The Elites

by Ruby Vincent

  “What?” His smile was soft as he stroked my hair. “Is it about Cole? I know you guys took it to the next level. I’m glad for you guys.”

  “You are?”

  He nodded. “Even though I think you’re perfect in every way, I want you to have all of your pieces back.”

  My lips trembled, sensing an onslaught of tears. My goodness, this boy is incredible. Every time I think I couldn’t love him more, he proves me wrong.

  “Thank you,” I replied, “but it’s not just Cole. I told you things changed between me and Derek after we found out the truth from Jonathan. I want to say yesterday we made it official but... we always were.” I shook my head. “We’ve been together from the start. We just didn’t know it yet.”

  “I knew it.” Landon pulled me closer, bringing our foreheads together. “I saw you two had a connection and as much as I bitched about Moon, Derek was the one I feared would steal you away.” His voice shook. “Is that what you have to tell me?”

  “No,” I cried. I made him look me in the eyes. “No, Landon Foster. I love you and I’m not going anywhere. It’s you I was worried would leave. I promised you one or two guys and I’ve given my heart to three. Can you be okay with this?”

  “I can be okay with any future that has you in it. You can give your heart to fifty more guys as long as I always have a piece.”

  “You do... and you will.”

  We froze with our lips just touching when someone cleared their throat.

  “Miss Manning, I presume. I’ve heard about you.”

  A woman I’d never seen before towered over us. Brightly painted toes stuck out of plain, boring brown sandals. She kept up the confusing look with bland khaki pants and a matching polo shirt to go with short, spiky electric blue hair. It wasn’t the uniform or the hair that told me not to mess with her. It was the toned, muscled body her simple clothes couldn’t conceal.

  “There are nine empty seats, Miss Manning. Hop in one.”

  “Who are you?” I blurted.

  “Welsh. I’m security and the cafeteria monitor. Last year you guys proved you’re not capable of eating in here without a problem. I’m here to make sure we don’t have any more.” She yanked out the chair next to Landon. “Sit.”

  I sat.

  Welsh nodded sharply and strode off. Landon turned to me when she was gone.

  “Don’t worry, baby. You can ride my lap tonight.”

  I swatted him upside the head and he fell over laughing. I had every intention of doing so, but that wasn’t the point.

  Cole returned with his breakfast and claimed the seat on my other side.

  “Where’s Michael?” I asked.

  He leaned over and gave me a quick kiss. “Went for a run. He said he’d catch us up at the assembly.”

  “The assembly. Argyle spilled some of the changes they’re going to announce. There’s no question they need to step up security after what happened to Cameron, but I have a feeling it will make it harder to see each other outside of meals.”

  “We’ll make it work,” he replied. “And even if I can’t spend time with you during the week, I’ll be with you on the weekends.”

  I rested my head on his shoulder. “That’s true. Mom said I could come up to Evergreen for the day. How about next weekend we take Toby out to the park and have a picnic?”

  “My parents are going out of town and Christina is up at college. I’ll be bending you over in the shower next weekend, but sure, we can do the picnic too.”

  I heaved a sigh. I also ended up with four guys with absolutely no filter.

  Landon spoke up, “Speaking of bending Zela over—”

  “We’re not speaking about that!”

  “—did she tell you she’s with Derek now?”

  “Really?” Cole snaked his arm around my waist. “It’s about time. It would have happened sooner if his parents hadn’t locked them in their gilded prison.” He shrugged. “I guess I understand them freaking out, but I hope they don’t blame you.”

  I blinked at him in surprise. “You’re okay with this too?”

  “Course I am. We all called it.”

  I smiled. “I admit I was worried. You guys are weird about Adam.”

  “Because we know that if anyone could steal you away for good, it’s Adam Moon. The guy has some devil charm hiding behind that innocent smile. He could make Argyle leave her husband and run away with him.”

  My mouth dropped open seeing Landon nodding along.

