by Ruby Vincent
“I noticed you and Derek reading those Pendergast books and picked some up. Can we talk about that last one?” he cried.
“Oh my gosh, yes. Was your mind blown because mine was? We’re talking splattered on the pavement.”
Adam and I spent the rest of the day goofing off in our room, and if we stopped once in a while to grin at a text, neither of us needed to ask why.
MONDAY MORNING CAME much too quickly. Adam and I dressed and headed out to breakfast. The smell of home fries and sausages reached us before we got to the doors.
Justin, Owen, Tanner, and Nico were digging into their food when we joined them.
Nico threw down his fork. “Guys!”
“Good morning to you, too,” I said.
He waved that away and leaned across the table. “You were at the dance. Did you see it? What happened after?”
“What are you talking about?”
Nico was ready for the question. He slid his phone across the table. “That’s what I’m talking about.”
Adam and I bumped heads leaning in to look. I squinted at the photograph.
The decorations and the lights. This is the dance and... what’s on the projector screen? It looks like an—
“Upside-down A,” said Adam. “For All.”
“Oh no,” I whispered. “Did something happen?”
Nico shook his head. “It showed up on the screen for a few minutes during the slideshow and that was it. There was no prank or attack against the Elites.” He frowned. “How did you guys miss it?”
“We left the dance early,” Adam replied. “We didn’t hear anything.”
“What do you think it means?” asked Justin.
Tanner swept his long, brown hair from his face. “Isn’t it obvious? It means he’s back.”
“READ THE NEXT TWO CHAPTERS for homework tonight,” announced O’Quinn. “One last thing before you go.”
I paused with my finger on my backpack’s zipper. Her voice was laced with more than her standard seriousness.
“By now you all have heard about the incident at the dance,” she said. “The students are fine and no one has reported harm or that their things were tampered with, missing, or stolen. The attacks by this For All have so far been focused on one group, but in light of recent events, the principal wishes us to remind you of these safety methods to ensure there are no more incidents.”
O’Quinn reached behind her and picked up a sheet of paper. “First, students should not leave their belongings unattended. Second, if you have reason to believe your belongings have been tampered with, find a member of staff immediately. Keep your door locked when you are out of your room.”
O’Quinn rattled off the safety instructions. I couldn’t believe this was happening again. Argyle knew I wasn’t behind the attacks, so what did Cameron have to gain by starting them up again?
“That’s all,” said our teacher. “You may go now.”
Adam and I walked out to discover someone waiting for me.
“I’m going to get in some pool time with the meet coming up,” Adam said. “I’ll see you after, Zee. Bye, Landon.”
“See ya,” Landon called, sounding downright pleasant. He was cool with Adam again now that he knew our relationship was a ploy to make him jealous.
I did not take into account how smug he’d get about it.
Landon grinned and put his arm around me. He boldly kissed my cheek.
“What are you doing here?” I asked.
“I’m walking you to your meeting.”
“That’s sweet of you.” I nuzzled into his shoulder, breathing him in.
“I have ulterior motives. I was hoping you would come up to my room tonight. We can give that talking thing another try.”
I tilted my head back to look at him. “Just talk?”
“And some other things?”
I chuckled. “We should put the other things on hold until after the talking and studying. That way it will actually happen. Finals are in two weeks. We have to focus.”
“Whatever you want, Zee. As long as the night ends with you in my bed.”
My heart dangerously skipped a couple of beats. There was no other way for the night to end when he said things like that.
Landon deposited me in front of an Elite classroom and then leaned in.
“Are you sure?” I whispered. “You’re kissing Zela, but everyone else thinks you’re kissing Zeke. If you’re not ready for people to know, then don’t feel like you have to because of me.”
Landon kissed me so thoroughly my knees went weak. I wobbled as we broke apart.
“It wasn’t so much a secret as it was no one’s business,” he whispered against my lips. “I don’t care who knows.” Landon pulled back and winked. “I’ll see you tonight.”
“Isn’t that nice?”
I stiffened.
“You’ve managed to fool Foster again. I knew he wasn’t over you.” Cole stepped in front of me. “What are you going to do to him now? Blind him for good?”
“I’m not For All, Cole. How many times do I have to say it? I wasn’t even there when his mark flashed at the dance. Landon will tell you the same thing. I’m innocent.” I stepped closer. “Deep down you know it, but you won’t let yourself believe it because it’ll mean admitting you made a terrible mistake, and we can’t have people think Cole Reed isn’t perfect.”
Cole didn’t flinch or back down. Just the opposite. He moved in until our chests bumped. “I won’t admit shit because there’s something off about you and there always has been. No one else sees it, but I do.
“You follow Derek around like a little puppy when no one in their right mind would put up with that dick. You pretend you don’t care about being an F, but it bothers that you’re not seen as the smartest anymore. That’s why you have to prove it every day and this Battle Doctor stuff is just more of the same.”
I swallowed hard and pulled my fists into the sleeves of my jacket. I wouldn’t let him see them shake.
“You want me to believe you,” he said softly. “Tell me what you’re hiding. The truth—right here, right now.
