by Ruby Vincent
Wilhelmina stepped to the side to let me pass without a word.
I found the bathroom and changed into my suit. Eric and Sofia were slurping their margaritas when I came out.
“What took you so long?”
There was no point in lying when Wilhelmina could tell him the truth. “I found the library... and your grandmother.”
He winced. “Don’t know what happened, but let me say sorry. She can be kind of intense.”
“Kind of?” I said under my breath.
I sat down on the pool chair between them and accepted the glass Eric handed me. He leaned back with a pleased sigh. “Let’s enjoy this, ladies. It only gets worse from here.”
Why did I have a strong feeling he was right?
ERIC WAS RIGHT. THE first month of junior year flew by in a haze of college applications, essays, tests, practice tests, mock interviews, and tears—especially the last one. I guess even Ace was busy because their taunting texts switched from daily to weekly.
“Good morning, class.” Professor Coleman tapped a key on his computer and the projector came to life. “As you know, advanced placement tests are coming up as well as finals and SATs. You have a lot to accomplish and you’ve been feeling the pressure of the accelerated curriculum, but pressure is good.”
From the glares half the class—me included—were giving him, we didn’t agree that pressure was good.
“You’re going to face nothing but pressure and challenges as you move on to your final year of Evergreen and then university,” he continued. “I would like to say that I am proud of all you accomplished, and you should be too. Give yourself a round of applause.”
The claps came slow, but eventually the room gave in, filling the space with cheers while Coleman smiled indulgently.
“Now then,” he said when we finished, “let’s talk about the ten-page essay you have due in two weeks.”
The groans were ten times louder than the applause. Coleman’s smile didn’t even twitch.
“The man is a sadist,” I hissed to Kai. “I swear.”
“No arguments here.”
“Settle down, settle down.” He flapped his hands until we quieted. “The Picture of Dorian Gray is a relatively short book. You’ll analyze it for the standard elements with a partner.”
Kai turned to me. “Okay. Let’s break it up by—”
“Different partners,” Coleman interrupted. “I will assign them now.”
Coleman went through the list and predictably busted us up. Kai shot me puppy dog eyes as he got up and moved over to Natalie.
“Valentina Moon and Ezra Lennox.”
I bit my lip to hide my smile as Ezra sat next to me.
He didn’t. “Hey, Moon.”
“Lennox.”
He leaned in and put his mouth to my ear. “I’m looking forward to late-night study sessions in my room.”
A shiver went up my spine. “There will be a lot of late nights.”
I wasn’t only feeling the pressure. I was feeling the sexual frustration. I had two more weekend passes left and I wanted to hang on to them for emergencies. Of course that meant I couldn’t go off with the boys, and with Ace hanging over our heads we couldn’t hook up here.
Ezra gave me a look that shouldn’t be allowed in public. We would be expected to grab alone time now. I didn’t want to shave my head again or wake up in the nurse’s office so I wouldn’t push them, but this Ace couldn’t act against. We didn’t pick the partners, Coleman did.
Ace seemed to agree since they didn’t order me to do anything over the next week while we worked on our project.
“We can talk more about the main themes of the story,” I said. “We could write pages about youth. Good vs. evil. Sexuality.”
“That’s a good idea.” Ezra’s breath was warm in my ear. Years later and here we were in the library again, studying while he whispered to me. “But don’t say sex. I’m already losing my mind getting to be this close to you.”
I bit down on my smile. He was making it almost impossible to get any work done.
“Why haven’t we already?”
“Because,” I said softly. I kept my eyes on the laptop. “We tried working in your room, started fooling around the second I got in the door, and didn’t get a lick of homework done. I told you. Let’s finish the project early and then we can spend the rest of our ‘study time’ doing whatever we want.”
“That seemed like such a good plan when I agreed to it.”
“It is a good plan.” I scooted my chair back and smiled into hooded eyes. “I’m going to get that grammar book. I don’t want to be marked down again for putting a comma out of place.”
