by Ruby Vincent
“You already know where you want to go. Somerset University so you can be close to Adam.”
I twisted around to see him. The baby was engrossed with his toy train. “It’s an hour away from home, but it’s also one of the top-rated schools in the country. It’ll be difficult to get in even with Evergreen Academy on my application. Can you tell I’m freaking?”
“I can and you don’t have to. You’re getting in. I know it.”
I was glad one of us was confident. The truth was I had no idea what this year would bring. That day at Ryder’s house with the Knights hadn’t answered any questions. We argued my plan in circles before Caroline called up asking for her son and we all went home.
This had to end... and I’ll be the one to do it.
Soon we arrived at the gates and the staff sprang into action. They took my belongings while I said my goodbyes to Mom and Adam.
As her horn faded, it was replaced by the clacks of leather shoes, rolling of suitcases, and the shouts of people who hadn’t seen each other for weeks meeting up. The gates of Evergreen stood open and proud, glinting in the gilded sun and ready to welcome me to another year of unknowns.
I sighed. “Let’s do this.”
Students raced past in all directions as I headed for my lone building. I was actually looking forward to being back in my quiet space. I didn’t like a lot of things about Evergreen, but the dorms weren’t one of them.
The noise fell away as I crossed the courtyard and stepped onto the dew-soaked grass. I saw him immediately, but I didn’t pick up my pace. When we were a foot apart, he spoke.
“Hey, Moon.”
“Ezra.”
The taller boy leaned against my doorframe; his expression blank.
“I know why you’re here,” I began.
He raised a brow. “You do?”
“Yes.” I moved in closer until his heady scent overwhelmed me. “You came clean to my mom because you want me to do the same. Tell her that you didn’t lay a finger on me.”
“I came clean because it was the right thing to do.” Ezra’s face became tight. “You came through for us. Because of you, I never have to walk through the same halls as that woman again. Sit in her class while she smiles and pats my head until it’s everything I can do not to throw up. Scarlett used us to hurt you and... I’ll never forgive myself for playing her game.
“I deserved a lot worse than an afternoon doing yardwork after what I did. I hate what Mom thinks of me now, but honestly, I don’t think much more of myself, so tell her or don’t. I’m a piece of shit anyway.”
Ezra was right. I wasn’t expecting that at all. I gazed at him, trying to find the right words to respond. I opened my mouth.
“Want to come in?”
Ezra blinked. I blinked.
I don’t think either of us knew I was going to say that, but now that it was out there.
“Come in,” I repeated. “I want to talk inside.”
I opened the door and walked in, expecting Ezra to follow. From the footsteps I heard behind me, he was. The two of us heeded the noise coming from upstairs and walked in on the staff putting my things in my room.
“Thank you. I’ve got it from here.”
They inclined their heads and filed out, leaving us alone. For a while, Ezra and I just looked at each other across the plush gray rug.
“I’ll tell her,” I said, finally breaking the silence. “I’ll admit to Amelia that you didn’t hit me. We were both hurt by Scarlett. Because of her, you struck at me, but I struck back. I got my revenge and I’m satisfied, there’s no reason it needs to go on now that we both know the truth. Besides, you’re an asshole, but you don’t go around beating women and your mother shouldn’t think you do.”
Ezra dropped his gaze. “Thank you.”
I went over to my bed and sat down. “So what now?”
“I’ve... still got two more ‘labors’ to do.” Ezra took a step and then stopped. He looked around like he was wondering where to be.
“You can sit down on the bed.” After a slight hesitation, he did so. “So what do you have in mind for the next two? I know Mom appreciated someone finally getting at those gutters.”
He cracked a smile. “Not sure yet. Jaxson said he took you to Interstellar and that’s hard to beat. News sets aren’t that interesting.”
“We don’t have to do anything like that. I just appreciated that he thought of something he knew I would love.”
He nodded. Ezra wasn’t looking at me; he seemed fixed on a spot on my rug.