  “We like him too,” said Landon. “Adam doesn’t leave us much choice, but still, we know the truth about him. He better always see you as a friend.”

  “I love you both, but you’re certifiable. Besides, he wants Jordan and, let me tell you, my cousin isn’t one to mess with.”

  “Then we’re good,” Landon replied.

  Adam slid into his seat, shooting us all a bright smile. “Good about what?”

  Cole and Landon took one look at him and burst out laughing.

  “What? What is it?”

  We finished up our breakfast and headed over to the auditorium. Students were trickling in from all classes. We spotted Michael toward the front and I sat next to him and accepted a sweet, lingering kiss.

  “I believe you have something for me,” I said under my breath.

  “I do. You’ll get it later.”

  “Okay. On to other things I’m no longer waiting for...” I let my grin finish the sentence.

  Michael’s chuckle filled my ears. “How much do you trust me?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Good because we’re not doing it in the woods, behind the gym, or fumbling one out between classes. I’m going to take my time.”

  I clenched my knees together. Pressure built between my thighs. “So what does that mean?”

  “It means I’m making love to you in my bed. Upstairs. I’ve thought of a way that we won’t get caught.”

  “Yes,” I said before he finished the sentence. “Let’s do it.”

  He winked. “I’ll tell you when.”

  We spent the rest of the assembly flirting and hinting at what we’d do when we were finally alone. Argyle and Whittaker went through the new safety measures and it was essentially everything she told my mom. New locks, more security, and harsher punishments for students being unsafe.

  Afterward, I said bye to the boys and walked with Melody to the girls’ campus. As we passed students on the way up to the dorm, I didn’t have to question it. People were definitely staring at me.

  “WHERE DID YOU GO LAST night?” Melody picked up her brush and fussed with her flawless hair in the vanity mirror. “And this morning.”

  Heat licked at my cheeks. Last night I proved Landon right about my love of having sex outside and rolled around with him in the woods. Afterward, he fed me the chocolates he brought from Europe and held me until I almost fell asleep. I snuck back in before the locks clicked on by the skin of my teeth.

  This morning, Derek texted me to meet him in the basketball gym and we fooled around in the boys’ locker room. There was little chance of us getting caught. Singh gave his star player keys to the gym and we went there for early morning practices all the time. Now we had another reason.

  “I met up with the boys,” I replied. “Did I wake you leaving this morning?”

  “No, I was out. I didn’t notice you were gone until my alarm went off.” Melody picked up her curling iron. “How is that going? Dating four guys at once. Adam and I are technically in the multiple-partner situation but it doesn’t feel like it sometimes because I never see Jordan. All five of you go to the same school and they’re in the same class.”

  I took a minute, considering her questions. “It’s not as hard as people might think. Jordan once said she couldn’t date more than one guy because she’d play favorites, but it’s not like that with us. I’m their favorite girl, of course, but they’re each my favorite guy in different ways. I love how Michael supports me, Cole challenges me, Landon inspires me, and
Derek... Well, Derek infuriates me most of the time but I love that too.”

  Melody giggled. “You’re so lucky. It’s hard to find one decent guy—let alone four of them.”

  I gazed at her in the vanity. “Can I ask you something?”

  “Sure.”

  “You have a decent guy. You have an amazing guy. So... why are you breaking up with him?”

  Her hand stilled. “Adam told you about that?”

  I nodded.

  Melody lowered her head. Her hair fell over her face, obscuring her expression so I couldn’t see if my question angered her.

  “I’m sorry, Melody. It’s none of my—”

  “I don’t want to.” Her voice was small. I almost didn’t hear her. “He’s the kind of guy you could have forever with, and if I let myself, I could picture staying here, going to Somerset, getting engaged, and building a life with him. But that’s not my plan.

  “I’ve been accepted to the Sarbonne and my parents are making their move to Paris permanent after I graduate. I’m going to be top of my class, learn at least half as many languages as you, and then come back and work my way up the government. That is the plan. It’s always been the plan. But since I fell in love with Adam, I’ve been thinking of a new one... and that’s why we have to break up when senior year is over.

