by Kent, Rina
“Ugh. I did.”
“Yes, you did, bugger.” He waggles an eyebrow, doing a mic drop motion. “You’re keeping that promise. Saturday night. Home game. We’re kicking some arse this season.”
There goes my plan to drag Dan with me to a museum.
“This is the captain’s last year and he’s so going to nail it.”
I hit his shoulder again. “Hey, bug, I might be attending your game, but save me the idolisation of Levi when he’s actively ruining my life.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t push against him. He’s King.”
“I’m hiding at the back garden for lunch, do I seem like I’m pushing?” I sound as incredulous as I feel.
The only reason why I’m not challenging Levi back is because I don’t want Dad to be called in by the school, or worse, to learn I haven’t been keeping away from the King surname as he ordered me to.
Besides, invisibility is hard when I have the school’s literal king breathing down my back.
However, I’m keeping my case with the police very much alive. If anything, I asked the deputy commissioner, Dad’s friend, to tell me if any other evidence showed up.
Screw Levi if he thinks he can take away my right to know the truth.
“He can be harsh, but he’s a cool captain.” Dan’s voice is filled with awe and the sad part is, I think it’s subconscious. “He vouched for me with Coach, you know.”
“Wait.” I look up from my ruined sketch. “Levi vouched for you?”
“Yeah, how cool is that?”
“Not at all. Don’t you find it weird that he vouched for you now of all times?”
“Nope.” He stands, flinging his backpack over his shoulder.
“Dan. The guy probably didn’t notice you for two years and now that he wants to destroy my life, he makes you a starter? Come on, this has set up written all over it.”
“Football, Captain, and Coach don’t work like that. A starter was removed and I took his place because I pushed myself to be better.”
“Dan…” I clutch his arm. “I’m sorry. It’s not that I think you’re a bad player, it’s just that the timing is weird, that’s all. I don’t want you to be hurt when things don’t turn out the way you’re hoping.”
“I’ll be fine.” His voice softens as he drapes an arm around my shoulder. “Just stay out of trouble, bugger.”
“Yes, mate.” I smile, glad the small fight between us is over.
He’s the only person who can make senior year tolerable.
Dan and I part ways once we walk back into the school. He has practice and I have a few hours to kill in the art studio before we head back together.
I sure as shit don’t want to go back home a minute sooner than needed and have to deal with Victoria’s honeyed snark, Nicole’s venom, and Dad’s cold shoulder.
Someone bumps into me, almost knocking me back on my arse. I brace myself at the last second and come face to face with none other than Nicole.
“Watch where you’re going, bitch,” she hisses under her breath and her two friends snicker like it’s the funniest joke they heard today.
I jab a finger at her shoulder and push her back. “You watch it.” I lean over to whisper so only she can hear, “Or does the entire school need to know that you and your mother are gold-diggers who stole my father from his family?”
Her eyes widen and I push past her, feeling a little better than I did this entire day.
“Do you think your opinion has any importance around here, slut?” She shoots behind my back, but I ignore her and slip into the art studio.
There are two junior students already sitting at their canvas, but they don’t bother returning my greeting.
Not only is my new found visibility a pain in the arse, but it’s also the wrong type of visibility.
I hoped all this would blow over, but it doesn’t look that way.
I sigh as I head to my locker for my apron. This place is my sanctuary, I won’t let anyone ruin it for me.
Even if the art teacher dismissed all the black canvas like they never happened. I had the vague idea that the entire school bowed to King, but I never thought he also had the teachers eating at the palm of his hands.
Naive old me.
The moment I pull my apron, my temper flares.
‘Slut’ and ‘Whore’ are written in red paint all over the white apron.
The junior kids jab each other, suppressing laughter and probably taking pictures.
My fists clench in the cloth as a hot, scalding wave rolls over me.
I don’t care if Levi did it or if someone else did it on his behalf, but I’m done shrinking back.
He pulled me out of my invisibility cave and he’ll regret every second of it.
If he wants a battle, I’m going to give him a bloody war.
11
Levi
You don’t have long. I’m coming for you.
* * *
I step out of the shower with a towel wrapped around my midsection and dry my hair with the one around my neck.
Since today’s practice was hardcore, I expected the guys to be planning the best way to party and shag. I’m surprised to find them all gathered in front of my locker.
“He’ll flip,” Xander whistles.
“No shit.” Sean, the goalkeeper, stretches an arm over the locker.
Ronan’s naked shoulders shake with laughter. “I want to meet who has the balls to do this. Fantastique.”
“Do what?”
The entire team falls silent at my question. My brows furrow as all of them stiffen.
“Promise you’ll remain calm, Captain.” Cole blocks my view even though everyone else pulls back.
“Why do I need to remain calm?”
“Let him.” Aiden motions at Cole to move.
When he doesn’t, Xander forcibly pushes him back, muttering, “We still need you alive, dickhead.”