“Are you two together?”
I started. “What? Who?”
“You and Jaxson.” He still wasn’t looking at me. “Are you with him now?”
My jaw worked as I tried to form an answer. It was a good question. I had been all set to have sex with Jaxson Van Zandt. Things had changed between us; I couldn’t deny that.
“No,” I said in the end. “We haven’t talked or made anything official, so no, we’re not together.”
“Do you want to be with him?”
“I want to get through this year and get into Somerset University. Everything else I’ll figure out as I go along.”
“Alright.”
I thought he might say more, but nothing came. The silence spread between us like spilled tea until I couldn’t take it anymore.
“Can I be honest?” I asked.
“Sure.”
“What I would like is to get to know you.”
That made him pick up his head. “What?”
“I get Jaxson, Maverick, even Ryder, but I’ve never understood you. You keep your real self so hidden. I want to get to know that person.”
“How do you know this isn’t my real self?”
“Is it?” I challenged.
He didn’t reply.
“That’s what I thought.” I scooted closer to him. “You want to make it up to me—want my trust. Then you have to trust me too. No more mannequin man; I want Ezra Lennox.”
“You might not like him.” Those words were said so softly they nearly didn’t reach my ears.
“I’ll risk it.”
Ezra tilted his head back, studying me. “That is really all you want?”
“Yes.” I held my breath.
“Okay.” Ezra heaved himself off the bed. “I have to go. See you around, Moon.”
I didn’t stop him. The door closed behind Ezra leaving me more mixed up than ever. I couldn’t help but remember what Jaxson said. There never was a bet between the Knights to bed the new girl. The kiss I shared with Ezra at the masquerade ball was real, but it ended because of the same thing we were trying to overcome now. I wanted to know the real him.
But how will things change between us when I do?
I LET MY TOWEL FALL to the floor as I held up my uniform choices. Red was the color for our junior year. I had been wearing the skirt and blazer as a mark of rebellion—purposely standing out so they would all know I wouldn’t accept their shit.
The war is over now. At least it is for me. I’ll have to make everyone accept it.
Mind made up, I tossed the skirt on the bed and donned the dress. It looked so much better than the hideous yellow mess of last year that I had fun picking out earrings and bracelets to go with it. When I stepped out of my dorm, I knew I looked fierce.
A new year meant a new floor, and my feet carried me through the halls of the main building to the elevator that would take me to junior hall. I swiped my card on the reader and the elevator rumbled to life.
I stepped out into the well-known chaos of the first day. Everyone walked past hunting down lockers and room numbers that most didn’t notice me. I took the anonymity for the win it was and went in search of my locker.
370. 374. 37—
I scanned the rows until I landed on my best friend. Sofia leaned against the locker, grinning up at a guy whose tie she was twirling around her finger. I had met Zane Thomas a few times. Sofia had snuck him in over the summer whenever her parents were
out. I didn’t wonder what she saw in the guy.
He was tall and well-built from years of rugby, and sported the cutest mop of curly brown hair. Then, of course, there were the eyes. I had never met anyone with hazel eyes before him, and I was glad of it. Those things were lethal. Sofia turned to goo whenever they sparkled at her. Throw in the accent and she broke her six-month no-sex streak a week after meeting him.
I stepped up to them, and sure enough, my locker was the one they were standing by. Sofia took her eyes off Zane. “Hey, Val. What’s up?”
I pointed. “This is my locker. Are we neighbors?”
“No, we are.” Zane’s smile shone on me. “This is great. I heard we have the same classes too.” Zane flicked Sofia’s nose. “This one is way smarter than me so she’s got higher math and science classes.”
“She’s smarter than all of us, Zane. None of us stand a chance.”
Sofia giggled. “Stop it, guys. We have most of the same classes, and we’re sitting together at lunch whether Val likes it or not.”
We faced off, staring each other down. Sofia wouldn’t move on telling everyone we were friends. Zane looked between the both of us.
