AllFreeNovel
Share Us
She was still holding her body in a tense position, as if she was ready to move away at any second, so I carried on speaking quietly. “My dad…he’s not a nice man. The only reason I felt it was okay to come back was because he’s in prison and can’t touch me anymore.”
Her shoulders loosened a little. “I can appreciate that. I…I don’t want to be the kind of person who judges someone by their family members. I’ve had it happen to me, and it wasn’t a nice experience. I guess I’m just finding it a bit difficult to get my head around because of everything we went through with the Hydes. It’s different for me, too, because I didn’t grow up around the rivalry. I’m a bit worried about how the boys will take it…do they know you’re here?”
Before I could come up with a reply, Jessa appeared in the doorway, her hand lifted in a wave. She quickly crossed the room towards us, perching on the arm of the sofa. “I’ve been looking for you. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. I saw how you looked when you saw Zayde—” She cut herself off, her mouth twisting as she glanced over at Winter, clearly unsure how to finish the sentence.
“It’s okay,” I murmured. “It was just a bit of a shock seeing someone from my past after being away for so long.” Turning to Winter, I added, “In answer to your question, one of them knows I’m here, at least. I don’t know about the others.” I doubted Zayde would have said anything.
Jessa gave me a reassuring smile as she held out her hand to Winter, Winter passing her the bottle. “I’m sure they won’t have a problem. Although…” She cocked her head. “It took a while for the Four to come around to me, didn’t it?”
Winter laughed. “We all know why that was. I don’t think Cassius had the same trouble, though, did he?” Smirking at Jessa’s sudden blush, she shifted closer to me on the sofa. “Cassius. The biggest flirt and the biggest player, and he fell the hardest.”
“That’s debatable. Cade practically worships the ground you walk on. I’ve never seen someone so obsessed.”
“What about the others? Weston? Z-Zayde? Are they still working their way through the available gorgeous, single women in Alstone?” I didn’t want to hear the answer, but at the same time, I needed to know.
“Not really.” Winter tapped her lip. “West is in a relationship with Lena, Cass’ sister. Totally in love. Do you know her?”
I stared at her in surprise. “I do, but I never thought I’d see that happen. Wow. I can see it, though. They suit each other.”
She nodded. “Yeah. They’re a perfect match. But here’s a tip…don’t start talking to them about computers. You’ll never hear the end of it. Both of them are technology obsessed. Not that I’m complaining, I doubt we would’ve been able to accomplish half of what we have without them.”
“I’ll try to remember that. So…that just leaves Zayde.”
Both Winter and Jessa sighed. Winter shook her head. “Our resident broody bad boy—”
“—with his serial killer stare,” Jessa interjected.
“He keeps to himself most of the time. I think if there was anyone, we probably wouldn’t find out about it unless he really wanted us to know. He’s a vault of secrets. But he’s Cade’s best friend, and one of my best friends, too, as it stands, and I just hope that one day he can find someone who can get through his walls.” She gave me a small smile. “Not that I think someone has to be in a relationship to be happy. But there’s something about knowing that you have someone who’s got your back, who knows you better than anyone else, and who you can share things with that neither of you can share with your other friends.”
“She means epic sex on tap,” Jessa stage-whispered with a smirk, and they both started laughing. Something inside me ached. I’d give anything for this easy friendship. I’d never experienced anything like it before. It hit me all over again just how lonely I truly was. But these girls, no matter how welcoming and genuinely friendly they were, could never be an option for me. I’d never be able to become close to them because it would mean being around Zayde.
“Are you both students at Alstone College?” I asked to change the subject. They nodded, falling into an easy conversation about student life and the Guy Fawkes event that would take place in November, Winter sharing her experiences of the previous year’s event. They avoided mentioning Halloween, which I was grateful for. Jessa would have been aware of when Tim had died, and I was sure Winter would know something about it, too, if she was that close to the Four.
When the drink was gone and we were all relaxed back against the sofa while I told them some of my experiences of attending Hatherley Hall, my former boarding school—which they both seemed fascinated by—I’d almost forgotten where I was.
Until everything came crashing down.
“What the fuck?”
The three of us glanced up to see Caiden Cavendish standing there with his arms folded across his chest and a scowl on his handsome face. He was just as good-looking as I remembered, if not more so, and that glare was so familiar. I’d seen it directed at my brothers so many times, whenever our families were forced to interact at social functions. He’d been good at hiding it when parents were present, but whenever they weren’t around, the gloves came off.
The memory came to me, as clear as day.
“Straighten up. You’re a lady, act like it.” My father’s brows pulled together as he pursed his lips. “Better,” he said when I obediently straightened my shoulders, the picture of a demure, well-mannered member of society. “Make sure you make a point of talking to the Parkinson-Joneses and the Walkers.”
I gave a single nod, which was enough to make him leave. As soon as he’d gone, my shoulders slumped again. Scanning the room, my gaze focused on my brother, and I made my way towards him as quickly as I could in kitten heels that were painfully tight. He didn’t even see me coming, too busy glaring at Caiden Cavendish, and when I reached him, he stepped away.
“Tim! Where are you going?” I grabbed his wrist, stopping him from moving.
He turned to me, his eyes going wide as he shook his head. “Fal, I have to do this. Do you see the way Caiden’s looking at me? I know he wants payback for last week.”
“Yeah, but you were looking at him the same way. What happened last week? You never told me.” We both stared across the crowded room in the Cavendish mansion, where another one of the dull parties was taking place. Members of Alstone’s elite rubbed shoulders, all fake smiles, and I was glad that being at boarding school meant that I didn’t have to suffer through so many of these events. I was only here because it was the Easter holidays, and I was back at home for two short weeks.
From the far side of the room, Caiden lounged against the wall, his arms folded and a sneer on his face. Cassius was with him, every now and then giving Tim warning looks, but he was more interested in flirting with Imelda Tomlinson, who was at least two years older than him and wearing a dress that my father would deem highly inappropriate. Thankfully, Zayde was nowhere to be seen. I wanted to see him, but not in front of the others. It was too hard.
Tim cleared his throat. “Uh…Joe glued their lockers shut at school, and they thought it was me. They got me put in detention, so I stole some of Mum’s cigarettes and planted them in their school bags. Then I got Eli to tip off the teacher, and they had a random bag inspection, and Caiden, Cassius, and Zayde all got detention, and I think their parents got a phone call.”
“Tim! This is so childish!” I shook my head at him. Wasn’t he supposed to be the older brother I looked up to? And Joe should definitely know better.
