F*ck You: Knox Academy - Term One

by Jaye Cox

  I begin stretching when I reach the oval, the first one here. I’ve even beat Onyx to his run unless he's changed his schedule to avoid me. I try not to care, and start running.

  By the time I’m done, my legs are jelly. I hobble over to where the other students in detention are gathered.

  “Amelie, you’re late,” Sawyer snaps, even though at the start of the week he was kissing me. Even though I’m clearly not late, I just got started before everyone else. “Right, guys, start running. When you hear my whistle, return…Amelie, Slate, you sit this one out. Off you go!”

  “Sir, I can run!” I tell him. I don’t want special treatment, I don’t want to be singled out.

  “No. You’ve done enough today,” he tells me softly, meeting my gaze when everyone has gone. “You can barely stand.”

  “It doesn’t matter. I can run,” I insist. Truthfully, I can’t. I have no idea why I’m pushing this so hard. It’s stupid.

  “Sit down, Amelie, before you fall down. I’m going to keep an eye on them. We have a few characters in detention today. Slate? Watch her and make sure she doesn’t do anything stupid.”

  I glance up to see Slate scowling at his brother, clearly not happy at being stuck with me either. Sawyer disappears, and Slate refuses to meet my eyes for several minutes, so I drop to the floor to recover. I lie on my back, arm flung over my eyes, shutting out the world.

  “Heard what you did,” Slate says after a moment. His voice is distant, but not as cold as it was towards me in the past. He sounds as unhappy as I feel.

  “Yeah, and?”

  “You’re stupid if you think my dad would keep anything of value in a school full of criminals.”

  “You’re a criminal too,” is all I say. I remove my arm from my face and sit up. Slate has surprised me by moving closer. He's standing over me now, looking down at me from two black eyes. Bruises and cuts actually cover every inch of his face and I can tell from the stiff way he’s holding himself that it’s not just his face that’s taken a beating. His nose is busted too, but I’m pretty sure that’s from me. What the hell happened after I left?

  I smirk at him.

  “Damn. Look at the state of you. With that nose, I’m back to being unable to tell you and Onyx apart.” It’s petty, bitchy even, but it makes me feel better.

  “If it helps refresh your memory, Onyx is the only one of us not sporting your claw marks on our back.” Bastard.

  I flip him off and he chuckles and walks away.

  “Where are you going?” I call after him. “Sawyer said you have to watch me.”

  “Fuck off, Amelie, I don’t have to do shit.” There’s real venom in his voice when he speaks. What the fuck? Since when did I become the bad guy here? I mean sure, I broke his nose, but he deserved it. And worse, if he and Onyx carried out their little plan to initiate me into the family.

  “Fuck you, Slate! I thought—” I choke on a sob and run away, not wanting to cry in front of him. It makes me glad that I spent the week in bed, I’m still not ready to see and interact with the Knox brothers. I skip my detention, confident that Sawyer will cover for me. I did my detention time anyway by running earlier, and with Laura cancelling my family visit, I don’t see how anything can get any worse for me if I decide to leave without permission.

  Only, Monty’s threats fill my mind. I need to find out if that is true. Who should I ask? Elsie? Baxter?

  Speaking of Baxter, I need to find a way to get back into Monty’s house. No doubt I will be expected to show up tomorrow like a diligent little daughter, but the house will be too full and too busy to get away and search his home office.

  Baxter isn’t hard to find, he’s skulking around as usual. I’m not even sure the guy even goes to class or attends classes here. He’s always on the outside looking in, watching. It’s a bit weird, but no one ever accused him of being normal.

  “Still hell bent on leaving?” he asks, in his usual pose leaning against a tree.

  “Yes, I have a plan.”

  “I hope it’s better than breaking into my bestie’s office.” I laugh, maybe that wasn’t the best idea, but hell I didn’t have many other options.

  “Monty has to keep his files at his home office. I plan to go bond with the incubator, call a truce. She’s shallow enough to believe it, but a distraction at some point would be good. Buy me some time to look around.”

