Page 21 of Forbidden Heart

“Hold up,” a guy calls out, making me jump.

I freeze and spin around, my key card inches away from the wooden door.

“Where are you going?” the guy asks. He’s tall—though not as tall as Charles—and heavy, like Father.

Coupled with the earlier feeling of being watched, I suddenly feel cornered, and look around for a means of escape. The wave of fear makes me think of Father’s anger and his fists, and I suddenly feel like I can’t breathe.

“You all right?” the guy asks, his voice sounding far away in my panic.

I nod.

“Look, we’ve all been pushing for co-ed dorms, but until they’re approved, you can’t go in there.”

“What?” I try to wrap my mind around what he’s saying.

“I’m Marcus, the RA for this building.” He extends a hand, but when I clutch the laptop tighter against my chest and make no move to shake it, he lowers it. “Look, I don’t make the rules, okay? I just enforce them. Especially in broad daylight. And girls aren’t allowed in all-male dorm buildings.”

Chapter 9

I feel Marcus the RA watching me as I walk away. He’s guarding the dorms like a dragon guarding a castle—except the dragon should be keeping the princess in, not kicking her out.

What am I going to do?

If I’m not allowed back in the dorms, I have nowhere to stay. I can’t go back to Father, not after last time. It’s bad enough I ran away once, but I did it a second time, and I didn’t finish cleaning. He’s going to be furious, and I can’t go back to that—not now, not ever.

I clutch my new laptop tightly against my chest as my feet carry me to the rose garden. I walk until I no longer feel Marcus the RA’s eyes on me. Not that it matters. Even if I’m not in direct sight of the dorms, the dragon is still out there, making sure I don’t sneak back in.

The narrow path is lined with rose bushes, like knights parting to allow their princess through. My fingers gently graze them as I pass and slowly inhale their sweet scent.

I can tell that each blossom around me has been lovingly cared for. I wish I could be as delicate as a rose... and as cherished. I wish I could live in a place like this... become a Rose Princess or a Blushing Queen.

Except that’s stupid, and I don’t have anywhere left to go.

I can’t stay with the guys if I’m not allowed back in their dorm building. And I can’t go back home, because I no longer have a home. I didn’t get into college, and I don’t have a job. Even if I can get a part-time job, how long will it take for me to earn enough to get my own place? And where would I go until then?

I can feel tears and frustration bubbling up. There’s only one way to keep them at bay, so I start to sing.

I picture myself as a cursed, sleeping princess. Snow White. Or Sleeping Beauty. At least she has a place to sleep, a place to stay, while I’m homeless.

In my song, I’m waiting for my handsome princes to rescue me from Marcus the RA Dragon. They ride up on their white horses, dressed from head to toe in shining armor. Then they leap from their mounts, swiftly scale the tower, and emerge victoriously through the window.

They could easily slay the dragon on the way up... unless they don’t know I’m not allowed in their dorm. What if they side with Marcus the RA Dragon and decide he’s right? What if they tell me that I can’t stay?

I force myself to focus on the song, this time on the part where the princes approach the sleeping princess. They tip back their helmets, revealing tousled hair and gorgeous faces. Their chiseled jawlines, kissable lips, and piercing eyes hover over the beautiful princess for one delectable moment. And then, they know what they must do.

I close my eyes as my song princes jostle against each other. I can picture them trying to shove their way forward, each one wanting to be the first to press their heavenly lips gently against the princess’s.

Who will win? Tate? Charles? JJ?

Only their kisses can make my delicate eyelids flutter as I awaken from my cursed sleep. Only they can bring this terrible nightmare to an end.

“Watch where you’re going,” someone shouts gruffly. I freeze in place. Without turning around, I know who it is.

My shoulders droop, and my heart beats erratically in my chest.

Silas pushes past me, looking as pale and haunted as ever. The dark circles under his eyes seem even more pronounced in the light of day. I hadn’t noticed back at the music building, but his clothes are wrinkled, and there’s a hole in his right sleeve.

“Do everyone a favor and don’t block the path.” He scowls as we make the briefest of eye contact.