

  What was she doing?

  I didn’t do this.

  I went to class. I talked to students for projects. I did what I had to do to get through my studies, but talking between classes? No. And we were two weeks away from graduating. What was she doing?

  I eyed her, frowning. “Uh. It was fine. Why?”

  She glanced toward the front of the school, shrugging. She held her books, ready for class. “So, do you, uh, do you have plans for graduation?”

  I frowned even harder. “Like going to the ceremony?”

  I’d always heard Nate complaining that he wished he’d skipped his graduations, so I wasn’t telling anyone, but I was planning on adopting his philosophy. My parents had no clue when I’d be graduating. I was hoping to break the news to them when it was too late for them to rally and attend, or to throw a party for me. They were so involved with their latest project, I knew I had about a ninety-percent chance of pulling that off.

  She flushed. “No, like afterwards. Are you going to any parties?”

  Dear Lord, this girl really didn’t know me.

  I raised my eyebrows, opening my locker and stowing my backpack inside. “Um…” I pulled out my book, put my phone into my pocket, and made sure to grab the right pencil and pen. I toed my locker closed and faced her. “Parties aren’t really my thing.”

  She blushed even harder. Her face was going from a definite pink to red. Her forehead looked a little sweaty too. “I know. I just… I’m having a party, and I wanted to invite you.” She pulled out a piece of paper and offered it to me.

  I almost jumped back.

  An invitation.

  My stomach churned.

  There’d been parties at Hillcrest. But those were in the dorms, and it wasn’t really the same thing. Dorm parties were easy. You walked through the stairs and hallways, then entered a room. You mingled. Sometimes people went to the community room, sometimes the quad. There was a lounge set up for people to hang out. Sometimes a car took everyone into town for more hanging out.

  I wasn’t a complete hermit. I’d done those events, but I knew those people.

  This was my first invitation to an actual party at FCA.

  I wasn’t sure if I was disappointed that I hadn’t gotten through the entire year without having to make the decision about attending one of these, or because it took until two weeks before graduation to get an invite to a party.

  I was a mess of emotions, and it was uncomfortable.

  I took the invitation and read it over.

  Her address wasn’t in one of the wealthy areas. “Are you a scholarship kid?” The question came out before I’d realized I was even asking, and I felt bad as soon as her face closed off.

  “Uh...” She turned away. “Never mind. I mean—”

  “No.” I grabbed her arm. “Sorry. I’m just surprised. It doesn’t matter to me.” I pointed to myself. “Like I give a crap. I’m not popular. I don’t have any friends. So, loser. Me.” I laughed, and it came out forced because now she was looking at me with pity, and that wasn’t my intention at all. “I mean…” Oh boy. I was messing this up.

  Making up my mind, I shoved the invitation back at her and rushed off. “I don’t do parties. Sorry.”

  Seriously.

  What was my issue?

  I cursed myself, but wait.

  I almost forgot.

  What had I been thinking?

  I almost missed my favorite part of the day.

  Right before swinging into class, I stopped and looked back.

  Hearing the commotion in the hallway, I knew it was already happening.

  I couldn’t help myself. My stomach went all warm and fluttering, and I moved to lean against the nearest locker. Hugging my book and computer to my chest, I let myself indulge.

  Blaise DeVroe had arrived.

  BLAISE

  “Dude,” Zeke greeted me, his hand in the air as I got out of my G Wagon.

  I reached up, and we slapped hands.

  “You snuck out this morning?”

  “Yeah.” I grabbed my bag, slung it over my shoulder, and shut the door. Locking it, we started for school. A few others trailed behind Zeke, falling in line behind us. Brian, Branston, and this time it was Jamie Conway and Oliver Ashlome next to them. The B brothers were useless to me—couldn’t even respond when I asked how they were. Jamie and Oliver actually seemed to have their own minds.

  This school, it was something else.

  “Had to run home for a change of clothes,” I added as we hit the sidewalk leading up to the doors.

  Zeke gave me a cocky smirk. “Daniels sneak
out with you?”

  I shot him a look.

  The guys snickered behind us.

  I heard one say, “Dicksy Daniels.”

  I stopped.

  The other laughed. “She likes those cocks, man. That’s for sure.”

  “Shut it.” I tossed a look back.

  Brian drew up short at that. “Excuse me?”

