by Ruby Vincent
“I’m sure.” I tossed the towel over my shoulder and stood. Crossing the room, I peeked at Adam and found he was still fast asleep. I stroked his soft little cheek. “I’m going to make everything right.”
“Okay. Good night, Val.”
“Night.”
“DID YOU HAVE FUN WITH Sofia?”
“It was great, Mom.” I took my eyes off the mansion fading in my rearview mirror and focused on her. The rest of our vacation had been great even with Sofia being grounded. That didn’t look much different since Madeline went back to work and wasn’t around to keep her in. “I’ve got to show you the pictures of the sweet sixteen they threw me.”
“That was nice of them.” Mom pulled out of the driveway and set us on the lane that led home. “I’ll show you mine too. I’m sorry I missed your birthday, baby, but we’ll celebrate tonight.”
“I know we will, and I’m glad you had fun. You could use a break.”
“Not from my Adam.” She grinned at him in the rearview mirror. “He’s such a good baby. You destroyed my figure, gnawed my nipples half off, and screamed whenever I closed my eyes. I started taking it personal after a while.”
“Love you too, Mom,” I mumbled under my breath.
She cackled. “Let’s have dinner at our favorite spot, swing by the mall, see a movie, and pick out a present. Sound good?”
“Perfect.”
I was wrong that celebrating my birthday couldn’t get any better than being up on that stage. We had so much fun talking about Olivia’s cruise adventures and the things Sofia and I got up to that I had no trouble finding my smiles that night.
We stepped into the elevator and Mom pushed the button for the top floor. “Oh, yeah. I’ve got all your deliveries stacked up in my living room. What’s with that? I don’t remember you needing all of that for last year.”
“It’s sophomore year, Mom. Things are even more intense.”
“But what is it?”
“Just some books. Things for my new dorm. Stuff like that.”
“Okay, but I need you to move them to your room.”
“I will.”
We stepped off the elevator and went into our apartment. I didn’t waste a second in moving the packages into my room. I’d have rather not sent it to the apartment, but sending it to school was out of the question. I couldn’t tell Mom what was really in these boxes, but I hadn’t lied completely. Sophomore year would be intense, and all these things would ensure I survived it... and they didn’t.
I set my list of names on the floor as I checked everything over and packed it away. Second year, first semester; here I come.
SUMMER ENDED MUCH TOO quickly and soon I was piling my things into the car and putting Wakefield in my rearview mirror. I was chatty when we started the two-hour drive, but as the gates loomed closer, I got quieter. I wanted to be here. I had gone through so much to earn my spot at this school, but the girl who rode up to those wrought-iron fences a year ago wasn’t here anymore.
“Want me to help you unpack?”
“No, that’s okay. It’s a long drive. You guys should head back.”
“Alright, kid. I’ll see you soon then.”
Mom joined the line of cars and pulled up to the curb. Like before, there were gray-uniformed staff who sprang into action the moment she popped the trunk. I kissed Olivia, and then climbed over the passenger seat to kiss Adam too.
“I’ll miss you, son,” I said softly. Adam blinked up at me with huge eyes. “Be good for Grandma.”
Whack!
“Ow!” My hand flew to my backside.
“What did you just call me? You watch your language around the baby.”
Grumbling, I pulled back and hopped out. Mom beeped before throwing the car in drive and riding off—leaving me alone.
I spun around and faced the gates of Evergreen Academy.
Time to burn this motherfucker to the ground.
I PUSHED INTO MY NEW dorm room and stepped aside so the men could bring in my suitcases, I tried not to be impressed, but I wasn’t fooling anyone. This room was bigger than my freshman dorm, and that place had been bigger than our apartment.
My bed was bigger. My desk was bigger. My wardrobe took up almost an entire wall. There was a cute study nook with shelves above for my textbooks.
Gotta give them this much; they hire great interior decorators.
“Thank you,” I said to the staff members. They tipped their caps at me and filed out.
I let the door slam shut and then flung myself on the bed. My phone was out and my fingers typing moments after the comforter claimed me.
Me: They put me on the first floor. Rm 105. Where r u?
Sofia: Third floor. Rm 316. They probably want to make sure you don’t fall down any more stairs.
Me: Good call.
Sofia: I know you said you had a plan, but I’m glad you’ll have Noemi watching your back.
Me: Actually, I won’t. No bodyguard for me this year.
Sofia: WHY?!
Me: It’s all a part of the plan, Sof. Don’t freak. What wasn’t a part of the plan was it being harder for us to sneak into each other’s rooms. Someone might see us if we try now.
Sofia: I know. This sucks. We’ll have to meet up in our secret spot from now on. Unless Rossman goes back to bending Panzer over the couch up there.
I hit her with a wave of vomit emojis.
Me: Thanks for the image! Gross. Why is that our secret spot again?
Her reply was a bunch of LOLs.
I tossed my phone on the pillow beside me and heaved myself up. I was here now. It was time to put things in motion. I went through and unpacked all my stuff, hanging up my clothes, setting out my makeup, then sliding one locked suitcase under my bed. I hoped the security system would protect me from another break-in, but I wasn’t taking chances.
