I’m not jealous. I’m not going to waste any of my precious pre-show energy wishing it was me Trey Bloomberg was touching.
Tillie stopped devouring Trey’s lips only long enough to glare up at me in triumph.
You don’t have anything to worry about, I wanted to yell at her. I have no interest in Trey Bloomberg whatsoever. And yet, my eyes kept trailing over to where he and Ayaz sat. Tillie straddled Trey’s chair, grinding her hips against his.
It’s like a sex show.
Greg must have noticed too. He elbowed me in the ribs. “Keep your eyes on the prize, honey. You’re trying to dethrone a King, not bed him.”
I snapped my head back, heat flaring in my cheeks. “That’s not—”
Dr. Halsey clapped her hands. “All right, if I could have your attention. Ms. Fairchild, if you could stop dry-humping Mr. Bloomberg for a moment, we can get these auditions started. Each person will perform one spoken piece and one song. You may perform in pairs or groups, but you’ll be judged separately. At the end of the audition, I’ll announce the lead roles, with supporting cast and backstage crew to be announced on a sheet outside my office tomorrow.”
“I’m first.” Courtney leaped to her feet and stalked on stage.
“Of course you are,” I muttered. Greg squeezed my hand.
Courtney performed Lady Macbeth’s famous speech, dropping dramatically to one knee as she delivered her final line. Her voice was clear, musical, and full of power and emotion. She was good, dammit.
Then she sat down behind the piano and sung. She’d chosen a Taylor Swift song, and she performed beautifully, her angelic voice soaring the full height of the auditorium. The way she batted her eyelashes and lifted her hands as she played made her look like she belonged on stage.
My heart leaped in my chest. “She’s good,” I whispered to Greg.
“Duh. Of course she is, honey. She’s been acting in commercials since she was three. But you’re better.”
After Courtney took her bow, Trey and Ayaz got up with three other guys and performed a scene from Bugsy Malone. They’d even nabbed some bowler hats to use as props. Their accents had everyone in hysterics. Everyone except me.
I don’t think I heard a single word of dialogue. If Greg asked me what the scene was about, I wouldn’t have been able to tell him. I was transfixed by the two dicksome Kings.
My eyes followed Trey and Ayaz around the stage, mesmerized by their strong, dramatic voices and the transformation in their features. When Trey rested that bowler hat on his face, every muscle in his body transformed. He stood differently, his inflection and accent changed, his face lit up with a passion I had no idea he could possess. He was in his element, but in a different way from Courtney. Where she craved the adoration of the crowd, the chance, Trey’s joy came from immersing himself in someone else’s story and using his own body to bring that story to life.
While Trey was a fox, Ayaz looked stunning. Something about the cut of that suit on his fit body and the way the black brought out his dark eyes made my chest tight. When he performed his lines, his features softened, his face losing its characteristic cruelty. I thought again of that sadness I’d seen in Ayaz’s eyes after the maggot incident and wondered what was going on in his life that made him who he was.
After their scene was done, Trey and Ayaz took their turn at a duet. Trey sat behind the piano and pounded out the jaunty tune while the pair of them sung about taking back New York City. They were amazing – their voices deep and resonant and note-perfect. Each note thrummed between my legs like foreplay.
Their polished performance made it clear to me just how much professional training they’d had. When Trey sang the last perfect note, the gathered students erupted into applause. Despite myself, I clapped, too. Greg gave me an odd look, and I lowered my hands.
One by one, the other students performed. It was a real mix of talent levels, with some obvious stars and some even more obvious uses for the vaudeville hook. Tillie’s screeching rendition of Lady Gaga’s ‘Poker Face’ was so awful Dr. Halsey stopped her after the second verse.
“Is there anyone else to audition?” Dr. Halsey called out.
“No.” Courtney leaped to her feet. “I’m obviously the lead, so I’m happy to start by—”
“We’d like to audition,” I called down from the back row.
“Of course. I’d forgotten you two were there.” Dr. Halsey smiled. “Please, take your turn now.”