  I wasn’t having this. Not today. I snapped and went right at him.

  He was about to say more shit, give me more attitude, and his arms were on the way up.

  I was there before they came even halfway. I fisted my hands in his shirt and shoved him against the wall. There were students around, but they beat it real quick.

  I was in his face, grinding my teeth. “Yeah. I said shut the fuck up. Why are you making me say it again?”

  Fuck. I wanted to fight. I wanted to fight so badly.

  I didn’t care who this asshole was. He could’ve had my non-bio dad’s face, my half-brother’s face. He could have my real dad’s face. I didn’t give two fucks. I just wanted to hurt because I was so sick of everything.

  A crowd formed around us.

  I didn’t give a fuck about them either.

  Crowds formed. It’s what they did.

  “Hey, man.” Zeke tried to get between us. “Hey. Hey, brother. Come on.”

  Brian looked relieved to have him there.

  Nope. It didn’t matter. I was pissed, and I didn’t care who was trying to come to his aid. I was ready to burn the school down.

  A deeper growl ripped from me, and I pulled Brian from the wall, only to shove him back even harder. My hands ripped his shirt, and I was still in his face. Hands tried to pull me back, but it was pointless. No one could move me when I didn’t want to be moved.

  “You got something else to say to me?”

  Brian’s eyes were wide. I saw a flicker of anger before Zeke pushed himself between us once more. Then it was gone. Brian held his hands up, as if surrendering. “Nah, man. I’ll shut it. I didn’t know you were gone on her, that’s all.”

  Gone on her? Jesus Christ.

  I’d started to let go of him, until those words.

  I clocked him in the face and stepped back as he moved over. The force of the hit was enough that he bent over, in serious pain, but I hadn’t hit him hard enough to go down to the floor.

  I leaned over and said, “One kick to your knee, another hit to your head, and you’d be down for the count. I don’t owe you any fucking explanation, but I’m getting really tired of the shit you and your stupid-ass brother say about women. Grow the fuck up, dude.”

  Yeah, yeah. There could be an argument made about me—how mature was it to throw a punch? But I was tired of this bullshit. I didn’t want to go to Rape School, and those were the dynamics fucking Zeke was putting in place, whether he meant to or not.

  “Hey.” I felt an assertive pat on my arm, and Zeke hauled me backward. He wasn’t using enough force to piss me off, but he did put himself firmly between us. He turned to face me. “Let’s chill, okay? We don’t need internal fighting.”

  I shoved him. “Get the fuck off me.”

  Everyone went quiet at that one.

  Zeke was still considered king here. I got more leeway than others, but still…

  However, as I mentioned, I was tired of this shit. I’d heard how he talked to girls, and knowing I had a sister out there changed things for me.

  I went at him, not caring that everyone else had grown eerily still. “You’ve been setting the tone here.” I pointed at Brian, then Branston. “They take your cues. They’re followers. You’re leading them. Lead better. Do better. You got a sister, dude. You want your sister to deal with someone like you?”

  His eyes went flat.

  Zeke was protective of his sister.

  Then his nostrils flared and he dropped his tone, moving in closer to me. He made a show of putting his hands in his pockets, but his words were meant for me, and I knew they were a warning. “Walk, best friend. We can talk about this later.”

  I snorted. Zeke didn’t talk. He’d either organize a beatdown on me or he’d let it go. Studying him, I was guessing the latter, but one never knew with this kid.

  “Yeah. Right.” I looked at Oliver and Jamie, but didn’t say anything else. They hadn’t stepped in to help Brian, and they hadn’t moved in to back Zeke up. But that didn’t mean they wouldn’t have. I didn’t know where their heads were.

  I moved down the hallway, and a second later, I saw them following.

  I didn’t say a word. Neither did they. I wondered if Zeke told them to tail, but then Oliver nodded at me.

  I took that to mean something. I just didn’t know what. As I moved past a classroom, I caught sight of someone slipping inside. They had disappeared by the time I fully looked.

  I kept going.

  I wasn’t looking forward to the wave of whatever I’d just set in motion.

  6

  Aspen

  “You get off on watching? Is that your thing, or is it just my cock you like?”

  I was heading to my car after school when I heard him.

  My heart stopped, almost literally. If I looked down, it was likely the entire contents of my stomach would be at my feet.