“Right now!”
I went rigid. The room twirled and the white walls morphed into a merry-go-round of women pushing strollers and packs of teens loaded down with bags.
“Come back here right now! I said no candy.”
The toddler wailed.
“Wait!” There was so much noise—screaming, crying, laughing, arguing. The tiny voice tried to rise above the din. “Wait for me!”
“That’s what I thought.”
Gasping, I stumbled and crashed into the wall. My whole body shook. If the wall wasn’t holding me up, I might have collapsed to the floor.
Why is this happening?! They haven’t been that vivid in a long time. Why is it all coming back?!
I heard a door slam shut. Cole had left me and went to the club meeting. I forced myself off the wall.
It’s okay, Zela. It’s not real. It’s not real.
I repeated that to myself as I trudged inside. It was time for the Future Leaders Club meeting. I needed to focus on what I was here to do.
“Good afternoon, gentlemen.” Mrs. Clancy waved us in from the front of the room. Her classroom fit the excellence one would expect from the Elite. Ten desks, ten chairs, and all of it more expensive than the entire F Wing’s budget.
“Please, take your seats.”
There were fifteen students in the club so a few of us had to double up. I took a chair and placed it directly next to Cole. He scowled and got up from his chair.
“I said take your seat, Mr. Reed.”
“But, Mrs. Clancy—”
“Sit.”
He sat down, scowling harder.
Clancy cleared her throat. “Now, let’s begin. Today we’re voting on our club leaders. We need to choose a president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and parliamentarian. You will take on real responsibility, so if you don’t feel you can devote the necessary time and
effort to the position, do not put your name forward.
“First, raise your hand if you’d like to be president.”
Two hands shot into the air. Cole threw me a withering glare.
“What are you doing?” he snapped.
I raised my hand higher. “What does it look like?”
“Okay,” said Clancy. “Mr. Reed and Mr. Manning for president. On to vice president.”
Clancy collected the names. In the end, it was down to three for vice president and two for president. She had us each come up and make a speech.
“I’m the obvious choice for president,” Cole began. “I’m an Elite student who proves every day that I can handle a rigorous schedule on top of athletics. My opponent can’t even handle making it to the placement test on time.”
I clenched my jaw as the other guys snickered.
“You know me. You know that I’ll get the job done. Vote for me.”
That was it. Short and sweet.
Cole sat down to applause. I got up and claimed my spot in front of Clancy’s desk before the room.
“Cole is right,” I said clearly. “I missed my placement test. I got put in the F Class. I sleep in a cramp dorm and don’t get any privileges.
“Who gives a shit,” I said clearly
Some of the guys stifled a laugh, looking at me in surprise.
“Keep it clean, Mr. Manning,” Clancy warned.
“I’m serious,” I went on. “Does any of that matter as much as the fact that I got into this club anyway? Beat out the precious A that was supposed to be so much better than me. Does it matter as much as me having the highest G.P.A in our grade and that I’ll beat out Cole this semester.”
Cole surged to his feet. “The fuck you will!”
“Language, Mr. Reed!” Clancy barked.
He plopped down, red faced, and I gave him a wink.
“Does it matter as much as me having the qualities of a leader?” I went on. “If I want something, I not only go for it, I make it happen. You guys know me too. You know I’m not afraid of a challenge. You know I turn a defeat into a success.”
I held out my hands. “If all of that is not enough, consider that I’ll truly make the club my first priority, while Cole Reed’s priority will always be the swim team, and he doesn’t hide that fact. He’d drop the club for a meet or practice without hesitating.”
Cole’s flush deepened. He couldn’t jump around shouting at me for this one. Just last week he missed a meeting for the swim team.
“My last and most important point... I’m much nicer than Cole Reed.”
Cracking up, the club applauded me to my seat. His glare could have flayed the skin from my face but I smirked.
The votes were tallied. Zeke Manning was the president of the Future Leaders club.
“YOU SHOULD HAVE SEEN his face, Adam. Next, I become captain of Archimedean and claim top spot in our year. He’ll lose his mind.”
I held open the door for Adam as we walked into the dorm building. “That would do it for sure.”
“What about the meet?”
Thursday had rolled around which brought the day of the swim meet. Nelson didn’t make a formal announcement, but it was an open secret among the team that he would choose the captain on the results of the competition.
“I wish I could be there to see you.”
Adam squeezed my shoulder. “I know you’re cheering me on wherever you are. Stay. Study. I’m going to hold up my end of the plan.”
A smile stretched across my lips. “Thanks.”
“What about Michael?”
The smile didn’t hold. “Michael is a different situation now,” I said as we went down the hall. “But I’ve decided what I’m going to do about him.”
“He apologized to you. Has Cole or even Landon done that?”
That was a good point. “It’s okay,” I finally said. “I know how I’m going to handle it.”
“What are you— What is that?”
I followed Adam’s fingers to the gift lying in front of our door. I crouched down. “It doesn’t say if it’s for me or you,” I said.
“Why would anyone leave us this?” He opened the door and went in. I picked up the present.
