by Harmony Grey
Hague’s threat seems to hit a nerve with Kane. Finally, a threat loud and bold enough to get through his arrogant head. He nods his head once in Hague’s direction before turning his attention back on me, and his heated green eyes hold me captive once more.
“Don’t pick the wrong side, princess. If you do then I won’t be able to save you.”
The harsh threat in his voice hits me hard and I know it’s not one he’s dishing out lightly. I have no idea why, but it seems Kane has it in for me. He’s zoned right in on me from the moment he first saw me, and no matter how hard I try to avoid him, I just can’t seem to shake him off.
And the worrying part is… I don’t think I want to because when he’s near me I’ve never felt more alive.
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
OLIVIA
I thought math was never going to end.
It was the most awkward situation I’ve found myself in for a long time, and it was horrible. Bailey was constantly trying to grab my attention while Kane’s penetrative eyes were burning holes into my back.
I knew he was watching me, monitoring my every move like the psycho I’m realizing him to be. I could sense him and the hairs on the back of my neck stood tall for the whole hour. Which was possibly the longest hour of my life.
“Don’t keep me in suspense.” Bailey calls from behind me. “What the hell was that about?”
I take a seat next to her at the cafeteria table and when I cast my eyes towards her, I see that she’s wide-eyed, eagerly waiting for me to start dishing the dirt.
“What was what about?” I try my best to play dumb, hoping that she’ll soon lose interest and drop the subject once and for all, but something is telling me that this giddy little thing beside me isn’t going to give up quite so easily.
“Oh, come on. Don’t play all innocent with me, Olivia. I saw what happened back there along with the rest of class.”
I shake my head, pretending to be none the wiser to what she’s implying. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I lie—a habit I’ve adopted over the years so I can protect myself, and I instantly feel bad about it. I can see that Bailey is making the effort to be my friend. No one is forcing her and how am I repaying her? By acting like she’s a nobody. Someone who isn’t worthy of my friendship and trust. I want to trust her, but I still don’t know her all too well, and definitely not enough to feel comfortable divulging all my information to her. I’d love to, but it’s gonna take some time, for sure. I already opened my mouth about Kane and Taylor’s split and that certainly didn’t grant me any bonus points.
“Sure, you do…” Bailey presses, “Kane Egan doesn’t randomly just happen to drop by the new girl’s desk. Hell, that guy doesn’t drop by anyone unless there’s something in it for him. His move on you was intentional.” Bailey rolls her brown eyes dramatically. “In case you haven’t noticed already, Kane’s used to the people of this school dropping for him—preferably to their knees.”
“So…” I search my mind in a desperate attempt to think of something—anything else to talk about instead of the devious hot boy with mesmerizing green eyes, but nothing else seems to exist in my head except him. Kane seems to be everywhere at the moment and no matter what I do or where I go, I just can’t seem to get rid of him.
He’s invaded my life and my headspace—something I’m not used to, and I have no idea how to make it stop, if only for five minutes so I can think straight.
“So… my guess is you either made some kind of lasting impression on him that most girls could only dream to achieve, or you’ve landed yourself in some major hot water.”
Wow. This girl has form, I’ll give her that. I’m beginning to wonder if Bailey has always been this dramatic. “Or, just maybe,” I add, “maybe he was being polite.”
I snap my eyes to Bailey as she almost chokes on her soda. The last thing I need right now is for her to be needing some kind of medical emergency. I’ve already has enough attention drawn my way today to last me a goddamn lifetime. “Pur-lease…” she scoffs back at me. Her eyes are streaming and she’s still trying to catch her breath following her unexpected coughing fit. She offers me a quick eye roll as she pushes a lose strand of her wild mane back off her face and I’m quickly learning that Bailey isn’t the quiet, reserved girl I initially envisioned her to be. “Kane Egan hasn’t got a polite bone in his body. I’m telling you, that guy loves nothing more than when he’s terrorizing people until they’re practically on their knees begging for him to stop. But with you he was… different somehow.”