  He’d found me.

  I looked up, and Blaise DeVroe stepped out from behind the truck parked next to Maisie. His hand was on her back end, and he waited there, in the shadows (thank God), his head tilted to the side.

  He looked so good, so delicious. All hard edges and angles. That jawline. It could give me razor burn between my legs, and I’d climax just by breathing hard.

  I saw the flare in his gaze and felt his edge. I had to rein in a bit of my inner weirdo.

  I’d heard about what happened that morning. Hell, I’d witnessed it myself, but then I’d also heard all the whispering about it afterward. It spread through the school like wildfire. And what they were saying hadn’t been kind. Most bets were that Blaise was going to be kicked out of school. Others said Zeke was going to have him beat up. Still others thought Zeke could have him arrested. How that even made sense, I had no clue.

  But I also saw those guys interact through the rest of the day as if nothing had happened. Zeke still smiled at Blaise, even if he seemed more cautious. Some people said there was a rift forming in school. But again, why did that even matter? We had a week and four days left to be here. Then it was summer.

  “You talk?” His head cocked forward. There was a slight bark to his words.

  I jumped, then gathered myself. “Oh. Um…”

  Shoot. I bit down on my lip. What did I say here? Okay. I had nothing, so I guess honesty was the best policy. Besides this guy playing a major role in my schoolgirl fantasies, I couldn’t deny that I was a little scared of him right now. I’d always felt there was something more in him, a wild edge, but no one ever said anything. There’d been no rumors about it, until today.

  Today, everyone had seen. Today, everyone was talking about it.

  “I, uh…” Screw it. I shrugged. “It was live porn. What did you expect?”

  His eyes lit up. His nostrils flared. And he stepped toward me. “To turn around and leave.” His eyes narrowed. “I looked for you the rest of the weekend. No way were you there for the party, so what’s that mean? Were you spying on us?”

  Ooooh boy. So not good. I didn’t want him to get anywhere close to that realization about me.

  My stomach shriveled up. I swallowed over a knot. “Um...”

  “Were you?”

  Shoot. Shoot. Shoot.

  I could not talk about that. No way. That was my big secret, and it was embarrassing. If he found out, if he said something, I’d be the laughingstock of Fallen Crest. I couldn’t handle that—not at this school. At Hillcrest, they would’ve left me alone. People knew me there. They knew Owen.

  “What the fuck is wrong with you?” His nostrils flared again, and he moved even closer. He was almost within touching distance now, his gaze locke
d on mine.

  I had to distract him. That’s the only way I could get out of this one.

  “I like you,” I blurted.

  “What?” He blinked, seeming stunned.

  I got him. Crisis averted.

  And I doubled down. “Yeah. I mean, girls have crushes, and you’re mine. I crush on you.”

  His eyebrows went up. “You crush on me?”

  I blushed. That was embarrassing enough, but the other secret would’ve been worse. So much worse.

  I ducked my head, shrugging. I kicked at a rock. “Like you don’t know. Like you don’t know a ton of girls like you, so whatevs. I like you, and I mean, do you want me to apologize for crushing on you?” I lifted my head, peering at him.

  He looked confused and backed away.

  My lungs could expand again.

  “I—wait.” His head cocked to the side. “So you were following me?” Even as he said it, I could tell he didn’t believe it. I heard his tone. It was suspicious.

  “No. I mean…” Crap. That wasn’t as much of a distraction as I thought. Arrogant much? I tried to smooth it over. “I was going for a walk. I got lost, and then I saw you and I—” Fishbowl effect. My mouth was moving like a goldfish, and I was thinking. I was stalling. “What do you want from me? This is embarrassing.”

  I didn’t need to act. My face was beet red. I was starting to sweat too. Gross.

  He coughed, clearing his throat. “I saw you today. I saw you duck into your first-period class. Didn’t realize it was you until later. You’re in my fourth period. I watched you the rest of the day. You don’t talk to anyone. No one knows who you are. I asked around.”

  My chest puffed up. Pride swelled there.

  He looked taken aback, those eyebrows shooting up. “What? You feel good about that shit?”

  I frowned, my chest deflating a little. “Wouldn’t you?”

  “Fuck no. You have no friends here.”

  That stung. I blinked a few times, trying to erase the feel of that invisible hand across my face. “Uh. Thank you?”