  “Would it help if I told you where the files are?” he asks.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you knew where they would be?”

  “You didn’t ask. He keeps them on a USB in a safe in his home office.”

  “How will I get into a safe, Baxter? I can pick a door lock, but not a safe.”

  “I have the combination,” he says matter-of-factly.

  “So why not get it yourself?”

  “Because, they wouldn’t let me into their house, and I figure you want to dig yourself a hole. So it’s win win.”

  This guy is infuriating. He could have told me all of this when he caught me in Monty’s office and yet he waits until now.

  “I’ll buy you a ten minute window tonight. Be ready, you will need to copy the files to your laptop and put the stick back.” I nod and he agrees to give me a lift to go see Laura. I hope some of Elsie’s acting lessons rub off on me so Laura believes I actually give a shit about wanting to mend bridges.

  Baxter drops me at the gate. I take a deep breath and make my trek up the driveway. An obnoxiously long driveway, it’s like a sign of the wealthy: I have money, look at the driveway. Makes zero sense to me.

  “Laura,” I call out, after letting myself in. I find her in the kitchen talking to a lady who is writing something down. I still find it hard to see her like this. All put together.

  “Hey, honey, I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “I just thought it would be nice if we spent the day together, I haven’t really made an effort since being here.” I see her swallow hard.

  “I think you have everything you need,” she says to the woman before dismissing her. Once the lady leaves Laura turns back to me.

  “I’m so glad, I knew you would come around,” she gushes.

  “Amelie, I wasn’t aware you would be visiting today,” Monty says walking into the room, giving Laura a kiss on the cheek.

  “I had some time on my hands to reflect and realised I haven’t made things easy. Since I’ll be here awhile, I should make more of an effort.” He eyes me warily. He wasn’t born yesterday. But he doesn’t verbalise his thoughts.

  “Why don’t you girls have a day getting pampered?” he says, and Laura’s eyes light up. Oh God. I was hoping to put in a minimal amount of effort, maybe watch a sappy romance movie.

  “Oh my God, Monty, that would be amazing. I will make some calls.” Laura rushes from the room, and I’m left with Monty’s pointed glare.

  “What?” I snap.

  “Nothing...I’m just trying to work out what angle you’re playing.”

  “No angle. I just had a long hard look at myself this past week. Rome wasn’t built in a day, but I’m sure Laura and I can find some mutual ground.”

  “I’m happy to hear that. Have you spoken to my sons this week?”

  “No.” I snort. “We’ve had a...falling out and I think it’s time we keep it like that. I’ll stick with my family only and just see yours on Sundays.”

  “What about Baxter?” he questions, surprising me. I need to lie. I don’t want him looking into anything to do with Baxter.

  “That didn’t exactly work out. He isn’t who I thought he was. Maybe you were right. I need to stay away from him.”

  We are interrupted by Laura flitting back into the room.

  “Good news, we have appointments but must leave now.”

  I refrain from rolling my eyes. The last thing I wanted was to not be in the house.

  Laura has us out of the house and on our way into town before I can protest. I just hope Baxter has eyes on me.

  ***

  Six
hours. Six damn hours of hair, makeup, nails and clothes. I look ridiculous. Laura prattles on and on about how beautiful I look. I might consider slitting my wrists if I have to endure anymore of this, but lucky for me her mood sours after she checks her phone.

  “What’s wrong?” I ask. She is seconds from tears but reins it in.

  “Oh it’s nothing. I’m so glad we spent time together today.”

  “Me too.” Lie.

  As the car pulls up to let us out, Laura instructs the driver to take our bags to our rooms. She excuses herself and storms into the house, the click clack of her shoes echoes throughout the entry.

  I follow behind to see where she has disappeared to. Upstairs. I tip toe up the stairs.

  “What the hell is this?” she screeches.

  “Calm down,” Monty soothes.