When everything was put away, I reached for my phone again.
Me: Did you find them?
I waited with bated breath, counting the seconds tick, tick, ticking from the clock as I stared at my phone.
S: Yes. I will send you the information.
Me: Great. Thank you.
I went to set my phone down when a buzz vibrated my hand.
S: Your account is low. I will deposit more money.
I thought about saying no. My fingers were poised to type it, but at the last second, I stopped myself.
More money would come in handy this year.
I pulled up the reply and typed in six letters.
Thanks.
The next text was the information I had asked for.
I stayed up well into the night setting my plans into motion, which is why I didn’t welcome the banging on my door early the next morning.
I poked my head out from under my pillow. “Who is it?!”
It was Sunday. Classes didn’t start until the next day and Sofia wouldn’t be banging on my door begging to get caught. Who was out there and what could they possibly want from me?
“Valentina, it’s me.”
My irritation melted away. Slowly, I pushed off the covers and padded to the door. Noemi beamed at me over the threshold.
“Hey, Val. How was your summer?”
“Good.”
“Did you go anywhere fun?”
“No.”
She nodded. “Let me guess, it was homework, homework, homework. You study like crazy, but I tell you, I got through so many books while I was sitting with you in the library that I made my husband jealous. The kids make sure we don’t have time to shower, let alone read.” She laughed at her joke.
“Bummer.”
Noemi clapped. “So, the new semester starts tomorrow which means I’ll be outside your door bright and early. After the awards ceremony... the headmaster felt it best I continue to escort you.”
“No.”
“So I was thinking we...” Noemi trailed off, the smile slipping off her face. “What?”
“No, I don’t want an escort this year.”
“But, Val, last year you went through—”
“I don’t need you to tell me what happened last year.” I tried to keep my tone even. “I don’t want a bodyguard and I’ll tell the headmaster that and sign whatever he puts in front of me.”
Her eyelashes fluttered as she blinked at me. “If that’s what you want—”
“It is.” I stepped back inside and grabbed the door. “Wait here while I change. We can go right now.”
I closed the door on Noemi’s screwed-up face and got dressed. I stepped out ten minutes later. Noemi fell in beside me, silent as we walked out into the quad.
It was the chaos you’d expect of the final move-in day out here. People ran around meeting up with friends, herding parents, and lugging oversized suitcases. Noemi and I weaved through the chaos without saying a word, but every now and then I caught her looking at me out of the corner of my eye.
Stepping through into administration was night and day what was happening outside. It was deathly quiet in here. Mrs. Khan sat behind reception shuffling papers around while the other office workers had their eyes glued to their computers. You’d think they’d have a lot to do getting ready for a new school year. Looking at them I remembered something Paisley told me.
“There may be a whole administration office with little worker bees banging away at their computers, but Jaxson and the other Knights are the ones who really run this school—at least in the ways that matter.”
It was hard to argue with that.
“Mrs. Khan. We need to speak to the headmaster.”
She pointed without looking up. “You can go right through.”
Headmaster Evergreen wasn’t as old as his sallow skin and white hairs suggested. According to Sofia, the man was only in his early fifties, but had been running the school since he took over for his father when he was thirty.
I peered at him through hooded eyes as he gestured for me to take a seat. Evergreen once said he had no idea what it meant to be marked. I believe that like I believe deep down Ryder Shea was really a nice guy.
“What can I do for you, Miss Moon?”
“I won’t be needing a bodyguard this year. I’m supposed to sign something for that, right?”
Evergreen’s forehead wrinkled with his frown. “You expressed concern last year for your safety and seemed quite pleased with this solution. I must say I’m surprised to hear this after the incident at the awards ceremony.”
I gritted my teeth. “Speaking of the ceremony, what did you do about Jaxson Van Zandt stealing my medical records and announcing my business to the school? Last I checked, that was a crime.”
Evergreen’s face smoothed out. “It was negligence to the highest degree, and I assure you, we take that very seriously. Dr. Miller was let go and new systems have been put in place to ensure this doesn’t happen again. Every video of the incident that was put online has been taken down, and our lawyers will ensure no more are posted.”
I waited for him to say more. “And?” I pressed when he didn’t go on. “How was Jaxson punished?”
“Mr. Van Zandt’s parents were informed of his actions and he will no longer MC school events.”
“That’s it? You made me pick up trash for weeks because I broke a television, but Jaxson breaks the law and nothing.”
Now his expression changed. Evergreen’s frown said everything about how far I would get pushing this. “The punishments I give are not for you to question, Miss Moon. Now let’s return to the matter at hand. Why are you refusing an escort?”
I folded my arms. “It’s simple. No matter how I look at it... your escort was involved in me falling down the stairs.”
The reaction to my accusation was immediate.
“Miss Moon!”
“Excuse me?!”
I sat stony-faced while they raged around me. All I’ve done over the last few weeks was think about what was done to me, and this was the only thing that made sense.
“That is a serious allegation,” Evergreen said. “Do you have any proof of this?”
“Of course there’s no proof,” said Noemi. “I had nothing to do with it. It was an accident.”