Inside my locker, all my team jerseys are painted in red. There’s one jersey hanging from the locker. Right above my number Ten, where my last name is usually written, ‘King’ is erased. On its behalf, ‘Manwhore’ is written in bold capital letters.
My grip tightens around the towel in a white-knuckled grip.
That fucking princess.
She’s starting to piss me off and I’m no good when I’m pissed off.
“I mean, it’s not even an insult.” Ronan laughs as he slaps an imaginary arse. “You get the best pussy out of us all. Whoever did this must be jealous.”
“Yeah, King.” Xander laughs along. “It’s not your fault that all the girls throw themselves at you. It’s an honour, am I right?”
The rest of the guys hoot and cheer, saying how they’d love to be me.
But that’s the thing about appearances, isn’t it? They all think it’s the family name, the safe funds, the face, and maybe even the talent. They think I have it all. I’m a lucky fucking bastard because all the girls want to be with me.
I cause trouble and get away with it.
I give the world the finger and I’m cheered on.
I fuck a teacher and have the entire school board apologise to my uncle instead of the other way around.
The team doesn’t know that the only reason I keep up with the dumb drama is because of the rebellion I’ve been leading against Jonathan.
They want to be me?
Well, good luck with getting inside my head. Even I dislike that fucking place.
“Get them out of my sight,” I say with a calmness I don’t feel. The junior members trip over each other to empty the locker.
“Stay calm,” Aiden whispers beside me while putting on his jacket.
He must be seeing the demons swirling in my eyes because he repeats in a slower, lower tone. “You need to stay fucking calm, Lev.”
I breathe through my nostrils, trying — and failing — to expel the gloomy, murderous energy running through my veins.
The need to hurt.
To maim.
&nb
sp; To fucking destroy.
Even the remnants of adrenaline from the game isn’t cutting it anymore.
“We’re going to the Meet Up,” Aiden announces to the guys.
“Fuck yeah!” Ronan fist-bumps Xan.
“You’re coming?” Cole asks me with a cautious tone.
I nod absentmindedly.
The Meet Up is Aiden’s way to keep me from heading down the other path, but there’s one small thing he forgot about.
I’m a King and we always get payback.
My gaze roams the locker room for Chris, but he must’ve left right after practice — in which he’s still as useless as shit.
I go to my bag — that’s also painted in red — and retrieve my phone.
Levi: Come to the Meet Up.
Then I throw the phone back in my bag, not waiting for an answer. If Chris knows what’s best for him, he’ll be there.
The guys start filtering out. Aiden stops and points at his locker, telling me silently to change with one of his spares.
I swear the little fucker smirks as he follows Cole and a very animated Ronan out.
“Daniel. A word.” I catch myself using the calm, deceptive tone Jonathan taught us and I inwardly curse myself.
He stops and watches his surroundings as if searching for something.
The rest of the team throw curious glances our way as the locker room empties.
Daniel might have been part of the team for two years, but I never had one-on-one words with him. I can count the number of times I actually talked to him. Sure he comes to Ronan’s parties and hangs out with the team, but we were never close.
But times change.
I sit on the bench and continue drying my hair. Daniel stands as close enough to the exit as possible while remaining in the locker room.
His build isn’t bad, but he doesn’t work his leg muscles for long. As a result, his stamina doesn’t allow him to play a ninety minute game from start to finish. That’s the only reason why he couldn’t snatch a starter’s position.
He’s fast, though, and he can fit as a right-back or a midfielder. Coach noticed that he did well in the summer camp. It only took a word from me to convince him that Sterling could use a shot as a starter in the next game.
“Are you ready for Saturday?” I ask in a friendly tone.
“Yeah.” His eyes light up.
“It’s one of the rarest chances you’ll get so make it count.”
“Will… do, Captain.” He appears relieved and relaxed now.
My chance to strike.
“That friend of yours… A… something?”
His easy-going demeanour disappears as he stiffens. “Astrid.”
“Right. Astrid.” Not that I can ever forget her name considering that she’s able to fuck up my entire future.
“She…” He trails off, seeming to weigh his words. “I’m sorry for whatever she’s done. She’s not bad, she’s just not originally from around here. She doesn’t know the etiquette well.”
I pause drying my hair. “She’s not?”
“She lived with her mum before Lord Clifford took custody about three years ago. She hasn’t lived amongst us since she was a kid.”
So the princess hasn’t been a princess all along. Interesting. No wonder she didn’t exude the rotten, snobbish smell everyone at RES has.
During that party, she seemed so carefree and innocent, and yet somehow shackled down.
“You’re not going to hurt her, are you?” Daniel asks with a slight edge when I remain silent.
“Depends.” I stand up until I’m toe-to-toe with him.
“On what?” His shoulders pull back as if he’s about to fight me.
Also interesting. Seems that the princess has a loyal friend.
“I want you to tell me something, Daniel. It’s in her best interest.”
