Page 36 of Raise Hell

Her mouth gapes like a fish. Then she surprises me by laughing. “I wasn’t actually expecting you to be that honest.”

A little bit of honesty can go a long way. The best lies are always somewhat true.

“You also seem cool, if that helps. You’re the first person I’ve encountered since classes started that I don’t want to punch in the throat every time they open their mouths. If you haven’t noticed, I’m not exactly filling my social calendar at the moment. That has to count for something, right?”

She gives a rueful shake of her head. “You’re definitely not what Drake said you were.”

That’s because Drake is a jackass.

“And what exactly did your dear brother say about me?”

“Just that you came back to St. Bart’s because you wanted to cause problems for Havoc House. He just wants me to stay away from you so you don’t bring me down too.”

My teeth clench. “He said that?”

“Pretty much.”

Because being the victim of a sex crime makes you a ticking time bomb. Funny that nobody is worried about the person who attacked Olivia causing problems. “Is that why you think I’m here?”

“I don’t know.” Her homework officially abandoned, Felicia turns fully to face me. “Why did you come back, if you don’t mind me asking?”

“I don’t run away just because things get tough. Pratts have been coming to St. Barts for generations. I belong here as much as anyone.”

Part of me almost believes it.

“My brother won’t tell me the full story about what happened last semester,” she admits. “I’ve heard some things, but they can’t all be true.”

I’m sure I know exactly what stories she has heard. I’ve already seeded the explanation of selective amnesia with Anya, who has no doubt already spread the story to anyone who will listen.

“My doctors told me that trauma can affect the memory.” I make a point of keeping my voice small and stricken “I just wish I could find who did it. The thought of this happening to someone else just kills me.”

“I’m sorry that happened to you. I can’t even imagine. Drake promised me that he wasn’t involved in any way.” She looks down at her slim hands, clenching them together in her lap. “I really need to believe him.”

I can’t help but notice she used the word need, instead of want.

“Did you guys grow up together?” I strive for casual even as I do my best to mine her for every detail I can get. “Because you seem really different.”

Her dark eyes narrow on my face. I strive to keep a guileless expression as she studies me for a long moment.

“Both my parents are black, and Drake has a white father,” she says finally. Her tone makes it sound like she has had lots of experience explaining this to people. “But just so you know, black people can come in all different shades, even within the same family. Just because we’re different colors, you shouldn’t automatically assume anything.”

I sense the anger that she tries to hide.

“It wasn’t skin color that I meant, but that all makes sense. I was just trying to say that you seem pretty down to earth, and he walks around like he expects a servant to wipe his ass for him every time he takes a shit.” Her watchful gaze is still on my face, like she isn’t quite sure whether to take me at my word. I can’t imagine what it must be like to be the only dark face in a sea of lily white. This place makes the Nazi youth look multicultural. “Or I could tell you about every black friend I’ve ever had, if that’ll make you feel better. But to be fair, I grew up in suburban Connecticut, so you have to cut me some slack.”

That surprises another laugh from her. Smiling transforms her face into something truly gorgeous. It’s obvious why Drake wants to keep her as far from Havoc House as possible. The other Havoc Boys would eat her for breakfast, and they wouldn’t care what their president has to say about it.

“Sorry, this place has got me a little oversensitive,” she acknowledges. “You wouldn’t believe the kinds of things people say when they find out about me and Drake. I’m eagerly awaiting what I’ll hear when everyone at St. Bart’s finds out.”

“Small people will always act small. You can’t make that your problem. The important thing is that I really think we could be friends.” I’m actually being honest, surprising even myself. Felicia is legitimately the most interesting girl I’ve met so far at St. Bart’s. The fact that she is Drake Van Koch’s sister is just icing on this hot mess of a situation.

“Really?”

Olivia was on her own, too. Things might have been different if even one person had reached out to her when she needed it.

“Sure. Social outcasts need to stick together. Otherwise, we can both go back to being completely on our own. What do you say?”

“You’re a little strange.”

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