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He’s standing there in a black robe with his chin down. The hood over his head hangs low so I’m not able to make out his face, but I don’t need to. I know it’s Crew.
“You want 'em. Come and get 'em, fucker.” I reach into my pocket and pull out his keys, dangling them in the air.
He doesn't make a move for me. His feet remain planted to the hardwood floor beneath him while he watches me.
My shoulders tighten, and my heart palpitates.Why is he looking at me like that?“Crew?” I say, tone low.
Something feels off and I have the sudden urge to flee. I take a few steps backward, never letting my eyes leave him.
Crew, or whoever it is, reaches into the pocket of his robe. I'm a deer in headlights: unable to move, think, react.
In slow motion, he pulls something out. I adjust my eyes, trying to see what he’s holding.
A phone. It’s definitely a phone.
That’s proof enough that it’s one of the guys. They’re the only ones with enough guts to show their phones on Academy grounds.
I take another step back as he raises it. A light on the back of it flickers a few times.What the hell!
“Are you taking pictures of me?”
One. Two. Three. He keeps snapping them repeatedly, even as I cover my face.
I go around the corner of the staircase, setting my foot on the first step, but still unable to take my eyes off him out of fear that he’ll come up behind me.
Suddenly, he swings around and he’s gone out the door behind him.
My feet carry me up the stairs quickly. I stumble, catching myself with my hands on the step above me. When I look down, I see blood running down my shin. I don’t even feel the pain as I continue moving, not stopping until I’m at my door, scooping my books off the floor.
Once I unlock the door and I’m inside, I go straight to bed and empty my hands and pockets, tossing my books and both sets of keys on it.
I stand there staring at Crew’s keys. Maybe I should just give them back. Right now he’s after me for them, but what happens when he sics the others on me? I can handle Crew. Maybe even Jagger. But I’m positive I don’t want to get any further on Neo's bad side.
The door suddenly flies open, and I gasp before ruffling my blankets and covering Crew’s keys.
“Riley!” I clutch my chest. “You scared the hell out of me.”
She comes skipping into the room, her curls bouncing with each leap. “Since when do you get scared? I assumed you were fearless.” She snatches a bag off her bed, holding it up. “Forgot my bag. I’m gonna get ready in the locker room after practice and I’ll see you for dinner.”
I nod in response, my insides still trembling. “Hey, Riley,” I blurt out, stopping her in the doorway. Her brows quirk in response. “Are the football players having practice right now?”
“Yep. Saw your old friend, Crew there. He was looking mighty hot.” She waggles her brows before closing the door behind her.
I pull the blanket off the keys and pick them up. If Crew was there, then who was here?
ChapterTen
SCARLETT
“Penny for your thoughts?”Elias asks, pressing his hands to the table I’m at in the library.
“Hey,” I say through a cracked smile. Ever since Riley confirmed Crew was at practice today, I’ve been in a weird headspace.
Elias swings his black backpack off his shoulder and drops it to the floor. “Everything okay?”
The last thing I want is to be a downer, and there’s no way in hell I’m spilling my guts to a guy I hardly know, so I say, “I’m fine.”
From the expression on his face, I’m guessing he’s not buying it.Elias nods toward the chair. “Do you mind?”
