Glass Heart Savage: A Dark High School Bully Romance (Glass Heart Academy Book 1)

by Lindsey Iler

  “Whoa! This is bullshit.” Breaker puts the vehicle in park and jumps from the driver’s side, catching us on the sidewalk. “How did you just squeeze your big ass into the middle of my personal wet dream?” His finger dances between Delaney and Palmer.

  “Oh, no, I’m not getting busted for sneaking a boy into the dorm. That’s all Palmer.” Delaney holds her hands up in surrender. “Tomorrow morning, pick me up. I like my coffee with sugar and cream.”

  “Who said I was going to pick you up?” Breaker’s arms spread wide.

  “I just did.” She grins at him. “See you in the morning, Barrett.”

  “Oh, come on. No one calls me that.”

  At his displeasure, Palmer and I laugh as spectators of this odd exchange.

  “I’m not no one,” Delaney rebuts.

  “You sure as fuck aren’t.” Breaker smacks her ass as she walks towards the dorm. She pokes her pin into the keyboard, and it clicks, allowing her entrance.

  The stars twinkle above us. Other than the obvious body we’d stumbled upon, I’d say the night has been rather successful and a little more confusing than I prefer.

  “Soooo.” Breaker shoots a thumb towards the Escalade. “I guess I’m just going to go because the only other alternative is to watch the two of you daydream about touching each other. As much as I’m into some kink, that sort of makes even me feel uncomfortable.”

  “Bye, Breaker,” I call out.

  “Unless”— he turns, holding up his index finger— “you’re willing to let me join.”

  “Bye, Breaker.” Palmer plants her hand on his chest and shoves him, never dropping her eyes from me.

  “It was worth a try, and don’t think for a second I’m not offended by the fact you let Byron into those jeans and not me.”

  “Consider it a lapse in judgment.” Palmer winks at me.

  Breaker covers his heart with both hands and walks backwards to the curb. “Let it be known, I’m not against you having another lapse in judgment, pretty girl.”

  I step towards him, and he yelps as he jumps behind the wheel, slamming the door before I can wrap my hands around his neck. He rolls the window down and grins.

  “Go home,” I demand.

  He drives off, leaving the echo of his laughter behind him.

  I turn and find Palmer watching me.

  “He’s a fucking handful,” she says.

  “I didn’t jump from the car to talk about my friends, Palmer.” My steps are easy. Once I’m in front of her, I wrap my arm around her waist and sweep her against me. “Now, what’s your game plan to sneak me into your dorm?”

  She smacks my chest. “Don’t act like you haven’t snuck into a girl’s dorm room before.” I follow her to the door. She bashfully pretends to hide her code.

  “You know if I wanted your pin, I could easily have it,” I whisper in her ear. She tilts her head to the side. The grin on her lips tells me she’s amused by my threat. Her skin is velvet against my lips as I kiss a path beneath her ear. I pull back, teasing her. “Now, take me to bed. I’m exhausted.” Pulling my phone out, I send a quick text to Dixon.

  Hand in hand she leads me through the dorms, tiptoeing around every corner. It’s cute how she actually thinks we’ll be caught. One thing about Glass Heart Academy is they try their best to keep us boys and girls separated. Dorms on opposite sides of campus is a nice trick, but one thing they don’t have on us is our drive to connect body parts. We have them beat there, and no amount of space is going to keep a bunch of horny teenagers away from each other.

  I scoff when Palmer stops at the top of the steps and tells me to wait there. Not listening to her, I push past her and say not so quietly, “You going to let me in?”

  She races towards me, covering my mouth with her hands. “Are you insane?”

  “What?” I say against her palm. My shock is an act. It’s late. Everyone is asleep, but that doesn’t matter. Even if someone comes out of their room, they’ll see it’s me, turn around, and fall peacefully back to sleep.

  “Everyone is sleeping, and you’re yelling.” She stomps by me to her door.

  “Haven’t you figured it out yet, sweetheart?” I tug at the back of her shirt. She glares at me and unlocks her dorm room. Annoying Palmer Weston is quickly becoming my favorite thing to do. “I don’t get caught.” My hands grip her waist, guiding her inside her own room. With a kick of the door, we are hidden away, again.