I push my uneaten pasta around my plate, suddenly losing any kind of appetite that I had and I’m starting to feel really uneasy about where this conversation is headed. I wish I could back to last week and avoid Kane Egan like to plague.
“Which brings me to my next point. How would you, the new girl—no offence—but how could you possibly know about him and Taylor splitting up?” She waggles her eyebrows at me, knowing full well that she has me cornered.
I need to get my head in the game and think of something viable, and fast. “Oh, that? I overheard them arguing last week,” I reply straight off the bat and it’s not a big fat lie, just a small fraction of one. I haven’t done anything wrong; I’ve just fabricated the truth a little so that I can try to avoid awkward conversations—just like this one. To prevent pointless rumors progressing further and getting completely out of hand.
I have no idea if Bailey believes me or not because before she has a chance to say anything a couple of additional people join our table.
“Hey, Brains.”
A familiar voice squeals across the table and I can already tell this little get together isn’t going to end well.
“What do you want?” Bailey asks on a heavy sigh and I can tell she’s just as excited about their appearance just as much as me. Her voice is no longer the sweet, delicate tones I’ve become accustomed to over the past couple of hours, and when I look at her, I see her eyes are narrowed and zoned in on Taylor, and they’re swimming with dislike.
“I know we haven’t always seen eye to eye on things…” Taylor begins but Bailey is quick to cut her off. She shows no fear whatsoever and I instantly love her for it.
“Now that’s an understatement.” Bailey fires back. This girl may be small and look all sweetness and nice on first sight but damn, she can sure hold her own. This little pixie faced friend of mine isn’t prepared to back down or take anyone’s bullshit and I am so here for it—all day long.
Taylor doesn’t seem all too fazed by Bailey’s sour response to her presence. If anything, she seems to be enjoying it as her evil grin remains firmly fixed in place while her two plastic minions flank her either side as they cackle too.
Personally, I’m used to the fake crowd.
I’ve sure as hell had my fair share of them. Believe me when I say they are present in every single school, like a savage breed of poisonous vermin who refuse to die out.
“Whatever.” Taylor rudely dismisses Bailey with a wave of her perfectly manicured hand, clearly showing that she had zero fucks to give. “No one needs to rehash the past. I just thought I’d do the decent thing and warn you about the choice of company you’re choosing to keep…”
“Oh really? And since when did you decide to hand out good deeds?” Bailey feigns interest before saying, “You know I have to admit that it’s pretty rich coming from you. I think we can both agree that I’ve already met a few witches along the way—you included.”
“Fair enough.” She smiles again before slowly leaning across the table, “but I think you need to take extra care when it comes to this one, Brains.” Taylor’s eyes flit to mine and an instant dislike simmers in the air between us. She clearly doesn’t like me and that’s fine, because there’s definitely no love lost from my side. “It looks like she has a habit of trying to take things which don’t belong to her.
“Go to hell, Taylor.” Bailey replies flatly and she sounds bored of her antics. Well, I guess that makes tw
o of us. “I think I can make my own mind up, thanks.” Bailey narrows her eyes and dismisses her with a flick of her middle finger. The more time that I spend with Bailey, the more I’m realizing that she’s a dark horse and even though she might look nerdy and quiet, she’s really a bad ass chick.
“With pleasure,” Taylor’s eyes fall and rest on mine for longer than necessary. “But don’t come crying to me when you get hurt. And trust me, you will end up getting hurt, Brains, because this piece of trailer trash who you’ve foolishly taken under your gullible wings will take you for everything you’ve got… which I know isn’t much, but still.” Wow, this girl really has no filter whatsoever. “I know her type and she’ll keep feeding on you until there’s nothing left but rotting bone.”
“Really?” Bailey opens her eyes wide and her mouth drops open in shock. “Shit. So, what you’re telling me is Olivia will basically give me a re-run of what you put me through?”
