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“What’s the rush?” I walk over to the couch and sit down. “The first few weeks are when the workload is the lowest. Midterms are coming up. Don’t you think it’s much more fun to watch them suffer when they must decide between Elite activities and an exam?”
Preston stares at me, and then a grin breaks on his face. “That’s actually pretty good.”
“This weekend, we’ll have them cleaning the church. Next weekend, we’re getting them wasted and dumping them in…” I look over at Gemini, “Connecticut?”
Gemini nods. “No wallets, no phones.”
Suddenly, Preston claps his hands together. “I knew there was a reason you were named my successor.” He glances at the door and looks back at the two of us. “And that, I think, is the perfect time for us to deal with Salaway.”
“What’s the deal with him?” Gemini asks.
“His father is…” Preston purses his lips. “Let’s just say, his father needs a little persuasion when it comes to his company.”
Declan’s father owns a medical supply company. One that did rather well during the pandemic thanks to our connections in the Chinese government. Recently, there were some questions put to the senate about the validity of one particular conspiracy theory regarding supplies being ordered prior to the outbreak.
“The fall guy needs a push.”
Neither Gemini nor I ask any further questions.
“Anyway,” Preston says brightly, “I think it’s time to crack open a bottle of brandy.”
Fucking marvelous.
With the fake smile plastered back on my face, I head over to the drinks cabinet to serve our unwanted guest.
XXII
Tori
I’m lying in bed, waiting for my alarm to go off. I’ve been tossing and turning all night, and after the brief sleep I managed to wake from a while ago, I gave up trying.
When I decided to come here, I knew I wasn’t in for an easy time. I’d been through all this once before, and I thought I was prepared. No social media, and therefore, no opportunity to be bombarded with the constant stream of anonymous posts and threats, which had certainly made things easier now compared to high school.
I’d gotten used to being ignored, and aside from the occasional pang of missing my previous social life, I was fine with hiding in my room.
But I never counted on making a friend. Not a friend who was there because I was cool and popular, but a friend who didn’t give a shit about my past and was fully prepared to stick by my side regardless of the crap she was going to get in return.
Or maybe she wouldn’t have.
Penny had only really experienced a limited amount of the hate I’d had on her social media. Maybe if I’d waited to see how much she could take before going to Syn, shemighthave stuck it out.
But who should have to? Especially when she was only getting all the hate because she was my friend. And what if she eventually had the realization that I wasn’t worth all that crap anyway?
Last night, after doing my best to ignore her all day, she knocked on my door and refused to go away until I answered. Like a coward, I wanted to tell her to go away through a closed door, not wanting to face her, but I owed her more than that.
Instead, I opened the door and politely told her that our friendship was over.
Then I shut the door in her face.
Penny didn’t knock again, but she had sent me a text message.
Reaching for my phone, I pick it up, my face instantly unlocking the screen and taking me to the message.
Penny:Before you block my number, I wanted to tell you this. I know why you’re doing this, and a part of me is thankful. But you are seriously underestimating me. Friendship isn’t a subscription you can just cancel. I’m here, and I’m going nowhere.
Until then, as much as it pained me to say it, I understood Syn. Ultimately, he was a victim too, suffering the loss of his brother. I don’t know why I thought it would be as simple as changing my name and trying to avoid him, but I understood why he was angry at me for being here.
But there was no reason to bring Penny into this.
