by Cala Riley
When she said closet, she really meant a whole other room. There’s even a couch in the middle. Along one wall a place to hang up clothes, while the wall opposite it is full of shelves. The walls connecting them each are floor-to-ceiling mirrors.
“I wanted to stock it for you, but Mom said we didn’t know your sizes. I did go ahead and grab some bags and stuff for you.” She walks over to one of the mirrors and pushes on it. A section of the mirror pops out and opens, showing an alcove on the inside with more shelves. “This is where the purses go. There’s another one on that mirror.” She indicates the opposite wall. “It holds all the jewelry. Mom put a couple of pieces that belonged to Aunt Abagail in there for you. We can unpack your stuff, then go shopping if you want.”
Her voice sounds so hopeful.
“Sure. Hey, what’s up with all the shelves?” I point to the wall to my right.
“For your shoes, of course.” She says it like it’s the most ridiculous question she has ever heard.
I quickly count the bottom row and note that there are at least fifteen spots for shoes per shelf, and they go floor to ceiling, just like the mirror. I want to ask who needs so many shoes, but the look on her face stops me.
“I’m so glad you’re here, Sage. I always told Mom we needed more girls in the family. This is going to be so much fun. You’ll see.”
I force a smile. I don’t think this will be much fun at all, but her perky personality keeps me from voicing my thoughts.
We walk back into the room to find a man placing my plastic bag on the bed.
“Thank you, Thomas.” Victoria turns to me. “Is this all you have?” She seems surprised by my lone bag of clothes.
“In foster care, they don’t let you keep much. Anything you do keep usually ends up stolen. Besides, a lot of times you move at a moment’s notice. You learn to pack light.”
Hell, the only things I kept were some things of my mom’s, and they’re safely packed within my backpack.
I look to Victoria and see tears in her eyes. “That’s so sad. But you don’t have to worry about that anymore. You have a forever home here.”
Her sincerity threatens to warm my heart, but I squash it. She doesn’t know that this arrangement has an expiration date. Watching her become emotional over my past reminds me that she’s lived a life of privilege. She doesn’t know pain or loss.
“Thank you, Victoria.” I hesitate to ask her to leave. I want some time alone, but I don’t want to hurt her feelings any more than I already have. “Do you think I could take a shower? Are there towels in there?”
Instantly her smile is back. “Of course.”
She walks into the bathroom and teaches me how to use the shower, then pulls out two towels for me and shows me where the hair dryer is. By the time she’s done, I know what each product is and how to use them. I know she’s trying to be helpful, but I can’t help but feel relieved when she finally closes my bedroom door behind her.
Chapter Two
A knock on the door the next morning pulls me from sleep. Opening the door, I find Alice standing on the other side. She hands me a garment bag.
"What’s this?" I ask while hesitantly taking the bag from her.
"Your uniform."
"Uniform?"
"Yes, Brighton Academy has a strict dress code. White dress shirt with the school blazer over top and tie. Either the skirt or slacks on the bottom.”
"You’re serious?"
Alice shrugs. "It's always been this way."
"Anything else?"
"You’re supposed to do something with your hair, whether it’s straightening it or putting it up in something more than a plain ponytail, and then makeup. And no abnormal-colored hair."
"So, they want us to all look alike...."
"It is what it is." She shrugs. “Meet us downstairs.”
∞∞∞
“Come on. You’ll be riding with me.” Victoria waves me forward.
A bright yellow convertible sits in the driveway as Thomas hands her the keys, and I can’t help but cringe.
“Isn’t she a beauty? It’s a Lexus LFA. Mom bought it for me for my birthday.”
An expensive car like this for her birthday? I definitely do not fit in here. I have a hard time spending ten dollars on a haircut, let alone however much on a car like this.
“It’s something, that’s for sure,” I mumble to myself as we climb into the car.
“I usually have the top down, but I curled my hair today. Can’t have it looking like a bird’s nest by the time we get to school.”
“No worries,” I numbly respond as she pulls out of the drive.
This time, I pay closer attention to the scenery around me. It’s obvious this is some rich neighborhood. As we’re waved through the property gate, I take a moment to look at the homes on either side. Each as flashy as the next. Another reminder I don’t belong here.
“I won’t act as if I know what you’re going through. I obviously never lost my mom. I haven’t changed schools. Just know that you’re family, and us Covington’s value family.” Victoria’s voice pulls me from my thoughts.
“I’m not a Covington. Hell, I didn’t even know the Covington name until Alice showed up.”
“You’re a Covington by blood. I know you don’t feel that way, but you are. Promise me one thing though. Don’t break my mom’s heart. She already lost your mom. Don’t make her lose you too.”
“I can’t make that promise.”
Victoria cuts her eyes to me, a myriad of emotions filling them. “Fair enough. Give this place a shot. You never know. You might end up liking it.”
As we come to the end of the road, a car shoots out in front of us. Victoria slams on her brakes as her arm flies over across my chest.
“Son of a bitch!” she exclaims. “Are you okay?”