I left Ezra and wandered to the back. There were a bunch of us working on the paper under the dim lamps of the library. Kai caught my eye as I walked past his table. His eyes grew large. He reached for me like he wanted me to save him.
“What are you doing?” Natalie snapped from his other side. “Pay attention.”
I shot him a supportive thumbs up and continued to the final stack. There was total silence back here. Not many people were eager to read up on grammar. I found four copies of the book I needed exactly where I expected it to be.
That was easy. The sooner we get the paper done, the sooner we can be together.
I reached for the textbook...
...and squeaked when an arm grabbed my waist.
“I’ve been thinking about the plan,” Ezra growled.
The room became a blur as he spun me around.
“And I think the plan is terrible.”
I didn’t have time to form a response before his lips were on mine. I made a half-hearted attempt to pull away but was quickly swept under. There was a reason I had said no sex until after the project. The heat between Ezra and I was explosive. Our clothes started coming off the second we were alone. Being with him was like being struck by lightning—raw, powerful, natural, but also dangerous.
That electricity surged through my body as we feverishly kissed against the stacks. His hands didn’t stay still. They roamed and explored my body until they reached my thighs and then slipped beneath my dress. His finger brushed me over the fabric of my underwear. We broke apart and Ezra looked into my eyes.
I nodded.
My nails dug into his back as he slipped his finger under the fabric.
By the time we got back to our table and took our seats, I realized I never did get the book.
“I’M GOING TO USE MY pass this weekend.”
Sofia and I strolled across the quad to class the next morning. After the library, Ezra and I moved to his room to finish the paper and finish we did. We were highly motivated after our adventure in the stacks. We stayed up all night and eventually collapsed fully clothed on his bed two hours before his alarm went off.
“Are you and Zane going to do something?”
The goofy smile on her face said it all. “He wants to take me to dinner for our six-month anniversary. I think he’s going to do it, Val. He’s going to tell me he loves me.”
“Sof, that’s great. I’m so happy for you.”
“Thanks.” She lightly bumped into me. “How lucky are we? I mean, there is still some serious shit going on, but we’ve got great guys who care about us. It’s not just you and me against everyone anymore.” She hooked her arm through mine. “Although we do make a great team.”
“The best team.”
The two of us strode inside and rode the elevator up to the third floor. My eyes landed on the photo the moment we stepped out.
“Whoo! There she is!” Darren darted into my path, blocking the picture. That didn’t matter though because he had one of his own. He shoved it in my face. “Will you sign it for me?”
Laughter and catcalls went up around me as what I was seeing penetrated my mind. It was me and Ezra in the library, but you couldn’t make out Ezra—only a black-haired boy in a uniform. I, on the other hand, was on full display. My head was tilted back and lips parted mid-moan. What we were doing w
as obvious from the hand between my legs.
“You piece of shit!” Sofia screeched. She snatched it out of his hands and crumpled it in her fist.
I looked past Darren and saw me... and me... and me again. That photo had been taped to every locker in the hallway.
“What do you think, Valentina?”
My body went rigid. I didn’t move or turn my head, but that didn’t stop her. The noise from our audience faded as Natalie, Airi, and Isabella lined up in front of me.
Natalie’s lips curled into a smirk. “I’m a pretty good photographer, don’t you think?”
Rage like I had never felt before consumed me. Pinpricks of sweat broke out on my skin as I trembled. “You... did this?”
“That’s right,” she sang. “I told you I would get back at you for the tournament.” She gestured at her friends. “You can also call it payback for the violin and slashed tires. We know it was you and now you know not to mess with the Diamonds again.”
“Natalie, you have no idea what you’ve done.” My hands balled into fists. “I’m going to make you regret this.”
She scoffed. “Save it, slum trash. No one here is afraid of you. So why don’t you stay in your place and I won’t have to teach you this lesson again.” She cocked her head. “By the way, who is that guy? Or have you been passing it around so much you can’t keep track anymore?”