  “He makes me want to give up everything for him, but it’s not who I am, and he’s so amazing that he understands.” She lifted her head. Her reflection smiled at me, tears dripping onto her makeup. “I am giving up a great guy. I’m a fucking idiot.”

  “No, you’re not.” I rushed over and enfolded her in a hug. “If anything, you’re strong for knowing who you are. Adam wants to stay in Evergreen, be close to his family, and run Shea Industries. He won’t give that up either. It wouldn’t be better for one or both of you to end up resenting each other.”

  She cried harder. I rubbed soothing circles on her back.

  “You’re both going on to an incredible life,” I said. “You’ll meet some scorching hot French guy who respects your mind and treats you like a queen. Or maybe you’ll meet a string of hot French guys and pass it around like a day-old baguette.”

  A rough snort broke through her cries. Melody giggled into my chest.

  “The point is,” I continued, “you’ll have a great career and a great guy. I promise.”

  “Thanks, Zee. I see why you’re Adam’s best friend.”

  Melody untangled herself from me and reached for tissues. Twenty minutes later, she was perfection once again and we left for class. Along the way, girls attached themselves to us like barnacles on a passing boat.

  “How was your summer, Melody?”

  “Did you get into your top choice, Melody?”

  “Melody, are you seriously hanging with her?”

  We paused on the second-floor landing. Everly and her crew were posted against the wall, passing a box of chocolate croissants back and forth. Adeline actually offered one to Melody. She accepted it.

  “Thanks,” Melody said, “and to answer your question, yes. I am hanging with her. Why? You don’t believe that shit about her attacking Cameron, do you?”

  Sensing a presence at my back, I turned and saw we were attracting a crowd. Girls stopped dead on the staircase, clogging up the path for the rest of the classes.

  To my surprise, Everly snorted. “No. Grayson backs up her alibi and the police say Cameron was beaten. I don’t see this one taking him in a fight.” Everly looked at me as she said, “She may not have killed him but she has been stirring shit up since she got here.”

  “Zee is cool and she’s my friend.” Melody took another croissant and pointedly handed it to me. “We Elites have to stick together, right?”

  “That’s right. Don’t you agree, Manning?”

  I bit off a piece and moaned. “I agree these are delicious. Keep ’em coming and we can all be friends.”

  She sniffed. “We’ll see.”

  Melody snagged my sleeve and continued on. I waited until we were out of earshot.

  “Is she always like that?”

  “Yes.”

  I peered over my shoulder. “Why is she cool with you, then? You fight back against the system.”

  “She doesn’t believe I can do it, or that I truly want to. Most of the girls are convinced it’s all a show to look good for colleges and something I can point to when I’m running for president. You know, proof that I was always socially conscious. She doesn’t see me as a threat”—she pulled me up short—“but she does see you as one. You’ve proven you’re for real and you’re dating Landon Foster, who she had a massive crush on in middle school.” She cracked a smile. “They almost hooked up freshman year, but Zeke got there first.”

  “For the love of— Do all of those girls have a history with my boyfriends?”

  “We come from a small town and we’ve been going to school together since preschool. We don’t have a lot of options.”

  “I’m really missing the boys’ side right now.”

  “Don’t.” Melody squeezed my hand. “Everly is all bark and you won’t have to deal with her for long. In the meantime, think of the good we can do on this campus. The boys have been shaken up but the girls are still trying to go along like everything is fine. We’ll wake them up.”

  “I can’t think of a better way to spend my senior year.”

  We polished off our chocolate croissants and continued up to the top floor. It struck me how similar this space was to the boys’ campus, right down to the popcorn ceiling and letters stamped on the entrances.

  I consulted my schedule. Our classroom was at the very end of the hall. Room 404. Mrs. Munoz’s class.

  We walked past the club sign-up sheet and a twinge of regret slowed me down. Archimedean Club shown proudly on the bright yellow butcher paper.