“Oh, quit being such a dramatic bitch.” Taylor huffs openly offended that Bailey has crushed her words of wisdom. I want to scream at this psychotic bitch and force her to listen to what I’ve already tried to tell her. But then why should I waste my time and energy on some jumped up fake diva who point blank refuses to listen to what anyone else has to say.
Silence descends around the table, not a single one of us breaking eye contact. Surprisingly Taylor backs down first. She sighs and takes one last look at me and Bailey before slowly pushing herself up and her minions are quick to follow her pathetic lead.
“Laters..,” she smiles before lifting her hand to her lips and blowing a kiss in our direction.
I’m forced to watch, totally speechless as her small frame moves away from us across the cafeteria until she comes to a stop at the far end table. The table which I’m betting is the cheer table, and right next to it is the football team’s table. Schools are so cliché, it’s sickening.
“Woah…” Bailey whispers as soon as the table is clear. “It looks like you’ve made one hell of a lasting impression on Taylor, too. Jeez, for a girl who’s just started here you’ve sure been busy ruffling feathers… feathers of the wrong people might I add.”
Bailey’s not wrong.
But aside from my unavoidable drama I was really impressed with how Bailey handled the unexpected and even more unwelcome intrusion. Once again, in less than a couple of hours this girl has taught me that looks can be deceiving.
“Has she always been such a nasty and vindictive bitch?” I ask, speaking my thoughts out loud.
“You bet. But then that all depends on who you’re asking and who she’s screwed over on that particular day. Taylor has minions everywhere and there’s a long line of girls who would do anything, and I mean anything to get on her good side. They’d probably try to sell their soul just to hang out with her.” Bailey laughs when she sees my worried facial expression. “It’s sickening if you ask me, but people usually don’t, so…” she pauses to fork her own plate of food and her shoulders sag some. Something’s obviously still playing on her mind. “I was thinking. If we’re sharing secrets, then it’s only fair that I get something from you too…”
Oh, she does? That’s a little convenient. Maybe I should have seen this coming. I probably would have if Taylor hadn’t knocked me off my guard. “I’d love to,” I confess. “But seeing how I’ve only just moved here, I don’t think I’ve got any exciting secrets to tell.” I hate to disappoint, but it’s the truth.
“Yeah. You can try and pull the new girl card all you like but that means nothing to me. I know there’s something happening between you and Egan and I want all the juicy details.”
“Seriously? I’ve already told you that’s a dead end. There’s nothing to tell and there never will be.” Why is she so obsessed with this? Anyone would think she had a massive bone on for him or something.
“Bullshit.” Bailey quips while wrinkling up her freckled nose at me. “Kane singled you out earlier. In front of the whole class. He didn’t care who saw him, and that is something that’s never happened before.” Her eyebrows knit together as she tries to prove her case to me. “And then if that wasn’t enough craziness for one day, the next thing I know my sworn enemy—one who wouldn’t give a damn if I was to drop down dead right in front of her, suddenly feels the need to warn me to stay the hell away from you.” She pauses a moment so she can catch her breath before continuing, “Do you want to know what I think?”
“My guess is you’re going to tell me anyways?”
“Too damn right I am.” She’s a right bossy thing, but I kind of like it. There’s something about her that just draws me in and makes me feel more comfortable than I’ve ever felt around someone before. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to like what she’s going to say next. “I think you’re holding back from me, Livy. Can I call you Livy?” She throws in but doesn’t give me much time to answer her. “And there was me thinking that we could have been the best of friends.”
Ouch.
So was I and then she had to go and hit me with the mother of all blows. Bailey hits straight to the point and she hits hard. Her words are like a sucker punch straight to the heart and I know that was her intention too. I guess I never expected this dainty little thing to go so deep on me. Especially so soon into our friendship.
My earlier prediction was right. Bailey’s packing a massive stubborn streak, for sure. There’s no way she’s going to let this issue drop until she gets the answers she’s desperate to hear.