As Greg and I descended the steps to the stage, Courtney’s girlfriends hissed at us. I heard someone mutter the word ‘fag-hag.’ Greg blanched and I resisted the urge to start punching monarchs.
Calm down. Beat them on stage instead.
Greg and I opened with a dramatic conversation between the main characters Veronica and JD – we’d drawn from the musical and the 90s film to create a cohesive short scene that showed off both our talents. Then I sat down at the piano, and we launched into our medley.
Greg’s voice had never sounded better. He shimmied and shuffled around the stage. Seeing him having so much fun spurned me on, and my notes rang brighter and carried more power. I closed my eyes, picturing my mom sitting at her piano at the jazz bar, playing and singing along with me. The notes flew off my fingers, and I knew I’d played and sang flawlessly.
We finished with our grand flourish. I kicked the stool so hard it toppled off the front of the stage. When we took our bow, only Dr. Halsey clapped. I opened my eyes and the first person I saw was Trey. He leaned against a folded seat, his arms folded, his head tilted to the side as he studied me. He didn’t look pissed off, just… curious.
Beside him, both Ayaz and Courtney were competing in the best Kanye West impersonation. They both looked livid, like their heads would explode.
“Congratulations, you two,” Dr. Halsey exclaimed. “I’ve seen enough. You’ve won the lead parts in our school production.”
Wow. I beamed. We did it! Two poor kids from the wrong side of the tracks actually beat the monarchs. Sweet revenge bubbled in my stomach, and I couldn’t keep the smile off my face. It took everything I had not to poke my tongue out at Courtney.
“But they’re scholarship students,” Courtney screeched. “They can’t take our roles—”
“The roles go to the best performers. Hazel and Greg did an amazing job. Well done.” Dr. Halsey looked genuinely pleased, which made a rare bubble of gratitude float through my chest. I wanted to have a teacher that I actually looked up to. “You’ve each earned 50 merit points, and an additional 10 points for every week you turn up to rehearsals on time and learn your lines.”
Wow. 50 points, just like that. Greg wrapped his arms around me in one of his comforting hugs. We did a little gleeful dance. As I stared over my shoulder, Courtney met my eyes. Her cheeks burned with red fire, and a cold smile played across her lips.
I beat her. My triumph turned to dust in my mouth. She’s never been beaten before.
I’m going to pay for this.
Chapter Nine
Word that Greg and I had landed the lead roles spread across school like herpes. As we made our way into the classroom wing the next morning, students tossed wadded-up balls of paper at us, yelling things like ‘gutter whore’ and ‘maggot faggot.’ Can’t they think up more imaginative insults?
One spitball hit Greg’s temple and stuck there. He raised a hand to brush it off, and the corner of a condom wrapper hit him in the side of the face.
I picked the wrapper off Greg’s shoulder and inspected it. Something about it looked strange – the company’s logo was more retro than I remembered it. Maybe it was some kind of limited edition condom. It would figure rich people would have something like that.
Courtney’s cruel eyes followed me all over the school. My stomach rumbled, but I didn’t dare eat anything in the dining hall in case she’d poisoned it. Adrenaline burned through my body as I sprinted between classes. Around every corner, I expected her to be waiting to visit some new torture on me.
As Greg, Andre, and I walked into physics class, a hand fell around my shoulder. Quinn’s dazzling eyes met mine, and his whole face broke into a smile. I pulled away. Quinn’s smiles meant trouble.
“Hey, Meat,” he cooed, wrapping his arm around my shoulders. The touch sent a shiver of desire through my body. When I overlooked Quinn’s crass comments, he was a funny, fun-loving and fucking gorgeous guy who was the life of a party. When he smiled, I got lost for a moment. In the real world, a guy like this taking an interest in me would have made me the luckiest girl in the world. But Derleth wasn’t the real world – it was a strange and mysterious realm where up was down, down was up, and all the hot guys were completely dicksome. “You know what they say about a prima donna – the most famous have the voice of an angel, but scream like a devil between the sheets. Want to come up to my room and serenade me?”