  “Calm down? Calm down!”

  For a moment I wonder what is going on, and then it clicks; Baxter has bought me ten minutes. Laura, if she’s anything like she used to be, will fight this out for hours. I race downstairs and straight into Monty's office. The safe is exactly where Baxter said it would be: Behind the picture on the wall. With shaky hands I input the code, one Baxter told me to memorise. No trail that way. And sure enough, inside is a USB. That and passports and some other documents. I don’t have time to snoop. I need to get in and get out. I close the safe and push the picture back into place. Carefully, making sure no one is outside, I race back upstairs. Laura is still yelling. Even from their side of the house, it’s loud. I should have powered on my laptop before, but I didn’t exactly have time before I was ripped from the house.

  Tick tick tick

  The clock is mocking me, my heart racing. As soon as I type in my password, I shove the USB in the side and there are so many files.

  I only copy the ones from current students. I don’t have time to scour through and look at any others. The green bar pops up and says four minutes. With sweaty palms I pace the room. Every time I check, it doesn’t look like it has moved.

  After an agonising few minutes, it’s done. I quickly search for one file from a past student: Sawyer Knox. When I locate it, I hesitate, but quickly copy his over too. That one takes seconds, thankfully.

  With my heart in my throat, I tiptoe back out into the hall and down the stairs. Everything is silent. For once I actually pray that they are screwing, making up. I take my chances and rush down the hallway.

  I sigh with relief when I get back to my room without getting busted. I managed to get my phone from his office while I was there just in case I was busted. It gave me a reason to be there. Even though I already have my other phone stashed in my overnight bag. I power it on and wait for the files to be transferred to a new USB.

  Me: Done

  Baxter: Back gate, twenty minutes.

  I delete our texts and decide to head out while everything is still quiet.

  By the time Baxter steps out of the shadows, my bones are frozen.

  “Good job,” he says when I hand over the USB.

  “I want copies, leave them in my room.” He nods.

  “And you leave me and Elsie out of whatever you have planned.” He nods again and makes a cross over his heart. I almost smile but choose instead to shake my head and walk back the way I came. I take my time. Light is coming from the pool house around the back. I have never seen anyone ever use it. It’s freaking cold all the time, so the outdoor pool seems like it’s only there for show.

  I have also never been into the pool house to see if someone lives there.

  I should knock, but I don’t. Opening the door, I spot Onyx. The entire pool house is an open space, a home gym of sorts. Onyx is unleashing whatever anger he is holding onto into a boxing bag. I stand and stare. Watching the muscles in his arms, the way the sweat rolls down his back. The mosaic of cuts and bruises covering his skin. What the hell? First Slate, now him?

  “What do you want?” he snaps, turning to face me, pulling off his gloves. I shrug.

  As he stalks towards me, anger radiates from him. I can see the conflict in his eyes. He wants me, but he also hates me and that kind of burns. What did I do to deserve his hatred?

  “You look...stupid,” he huffs.

  “Laura decided I need a makeover.” He snorts and his hand falls to my hip.

  “I need you,” he whispers, placing his clammy forehead against mine.

  “I need you too,” I hesitate and then add, “you can go back to hating me tomorrow.”

  Things heat up between us, fast. There is no taking our time. He moves me swiftly, bending me over a table. My skirt is pulled up, my tights pulled down. He doesn’t remove them all the way. A hand slides under my stomach, lifting me slightly, and I feel his cock line up with my entrance. The intrusion burns as I adjust to his girth. My eyes close at the pain and pleasure rolled into one.

  His thrusts are short and quick, he isn’t trying to impress me, this is about him getting off, using me. I can feel it. Sick as I am, I love it.

  His hand slips from my stomach, as he lowers his middle finger seeking out my clit. He surprises me. I didn’t expect him to give, just take. But the feeling of Onyx taking out his anger on me already has me on edge, so a few flicks and I’m milking his dick with my orgasm, screaming out his name.