Once Daniel is done with the information I need, he leaves and I change into one of Aiden’s jackets — that’s tighter than mine.
My lips curve in a smirk at the idea of a hunt.
I warned her.
She didn’t listen.
The time has come to punish her.
12
Astrid
If the king drops you, you can only break.
* * *
I stand in front of my half-empty canvas, staring blankly.
It’s been going this way for… hours.
The muse has been escaping me and I don’t know how to catch it — or if it’s possible to catch it in the first place.
The only painting I did today was Levi’s T-shirts. I even took my time in painting the ‘Manwhore’ all over his ‘King’ title.
Why am I the only one who gets called names in RES when he’s the actual manwhore?
Even I heard about the epic affair last year. He fucked a biology teacher in the lab for weeks until the principal walked in on them.
The said teacher is banned from all schools and she moved out of the country.
True he was a minor at the time, but why the hell was he treated as a victim?
Not to mention all the girls who always brag about sleeping with the arsehole and how good it felt. Said girls have been making my life hell because of him.
The satisfaction from sneaking into the lockers and painting all his belongings in red still hums under my skin.
At these moments, when I’m letting my true free-spirit loose, I can’t help remembering Mum. She rooted spontaneity in me and taught me to never put on a mask.
Masks will suffocate you, Star.
She should’ve thought of the possibility where Dad would have custody of me.
In his house, all I can wear is a mask. The thought of screwing up and letting him down terrifies me.
After all, he’s all I have left.
Nicole made sure to swing by the art studio earlier and announce that we’re having a family dinner tonight. According to her, it’s fine if I miss. In fact, I should miss since I’ll only make a fool out of myself.
I considered showing up just to piss her off, but the thought of Dad’s cold, disapproving stares made me change my mind.
I procrastinated enough until it’s almost nine when RES closes its doors. It’s not like I can spend the night in the art studio.
After cleaning the brushes and putting the supplies in the drawers, I close the door on my way out.
Walking down the vast halls, I stick my earbuds in and let Supremacy by Muse fill my senses.
An eerie, calm atmosphere fills the school’s walls at this time of night. The only active students indoors are the book and chess clubs. Many athletes practise outside this late.
This is the best time to enjoy RES’s massive architecture and the ancient history of the building. No snobbishness or bullying can ruin the mood.
Dan texted me earlier saying he was going to a ‘Meet Up’ with the team — which is apparently some secret hang out place for RES’s football team starters. He offered to pick me up, but I declined and told him to have fun.
Still, I can’t help the streak of jealousy and doubt.
Even though Dan used his position in the team to lure girls, he was never really that into the game. It feels like I’m losing my best friend to the stupid football team.
Besides, there’s no way all these invitations to both the team and their secret partying place are a coincidence.
It could be that I’m being over paranoid, though. I hate the idea of drifting away from my best buddy. If this is another tactic from Levi, then I’m punching his gorgeous face and totally leaving bruises.
I cross the car park on my way to the side exit. It’s the perfect place to catch a taxi without getting all tangled in the traffic in front of the main building.
The bright white light illuminates my way as I retrieve my phone.
Astrid: u’re having fun?
Daniel: Hell yeah! We’re looking at a threesome tonight.
Astrid: You’re a pig.
Daniel: One u love, bugger.
>
Astrid: Just so we’re clear, I’m so not having fun tonight and u need to make it up to me.
Daniel: Fiiiine! I’ll re-watch Vikings with you for the thousandth time.
Astrid: And bring me the scones your mum makes.
Daniel: Nope. Those are mine.
Astrid: No deal.
Daniel: We’ll split *angry face emoji* Stop coming after my scones, damn you.
I smile, sending him a laughing out loud Japanese emoji and tuck my phone in my back pocket.
If sacrificing tonight means stealing some of Aunt Nora’s scones from Dan, then I’m game. I always tease him, saying we’re only friends because of his mum’s scones.
I’m heading towards the exit when the car park goes pitch black. I stiffen, stopping in my place.
I hit stop on the music and hurry towards where I remember the outside gate.
My hands turn clammy and my breathing hitches so loud, I can’t hear my footsteps or anything in my surroundings.
Dammit. The lights usually stay on until later.
My hand clamps around the straps of my backpack until my nails dig into my palms.
I’d start running, but my limbs are too shaky for that.
It’s true what they say about losing one of your senses. When you can’t see, everything else becomes heightened.
My ears pick up on the slight rustle of the wind against the pine trees surrounding the school. Or at least, I hope the rustle is because of the trees.
My nostrils fill with the scent of petrol from cars and pine as well as my own scent — which is so similar to fear.
The air on my skin feels like razor-sharp objects trying to dig their way inside. No matter how much I swallow, I can’t chase away the taste of acid from the back of my throat.
This is becoming terrifyingly similar to what happened that night.
Both nights actually.
Everything started with darkness.