“Um, why wouldn’t she like it?”
We dropped the stare-off and replaced them with hesitant looks. Neither of us had told him about being marked, the Spades, none of it. It all sounded so insane. How do we begin to explain it?
Sofia took a breath. “Look, Zane. This school is—”
“Zane!”
Three pairs of eyes looked down the hallway and landed on a vaguely familiar-looking guy. His red blazer was slung over his shoulder as he loped down the hall, scattering students like bowling pins. They skirted out of his way as he marched up to Zane.
“Where the fuck is Markham’s class? I’ve walked up and down these halls five times.”
I blinked at him. He definitely wasn’t familiar to me, but that accent was.
“Ladies.” Zane clapped the guy on his shoulder. “This is my twin, Kai. Fraternal twin, obviously. He’s shorter, uglier, and a lot less charming.”
To my surprise, Kai burst out laughing. “What do you mean shorter and uglier? Girls don’t go for that bug-eyed, praying mantis thing you have going on.”
I smothered a laugh as Sofia stuck her head out from behind Zane. “I do.”
Kai didn’t lose his grin. “That’s only because you met him first.”
The laugh ripped from my lips before I could stop it and Kai glanced at me. “She’ll back me up.” Suddenly, his arm was around my shoulder and he was pulling me in. “Which one of the Thomas twins would you choose?”
A flush crept up my cheeks. They were both gorgeous no matter what either of them said. They both had curly hair and hazel eyes, but that’s where the similarities stopped. Kai was shorter than his twin, but inches above me. His face was sharper, his lips fuller, and all of it added up to one seriously attractive dude.
Not that I was going to say that to a person I knew for less than three minutes. I also wasn’t going to say I’d go for my best friend’s boyfriend.
“There is no way answering that would be good for me.”
“Stop making Valentina uncomfortable, idiot.” Zane put his hand on his brother’s face and shoved. He stumbled back, taking me with him. “Let’s go, Sofia.”
Sofia tossed me a wave and took off with Zane, leaving me alone with Kai.
“Sorry about that guy.”
Chuckling, I shrugged off his arm. “Right. Because Zane was the problem.”
“Zane’s been the problem since he hogged all the space in my mother’s womb.” He held up his schedule. “So how about it? Will you show me how to get to Markham’s class?”
“Sure. I’m going that way anyway.” I set off and Kai fell in beside me. “We had her for freshman year. I’m surprised she moved up. It’s hard for anyone to do that in this school.”
“What’s she like?”
“Tough, but if you fly under the radar she doesn’t give you grief.” I cut eyes to him. “What are you like?”
“Me?”
I nodded. “You and your brother are the first new additions to our class since me. What’s your story?”
Those hazel orbs swept over my face. “Want to know my story? Here it is: Once upon a time, there was a boy living in Cape Town with his parents, twin, and beautiful girlfriend. The boy’s father got a new job in the States and ripped said boy away from his friends and the girl he loved to live in a pretentious hellhole in the middle of nowhere. The end.”
This would have been the part where I said Evergreen wasn’t so bad, and he would love it here, but me of all people couldn’t say that. “I’m sorry. That sucks.”
“It does.” He looked away. “But I’m here now, in this school, walking with you, so tell me about yourself.”
I considered for a second. You know what, why not tell the truth?
“This is my third year here, and in my first, I was marked because I saw something I shouldn’t. Ever since, I’ve been harassed, taunted, bullied, and almost killed three times. Four seventeen-year-old boys rule this school. They are the Knights and everyone is afraid to go against them. Behind the scenes are the Spades, and they strike even more fear. This school is way more than a pretentious hellhole. It’s like nowhere you’ve ever been before, or will ever be.”
Kai gaped at me. “Is this one of your American jokes? Because I’ve never understood your humor.”
I smiled despite myself. “No, it’s all true. If you don’t believe me, ask anyone. They’ll tell you the same.” I glanced past him. “This is Markham’s class.”