“Get off me,” I growled, even though that was honestly the last thing I wanted. Quinn’s fingers traced a circle on my shoulder, sending a line of fire straight through my body. All three of the Kings seemed to have the ability to set my body alight with heat.
Good thing I knew firsthand just how dangerous fire could be. I shrugged his hand away.
“Quinn, get over here,” Courtney said frostily from across the classroom.
“I’m chatting with someone,” Quinn called back.
“Silly boy.” She flashed him a smile that was laced with venom. “Don’t you know it’s bad manners to toy with your food?”
“Are you saying you want me to eat Hazel out?” Quinn’s lips grazed along my cheek, and my body buzzed with electricity. Yes, please. “Because I’m more than happy to oblige. I bet she hits the high notes when she comes—”
“Quinn!” Courtney screeched. She turned her desk away from him and whispered furiously to Tillie and Madison.
“Never mind her,” Quinn smiled at me. “Sour grapes. So, Hazy, are you ready for me to cash in the first of my favors?”
I stopped in my tracks. “Did you just call me Hazy?”
“I’m testing out nicknames for you.”
“Nicknames are generally given to a person by someone they like.”
Quinn clutched his heart. “And you don’t like me? Why, Hazy, I’m mortally wounded. To make it up to me, you’re coming to a party next weekend.”
Behind me, Courtney’s breath sucked in. I had to admit, I kind of liked that.
“I’ll see,” I shrugged. My heart thudded against my chest so loud he must’ve been able to hear it. “I might be busy.”
“That would be too bad, Hazy,” Quinn’s voice lowered, his words soft against my ear, so only I could hear them. “I wouldn’t want you to miss out on all the fun.”
His lips formed the last word against my cheek, the touch lingering for a moment. In that moment was everything – a promise, a temptation, a blazing fire igniting inside me. Heat shot along my veins and pooled into a deep need within my belly.
Instinctively, my fingers reached to press the mark on my wrist. Why is it the Kings always make me think of fire?
“I’ll see you next Saturday.” Quinn’s face broke out into a smile as he gave me a wave and slid into a seat.
I took my seat at the back of the class, aware that every eye in the room followed me. Courtney and Tillie stared daggers at me. Greg leaned over and whispered. “You just got asked on a date by Quinn Delacorte.”
“No, I didn’t,” I rubbed the spot on my cheek where Quinn kissed me. It still burned with that intoxicating fire. “He wants me to go to some stupid party so he can torture me.”
“Close, but not true. He wants you to go to some stupid party so he can bed you in a manly fashion.” Greg’s eyes glittered. “I’m so excited. You have to let me do your hair.”
“That’s not—” My words died in my throat as Quinn turned around and flashed me another smile. I studied his features but could see no hint of malice in him. He looked excited, like this party was actually something he was looking forward to.
Looking forward to trying to get into my panties, more like.
Maybe Greg’s right. I would have to ponder this new development. Kings and peasants weren’t supposed to mix. That was probably the appeal I held for Quinn. He’d already had his pick of the Queens and their courtesans, several times over if the rumors about him were even a quarter true. They weren’t a challenge anymore, and Quinn was the kind of guy who chased pleasure and sport wherever he could find it.
I was the new girl. I was the one taking on the monarchs. I was forbidden fruit. I just didn’t know yet how I felt about being Quinn’s new sport.
The rest of the day passed in a blur. I felt eyes on me wherever I went, but the whispers of ‘gutter whore’ had mostly stopped. Instead, everyone seemed to be talking about how Courtney and Quinn were on the rocks. I wouldn’t have guessed from watching Quinn, who was even louder and funnier in class than usual. I knew now why he had a negative number of points – he never did any assignments and spent all his time talking back to the teachers.