I snapped. I lurched forward, fist reeled back, and then something shot out in front of me.
Natalie’s head whipped around with the force of Sofia’s punch. She let out a small scream as she spun like a top and collapsed at Airi’s feet.
“You crazy bitch!” she shrieked, clutching her jaw.
Sofia towered over her as she shook out her hand. “You messed with the wrong one, Bard. Stay in your place and I won’t have to teach you this lesson again.”
Airi and Isabella snatched their friend up and dragged her off. The three of them shouted awful things at us as they went, but my attention was solely on Sofia.
I gaped at her. The crowd hanging back to watch us gaped at her. “Sofia Lorraine Richards! What was that?”
“I said we’re a team. Natalie went too far. I’ll probably punch her again the next time I see her.” Sofia smirked. “I told you I wasn’t too sweet.”
The satisfaction I felt at seeing Natalie go down didn’t hang around as we walked down the hall and past those pictures. I wouldn’t give my classmates the pleasure of seeing me run around ripping them down, but watching people like Darren feast on a moment between me and Ezra made me sick.
I shuffled into Markham’s classroom and made it to my desk with Sofia on my heels.
“They won’t get away with this. I promise.”
Students filed inside, throwing filthy comments my way. The Diamonds were among the last to walk in. Natalie shot me and Sofia baleful looks as she went past. The only ones who hadn’t arrived were the Knights and Markham herself.
Sofia grasped my shoulder. “Evergreen will go mad when he sees what she has done. They—”
Bang!
The entire class jumped as the door flew open. Ryder stalked inside with an expression on his face I knew too well. Behind him, Jaxson, Ezra, and Maverick followed.
I held my breath as Ryder stopped in front of Natalie. The other boys didn’t.
Jaxson ripped open the phone box and snatched one out. He put it in Ezra’s hand. Ezra didn’t hesitate. He reeled back and threw the phone to the floor. It broke in a shower of plastic, metal, and glass as Natalie screamed.
Jaxson took out another one.
“Wait, no!” Airi surged to her feet. “I didn’t—”
“Sit down!” Maverick roared. “Now!”
Airi fell back into her seat as Ezra destroyed her phone. He did the same to Isabella’s.
Ryder bent until he was inches from Natalie’s pale face. “That’s done. Now it’s time for you to apologize to Valentina.”
I could see her shaking from here. “Y-you can’t make me.”
There was a collective intake of breath. I swallowed as Ryder bared his teeth. “Can’t I? You want to test that theory?”
I shivered at his tone. This was the old Ryder... or maybe it wasn’t. Maybe this was and will always be him.
“S-she got me first. I was only paying her back for the tournament.”
“Valentina didn’t get you disqualified, Bard. That was me.”
“You? But that’s not— Why?!”
“Because I wanted to. So guess how much worse it’ll be now that I’m really pissed off. Apologize.”
It took her a minute. She stared into Ryder’s eyes longer than anyone should and must have seen something that changed her mind.
“I’m sorry, Valentina.”
“Good.” Ryder straightened. “Now I want you and your little friends to take down every single photo and destroy them.”
The Diamonds didn’t utter a word of protest as they rose and left the classroom. I don’t think I ever fully appreciated the Knights and what they did for the school until that moment, but they weren’t done.
“I heard you all had a few things to say to Valentina.” Ezra moved down one of the rows. “Well, I’m the guy who was with her in the photo so let’s hear you say it to me. Go on!” he bellowed.
You could hear a pin drop. No one moved. No one breathed too loudly.
“Say it to me, guys!” Ezra zeroed in on Darren. He got right in the boy’s face. “What about you? I know you must have been running your fucking mouth so repeat it to me.”
Darren shook his head roughly as he sunk down. His lips were pressed tight.