I watch the fancy black car speed off as we idle in the middle of the road. I glance up to the driveway it came from. The house is humongous, set farther back from the road than any other house on the street.
“What a fucking douchecanoe. They didn’t even care if they fucking hit us,” I spit, looking over to Victoria. “Entitled fucking pricks.”
She sighs. “You’re not wrong. I think I should go over a couple of things with you before we get to school.”
“Okay?” I question.
She starts driving again, this time never taking her eyes from the road.
“There is a hierarchy that rules Brighton Academy. The Yates brothers are at the top with Sterling Brooks and Finley Abbot. The pricks who just flew out in front of us? Those were the Yates brothers; Reed and Keaton. Stay out of their way. As long as you leave them alone, they shouldn’t bother you. Below them are the girls. Well, other than Tinsley Yates. She’s at the top with her brothers. Blair Betchel, Poppy Sinclair, and Ingram Humphries. Ingram runs that crowd and thinks of herself as the queen. Since the guys allow it, they get away with pretty much anything. Stay far away from them. They’re vindictive.”
I digest what she says before asking, “Where are you in this hierarchy?”
She turns and gives me a wink after parking her car. “Near the top, of course. Our name holds weight in this town. We might not be royalty, but they’ll think twice before starting shit. Dad is the go-to guy when it comes to investments. They all think that if his hands touch a company, it’ll turn into gold. He hasn’t made a bad investment yet.”
“Wow, way to be humble.” I don’t bother hiding my sarcastic tone as I slide out of the car.
She pauses before leaning against the top. “This isn’t your normal high school, Sage. These people are virtually untouchable. You use what weapons you have at your disposal. You’ll learn to do that too. Otherwise, they’ll bully you into doing whatever they want. They take sick enjoyment out of breaking others.”
I roll my eyes. “Great. Just the people I want to be around. Don’t worry about me. I can handle myself. Thank you for the advice though.”
She laughs. “You t
hink you’re tough now, but heed my warning. I’ll do what I can to protect you because you’re blood, but I will not involve myself in unnecessary drama.”
“Understood. Point me to the office and I’ll get out of your hair.”
She shakes her head but answers me. “In through the front door, then the second door on the right. Come find me at lunch. Mom made sure they paired us so you didn’t have to sit alone.”
I bite back another sarcastic response. Alice has been nice so far, and she doesn’t deserve my wicked tongue.
Yet.
They always show their true colors eventually.
“Sure. See you then.” I turn and leave without waiting for her response.
There are groups of people standing around as I make my way up the stairs to the front door. Even the building screams money. Brighton Academy is an older brick building with tall intricately decorated pillars. Walking through the front door, I expect to find a hallway filled with lockers, but instead it’s a long corridor of brick walls littered with doors on each side.
More students mill about inside, but I avoid their stares. Instead, I make my way to the door Victoria indicated was the office. It’s more like what I’m used to: walls with pictures of former students, a large reception desk, two doors, and a waiting area. I make my way to the empty reception desk as I look around. A book sits on the front of the desk asking for visitors to sign in. Flyers are littered around advertising school events.
As I continue my examination, an older lady comes out of the back office. She pauses when she notices me standing at the desk.
“How can I help you?” Her friendly appearance is nothing more than a facade. Her voice is emotionless.
“I’m here to pick up my schedule. Sage Miller.”
“Of course. Mrs. Davenport told us to expect you today.” She shuffles through some folders before pulling out three papers. “Here is your class schedule. We tried to place you in similar studies to what you were taking at your previous school.” She hands me the first paper before shuffling the second one in front of me. “This is your locker assignment and combination. We weren’t able to put you in the senior hall, as all those lockers are accounted for, so we placed you in the junior hall. This is a map of the school. If you go to the library, they can sort out your text books for you.” After she hands me the last paper, she turns back to her folder.
I stand there looking at my schedule. Advanced placement history, English, chemistry, drama, algebra, leadership, and finishing class.
I snort at the electives. Who are these people?
“You’re dismissed, Ms. Miller.”
I glance up to find the old hag sneering at me.
“Of course I am,” I mutter as I turn to leave.
Once I exit, I find the hallway has filled up. There are twice as many students, which disorients me for a moment. I catch their whispers, but I ignore them. Glancing down at my map, I turn right and make my way to the library to get my books. Only getting lost once, I make it there right before the first bell rings.
“How can I help you, dear?” I look up at the kind voice to find another older lady standing at the door. Unlike the bitch in the main office, this one gives me a friendly smile.
“I was told to come here to get my textbooks.”
“Of course. I just need your schedule to make sure I have everything. Come in.” She ushers me inside as I hand her my schedule.
Once at the desk, she turns and grabs a stack of books. “I was expecting you, Ms. Miller. Here are all of your books. They can be a bit heavy, so if you need to leave some here and come back later, I can hold on to them for you.”
Her genuine personality makes me smile. She reminds me of my mom, kind and caring, even to a stranger.
I pull my backpack off my shoulder and start loading the books inside, only keeping my first three classes out.