  Something I’m learning quickly with Palmer is once is never enough. There is not enough time to touch, not enough body to devour, and this is starting to be a problem, for more reasons than my salacious hunger for her.

  She hurries around her room, picking up clothes and putting dishes in her small sink. I’ve been in here before, but I never realized how small the space is.

  Palmer bends over the laundry hamper in the corner. “I don’t think I have anything that will fit you.”

  She stands and spins the moment I drop my jeans to the floor. “It’s okay.” Like I own the place, I rip off my shirt and pull back the covers on her bed. “After you.”

  “You live this life where you say jump, and everyone says, ‘how high,’ don’t you?” She undresses, and I wonder if she realizes she’s doing the exact thing she’s complaining about. “It’s like you are incapable of being told no.” She slips into a pair of pajama shorts and a tank top. Clothes are pointless, but if she wants to feel better about bending to my will, then that’s on her. “What makes you so damn special, huh?” She slips under her comforter and aggressively tucks it under her arms. A tizzy fit has never been so hot. She glares up at me when she notices my smile. “What? Why are you looking at me like that?”

  I stand at the edge of her mattress, gazing at her, surprised by my own thoughts. “Why?”

  “Why, what?” She fidgets under my scrutiny.

  “Why are you so willing to jump into bed with me? Every time you have a chance to put your guard up, you let me push down another brick you’ve built around yourself.”

  “Honestly?” Her eyebrow raises. “I’m not sure. There’s something about you, even with how cruel you’ve been towards me.”

  “I haven’t been any way towards you.”

  “Avoidance, pure disdain, it’s the same thing, Marek. You four made me feel invisible. Sometimes that can be worse than blatant hatred.”

  “Seeing you around campus, after Reed went missing, it was hard. It’s that simple.”

  “Right, because you all had a relationship with her I’d never begin to understand.”

  “We weren’t meant to be understood, Palmer. We were what we were.” I slip in beside her.

  She reluctantly folds herself into my side. Silence takes over, neither of us sure what to say.

  While running light lines on her back, she squirms. “Tonight, Marek, seeing Georgina’s body was hard. I don’t think I’ll ever get that girl’s face out of my mind.”

  “They’ll figure out who did it, Palmer.”

  “After my sister, I was afraid to walk through campus. Every day it got easier, but now, it feels like a threat lies within these walls.” She lifts her head to look at me.

  You have no idea, sweetheart.

  I brush my fingers through the front of her hair. “Everything is going to be okay.”

  “You can’t promise that.”

  “Guys like me can’t make promises. You’re right about that.” I kiss the crown of her head, knowing damn well, at some point, Palmer’s fear will catch up to her.

  “What can you do, then?” She breathes out the words.

  The hidden message sends a wave of desire through my body. I twist, rolling her onto her back, me tucked perfectly between her legs.

  We spend the night doing what we do best together. Forgetting. She knows what I want and isn’t afraid to allow me to push the boundaries, maybe a little too far, too soon. There’s some sick thrill that rushes through me when I see her eyes widen from what my hands are doing to her. She’s afraid she�
��ll like it. When the fear turns to excitement, her lips turn up with approval.

  Palmer falls asleep in my arms, and I spend an hour touching every piece of exposed skin. She’s a fucking saint, and here I am, wrecking her body and mind without a second thought.

  My phone vibrates, and I blindly search for it. I slip out of Palmer’s bed and reach into my pocket.

  Two words on the screen from Byron disrupt everything in my life.

  One week.

  Chapter Nine

  Palmer

  News of Georgina Matthews traveled fast. I had no doubt it would once the family was alerted. Her father is a senator and her mother a contributor to important organizations throughout our state. Many may consider her a socialite from the outside, but those who know the changes she’s made for high profile social issues know different.

  She’s a childless saint now.

  This week, they buried their daughter with no answers. Our families are connected in that right. It’s unjust and cruel, but I couldn’t stop the pity party in my mind during the funeral.

  At least this family has a body to bury.