“It wasn’t an accident.” I announced. “I asked the custodians and they said they had no reports of the elevator being broken down that day. Someone put up that sign to make me take the stairs, and then trip over a line that was gone when I came back.”
“What line?” Evergreen sputtered. “How can you be sure it was there? And—”
“I know what I felt, Headmaster,” I cut in calmly. “But the real problem is... where was Noemi? She was supposed to be standing outside my room waiting for me but she wasn’t there when I came out, and she wasn’t the one who found me knocked out on the stairs. Some random freshman came back from class and screamed the place down thinking I was dead. That was an hour and a half after she was supposed to meet me.”
I turned to Noemi. The woman didn’t meet my gaze, her eyes fixed on a point above Evergreen’s head. “Why weren’t you there? And when you couldn’t find me, why didn’t you look?”
Noemi still didn’t look at me. “I did nothing—”
My hands clamped down on the arms of the chair. “Stop lying!” My anger came up hot and fast. I had liked Noemi. I thought she was my friend. Realizing she must have betrayed me was the final nail in the coffin. “If one more lie comes out of your mouth, the next person I speak to will be the cops. Let’s see how many books you read in prison.”
Evergreen rose from his seat. “Miss Moon, it won’t be necessary to involve the police. I will handle this matter personally.”
Noemi fixed on him; her face stricken. “Headmaster, I swear I was not involved in any plot to harm her. I—”
He held up a hand. “We have yet to determine that there was a plot, or even that it wasn’t an accident like Miss Moon believes. That will be looked into. But a fact that does remain is you were not at your post at the time of her fall. That is unacceptable.”
“But, sir, I—”
Evergreen wasn’t letting her get a word in. “Mrs. Kennedy, you no longer work for Evergreen Academy. Please, pack up your things. Security will escort you from the building within the hour.”
“But, sir!”
“Headmaster!”
This time the shouts came from both of us. I lurched out of my seat. “Headmaster, you can’t get rid of her until I find out who put her up to it.” I spun around. “Tell me who it was. Tell me why. Did someone pay you?”
Noemi turned her face, hiding her shadowed expression.
“Tell me!” I darted in front of her, trying to make her look me in the eyes. “Was it one of the Knights? The Diamonds?”
“Miss Moon.”
Grabbing her arm, I cried, “Was it the Spades?”
“Miss Moon!” roared Evergreen, causing me to jump. “I told you that I will handle this matter. Leave now.”
“But, sir—”
“Another but will see you in detention for the rest of the semester. Leave my office.”
I bit my lip to stop myself from arguing. Picking up more trash around school wouldn’t get me any closer to finding the Spades, and with Noemi falling mute, neither would she.
I let go of her hand and left without another word.
I knew this wouldn’t be easy. I also knew it would be dangerous. But I would not stop until I exposed every last one of them.
I PICKED UP A NECKLACE, held it to my throat, and grimaced. Sofia was right about one thing: no one looked good in yellow. I honestly don’t know what they were thinking making it the sophomore color.
I tried another necklace and tossed that back too. Between the yellow blazer, white button-up shirt, and black-and-yellow plaid skirt; I looked like a preppy banana.
Sighing, I gave up on accessorizing and moved on to the important part of my outfit. I lifted the button camera from the box and carefully put it into place.
Wow. I stepped back and checked myself out in the vanity. Can’t
tell the difference at all.
The tiny camera blended in perfectly among my other buttons. I picked up my phone and fiddled with it until a video of my reflection appeared on the screen. Something so small could see and hear everything I can.
Perfect.
I took the second cam out of the suitcase and tucked it and my phone away in my backpack, then shoved in a change of clothes. I was ready for my first day.
I stepped out of my room into an empty hallway. That was on purpose. I wanted to give everyone a head start to cut down on the harassment I would get on the way to class. That sort of worked.
“Oh, shit. Who let her back in?”
It started the moment I stepped out into the quad. The freshman dorms were right next to the main building, but unfortunately for me, my new dorm was in the back behind the sports complex. It was a long walk to class.
“We shouldn’t have to go to school with a diseased slut. What if we catch something?”
“Isn’t the first rule of tricking to bag it up? If you’re going to be a slut, at least don’t be a stupid slut.”
“I saw you on YouTube.” This came from a girl in a blue uniform—a freshman. “You looked so pathetic running off the stage to cry.” The girl trailed me, nipping at my heels. “If you’re going to give it out that easily, you should at least be able to take it.”
I didn’t bother to turn around. All of these people were mindless gnats—annoying, but harmless. I needed to focus all my attention on those that would be harder to take down.
Stepping into the main building, I shut the door on all the vicious taunts and turned for the stairs. Second year meant second floor and this would be my first time setting foot up there. I topped the first landing when I heard their voices.
“—believe she came back.”
“The girl’s a masochist. She probably has her customers beat her with whips and spank her ass until she’s red. She gets off on punishment.”
I stiffened at the chorus of laughter that echoed through the stairwell. I knew that voice. Natalie Bard couldn’t be mistaken.
“Masochist or not,” Airi Tanaka replied, “she’s tough. She will not leave and I’m up for first chair this year now that Indira Reddy graduated. Can’t we leave it to everyone else to drive our tasty friend out?”