I glimpsed the Queen herself across the dining hall at lunch, sitting on the end of the monarchs’ table. She poked at her salad and whispered to Tillie, the pair of them shooting filthy glances at me even though Quinn flung his arm around Amber’s neck.
I hated to admit it, but watching Quinn cozy up to Amber after he’d asked me to that party made me feel prickly inside.
My afternoon class was my elective. I chose Ancient History because it sounded interesting and was taught by Dr. Morgan, the general history teacher who I adored with his patched tweed jacket and rambling asides into the darker parts of history. I’d checked the textbook out from the library, but I needed to swing by my locker to pick it up. As I shoved my way through the press of students, Greg came up alongside me.
“Hey, honey. You better watch yourself. Rumor has it that Courtney is out for your blood,” he purred.
“Tell me something I don’t know,” I muttered, hugging my books closer to my chest.
“I want to know all the details about that party. They hold them in a secret location – no outsiders allowed. You’ve got to report back – who hooks up with who? What did everyone wear? I’ll do your makeup, of course, and we’ll see what we can do about that hair of yours.” He touched a dreadlock that had fallen out the side of my bandana and shuddered.
I tucked the dreadlock back inside my bandana. “We could do all that stuff, except that I’m not going.”
“You have to go. You owe it to me, your best friend.” Greg leaned against the door beside my locker, holding his hand over his heart. “Can you take a camera? Or maybe just your notebook… make a few quick sketches…”
“Maybe Quinn will take you instead of me. I think you’d make a hot couple.” I swung open my locker door.
“What the fuck?”
Something heavy and cold and wet slid from the top shelf and covered the front of my blazer. A foul smell rose up from the lumpy mess, death and blood and fetor.
Meat.
Someone filled my locker with rotting meat.
Chapter Ten
Bile rose in my throat. I stepped back. More of the vile meat slid from the shelf and splattered on the floor, splashing up my stockings. I wiped lumps of it from my blazer, fighting back the urge to scream.
Faces turned toward me, leering and jeering, sniffing and shuffling, laughing their hyena laughs as they circled their prey. Tears stung the backs of my eyes, but I wouldn’t give them the satisfaction of crying. I wouldn’t.
My vision narrowed, the world blurring into a haze of laughing hyenas, of sinewy panthers poised for the kill. My blood whooshed in my ears. I felt as though I’d s
tepped outside my body, as though I was no longer in control. This isn’t me they did this to. It’s someone else. I’m watching it happen to someone else.
Behind me, two voices rose over the rest – dragging me back inside my body, to the reality of my humiliation. Trey and Courtney.
Don’t turn around. Don’t give them the satisfaction.
The rancid smell filled my nostrils, and I coughed and spluttered, backing away from my locker. Blood and juices ran over my books, warping the pages and sticking the covers together.
“Hey, that meat isn't fresh,” Trey’s voice punctured my heart. Fresh peals of cruel laughter echoed along the hall.
“It’s rancid meat,” Courtney said. “Better not touch her, guys. She’ll rot your dick off.”
I stared at the dripping ichor on the walls of my locker, hot rage welling up inside me. My finger touched the burn on my wrist.
If they think I’m going to sit back and take this shit, then they’re dead wrong.
I picked up a handful of raw meat. The slimy ichor dripped between my fingers as I drew my arm back and spun on my heel, letting the handful fly at Courtney’s face. She wasn’t expecting it, because the wad hit her square in the jaw. Her mouth was wide open with laughter, which cut off mid-chortle to become a loud, piercing shriek.
“That went in my mouth, you bitch!” she screamed.
“Maybe you should have thought of that before you filled my locker with it,” I shot back, winding up for another toss. Blood boiled in my veins. I was so angry, I didn’t care about anything except getting her back, watching her suffer. Maybe I’d stuff some in her mouth, force her to eat it while everyone watched.
Another handful left my hand. Courtney twisted to the right, and the meat sailed past her and hit the person standing directly behind her.
Shunned: a reverse harem bully romance (Kings of Miskatonic Prep Book 1) Page 7