“I think I got it. My backpack can hold most of them. You can call me Sage, by the way.”
“I can see that. Can’t remember the last time someone carried a backpack within these halls.” She reaches out to touch my hand. “If you need anything at all, come find me. I can help with quite a bit.”
Her eyes hold a tinge of worry within them, but I brush it off. I’m sure I’m imagining it.
“I will. Thank you, um….” I trail off, realizing she never told me her name.
The smile is back in full force. “Mrs. Lincoln, but the kids usually call me Patty. I hope to see you again soon.”
Looking around the spacious library for the first time, I tell her, “With all of these books, I’m sure you’ll see me sooner than you think.”
She smiles. “Have a good first day, Sage.”
I give her a small wave before leaving. The hall has emptied quite a bit, but I don’t mind. Deciding to find my locker next, even though I’ll be late to class, I study my map. The lockers all seem to be positioned in a second building behind the one I’m in.
I head out a back door and stop short. The courtyard is vast, filled with vibrant flowers, several large trees, and some tables scattered sporadically throughout.
Not in Kansas anymore, are we, Toto?
This place is prettier than any parks back home. I guess there are perks to being rich.
At the sound of another bell, I quickly make my way across the courtyard towards the second building. I’m almost to the door when an unexpected sound causes me to jump. Turning to my left, I spot movement behind one of the trees. Glancing around the trunk, I notice a tall male leaning against the tree as a girl is kneeling in front of him, her face firmly affixed to his crotch. She moans again, and I gasp as I realize her head is bobbing.
The male turns his head toward me, and my eyes flick up to his face. The first thing I notice is that he’s gorgeous. He has a chiseled face with a sharp, clean-cut jaw. His hair is short on the side but longer on top, the dark color bringing out the tan complexion of his skin. My eyes freeze as they lock on his piercing green ones. For a moment, I get lost inside them, mesmerized by the striking color and the depth of them. I watch them change, a cocky look filling them as he raises an eyebrow. A knowing smirk takes over his lips.
I feel my face contort as I realize how disgusting this man is. Gorgeous looks, yes, but obviously an egotistical prick. I spin on my heels and make my way through the door. Before it closes, I hear a husky chuckle.
Stopping inside the door, I collect my thoughts. This hall is empty and filled with lockers. I look back at my map as I make my way to the junior hall. I turn the corner, still looking at the map, and run into a brick wall, scattering my books across the floor as I fall to my knees.
Nope, not a wall. A body.
I look up from the floor and have to take a second look. The guy standing above me looks similar to the jackass from the courtyard. The difference is his hair is a lighter brown and his green eyes, while still piercing, hold more humor.
“Sweetheart, you didn’t have to bump into me to grab my attention.” His eyes peruse my body, lingering on my exposed thighs. “Your rockin’ body would have done that all on its own.”
“Gross.” I pull my skirt down before getting up off the floor. “Are all guys here pigs?”
His eyes dim before he responds. “Watch yourself, little fox. Say that to the wrong people and you’ll stir up trouble.”
Rolling my eyes probably isn’t the best idea, but I do it anyways. “I’m already in hell, so I’m not too worried.” I pick up my books and purposefully shove my shoulder into him as I move past.
I make it halfway down the hall before he calls out, “I got your number, little fox.” I glance back just in time to catch his smirk.
“Arrogant bastard,” I mutter under my breath.
Thankfully, I find my locker and store my other books without any more run-ins. The whole atmosphere of this place is stifling. I take my time getting to class, knowing I’m already ten minutes late by now. Once there, I pause outside the door. One thing I hate is attention, and I k
now stepping into class late will turn all eyes on me. Hell, just being here is earning me so much unwanted attention.
Taking one last deep breath, I open the door.
The teacher stops in the middle of his sentence as all eyes fall on me. “Can I help you, young lady?” he asks.
“Sorry I’m late. I’m Sage Miller, your new student.”
“Of course. There’s an empty seat in the back. Next time, don’t be late or you won’t be allowed in.”
I give him a short nod and keep my eyes down as I make my way to the empty seat. I’m about to sit down when something pulls on my backpack. I look over and find mischief in the eyes of the guy from the hallway.
“Hello, little fox. Small world.”
I roll my eyes and take my seat, pulling out the textbook and a notebook with a pen before settling in my desk.
“Look at you, all studious. Tell me, with a smart brain, do you give good head?”
“Wouldn’t you like to know, asshole?” I bite back.
“If I wanted to know, I would know, sweetheart. Trust and believe that.”
“Did you have something to add, Mr. Yates?” the teacher calls out.
“Nope.” He smirks. “I was just catching Ms. Miller here up on some things.”
I scoff at his comment.
“Catch her up on your own time. Back to the Mongol Empire.”
“Oh, I will,” I hear him say to himself.
∞∞∞
“How has your first day been so far?” Victoria leads me to a table in the back corner of the cafeteria, if you could even call it one. It’s more like a large banquet room fit for the rich and famous to dine.
“It’s school. What do you expect me to say?” I take a bite of my pizza.