He turned to look. “Thank you, Valentina.” When he glanced back, he was grinning. “You’re a strange one. We’ll get along well.”
Shaking my head, I followed him inside. Markham’s desk sat empty while around us students found their seats and their friends. Kai made to turn down the row. “Kai, wait. You have to put your phone in here.” The no-phone ban may have been repealed, but we still weren’t allowed them during the day. Kai stepped up to the phone box with me. “Put it in the slot with your student id.”
“Why can’t we have our phones?”
“It’s the rules.”
“That’s stupid.”
“Trust me, it used to be a lot worse. Take the win, Kai.”
He laughed. “Whatever you say, but now I’m choosing you as my student guide.”
“Don’t you already have one of those?”
Kai scoffed. “Some girl named Isabella who showed up, handed me my schedule, and told me to figure it out.” He peered over his shoulder. “She’s over there.”
I followed his line of sight. Isabella leaned against the window flocked by her usual crowd, the Diamonds.
Yep. This whole one big class thing was a huge mistake.
“I know Isabella,” I said simply. I tapped his arm. “Come on, let’s grab seats.”
Sofia waved us over to their spot near the back. She and Zane sat next to each other with two empty desks in front of them. I plopped down in front of Sofia while Kai sat by Zane.
She leaned in. “Isabella was running her mouth before you got here. Someone asked if she lost her spot as head of the Diamonds since you beat her, and that set off a rant about hip-hop and ballet not being in the same league, and your win not counting. She’ll have to be shoved off the throne, because she’s not stepping down.”
“She can stay.” I made sure my voice didn’t carry. “I never wanted to lead that pack of jackals, I only wanted her to spend her days as queen knowing that deep down she was a loser—beaten by the girl from the Wakefield slum she thought she was so much better than.”
She whistled. “Damn, girl. You are ruthless.”
“Fear me, Sofia. Fear me.”
We fell out giggling and the boys gave us looks.
“Can we know the joke?” Kai asked.
“You’re going to be the joke if you don’t hop out of that seat, playboy.”
; My laughter dried up quick. I gaped at Jaxson as Kai’s eyes narrowed into slits. “Who the fuck are you?”
Jaxson’s face matched his so exactly you would have thought they were the twins. “Who the fuck are you?”
“Jaxson, they’re new students,” Sofia said quickly. “They just moved here.”
“That’s no excuse for not knowing the rules. I’ll be sitting next to Val, so get up.”
Kai looked at me as my cheeks heated up. Everyone was looking at me now.
“I’m not going anywhere,” Kai said, although his gaze was on me. There was something in his expression that I couldn’t read. “So fuck off.”
“Kai!” Sofia hissed.
This was quickly getting out of hand. I grabbed Jaxson’s arm. “It’s fine, Jaxson. Just find another seat.”
Jaxson twisted and caught my hand. Before I could react, he pressed his lips to my fingers. “You going to stand for this, baby? You don’t want to sit with me?”
My eyes traveled down to his exposed chest, and a vision of us half-naked on the couch flashed through my mind. I wanted to do more than sit with him, but Kai was cool; I couldn’t let him unwittingly put a target on his back.
“I do, but I’m his student guide. I have to stick close.”
He seemed to accept this. “Then find me when you shake him loose.” He kissed my hand again before claiming a seat further up. I placed my hand in my lap, rubbing my fingers over the spot where he kissed me. It tingled in the most distracting way.
“That your boyfriend?”
I jumped. “What?”
Kai jerked his head in Jaxson’s direction. “You two going out?”
“No.” I shook out my hand. “He’s not my boyfriend.”
“Does he know that?”
I opened my mouth and nothing came out. Did he know that?
Time for a subject change.
“Kai, he is who I was telling you about. One of the four boys who rule the school.”
“Rule the school?” Zane made a face at Sofia. “What’s going on?”
She sighed. “Okay, so over a hundred years ago...”