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Her phone buzzed in her pocket, drawing Raina’s attention. She pulled it out to reveal a text from her mother—no, make that two texts.
Ema: Have you started on that college essay yet?
Ema: You need to start soon if you want to get into a good college and land a good job.
Gracie peered over Raina’s shoulder at the phone. “Ignore her,” she advised. “If your mom is causing you stress, don’t answer.”
“Easy for you to say,” Raina grumbled. “You don’t have to live with her.”
“Is your mom texting you again?” Jesse asked.
When Raina looked up, his playful smile had been replaced by concern.
Raina shrugged, locking her phone and putting it facedown on the table. “Yeah. She wants an update on my college application essay. I’m going to let it be for a while. She’ll call tonight for sure, so I’ll talk to her then.”
Jesse opened his mouth to reply, but was stopped by a boy who approached their table. Raina didn’t recognize him, but the others did. Next to Raina, Gracie cursed under her breath, and Dean let out a low growl.
The approaching boy looked familiar, with messy dark waves and a smirk that Raina had definitely seen before. Actually, his glittering eyes matched the ones on Theo’s face, only Theo’s were narrowed at the new arrival. Raina didn’t even need Dean’s next words to figure out who the boy was.
“What are you doing here, Blake?”
The boy—Blake—raised an eyebrow, amusement tipping the corners of his mouth up. “I’m a Trinity descendant, much like the rest of you.” He glanced at Gracie, then almost as an afterthought, his eyes flickered to Raina.
“Don’t look at her,” Dean bit out, wrapping an arm around his girlfriend.
“Dean,” Gracie hissed, but she didn’t push him away.
Zara yawned loudly from where she was sitting next to Theo. “Go away, Blake. No one wants you here.”
Blake ignored them, taking the lone empty seat at the table. It was next to Raina, directly across from Zara, who scowled fiercely. “Hello, I don’t think we’ve met,” Blake said, flashing a charming grin at Raina. “I’m Blake Ashcroft.”
“Oh, I know.”
“Do I get a name from you?” Blake prompted.
Raina eyed him for a few seconds, watching him squirm under her gaze. Objectively speaking, he was fairly good-looking, but Raina much preferred the redhead sitting across from her.
“No,” she said at last.
Her friends’ snickers were drowned out by loud clapping from the front of the room. Raina turned her head to see Vice Principal Ashcroft standing behind the teacher’s table, clapping for the room’s attention.
“May I have your attention, please?” he repeated a few times. When the students had quieted to his satisfaction, he nodded. “Thank you all. I have a few announcements to make before you go back to enjoying your dinner. First, we have a transfer student, Blake Ashcroft. He is a senior. Second, Principal Ashcroft will be back tomorrow, and I will be returning to my role as vice principal. Thank you.” He sat back down.
“Surprise,” Blake said with a grin. He folded his hands together. “So, what’s for dinner?”
“Betrayal with a side of asshole.” Dean took a bite of his own food. “Cut the crap, Blake. What are you really doing here?”
“School kicked me out,” Blake said casually, glancing around the hall. “Say, where can I get some food?”
“There’s a buffet over there,” Raina answered when none of the Ashcrofts seemed inclined to open their mouths.
“Thank you.” Blake winked. “You ever going to tell me your name?”
“Don’t talk to her,” Jesse cut in, his eyes narrowed.
Blake rolled his eyes as he stood. “Okay, okay. Gracie, I’m sorry I duped you and made you an accomplice in my revenge schemes. Happy?”
“And?”