  As if Marek knew I was upset, he stood beside me and held my hand.

  Since that day, things have been off between us. I’m not naïve enough to think what we have is going past anything physical. I’m also not willing to lie to myself and pretend like him pulling back enough to make me notice doesn’t sting.

  “You ready to go?” Delaney pops her head into my open dorm room.

  I finish smearing lipstick on and grab my purse. “Yeah, I’m all set.”

  Delaney and I walk arm-in-arm to the auditorium. There’s a bite in the air, and I hold my uniform jacket tighter in the front to block the wind.

  “I still think it’s weird they’re giving us an award for finding Georgina’s body. It’s not like we were looking for her. We were drinking in the woods, and they want to give us some sort of accolade for it.”

  I barely hear anything she says. My eyes are too focused on Marek. He stands outside of the auditorium with Dixon, Byron, and Breaker. They’re wearing black slacks and black dress shirts, looking more like a unit than ever before. Four boys capable of ungodly things stand between me and a room full of alumni, teachers, board members, and family.

  “Looking good, Palmer.” Breaker wraps one arm around Delaney, tugging her close to his side. They’ve grown closer as Marek and I have drifted apart. She seems to like him, and I’m happy for her. Breaker is a lot of things, but when he decides to thaw out for someone, there’s no turning back.

  “Thanks.” I nod my head to the side. Marek follows me. “What’s going on with you?”

  “With me?” He tucks his hands in his pockets, not able to make eye contact with me. Over his shoulder, the three boys have their stone-cold stares locked on us. “Nothing is going on with me. I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

  “Okay, you know what, I don’t have time for this. We did what we did. It was fun, but don’t feel like you owe me anything.” I quicken my steps.

  “I don’t feel like I owe you anything.” He turns around and returns to the boys.

  There’s a feeling in the air that could be cut with a knife. As I pass by them near the auditorium doors, all eyes are on me. Delaney releases her hold on Breaker and follows behind me. We sit in the front row where our name plates are. Delaney. Me. Byron. Marek. Dixon. Breaker.

  Delaney sits while I pause in front of my seat. Marek pushes through the crowd, switches the gold name plates, and claims the seat next to mine. I stand over him, staring at his odd behavior.

  “Don’t overthink this shit, Palmer,” he rasps. “Sit down.”

  “Why are you so angry?” I accuse. “I can feel the hatred radiating off you. It’s practically lethal.”

  “I’ve got some shit going on that’s truly none of your damn business.” He glares at me out of the corner of his eye, never turning his head to actually speak to me. “I want to get through this ceremony and spend my weekend blackout drunk. Is that what you want to hear?”

  “Not really,” I whisper.

  The lights dim. This is the annual alumni ceremony Glass Heart Academy holds after the year begins. It’s a way for the privileged and elite to toot their own horns, a way to stretch their reach a little further to prove how powerful they are because of this place.

  The row of chairs on the stage is for the alumni being recognized. In the middle of the bunch sits Declan Dumas. As soon as Delaney spots him, she hisses a breath in. From his position above her, hunger and hatred mixes in the pools of his eyes. Dixon appears in front of Delaney and grabs her arm, leading her to the seat beside Breaker that he’d abandoned. I lean forward to see Breaker’s arm draped in front of her, protecting her from the predator on the stage.

  “Heroes hide in unexpected places, Palmer,” Dixon whispers in my ear.

  “What is with you boys and your cryptic messages?” Fussing with the hem of my skirt, I glance at him.

  This is truly the first time we’ve spoken directly to each other. He’s quiet, always fading into the shadow of the other three. There’s something about him though that makes me believe he’s the most lethal of them.

  He never answers me. He sits through the ceremony in silence and never claps after any of the presentations. In fact, none of them do. They sit with their backs straight like they can’t be bothered with any of the mundane academy traditions.

  Dean Eberstark stands behind the podium introducing the next recipient. He goes through a list of this man’s accomplishments. I’m impressed by how highly our dean speaks of this guy.

  “Please give a warm welcome to Henry Lexington.”

  Marek stiffens in his seat. I flick my attention to him and see his eyes wide. For the first time, I think I’m seeing what it means for Marek to be caught off guard.

