by Ruby Vincent
“ADVANCED GOVERNMENT, Advanced Literature and Composition, precalculus, Spanish, speech, orchestra, gym, and Advanced Chemistry. Is your schedule as horrible?”
I handed Kai mine. “I don’t have speech, but yes, we’re in the same boat.”
“I didn’t want to be in advanced. There wasn’t an option for anything else.”
Kai, Zane, and I strode through the halls for precalc. Sofia went off to Calculus II while the boys stuck by my side. Which was a surprise. I was sure they’d be the ones to shake me loose when they heard the whole story.
“It won’t be so bad. We can study together... if you’re not afraid of hanging with someone who’s marked.”
Kai snorted. “That bullshit? I’m not letting some playing card tell me who my friends are, and I can’t believe anyone else here did either.”
“For once I agree with him,” echoed Zane. “Bullshit is exactly what that is.”
“You won’t catch me disagreeing with you. The problem is everyone else does.”
“Fuck them.” Kai said that with such certainty it pulled me up short. “I’m not dropping you, and you know what, if anyone pulls anything, I’ll kick their ass. I don’t like bullies.”
“And again, I agree with my brother. No one is messing with you this year, Valentina. That’s a promise.”
“I can take care of myself, guys, but... thank you. I really appreciate it.”
We were walking for a while before I realized we had picked up a fourth party. Ezra strolled alongside us like it was no big deal.
“Lennox? What are you doing?”
“What are you doing?” he shot back. “Tonight.”
Ezra headed off to the side and I went with him, waving the boys on. “What’s going on tonight?” I looked him up and down, noting how perfectly put together he was. His red blazer was buttoned. His leather shoes polished, and his hair slicked back.
I had the sudden urge to run my fingers through his hair—see what it looked like wild and messy.
“That’s up to you,” he said. “If you want... we can do number two tonight.”
I knew what that meant. Ezra was ready to let me peek inside. How could I say no to that?
“I want.”
“Okay. I’ll pick you up at your door at nine.” Ezra took a step. “Wait. You’re not skipping out on lunch today, right?”
“No. Why?”
“You just need to be there.”
He walked off before I could get another question out. Shaking my head, I joined the twins who stood off to the side to wait for me.
Whatever it is, I’ll find out.
I TOSSED MY GYM CLOTHES in the locker under Coach Panzer’s watchful eye. Another rule that stuck around for junior year was that we weren’t allowed to be in the locker room if she wasn’t there. The headmaster didn’t want us planning any more drug deals or arranging to buy term papers.
“Hurry up, ladies. We all want our lunch.”
“Val doesn’t.” A loathsome hiss slipped into my ear, alerting me to her presence. “She’ll only throw it up after.”
“Still on that.” I didn’t pause in getting dressed. “Didn’t we leave the thin jokes in freshman year? Get new material, Natalie.”
“Get fucked, Moon. Oh wait, no one is trying to get with a diseased slut.”
A chorus of laughter broke out behind me.
“Ladies!” Panzer’s shout broke through the cackling. “Get dressed, and get going.”
I listened to the slamming and shuffling of people walking away. A presence pressed in on me.
“You better watch your back,” Natalie whispered. Her finger brushed the ridges of my spine, making me shiver in disgust. “You’re going to pay for what you did to me last year.”
“I told you, dumbass. I didn’t plant that phone.”
“I know it was you!”
“I never left my seat.” I slammed the locker shut and spun to face her. Natalie’s face was bright red with the strain of holding herself back. “So why don’t you spend your time figuring out who else wanted to take you down. I’m sure there are plenty of people.”
“You’re such a—”
A shadow fell over us. I snapped my head up and got the full force of Panzer’s scowl.
“Did you two not hear me? Get dressed!”
“Yes, Coach.”
I scrambled to put on the rest of my clothes and got out. I passed by my locker on the way to the cafeteria and found Sofia, Zane, and Kai milling about.
“What’s up, guys?”
Sofia poked her head out from under Zane’s arm. “We were waiting for you.”
“Why?”
“’Cause we’re walking in together. We’re getting our food together. Then we’re sitting together.”
I opened my mouth.
“Get on board, Moon,” Kai said, “or Sofia says I get to steal your dessert.”
I laughed. “I was only going to say I love you guys. Come on, and if any of you touches my dessert, you’re losing a hand.”
Striding side by side with them through the hostile stares, I felt so many emotions it was hard to keep track of it all. Anxiety was strong among them. I didn’t want anyone to be hurt because of me, but more than that, I was grateful. I was fit to burst at having friends like this that would stand by me when everyone else abandoned me.
We walked through the doors like nothing was up, chatting away. “The food here is way too healthy,” Sofia said. “Good, but there’s nothing deep-fried in sight. We used to have soda, but Evergreen took it away.”
“It’s still pretty good even though my best friend never lets me have dessert,” I added.
Sofia made a face at me. “You lose your dessert fair and—”
“Sofia? What are you doing?”
I stiffened at the voice.
Our group shifted to face the others that approached us. Eric led the pack with Paisley and Claire on either side. All three of them looked at Sofia like they had never seen her before.