  He finds his release not long after, pulling himself out of me and dropping me back on the table. He doesn’t offer me a hand. He leaves me lying face down on the cool surface. The door opening and a cool breeze are the only indications that he has left.

  I pull myself together. What have I done? I have now slept with them all, in a matter of months. My poor judgment has tears sliding down my face. How did I picture this ending? With all four of us riding off happily into the sunset? I’m an idiot. This isn’t some TLC program like ‘Sister Wives’ where that dude has a handful of wives and they make it work.

  This is the real world; one my brother and Smalls have sheltered me from. The heartache they tried to spare me from having to endure. I’m suddenly thankful it won’t be long until I’m back under their watchful eye where they can keep me in line.

  Chapter Thirty-Two

  Monty has been holed up in his office all day, and Laura has been sulking. Engaged one week and it’s already off to a flying start. Not that it would have lasted that long anyway.

  I hope they have a prenup; any guy in their right mind would have one if they wanted to marry her. How long until divorcing him got her something? That’s how long she would stay.

  After our grand day out yesterday and then their bust-up, I ended up having the house to myself for the evening. I hung out in the perfect lounge and watched movies on the cinema screen. Eventually I went to bed. I was tempted to sleep in Slate’s bed, but I thought I better not. It wouldn’t do well to be caught in there, so I had to suck it up and finally use ‘my’ room.

  The day goes by astonishingly fast, with only a little interruption from Laura asking me to bake with her.

  I’m nervous and excited to put my plan into action. I texted Baxter earlier and he said he could get me out of here anytime. He would have a plane on standby for me, which gives me just enough time to execute my plan. I’m aiming for Friday but it’s good to know I can be out of here sooner, if the shit hits the fan.

  The guys want to fuck with me? Well, payback's a bitch. And so am I.

  I’m unsure if they will all show up tonight for dinner, although if Monty has anything to say about it, they will. I have an idea. Not a smart one, but one that will drive home a point.

  I jump up off my bed and go to find Laura. She is in the kitchen sipping on her soy, caramel latte. The plain coffee she used to drink way back when, is clearly no longer good enough for the future Mrs Knox.

  “Hi,” she says, taking in my outfit. A pair of Aadi’s old sweats tied at the side with a scrunchie, and an oversized Nike T-shirt. I can tell she’s annoyed by my appearance, but for some reason she doesn’t say anything.

  “I had fun yesterday,” I say, trying t
o manipulate her from the start.

  “Me too. I’m glad we could bond.”

  “I have a boyfriend,” I blurt out, intentionally letting her think I am nervous about telling her.

  “That Baxter boy?” I nod. “Monty doesn’t like him,” she whines.

  “He doesn’t know him the way I do. He’s special to me. One of the only people here that cares.”

  “Well, since Monty is in my bad books, I think you should invite the boy to dinner. We can be a united front and try to convince him that you like the boy.”

  “Really?” I stammer, making my eyes wide with wonder, and she nods.

  Yes, stage one complete!

  Now to get Baxter here.

  “Thank you so much. I’m going to call him and invite him over...that is, if you don’t mind me using my phone while I’m here? I know I usually use it after dinner...”

  “Go for it.” She smiles, my ‘gratitude’ has her beaming. She loves to be the cool mum. Loves to be loved.

  Baxter, being a third year, has phone privileges. I don’t know how he swung it, since I really don’t picture him being the model student earning the right to a phone.

  I race to my room and text Baxter.

  Me: Dinner at the Knox residence tonight 7pm

  Baxter: What is that pretty brain cooking up?

  Me: Just wasting time. Set the mood for dinner.

  Me: Oh, and I told Laura you are my boyfriend. So play the part.

  Baxter: Which one are you making jealous?

  Me: I don’t want to make them jealous. I want to piss them off.

  Baxter: Since I’m your new boyfriend, do I get some benefits?

  Me: Yes, pissing off your bestie. That is your fav pastime, no?