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“You know that doesn’t fit the dress code, right?” Nora eyed my ripped jeans as we waited for Frank to get ready for breakfast. It was just the three of us; as predicted, Julie had not returned to the dorm the night before.
“And your skirt does?” I stared at her outfit. If she bent over, I was pretty sure we’d see every inch of the lacy black thong I knew she was wearing underneath.
She laughed. “You’ll quickly learn which of the teachers will send you back to the dorm to change, and which will try to look up your skirt.”
I pulled a face. Note to self—don’t wear skirts.
Despite my objection that I didn’t need breakfast, they dragged me to the dining hall, insisting that was where one could find the best coffee, despite the gourmet set up Julie had in her room. They weren’t wrong, and I let the caffeine flow through my veins, helping to counter my largely sleepless night as I listened to the pair of them compare schedules. It seemed I shared two classes with each of them.
“How many kids go to this school anyway?” I asked.
“About three hundred and fifty, overall,” Frank answered. “Something like sixty or seventy seniors, give or take.”
Wow. My high school in L.A. had had over a thousand students.
“The classes are small, too,” Nora put in. “Usually no more than twelve to fifteen kids in each class.”
I gaped, and she grinned. “You’ll get used to it. The teachers are big on group projects, too, so it doesn’t take long before everyone knows everything about everyone else.”
I took another sip of my coffee and hoped she was wrong. I didn’t want to get to know anyone. And I certainly didn’t want them to get to know me.
* * *
“So, what’s your story, mystery girl?”
I’d arrived at my first class—advanced drawing—about fifteen minutes early, and found the door locked. Students were beginning to amass in the hallway, but my hopes of remaining invisible were dashed when I was cornered by none other than Andrew Zoellner the Third.
“I wasn’t aware I needed a story,” I said, not bothering to look up at him as he slid down to join me against the wall.
“Well, you’re new. And you’re a senior.”
“Very observant of you,” I acknowledged.
“So, you must have a story. I’m guessing your family didn’t move, because no one actually lives out here in the middle of nowhere. Parents come into some wealth? Get an elected position, perhaps? Release a platinum album?”
I finally looked up, narrowing my eyes at him. “Seriously, that’s why everyone’s on me about being a new senior? Because they want to know what qualifies me as ‘rich’ enough or ‘cool’ enough to come to school here? And here I was just starting to think you weren’t all entitled pricks after all.”
I’d hoped my rude response would be enough to make him leave, but he only laughed. “No, we’re definitely all entitled pricks. But you are too, or you wouldn’t be here. Don’t worry, I’ll figure you out.”
I rolled my eyes, then paused, looking him over—his hair perfectly styled, his expensive-looking clothes perfectly fitted. The watch on his wrist alone must have been worth a fortune. “Why did you knock that guy down out on the path yesterday?”
Drew blinked at me slowly, and if he was surprised by my question, he didn’t show it. “I didn’t see him. Ran right into him.” His mouth quirked up in a smile that showed his straight, white teeth.
“Bullshit,” I said, and he laughed again, but this time there was no humor in it.
“You’re not defending Garrett Silver, are you? I know you haven’t been here long, but a word of advice. Stay away from him and his friends. You don’t want to get mixed up with those guys.”
“Oh yeah, and why’s that?”
He bared his teeth in what I wasn’t sure was meant to be a smile. “There have been some rumors. Hey, I’m just looking out for you,” he added at my skeptical expression. “Just ask Julie. She got put in a group project with them last year and said they were super secretive and acted real strange around her.”
“Julie, your girlfriend?”
“Julie, the girl I’m sleeping with.”
I shot him a glance. “Is she aware there’s a distinction?”
He smiled again and leaned in a fraction. “Just making sure you’re aware.”