Claire’s eyes flicked to me. “Sofia, we’re sitting by the window. Let’s go.”
“No.” Sofia folded her arms, staring them down. “I’m sitting with Val. She’s my best friend and always has been. I’m tired of pretending to go along with this marked stuff.”
Eric’s eyes bugged out. “W-what are you talking about?! You mean you’ve been lying to us the whole time?”
“I— Yes, and I’m sorry. You’re my friends too and I love you guys, but all of this is wrong, and I can’t do it anymore. If you get that, then you’ll sit with us. If not...”
She trailed off, letting her words hang in the air. It was the tensest minute of my life waiting to see what the people I used to call my friends would do. Paisley, so pretty and fierce, looked at me and something flickered in her eyes. She took a step.
“No.” Eric’s hand flashed out and secured Paisley’s wrist. “It sucks what happened to Valentina, but we can’t afford to be next. We won’t risk our families or businesses by getting the Spades to turn on us. These are the traditions of the school, and if she didn’t like it, she could have left.”
My eyes narrowed. “Want to stop talking about me like I’m not standing right here, Eric?”
To my surprise, Eric turned and faced me head-on. “I’m sorry, Val, but we’re not friends anymore, and we haven’t been for two years. You’re marked. That’s not going to change.”
I looked at the other girls. “You feel the same way?”
Paisley actually looked like she would cry. “I can’t be marked too, Val. I’m sorry.”
“And you, Claire?”
Claire’s gaze was clear and steady. “We’re from the same place, so you know more than anyone here how hard it is to get out. I’ve got a family too, and they’re depending on me. Bye, Val.”
Claire was the first to walk away. Eric and Paisley went after her. I glanced at Sofia in time to see her wipe away a stray tear. This hit her harder than it did me. I accepted a long time ago that
those three were no longer my friends, but I know she wanted to believe they were better than this.
We were a quiet group as we got our lunch trays and found a table near the dais, as far away from the window as possible. Kai was the first to speak.
“They’re really serious about this marked stuff here.”
I could feel all the eyes on us. “Very serious. This is your chance to walk away.”
Kai leaned over and plucked my cheesecake off the tray.
“Hey!”
He took a massive bite, grinning at me as he chewed. “You were warned, Moon. Stop telling us to walk away. I’m not going anywhere.”
Hiding my smile, I started eating the lunch I had left. It took a minute, but eventually, we fell into normal conversation, ignoring the rest of the juniors. I was making short work of my cauliflower rice burrito when the Knights strolled inside. The hush that accompanied their presence fell over the room. They stepped up to the dais trailed by the girls who delivered their lunch. The girls set down the trays, but the guys didn’t sit.
There was a shift in the air as the Knights spread out across the dais, looking out across the room.
What’s going on?
“Listen up,” Jaxson called. “We have something to say.”
Silence fell before he finished the sentence. All eyes were on them, mine included.
Maverick stepped forward. “Two years ago, Valentina Moon was marked.”
My chair screeched across the tile as I rose from my seat. What is this? What are they doing?
“Everyone did what they were supposed to do,” Ezra continued. “Tried to drive her out.”
Jaxson spoke up. “Now there are new orders from us and we’ll make sure the freshmen, sophomores, and seniors know too.”
“It’s over,” Ryder stated. “The mark is lifted. Valentina Moon can stay.”
My jaw dropped as all around me, chaos erupted.
Chapter Four
“Can you believe this? Did you know they were going to do this?”
“No.”
“Val, this is so great.” Sofia seized me in a hug that about cracked my ribs. “It’s finally over. Finally.”
I put my arms around her and hugged back. It had been a bizarre day to be sure. Of course, the Knights’ announcement was good news, but I had no clue it was coming. I had a plan. I was going to start small, spreading the rumor of Scarlett trying to force herself on me and the mark following soon after. I wanted the students to connect the dots and let it grow like wildfire until everyone knew what she truly was. At least, that was what I told the Knights I would do, despite their objections.
I had classes with them, but the school day ended with me not able to corner any of them. We needed to talk.
“What are you doing tonight?” Sofia asked. “We should celebrate. We can go up to the roof.”
“I’m supposed to meet Ezra tonight, but we can hang out until then. Just let me drop my stuff in my room.”
“Okay. Come to the junior dorm. I’ve stashed a family-size bag of chips and a pack of soda. We’ll have a mini-movie marathon.”
“Deal.”
I left her and headed off for Markham’s class. She was sitting at her desk when I arrived. No one else was inside.
The tip-tapping on her keyboard ceased. “Miss Moon, how are you?”
“I’m good.” I rescued my phone from the box.
“I heard of the announcement made in the lunchroom.”
“I guess everyone has by now.”
“You must be very happy.”
I didn’t reply. The truth was I didn’t know what to think.
“This is the first time in school history that something like this has happened,” she continued. “Did you know they were going to do this?”
“I was as surprised as anyone.”
“Why do you think they decided to do it?”
I lifted my head, studying her. “Does it matter? All I care about is that this is over. You must be happy too. You don’t have to look the other way anymore.”