  But it won’t be my Archimedean Club and it won’t be Mrs. Peterson. I told Mom I wanted to stay so things wouldn’t change, but everything is different now.

  “Zee? Are you okay?”

  I shook myself. “Yeah. I’m fine. Let’s go.”

  Room 404 was much like I expected. The only difference was the desk and chair shoved in the corner in the back by the bookshelves. I didn’t bother to ask the diminutive older woman shuffling in front of the board if it was mine.

  Melody placed her things on a seat at the front and gave me a supportive wink. It made me really want to speak to my guys and I slipped my phone out beneath my desk.

  Me: I miss you. Love you. Have a good first day.

  Their replies came back one after the other.

  Michael: I miss you too. It’s not the same without you.

  Landon: Love you too, baby. Let’s meet up after dinner again.

  Cole: Good news is I’ll be valedictorian and captain of Archimedean Club this year. Winning because your opponent is out of the game still counts.

  Why am I in love with this asshole?

  The feeling only compounded when I read Derek’s text.

  Derek: You saw me literally an hour ago. Why is your clingy ass missing me already?

  Pinching the bridge of my nose, I stifled a groan. Someone really needs to talk to me about my taste in guys. I’d say it should be my therapist, but Val and I have gotten too close and too real. She let me know all about her past with her men and she was the queen of taming assholes.

  I have a feeling Derek Grayson cannot be tamed.

  My phone vibrated again.

  Derek: I love you too.

  My smile made my cheeks hurt. Okay. Maybe I could soothe this savage beast.

  “Miss Manning?”

  I jumped. The diminutive woman was suddenly in front of me.

  “There are no cell phones in my classroom. I’ll take that. You can have it back by the end of the day.”

  I passed it over to hushed snickers. At some point, the class had filled up. Everly, Adeline, Isla, Shannon, and Melody took the desks one after the other in front of me. The girls on the other side of the
room I knew only by sight.

  “Good morning, everyone. I am your new teacher, Mrs. Munoz.” She set my phone down and turned to face us. “As we have a new addition, we’ll begin the day with introductions. Miss Hamilton, if you’ll start.”

  A girl with a multitude of colorful braids stood and waved to me. “Hey, Zela. I’m May Hamilton. I’m the girls’ wrestling champion and on track to be salutatorian after Melody. Can I just say, I’m super impressed with how you pretended to be a boy so you could hook up with every hot guy in our school. I respect a woman who goes after what she wants.”

  “Yeah!”

  The whoop was followed by applause from half of the class. A flush traveled up my neck. Please tell me people don’t honestly believe I went through the trouble of being Zeke to get guys.

  Well, you did do it for a guy, a voice reminded me.

  But it definitely wasn’t to have sex with him!

  No wonder people kept giving me strange looks.

  “That’s enough of that,” Mrs. Munoz snapped. “We do not cheer or encourage rule-breaking in this school. I expect better of young Elite ladies.”

  Her reprimand was supposed to be directed at May and the clappers, but Mrs. Munoz looked directly at me.

  “Next.”

  The girl behind May got to her feet. “I’m Jade. My sport is soccer. I just found out I won a full ride to Somerset University and a spot on their team.”

  The class clapped again and Munoz allowed it. Jade bowed and waved like this was all about her.

  “I’m Lauren. I’m also on the soccer team, but I’m getting my MBA from Har-vard!”

  “Congrats, Lauren.”

  The girls whooped and cheered for her and the introductions continued in much the same way. It was less about me and more about announcing their college acceptances and accomplishments. That was fine with me. I cheered them on same as everyone else.

  “Alright, alright,” Mrs. Munoz called. “Settle down. We have a lot to get into today, so let’s jump right in. The rules for my class are simple. Do not speak when I am speaking. Do not attempt to hand me late or incomplete work. Respect your fellow classmates. Respect the patch you wear on your chest. Is that clear?”

  “Yes, Mrs. Munoz,” we chorused.