Page 17 of The Prince of Broken Crowns

“Oh my gosh, I didn’t realize you were in here.” The girl, who more than likely was the one singing, suddenly materialized in the doorway to my right.

She has blonde hair pulled up in a high ponytail, her eyes are smoky, her lips are lined, and she’s wearing a pair of wide-legged pants and a crop top with a high neck. She’s also rocking diamond earrings and a matching bracelet. Everything about her screams wealth, but what else was I expecting?

She holds up a finger. “Just a second. Let me turn the music down.” She disappears back into the room. A moment later, the music turns off, shuffling follows, and then she returns to the doorway, this time walking all the way through and approaching me with her hand outstretched. “I’m guessing you’re my new roommate. My name’s Lillian. Everyone calls me Lily, though, and I’m so glad because my mother’s name is Lillian, and it’s just … who wants to be called their mother’s name, right?”

So, she’s a talker. I also can’t remember the last time I shook someone’s hand. Not wanting to get off on the wrong foot, though, I shake her hand.

“My name’s Maddison, but everyone calls me Maddy. Not because I’m named after my mom. People just started calling me that in kindergarten.” I lower my hand to the side and adjust my weight as she observes me. I can tell her wheels are turning as she takes in my worn jeans, shirt, and boots, so before she can say anything, I add, “I’m a scholarship student. You can probably tell that.”

“Yeah, I can, but I don’t think that’s a bad thing or anything like that.” She tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear while scratching her arm. “I think it’s great the academy is bringing in other students besides the stuck-up snobs that go here. Not that I’m one,” she quickly adds. “I promise I won’t judge or anything like that. In fact, I’m excited to spend time with someone from the northside …” She trails off, shaking her head and sighing. “Sorry, I ramble when I’m nervous. I don’t do well in new social situations. I’ve been working on it in therapy for years, but still suck at it.” She sighs again. “And now I’m oversharing again.”

“Don’t worry about it,” I tell her. “I don’t necessarily struggle in social situations, but I’m not a very social person either, so maybe we’ll click.”

She smiles at that, and it seems genuine. “I think we will. I can feel it.” Her eyes light up. “Oh, and I can show you around if you want me to. I’m a freshman, too, but my brothers started here last year, and I would sometimes come hang out with them on weekends, so I learned where everything is—the dining hall, the library, the athlete room, the dessert room?—”

“The dessert room?” I cut her off. “What the heck is that?”

She softly chuckles. “It’s a room where you can order any dessert you can think of. We can go later if you want. I just need to finish unpacking.”

“Yeah, I should get my stuff put away, too.” I pat my bag that’s draped over my shoulder. “But I’m so curious to see this dessert room.”

Excitement lights up her face and makes me question if she has any friends. She says she doesn’t do well in new social situations, so there could be a possibility that she doesn’t.

“Sweet—no pun intended.” She laughs, and I do, too. “Your room’s right there.” She points to a lavender door just behind me. “It should only take me about five more—” Her eyes dart to the entrance door, and she groans. “Are you seriously coming to check on me already? We’ve only been here like an hour?”

“I came to make sure that all of your stuff arrived,” a male voice floats over my shoulder. “And to also ensure you’re aware that orientation is today.”

“Yes, and yes,” she replies dramatically. “I’m not incompetent.”

I twist around to see who she’s talking to and do a sort of dumbass double-take. But I can’t help it. It’s River, the guy who was in jail with Finn.

He looks marginally less intense than he did in the cell, but he’s not wearing his leather jacket and almost all-black outfit. Instead, he’s sporting a dark pair of pants, a gray button-up shirt with the sleeves rolled up, and a red tie.

Is this how everyone dresses here? In nice clothes? Because I’m so screwed if that’s true.

Part of me wonders if he’ll recognize me. After all, we only saw each other in jail. Sure, Finn did, but River didn’t interact with me. But when he notes my face, he blinks twice, letting me know that he does.

“I don’t think you are,” River says while looking at me, but he’s talking to Lily.

“Yeah, yeah, I’ve heard that before,” Lily mumbles, then adds in a more upbeat tone, “Oh, this is my roommate, Maddy.” She moves up beside me. “Or, well, Maddison, but everyone calls her Maddy. And Maddy, this is my brother, River.” She gestures at him.

He eyes me over in a scrutinizing way. “Yeah, we’ve already met.”

“Really?” she wonders. “Like in the hallway?”

“No.” He stares at me for a beat longer. “When I went to northside the other night with Finn.” He tears his gaze off me and focuses on Lily while massaging the back of his neck. “She gave us directions.”

Ah, so that’s where the nervous body movement is coming from. He doesn’t want his sister to know he was in jail.

“Yeah,” I play along but decide to mess with him. “He actually hit me with his car.”

His attention snaps to me while Lily goes, “What?”

“Don’t worry; it was just a little bump.” I give a dismissive shrug, and he glares at me. “He bumped into me while I was stepping off the curb. It was dark, though, and it was barely a tap.”

“Are you okay?” she asks me with wide eyes.

I feel bad for lying to her, but River started it. “I’m perfectly okay,” I promise her. “It didn’t even leave a bruise.”

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