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“I’m good with computers,” she finally admits.
“Right, uh huh.” I nod along with her. “I used to have a friend that wasgood with computers,” I tell her, using air quotes. I know exactly what that simple statement most likely means. It also means she most likely knows a hell of a lot more about me than just what she was able to gather from a mere Google search. “So what government agencies have you hacked into?”
She chokes on the water she just started to swallow. She never gives me an answer, choosing to change the subject instead, but I don’t miss the way she doesn’t exactly deny it either. I take a mental note of her potential. She seems like she really could be an ally in this hell. It’s good to know what I may have in my arsenal.
I’m almost surprised by how at ease we feel with each other, but there’s something to say about southern charm. Shelby makes me feel like I can let my guard down around her. Maybe because she isn’t from the same ugly world that I come from, or maybe just because of how sweet she is. Either way, the day flies by as we get to know each other.
We trade schedules and I’m disappointed to find we only share one class, and we won’t have Econ until Tuesday, but it can't be helped since I can hardly pronounce the names of half the classes Shelby is in. I know someone who would have a field day with picking her brain, but I’m still doing my damn best not to lament on the past.
Shelby notices every time my face drops, every time I stop mid sentence, or get lost in my own chaotic mind. She doesn’t call me out on it though. A privilege I can’t help but wonder how long will actually last. She reminds me too much of Vanessa to think she will continue to respect my privacy for long. I get the feeling that once this girl is your friend, you're in for life. She doesn't seem the type to do things half assed.
We both agree to turn in relatively early after a long day of settling into our room. We may not have classes together tomorrow, but at least our first classes are in the same building so we can walk together for most of the way.
My first lecture of the day is English and probably the one I am most excited for, so as I head towards class, my smile becomes more natural. I tip my chin at my peers as I pass with my father’s words lingering in my head, always be kind yet cautious. I almost snort when I think about it, if only I had been more cautious that night, then maybe none of this would be happening.
I make it to class with a few minutes to spare and feel good about being able to select from almost any seat I want and choose to settle somewhere in the middle. I dump my bag on the floor and start pulling out my books, ignoring everyone else as they start trickling inside. I’m not surprised when the seats start filling up around me, this class is supposed to be one of the best at BSU so I am expecting a full house, especially on the first day.
Once I have all my things ready, I sit back in my chair and allow myself to feel good, just a little. This might not have been what I had planned, but I just need to make the best of a bad situation. As long as I can keep Carson in the dark and under control, nothing can get to me.
Just as that thought crosses my mind, I feel a presence lean in on my left. “Do you have a pencil I could borrow?”
My spine snaps straight as everything else in the room ceases to exist. No. No, it can’t be, but as I turn to look at the owner of that husky voice, I already know who I will find.
Sure enough, my eyes travel up muscular, bronze arms. His skin darker than the last time I saw him, like he spent his summer under the sun, just like we had planned. His chest seems wider somehow too and my breath catches in my throat. I lift my eyes, knowing if I hesitate I will lose all courage. My body is already screaming in recognition, even before I meet his hazel eyes locked on mine and see that twisted smirk of his that is so familiar and yet somehow completely new. It’s never been pointed at me before. Satisfaction dances across his features and malice burns in his eyes even as he casually lifts his hand to run through the untamed dark and golden curls that pile on top of his head.
Hudson Davenport.
ChapterFour
The lookon Bri’s face is nothing short of perfection as shock and panic clash together when our eyes meet. I doubt she ever thought we would follow her here, but Bri never thought we'd turn our dark sides against her. She didn't think to account for just how strong a motivator revenge is. Especially for four devils who lost their only ray of sunshine.
I haven’t thought of anything else in the last two months other than what I would say to Brielle if I ever saw her again. At first, my thoughts centered around begging for another chance, for her to make a different choice, for her to choose anything but abandoning us all. Later my thoughts turned darker. Demanding to know why. Wanting to tear her down and hurt her as much as she had hurt all of us. A desire to see her on her knees, tears staining her cheeks as she begs for our forgiveness.
I had a lot of big plans for our first conversation. I never imagined it would end up being something as mundane and simple asdo you have a pencil, but watching her freak out over those five words has a new found smugness rolling over me.
Her stunned stare drags over me from head to toe, like she can’t actually believe what she is seeing and I use the opportunity to do the same. Her hair is in a sleek ponytail, the same hairstyle she used to do for Sunday Brunch with all of our parents, before we’d go joy riding in Z’s car and let the wind mess it up. Her clothes look as if her mom picked them out for an important dinner with clients to show her off, and don’t even get me started on the pearl bracelet on her wrist. I snort, what a perfect, pretty princess.
I hate this version of her. I always have, even more so now that I know everything between us was just a fucking lie. What happened to the girl who looked happy in nothing but shorts and one of our shirts, the one who wouldn’t care what she looked like, or what people thought of her? Looking at her now, it’s like that girl never even existed. Did we do this to her? Did we save her only to damn ourselves? If that night never happened, would things be different? Would we still have her?
No, of course not, it was only a matter of time before she realized the sickness that burned beneath our skin, before our true devilish desires came to light. It would have happened sooner or later, and I try to tell myself that sooner was better. That her hatred now, is better than losing her further down the line. I just need to remember that. We all do.
“What the hell are you doing here?” she whispers, eyes flying around the room like she expects to find the other guys lurking there.
I ensure my new found smugness is pushed into my smile. “Waiting for a pencil.” I preen, purposefully checking her out again and forcing disdain into my eyes at what I find lacking in her appearance.
She doesn’t take the bait of course, just bites back again. “Hudson, you can’t be here.”
My eye roll is exaggerated but still I add, “And yet, here I am.” I toss my arms out to the side to gesture to my presence and note a few other people glance towards us. Class is getting ready to start and I can’t wait to sit by her for the next two hours and watch her squirm. Watch her wonder what I’m doing here, and why I came. She has no idea what fun we have planned for her, and there is no way she will be able to resist fighting back at some point. Not if the Brielle I thought I knew is still in there, guess we will find out.
Before she can respond, the girl in front of me turns around, her eyes trailing over my exposed skin before she bites her lip and tips her body towards me. “I have a pencil you can borrow.” She holds it out to me, pushing her breasts together to snatch my attention. I smile at her efforts, especially when I hear Bri’s scoff when I reach out to accept it.
“Thank you, Beautiful.” I toss a wink at her and she giggles before turning back around to face the front.
Brielle also focuses on the front, dropping her voice low, so only I can still hear her. “I’m serious, Hudson. You need to leave. I don’t want you here.”
The words shouldn’t hurt. I expected them, yet still they cut me deeper than I thought possible and I have to grind my teeth to keep myself from yelling at her in frustration. I lower my voice to match hers, but still take the chance to lean in closer to her, letting her scent assault me as I whisper close to her neck. “It’s cute you think I give a fuck about what you want anymore.” I let my hand reach up and pull tightly on her sleek ponytail until she gasps. “In fact I stopped giving a fuck about what you want the second you hopped onto Carson’s cock.” Her eyes cut to mine and I see a flash of regret before she shuts it down.
“Well damn. I thought being here might have finally meant you had gotten smart, I guess not.” She snatches her hair away from me and cuts me with another scathing look. “You aren't supposed to let people know jealousy is eating you alive. All it does is show your weakness. At least you still have your money going for you, huh?” Without waiting for an answer she turns to the front of the room just as the professor loudly clears his throat and introduces himself.
