Page 36 of Juliet & Her Romeos

Now, I look down, hurting at the memory.

Does Ambrose still have the necklace like I have his notes?

“Take the last bite.” Swan holds the apple up to me, and I nibble around the core, savoring the last of the sweetness.

I lick my lips, as Swan hurls the core with impressive accuracy into the bin by the side of the wardrobe. “Are you ready?”

“You aren’t.” Swan snatches a violet rose pin off the dresser and slips it behind my ear. “Now you are.”

“Hey.” I pull the pin out of my hair and point it at Swan like it’s a dagger. “This isn’t part of the uniform for class.”

“Boring.”

“I’ll show you boring.” I dive toward Swan taking him by surprise and slide the pin into his thick hair with a satisfied smile. “There, nowyou’repretty.”

He scowls, which only looks funnier with the flower in his hair. “Handsome.”

He doesn’t move to take the rose out, however, as if it’s a gift from his Omega Queen.

Fitting.

“My pretty Beta,” I purr, knowing the impact that it’ll have on Swan.

He lets out a shuddering breath. “That’s cheating. Plus, if I turn up with this that jerk Rem will claim loudly that I should be dancing with the girls again.”

“Again?” My expression clouds. “What a dick.”

Swan arches his brow. “Wow, you’re giving him that much credit? I thought that we’d agreed he was aspoiled brat who was only admitted here because of daddy’s connections and has gone on to become failed dancer, failed friend, and failed Beta.”

I pull a face. “Ouch.”

Remington deserves it. He pretended to be friends with Swan when they were young, only to mock him behind his back.

He was faking the friendship all along.

It must have fucking hurt Swan to discover the truth.

Yet it didn’t stop Swan from helping the other dancers. It takes a certain type of strength to not build up walls against making friends after something like that.

“See, he’s multi-talented.” Swan smirks.

“Like Ari. Those two assholes are well matched.”

Swan adjusts the rose in his hair, shuddering. “Yuck, don’t say her name three times, or she may climb out of the mirror with those gropey hands of hers.”

Ice runs down my spine.

I twist to Swan in shock. “She tried to touch you…?”

Swan shrugs. “Luckily, I’ve had a lot of practice at leaping. I’m good at twisting and jumping away.”

I growl. “I’m going to kick her ass.”

Swan laughs.

Rude.

“Before or after she kicks yours?” Swan falls quiet, before he grips me by the shoulders and carefully turns me to face him. “JuJu, is Ari’s mean girl clique giving you a hard time? You can tell me. It’s my duty to look out for you, as your mentor. I won’t allow anyone to bully you. I always find you and protect you, right?”

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