“Fine.” I surrender in defeat, quickly succumbing to the pressure of her inquisition. “I’ll admit that I accidentally got caught up in their drama last week.” Baily’s eyes grow wide with interest and I know that she’s now hanging onto my every word. “Believe me, it wasn’t intentional and if I knew then what was going to happen then I would have made sure to stay as far away from them both as possible.”
Silence simmers in the space between us until after what feels like a lifetime of waiting, Bailey finally breaks it, and a wicked grin breaks out on her pale heart-shaped face. “Oh.. a story of deceit? Now that’s the kind of thing that I’m here for… keep talking.”
“Really?” I mutter, secretly wishing I had continued to play dumb and ignore the inevitable. “It’s not as exciting as you think.” I warn her. I’d hate for her to get all hyped up only to fall back down to earth with a disappointing bang at the end.
“Livy, are you shitting me?” She squeals next to me and she’s practically bouncing up and down on her seat, unable to contain her excitement. “Taylor feels threatened by you and that has never happened before. You’ve made her feel nervous and on edge in her own playground. Whatever happened last week must have been a big deal—to her at least.”
“Maybe, but I was just in the wrong place at the wrong time. It could have happened to anyone.” My mind briefly wanders back to Friday morning and a mixture of embarrassment and excitement ripples through my body. “Mr. Bright had arranged for Kane to be my mentor for the day. You know, to show me around and help me settle into my unfamiliar surroundings.”
“Weird. I couldn’t think of anyone worse to help show you around. What the hell was Bright thinking? Between me and you he seems to be losing his mind with each year that passes, but that’s a whole other story.”
“I have no idea. What I do know is that it didn’t go to plan. Taylor saw us, quickly jumped to the wrong conclusion and totally lost her shit.”
Suspicion shadows Bailey’s face, her brows furrow and her brown eyes narrow slightly as she thinks over what I’ve just told her. “But what actually happened to make Taylor go off on one like that? Something must have happened to trigger that kind of reaction from her.” She adds. “I know better than anyone how much of a loose cannon she can be, but Taylor doesn’t really pay any attention to anyone or anything unless it directly impacts her.”
I think about what I’m going to tell her, and I already know that it’s going to sound a whole lot worse than it actually was before I’ve ev
en opened my mouth. Oh well, the hole has already been opened and here goes nothing. “Kane kind of kissed me while she was walking down the hall.” There, I’ve said it and believe me I don’t know what I was expecting but I don’t feel any better for it. My chest still feels tight, riddled with anxiety over the whole ordeal.
“Kane Egan kissed you?” she squeals back at me before quickly covering her mouth with her hand.
“Jesus Christ, keep your voice down. I don’t need anyone else coming at me with pitchforks.” I demand while quickly looking around the bustling cafeteria to see if anyone else overheard us. Fortunately, everyone else seems to be currently occupied to give a damn about my problems, but I can still feel the heat of my embarrassment rushing to my cheeks and it feels like someone has just shone a massive spotlight on me.
“Well, damn. I guess I can kinda see why he was so hot for you to join him back in math.” Bailey smirks and I can tell she’s enjoying this new turn of events. But then her eyes narrow and a sense of unease sweeps through me as she says, “Girl, you’ve been marked by the devil himself.”
“No, I haven’t.” I say, a little on the defensive side. Why am I even letting this get to me? It’s over and done with and there’s not much that I can do about it now. It’s happened and the rest of the world needs to forget about it too. I know I didn’t do anything wrong and that’s good enough to keep my conscience as clear as possible.
Bailey whistles and shakes her head knowingly at me. “I really wish I had better news for you, Livy, but I’m afraid all I can say is it sucks to be you right now.”
She’s not fucking wrong. “You’re telling me.” I confess. I agree with my new friend one hundred percent and I feel my heart drop to the bottom of my stomach. I’ve only made my time here worse and everyone is going to find out what happened, and they’ll make me out to be some whore who came and separated the school’s royal couple.