Page 49 of King

Getting real close to Lea, I tower over the green and white ribbons in her curled ponytail. I’m in her space. Close enough that I can feel the heat coming off her. I say the words loud enough for everyone to hear, “Is that why you’re sleeping with your algebra teacher?”

Gasps and whispers come from the crowd. Some snickers and giggles too.

“Excuse me?” Her eyes double in size. “Oh right. You’re from The Grove. You’ve never heard of tutoring. You don't need it when you're a hooker!”

“Tutoring?” I jerk my head back, blinking my eyes with exaggeration. “Does that involve him reading you Shakespeare while you blow him under his desk?”

I’m reaching, but it seems like I hit some sort of bullseyes because she opens and closes her mouth like a fish. She's caught and I smirk, basking in her expression.

Georgina looks at her, ready to swipe her off the throne. “Ew! Mr. Trout?”

Beth snorts, trying her best to look away and the Mortal Kombat taunt comes to my head. "Finish her!”

“Speaking of fish.” I wink, pushing in the sword. “You look like one.”

Turning on my heels, I don’t stay to hear a shitty retaliation. As the crowd erupts into chatter around us, I grab Allie’s hand and push through the ‘disturbance’ I’ve created.

Headmaster Beckett would be proud.

Fourteen

My body buzzes, tingles on my skin and it's not from the whiskey.

As we pass a few students, the whispers are already different.

“Did you hear? Lea’s sleeping with Mr. Trout.”

“That new girl made out with Luca Ferraro.”

“Still a slut.”

Ignoring it all, we head towards the front entrance. Nothing will take this floating feeling away, my heart pumping with adrenaline. I can’t wait to see the look on Damien’s face. Can’t wait to show him that there’s more to me than that shook girl in her grey tattered underwear.

I’m a goddamn warrior. A sexy one in this suit. I'm like Catwoman and I want to rub it in his face. But when I approach the steps, he’s already gone, leaving his boys behind.

There's already a bit of a wobble in my step as we get closer, the whiskey settling. As we climb the steps, Isaac starts to slow clap. “Didn’t think you had that in you,” he says.

Christian claps along, giving me that charming smirk, an amused shake of his head.

“Don’t you guys have a game to play?” Allie gives them a wave of her hand, a smile on her red lips. “Shoo! The queen needs her space.”

“Yeah, you’re right.” Isaac gives me another up and down. “Worth the show though. See you around Medusa.” Christian stares at me and even when Allie clears her throat, he keeps his gaze. There’s a fresh cut near his left eye and I can’t tell if it’s from practice or something else. His shoulder moves forward, propelled by Isaac’s nudge. “C’mon man,” Isaac groans. “Coach is gonna yell.”

“Uh, yeah. One second.” Christian pulls his jersey off, exposing padding and a shirt fitted to his muscles. Handing it to me he scratches the back of his head. “In case you get cold.” He doesn’t wait for a thanks before following Isaac into the school.

“You from ERA?” A couple of boys with a fancy vodka bottle stand beside us, eyeing me up and down. The one who speaks has curly blonde hair, top longer than the sides. He's cute. Dapper-looking, but the sweater over a collar style isn't my thing.

“So?” My eyebrow raises.

He smiles, auburn eyes moving around my outfit again. "Wanna sit with us?”

“Sorry, she’s already spoken for,” Nate’s voice comes from behind. His arms wrap around us in a thick colourful sweater, smoky cologne coming off him. “Excuse us. We have a first-quarter to attend to.”

“Period,” I whisper.

“Whatever.” Nate pulls us through the front door.

We make our way through the main building and out into the back garden where more students gawk and whisper.

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