Page 17 of King

When I don’t see Willow I turn to face Allie, “Have you seen— ”

“A shorter version of you with straighter hair and cute dimples?” she interrupts, leaning against a large window, dropping a beige tote to the floor.

“Yeah, how did you— ”

“I figured you’re related to the only other girl with green frosting on her shirt.” She smiles again. “Don’t worry she’s fine. She’s in good hands in Bass Hall. That’s the Freshman Building if you need to find her. Now, where’s your schedule?”

“Who’s the newbie?” A boy with a clean fade and nutmeg skin approaches us, coils curled to perfection on top. He saunters our way, coffee cup in his hand, leather messenger bag slung over his shoulder. The school uniform looks better on him than it did on Damien the way it fits his body. Even his pants look tailored.

“Speaking of good hands, this is Nate,” Allie says. “Your sister is with his sister, Bella Quinfrey.”

They can’t be serious. “You mean like...Elizabeth Quinfrey? The multi-millionaire talk show host?”

“Mhm, that’s our adopted mom. So if she's with my sister she’s already ahead of the game.” Nate leans against the window next to Allie, eyeing me up. “I’m not sure about those shoes but I love the hair.”

“I’m Jo.” I hold out a hand, the other buried in my backpack.

He takes it as Allie’s brows lower. “I thought it was Joelle.”

“Oh-kayyy.” I cock my head to the side, handing her my schedule. “Why does it seem like everyone here already knows me?”

“It’s because they kinda do,” she says this as if it’s obvious.

Damien and his crew walk by, their eyes all glaring at us. More boys with hockey sticks have joined them, along with more girls in headbands.

Damien's eyes lock with mine and it makes my body tense, my stomach tighten. I try to rack my brain for all the information they could know about me already. Did he read the information in the envelope?

“A new girl from The Grove? It's not surprising they did their research.” Nate glares back. “It’s not every day this happens.”

"When you say research, how much are we talking about?" I ask.

He shrugs, stroking his smooth chin. “Enough to get under your skin. But you seem tough.”

“She is.” Allie adjusts her glasses on her pierced nose. “You should’ve seen her square up with King.”

She starts telling Nate about what happened but I’m zoning out.

Enough to get under my skin? What could they possibly care to know? They already know I’m from The Grove.

My chest tightens.

Wait. They don’t know about that night, do they?

No. They can’t.

Can they?

The space blurs as my jaw clenches, my yells and screams replaying in my head.

What I did was unforgivable. A stamp I’ll have to wear as long as my tattoos but I didn’t think a secret like that would get this far. I’ve buried it so deep because if it’s dug up, it could ruin my life.

“Jo’s already blacklisted.” My name breaks me out of my panic, Allie shrugging.

“Blacklisted?” I’ve heard that before, from one of the students outside.

“Yeah. When you piss off the Supreme Squad they make it their job to make you a social outcast.” Allie rolls her eyes.

“Supreme Squad?” I'm starting to sound like an echo as I watch Isaac push a shorter boy into the brick wall as he walks by.

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