AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Maddie and I were best friends. Maddie was also Crew’s girlfriend.”
Riley gasps. “She was?”
I can’t help but laugh at her dramatics. “Yeah, she was. Maddie had a crush on Crew for as long as I can remember. I also had a crush on Crew, but I never told anyone. Well, Maddie had this horrific accident that I won’t go into detail about, but it left her in a coma.”
“Oh my god, Scarlett. I’m so sorry. So what happened to her and Crew?”
“Obviously, Crew moved on. The thing is, he moved on fast. Like, a few days later,” I pinch my eyes shut as I say, “with me.”
I go on to tell her how Crew and I were into each other for years—long before he and Maddie started dating. That he was only with Maddie to appease Neo, becauseeverythinghe does is to appease Neo. Then I tell her how Neo and Jagger caught us together at one of the Aima Chapter cabins and Neo turned Crew against me not even a day later.
“But how? I mean, I understand why Neo would be upset because it was his sister’s boyfriend, but how does Neo have such a strong hold over these guys?”
“I’ve been trying to figure that out my entire life. I guess it comes down to superiority. The Saint family is powerful and master manipulators. I can honestly see Neo Saint as the future President of the United States.”
“Totally,” Riley chuckles. “Really, though, Scarlett. That’s just awful about your friend. I can understand why you’d feel guilty, but we can’t help who we fall for. The Blue Bloods are no exception.”
“Only, as a Blue Blood, we aren’t given the choice of following our hearts, which is really sad because one member's soul mate might be an outsider, and they’ll never get a chance to feel that love due to the rules.”
“Hey,” she whispers, pulling me off to the side of the trail, “wanna hear a secret?”
“You know I do.”
“I heard a rumor that a member once had a relationship here at The Academy and when The Lawless found out, they killed the guy.”
“Come on,” I sweep the air with my hand, “you can’t believe everything you hear. Sure, all The Lawless, then and now, are pricks, but they aren’t actual murderers.”Even if it wasn’t long ago I assumed they were all capable. Funny how things change.
Her shoulders riseand she clicks her tongue. “I dunno. I think you’d be surprised.”
Our moment of secrecy and gossip is interrupted when three guys, wearing diapers, come strolling down the trail carrying baby bottles.
Riley and I both bust out in laughter while the guys, totally embarrassed, fight to avoid eye contact.
I snort. “Those fucking games.”
Once the show is over on the trail, we head to the party, where the real fun is waiting. After the hell I’ve been through, I’m ready to enjoy myself and have a few drinks.
As soon as I spot Elias by the large bonfire, Riley nudges me. “I’ll catch up with you in a few, 'kay?”
“Yeah. Go. Have fun.”
I watch as she skips to Elias’s side, all the while, he’s watching me over her shoulder. His eyes don’t leave mine until I offer him a glint of a smile and turn away. I’ve gotten the feeling, on more than one occasion, that Elias is into me, and it may be a bit pompous to assume so, but now I feel it more than ever.
Brushing away the feelings, I skim the area in search of a drink. There’s a crowd gathered around in the same spot where the keg was at the last party, so I head toward it, and wouldn’t you know, Victor is front and center holding the nozzle.
This Rook is about to find out what it’s like to be someone’s beer-filling bitch for the night. I opt to wait in line this time, but when Victor spots me, he waves me to the front.
“To the side, everyone. Let my friend Scarlett in.”
“Friend?” I laugh, while moving through the close-knit bodies. “We’re not friends.”
“Tell that to The Lawless. They’ve made it clear to everyone that you’re to be treated like the queen you are.”
“They did not!”
“Oh yes. They did.” He hands me a cup, already filled to the brim.
I’m not sure if I should be flattered or humiliated, because those assholes know how much I hate attention.
