Page 19 of Unspoken Truths

There are other words bubbling up inside of me, but I stamp them down, because none of them are helpful at this moment. I’m at a disadvantage either way, and I’ll have to work harder than others in order to be able to keep up.

I’m not afraid of this challenge, it’s safer than the others I’m facing.

The professor dismisses me, and the classroom is filled with students. Jared is unfortunately now sitting in my seat, and he shoves my backpack into my path, smirking. Gazing dispassionately at him, I drop into a ladylike squat, thighs pressed together as I snag the strap and rise. Jared’s hand glides up my leg, touching me in ways he doesn’t have permission to, missing the knife since it’s strapped to the other thigh.

Glancing over my shoulder, I see the teacher watching us and he shrugs as if giving me an out. Wonderful. Hopefully, he doesn’t care about violence against students. Pulling out my stun gun, I flick it on and press it against Jared’s neck, enjoying the way he gasps as he jerks against it.

“Keep your goddamned hands to yourself,” I hiss, flicking the safety back on it calmly and putting it back into the hidden pocket. It’s small, light, and impossible to find in the heavy lining of the uniform jacket.

Thankfully, no one really noticed what happened because they were all chatting away, and Jared didn’t make a sound. Nonchalantly, I find a seat toward the back of the room and slide into it, pulling out my iPad, keyboard, and textbook.

Peeking up, I notice Jared glaring at me, but Professor Richardson is wearing a secret smile and calling attendance. I make a show of wiping my leg clean with a wet wipe in my backpack, smirking. I’ve started keeping them with me because of the amount of mud on campus due to the constant rain.

My shoes need to be spotless at all times in order to stay within the dress code, so this was the easiest route. Unlike Jared, who would rather use my tongue and rip my skirt in order to clean his boots. In fact, I notice he’s the only one in the room wearing combat boots, even though they shine as brightly as the loafers the other guys are wearing.

It’s yet another way that the Carlysle Kings get special treatment.

It’s difficult to keep my attention on the professor, yet I manage to not only keep up, but also answer a question or two correctly. Statistics as a sophomore feels like an odd class, however, I’m not in charge of the curriculum here.

All I can do is show that I deserve to be at this school. I don’t know what the guys are playing at, or their agenda, but game fucking on.

I may have wanted to leave last night, almost begging for it, but I’ve changed my mind. I want to make a go of it. See what I’m capable of.

Jared grabs my wrist when I pass him once class is over, and I raise my brow.

“Is our skull so thick that we misunderstood the warning?” I ask sweetly.

Jared leans toward me, licking his lips as he says, “Don’t say ‘we’ as if we’re on the same playing field, little girl. I will make you eat mud, choke it down, every single day until it’s your main diet.”

“Hmm, no thanks,” I say. “I think I’ve already crossed that off my bingo card. It’s over, done, figure out some other way to torture me. Know that I won’t be taking it laying down, though, sugar.”

I’m from the south, I grew up there, and the nickname just slipped out. Thankfully, his fingers open in surprise, and I walk away with my head held high.

“A stun gun?” Professor Richardson asks as I approach, his lips barely moving. “Really?”

The words are stated with humor, and I can see he’s silently laughing, his shoulders shaking.

“It was that or the knife,” I admit with a shrug.

“Blood is difficult to explain,” he agrees as I breeze past him and out the door.

This place is insane.

* * *

THEO

Watching from my place leaning against the wall, I spy Liliana and the little mouse leave school together at the end of the day. Except, she looks way too confident to be called a mouse today.

That doesn’t sit right with me.

“You look as if you need to stab or punch something,” Jared says, as he joins me in the art form of holding up the wall while glaring at everyone who passes by us.

It’s easier to rule if people fear and revere you. People nod as they walk by, making sure that they don’t stop as they continue on to get home or get to practice.

“I need to dig up some dirt,” I grunt. “I don’t know if Nacio will be able to find anything at the house. His father is too good at keeping secrets.”

“This is true,” he mutters. “She fucking electrocuted me in class today. I put my hand up her skirt to test her, but she was hiding a stun gun on her somehow. The little mouse shoved it into the back of my neck. I’m sore as fuck.”

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