“There was a gift here the other day too,” I said as I closed the door behind me. “A water bottle. I think it was from Landon. He probably left this too.”
“You think?” Adam bent before his trunk and pulled out his swimsuit. “Did he say anything to you about it?”
“No.”
“So it could just as easily be from someone else... like For All.”
“Cameron,” I stated. “Why would Cameron give me a water bottle? How would that fit into a revenge plot?”
“How does taking your mattress pad fit into a revenge plot?”
“Alright,” I mumbled. “Point one to Moon.”
“Settle it right now and ask Landon if he gave you the gift.”
“Okay.”
I took out my phone and shot him a text.
Me: Did you leave a present in front of my door today and after the dance?
He came back right away.
Landon: Nope, not me.
Landon: When are you coming up here? I want to do that thing again with your
I stopped reading right there and shut off the phone. I knew what he was alluding to and seeing it spelled out would have me fire engine red for the rest of the day.
I really need to get a handle on this guy. Rules are not slowing him down.
“It’s not from Landon,” I said to Adam’s questioning look. “What if it’s from Melody?”
He shook his head. “Melody’s not risking a month of detention getting caught in the boys’ dorm just to leave me something she can hand me at breakfast. Dump it in the trash.”
“But it could be from one of our other friends,” I protested.
“Do you think it was Tanner, Nico, Justin, Owen, or Derek that picked out that pretty purple wrapping paper and bright blue bow?”
“Fine,” I sighed. “Another point to Moon.” I moved over to my bin and dropped the gift in the trash.
“Hopefully it’s not a bomb.”
Adam laughed. “It’s not. Cameron doesn’t want to kill us... right?”
We both eyed the bin.
“Maybe I’ll put it in the dumpster outside,” I offered.
“Good idea.”
Adam got ready and took off for the meet. I decided to stay in the dorm to get some studying in. I had to ace these finals to have a chance of getting anywhere near the Elite scores, let alone Cole Reed’s.
I worked until the sun went down, only breaking once to take the pretty gift out to the dumpster. When I came back, Adam was standing in the middle of our room with a towel slung over his shoulder. He grinned.
“Don’t tell me,” I said as my cheeks split. “Are you...?”
“You’re looking at Breakbattle swim team’s newest captain.”
I screamed. Adam grunted as I threw myself at him and wrapped my legs around his waist. “Revenge aside, I’m so happy for you.”
Laughing, he hugged me tight. “I am too. It’s all because of you, Zee. You and I make a good team.”
THE NEXT MORNING, I woke before my alarm. It was dark in the room. The beginnings of sunlight peeked over the horizon, not yet strong enough to chase away the gloom. I dressed and went outside.
I knew he would be there. He was always there and he was always a sight to behold. I sat on the bleachers and watched him. It was a wonder if he was real. His body was a sculpted masterpiece made for one purpose: to fly. Gazing at him, it appeared as though his feet weren’t touching the track.
Michael broke step when he saw me. Veering off, he jogged over to the bleachers. Sweat glistened on his wrinkled forehead as he hovered over me. One thing I always liked about him was that he wasn’t a drippy, sweaty dude that soaked through his clothes if out in the sun for longer than two minutes.
No matter how hard, or fast, or l
ong Michael Young ran, he’d walk off the track covered in a light sheen that only made him look sexier.
He’s perfect, I thought. He’s the perfect guy. The perfect student. The perfect athlete. And now, he wants to give me the perfect apology.
Michael knelt before me as the silence stretched. “Zee? You okay?”
He wants to make everything right so he can go back to being the quiet, unassuming prodigy who never made a mistake and never had to pay for it.
Not this time.
“Did you mean it?” I whispered.
“Did I mean what?”
“You told me you’d do anything to make it up to me. Did you mean it?”
“Yes,” he breathed. Michael reached out and took my hands. To anyone looking on, we must have appeared a sweet pair. “I meant it. I’ll do anything. Just tell me.”
“Lose.”
His brows drew together. “Excuse me?”
“That’s what I want you to do.” The words fell from numb lips. “Lose.”
“I... don’t understand what that means.”
“Lose, Michael.” I stroked his hands with my thumbs, almost lovingly. “Every single race. I want you to lose.”
“What?” He pulled away like I burned. “You— I— I can’t do that!”
“Then, I can’t forgive you.”
His jaw worked. “But Zee, I have a team relying on me. Coach. My mom. They all expect me to—”
“And I had friends that I relied on to have my back, not watch while Zach stood on it. This is what I want you to do.”
He leaned in, eyes huge and shining. “Anything else, please. Scouts watch our games. This is my future we’re talking about.”
I stood. “Goodbye, Michael.”
“Wait. Don’t— Zee!”
I walked off and didn’t look back. Michael’s shouts followed me until the door slammed shut.
ADAM WAS AWAKE AND on his phone when I returned to the dorm.
“Morning,” I said. “Talking to Melody?”
“Nah. It’s Jordan.”
I heaved a sigh. “I swear you talk to my cousin more than me these days.”
“And don’t think she’s not pissed about it. You should call her. She wants to talk to you.”