Page 11 of SNOB

“My performance will be the last thing on Coach’s mind after tonight.” Moving my glass to each of their drinks, we toast our win. My win.

“What did you do this time?” Ryung sounds like a tired mother when he asks. “Burn his house down? Kidnap his wife? Murder his children?” He’s an easy fit to Gray and I, his words as dark as his outfits. Gold shines from his suspenders, the only colour on him. Black hair, deep blue eyes you think they’re obsidian. He’s a walking Poe with the depression to match.

“Me?” I feign surprise. It’s getting harder not to wobble when I spin around, my back hitting the glass a little too hard. I need to be careful. There’s no room for fuck ups. “He’s the one who got caught kissing a student, didn’t you hear? The rascal.” A small smirk comes to my face.

Ryung straightens up, his long black hair catching some wind. “Wait, who?”

Gray laughs, “This fucker got Nadia to kiss Coach Winslow and got Luisa to catch it on her phone.”

Ryung slouches back into place. “And what did you promise them?”

“They both want me to take their virginity.”

Gray laughs, “And you’re actually gonna do that?”

“No, he’s not,” Ryung answers for me. “He’s deranged.”

“I’ve sat out long enough,” I protest, nudging him with my shoulder.

“For a reason,” Ryung argues. “I don’t want you floundering on the ice. We’re facing Eden Gardens in the opener and I’ll actually let you slit someone’s throat if we lose.”

His tone and words bring that glass back to my lips. “Your mother had doubts too. That’s before I fucked her brains out and now she won’t stop calling me.”

Silence comes between us before we all laugh, Ryung's laughter loudest. “Despite having three kids, it wouldn't surprise me if that whore is a virgin. Do us all a favour and take hers too.” A phone chimes between us, Ryung reaching into the pocket of his oversized slacks. “Speaking of the literal devil.”

“Don’t tell her I’m with you,” I remind him. “She’ll tell my father.”

“Hello, mother?” Ryung answers, nodding at my request. “No, I’m not having another party. Are you crazy?” That’s exactly what he’s doing. Our fellow students know to keep their distance from us, but behind our area of the yard sits a classic Crown event.

Coloured lights illuminate the sleek pool decorated with imported palm trees, the sunset casting a warm glow over it all. A DJ spins house music between the space that blurs the outdoors from the rest of the party inside. Students in their best swimwear crowd the cabanas draped in white linen. They grab champagne and caviar from servers waiting on them, ignoring the open display of white lines and pills.

Ryung rolls his eyes, mocking the chatter coming through the phone. “Well, Martha’s a liar and jealous of your perfect life and perfect kids.” His voice fades as he walks towards the fire in the middle of a concrete table at the side of the yard.

“Still hiding from your dad?” Gray asks.

“I’m not hiding.” The crystal glass hits my lips again. “My father is delusional. He expects me to be at every event and ace my classes.” My grip on the glass tightens. So does my jaw. “I don’t have time for training and practice and that’s exactly what he wants.”

“You also haven’t had the time to do what we do best.” He turns around, gesturing to the bacchanal in front of us. “We know this thing with Winslow will give you the leg up you need. I’m just happy to have you out tonight. Good drinks, good drugs, good company.” He steps towards the sprawling mansion encased in glass, his arms outstretched. “And later?” He looks over his shoulder with a goofy smile. “A good fuck. Yeah, that’ll cheer you up, you sick bastard. Remember, all you have to do is snap your fingers and these fine Paradise ladies come running to be with menaces like us.”

He lifts his chin towards the pool, proving his point as he beckons to one of his options for the night.

“Speak for yourself.” The girls in Paradise Hill are fast-food dolled up in glitter. I still don’t see what my boys see in them. They’re attractive by Paradise Hill standards, but they’re all…

“Easy." Gray reads my mind as Marisol Crownfield approaches him in a glittery two-piece suit, a nipple peaking out. She tugs on his arm, pulling him in for a kiss on his cheek, leaving a purple stain. “They make it so easy. I see those gears turning. Stop making things hard.”

“Seems like you’re already hard,” Marisol teases, her finger trailing Gray’s abs.

“Crowns.” Hannah Alfonso’s voice is enough to have me reaching for Gray’s bottle. She pops out behind Marisol in a white strappy swimsuit. Private training sessions and a diet of exotic fruits get her that body she flaunts. That and her father’s credit card.

She’s the self-proclaimed queen of Paradise Hill. She’s also a mistake.

“Hannah, give our returning Crown a blowie or something. Give him a load off.” Gray laughs as Hannah’s cheeks turn pinker than the blush she wears, her martini glass coming to her plumped-up lips. “See what I did there?”

“Don’t you have chlamydia to catch?” she retorts, her nose wrinkled at Marisol. Hannah’s just jealous she knows she’s not getting anything from any of us tonight. She leans against the glass, pulling a pink cigarette from her fluffy white bag. It’s rare she smokes but I’m not asking why.

Gray ignores her as Marisol reaches for his junk, teasing her tongue on his lips.

“Remind me.” It’s getting harder to hide my slur as I grab a cigarette from Hannah’s pack before she closes it. “Who invited you out here?”

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