“No?” Ezra looked around. “No one? Well then, I better not hear another word about it. None of you opens your mouth about that picture or I do to your teeth what I did to those phones. Understood?”
“Yes, Ezra,” they chorused.
Markham burst in as they took their seats. “Who is responsible for those photos?! When I find the person who did this—”
“It’s been handled, mama,” Jaxson cut in. “The Knights took care of it.”
Chapter Twelve
I passed the day in a strange mood. No one brought up the photo. They didn’t whisper it, mime it—nothing. It was like it never happened.
I hated that people saw me like that, but overpowering that feeling was one I couldn’t describe. It overcame me as the Knights unleashed their fury. I could have handled Natalie and the Diamonds on my own, but seeing how much they cared about me had bowled me over.
Somehow I made it through the day and ended up in Markham’s class again. My phone vibrated with a notification. I wasn’t surprised. I knew this was coming.
Ace: You must feel pretty proud of yourself. You’ve got the Knights defending your nonexistent honor.
I didn’t reply to the text right away. Instead, I opened my camera app and snapped a picture of the box. Then I went back to Ace.
Me: I didn’t tell them to do that.
Ace: Nope, but you did hook up with Ezra. That will not happen again.
Me: What does that mean? Why do you care if I hook up with Ezra or any of the Knights? They are all free to date who they want.
Ace: That’s where you are wrong. They aren’t free. They’re mine.
My brows snapped together as I read that final sentence. What the hell?
Me: How are they yours? Is this why you’re only targeting me? Because you have some kind of crush on them?
Ace: LOL! A crush? How cute. You think so small, Val, but I expect nothing less from a trashy whore.
I bristled. This asshole was doing everything in their power to make sure I beat them bloody when I finally found out who they were.
Ace: Anyway, you don’t need to worry about me right now. What’s important here is making sure the message hits home that you’re nothing but a slut and not worth their time. So here is what you’re going to do: We all fondly remember freshman year when you strutted around the cafeteria in a towel. This time... leave the
towel behind.
My eyes widened. They can’t be saying what I think they are.
Another text came in while I was typing a reply.
Ace: To be clear: strip.
Me: I’m NOT doing that! You’re sick!
Ace: Correction: you are doing that.
Me: I’ll be kicked out of school!
Ace: That would be a bonus. Think of it this way, you’ll end up somewhere a lot worse if I show the police that you covered up a death.
Me: Why are you doing this?! I’m not with Ezra or any of the Knights. I’m not going to date them. You get your wish.
Ace: I’ll be sure of that when they see you for the trash you are. Tomorrow. Lunch. If you don’t, I send this video to the police.
THE CLASS FADED INTO a dull roar. My textbook sat open in front of me but I couldn’t read the words on the page even if I wanted to. My attention was fixed completely on the clock.
The bell that signaled the stroke of noon was a death knell. Slowly, I rose from my seat and left the classroom. My classmates all went one way while I went the other. Into the elevator, down to the first floor, out into the courtyard, and then finally into my building.
My bathrobe awaited me when I stepped into my bedroom. It was tossed haphazardly on the bed from that morning.
I stared unseeingly at it while I pulled my dress over my head. I had thought about what to do all night. I didn’t call the Knights. I didn’t tell Sofia. This was between me and Ace. They couldn’t save me.
I stripped down to my bare skin.
I hated what they had driven me to, but it had to be done. I had no choice. I understood that now.
The wind had picked up by the time I stepped outside. It whipped and played with the hem of my robe so I clutched it tighter. Leaves crunched beneath my bare feet as I crossed the lawn and returned to the main building.
The cafeteria was a riot of noise when I walked inside. No one paid attention to me at first... until I caught Darren’s eye.
“Hey, Moon! What the hell are you doing?”
I glared at him. “You’ll find out.”
Just like that, the room fell quiet as everyone turned to stare at me. I lifted my chin as I kept walking to the dais. I could read the expression of every one of my Knights this time because they were all the same.