Wrinkles formed around her mouth as her lips tightened. “I never wanted to look the other way. I did as much as I could to help you.”
I did not want to get into what I thought of that. “I have to get going. Someone is waiting for me.”
“Of course, Miss Moon.”
I walked out, saying no more. The afternoon sun lit the cobblestone courtyard and cast its shades of reds and golds on me as I walked to my dorm. I loved it out here, even though the space was tinged with the memory of Jaxson knocking me out of the way of the falling planter that would have ended my life.
I passed through onto the grass and my eyes lit on him. It was as though thoughts of him had conjured him up. I couldn’t help the smile that spread across my lips as Jaxson came to meet me, enfolding me in his arms.
“Hey, baby.”
I sunk into his chest, breathing deeply his sweet spicy scent. I can’t believe I ever hated being called baby.
“Jaxson.” His haze was trying to pull me under, but I had to stay clear. “We need to talk.”
“We do? About what?”
I pulled back until his arms fell at his side. “Today in the cafeteria, why did you guys do that? We had a plan. The school was supposed to find out the truth about Scarlett and turn on the Spades themselves.”
His gaze sharpened. “Or the Spades figured out your plan and turned on you themselves. None of us were willing to risk that. This way, if there are more Spades, they’ll look at us, not you. We’re Knights, we’re protected. Especially now that Scarlett is gone. There isn’t much they can do to us.”
“You don’t know that,” I protested. “There is plenty an unseen enemy can do. The Spades could be literally anyone. They could be teaching us and we wouldn’t know.”
“It’s done now, mama.” Jaxson’s face softened as he brushed my hair behind my ear. “We have spoken to all the grades. They mess with you; they deal with us.”
I wanted to argue some more, but deep down I knew he was right. It was too late now.
“I can still spread the truth about Scarlett. The world should know what she truly was.”
“If people start looking too hard at her; they might question her disappearance. We don’t want that.”
I clenched my fists. He was right. I hated that he was right. “So... it’s over.”
“Yes, baby. It’s over.”
His hand traveled down my neck. I didn’t stop him as he drew me in.
I melted into the kiss, letting the fear and tension leak out of my body. He broke it and rested his head on mine while I worked to form words again.
“Does he know he’s not your boyfriend?”
The words were a dagger to my balloon of happiness. My eyes snapped open. “Jaxson, we have to talk.”
“Again?”
“Yes.” Taking a deep breath, I stepped out of his hold. “It’s about us.”
“What about us?” He looked so adorably confused, I wanted to kiss away the wrinkle in his brow. Then keep kissing all the way down until I got to his—
Stop it, Moon! Focus!
“Jaxson, things got really intense between us over the summer and I don’t regret any of it. If I could have done things over again, I would do it the same except I would have flung your phone across the room.”
He chuckled. “I wish every day I had.”
“But—”
“Why is there a but?”
“Because,” I whispered. “I don’t know what we are yet, and I don’t want to give you the wrong idea. I like talking and dancing and spending time with you but”—visions of Adam’s smiling face broke through my thoughts—“but there is still a lot you don’t know about me.”
“Then tell me when you’re ready.”
“I don’t know when that will be,” I continued. My heart jackhammered in my chest. How could I say what I was feeling when I didn’t understand it myself? “I can’t ask you to wait—”
“I wan
t to wait.”
“But being your girlfriend right now when I am trying to figure out my future and my family and if I’m truly out from under the shadow of the Spades is so much. I want to be with you but—”
“So be with me.”
Frustration burst out of me like a fire hose. “Jaxson!” I cried, throwing my hands up. “Will you stop being so agreeable! I’m freaking out over here!”
He threw his head back, laughing. “Why, baby? Trust me, I have no expectations. The fact that you even let me be in the same room with you after what I did amazes me. I’m willing to accept whatever you’ll give me, because I want to be with you too.”
The tiniest bud of hope unfurled inside me. “You really mean that?”
“I do.” Jaxson’s fingers curled around my waist. “Tell me what you want, and that’s how it will be.”
What I want? What do I want?
“I want... to keep spending time with you.”
“I’m good with that.”
“I want to kiss you.”
He pumped his fist. “Yes.”
A giggle burst unbidden from my lips. “I want to walk down the halls with you. Dance with you. Curl into your side in the back of your car.”
“Deal, deal, and deal.” He grinned. “Anything else?”
I couldn’t see my face, but I knew it had to be redder than a fire engine. “I want to sleep with you.”
“I am very okay with that. You have your way with me whenever the mood strikes.”
I laughed again. Why was he so good at getting me to do that? Even when I was so nervous, I was shaking.
I don’t know if it was him or me who moved first, but in the next breath, our lips connected. It was a soft, slow kiss, but it brought me to the brink and then pushed me over. All of my nerve endings were alive, fizzing and sparking with electricity.
“Let’s go inside,” he whispered. The words were a straight shot to my core, making my pulse pick up speed.
“I’m... uh... supposed to meet Sofia.”
“Tonight then.” His eyes were dark with need. I read everything he wanted to do with me in his gaze, but...
“Ezra is picking me up at nine.”
He placed another peck on my lips. “Tomorrow.”