  “Thank you, Dean Eberstark,” Henry says into the mic. His eyes shift to Marek, and he winks. It’s not playful or friendly. It’s harsh, sending a message to anyone who is willing to pay close enough attention. No one does, though. No one except me.

  “Fuck,” Marek mumbles and fidgets.

  I run my finger over his hand, hidden under the arm rest, so no one can see. He twists his head sharply towards me and dips his stare to where I’ve connected us. His pinky is all he gives me, running it along mine. His breaths even out, no longer beating at his chest, and once they are back to normal, he pulls his hand away from mine.

  Henry Lexington boasts of everything he’s done since leaving Glass Heart Academy. He takes a few minutes to speak of his pride of handing down the tradition to his godson, never using Marek’s name, keeping his hidden legacy safe from anyone who is willing to use it against Marek.

  Henry receives loud applause from the audience. As he finishes, I catch sight of Mr. and Mrs. Matthews entering the stage. Dean Eberstark says a lot of nice things about Georgina, highlighting her academic and social standing on campus. Georgina had been loved by all who she allowed in, always willing to give a hand when needed. When I die, I hope someone can say the same about me.

  “She is a girl who will be missed,” he says, offering the microphone to Mrs. Matthews.

  “We never expected to lose our daughter at such a young age. She was a light in our life, a beacon of hope, and I hope that every time you pass the lantern outside of this building, you’ll think of her and the legacy she is leaving behind.” Mrs. Matthews dries her tears. “If it wasn’t for these four sitting in this front row, I’m not sure if we’d have the closure every family deserves.”

  At that, the heat of their stares hit me. Reed’s disappearance is no secret. It was a running story on the news for weeks. They know what we were left with, and what we are desperate for, like any family would be. Closure. The thing about closure is it’s hard to find without a physical body to bury. Seeing her with my own eyes wouldn’t make things easier, but anything has to be easier than my sense of hope dying a little more each day. Laying her to rest woul
d mean I can quit looking for her around every corner.

  “Palmer, would you mind saying a few words?” she asks.

  Earlier this week, she had called me as I was walking into chemistry, to see if I would talk at the part of the ceremony dedicated to Georgina. I didn’t feel comfortable telling her no. I don’t feel comfortable speaking, either. I took the lesser of two evils and agreed.

  I stand, leaving my purse on the seat. Marek reaches out like he wants to say something, but quickly sits back. His chin drops to his chest and stays as I begin my short speech.

  The mic squeals at my final words, and I step back from the podium, ready to get out of here.

  Only my voice continues pouring through the auditorium speakers. I look around and see everyone sitting up a little straighter.

  “Everyone loves Reed. She’s the pride and joy of Glass Heart Academy, but me, I’m a nobody.” My lips don’t move, and yet I hear my voice. “Maybe now that she’s gone, I can finally get the recognition I deserve.”

  I glare at Marek, but he’s not brave enough to look at me. The mic shakes in my hand. As soon as I hear Marek’s voice, tears well up, and I brush them away.

  “Baby, you’re nothing like your sister.” He’s right about that. “Admit it, you were a little bit relieved when you found out about her going missing?”

  Dixon grins like he couldn’t be prouder of himself. Byron has the decency to seem surprised, saving face in front of the other staff members, of course. Breaker is whispering something to Delaney, forcing her close as she tries to push him away.

  “Of course, I was. Reed was an entitled bitch. Whoever killed her did us all a favor.”

  The microphone slips from my hand and hits the wood planks on the stage. It cackles and pops from the impact. I hustle down the steps and come face-to-face with the boys. Marek keeps his head down, unlike the others, and Dixon hands me my purse.

  Byron steps in front of me, blocking my exit. His hands clasp my biceps, keeping me from leaving. “It should have been you. Not her.”

  I finally break away from his grasp and walk up the aisle to storm out of the auditorium. My classmates offer me a slow clap for a performance that wasn’t truly mine. A few spew obscenities at me as I pass. I’d agree with their nasty names if it had actually been me on the recording and not some twisted prank.