Page 7 of Darkened Truths
Ava must notice my mind whirling, and she pats my forearm. “Come on, let’s go find the cafeteria and get something to eat.You look like you could use some chocolate.”Or a stiff drink…“Maybe some vodka,” she smirks, reading my mind.
“Ava, why would you want to go to a school like this? Self-defense? Cool. Fine. Torturing people? Firing weapons? In what world would you need to use this kinda stuff?”
“Always be prepared.” She throws up her three middle fingers and smirks, but I don’t reciprocate. “Girl scout,” she offers, as a way of explanation.
We leave, locking the door behind us and walk toward the cafeteria and it dawns on me that I haven’t mentioned the bonfire to Ava. “I got invited to a bonfire tonight by um,” what was his name again,“Nate Harper, or something. Are you going too?”
She pulls up short and slaps her hand down on my arm. Ow. “Wait, do you mean Nate Halpin?”
I snap my fingers and point at her, recognizing the name, and my eyes light up. “Yes! That’s his name. He helped me get my bag up to our room. He seems like a nice guy. Lives up on the fourth floor. Do you know him? He said he was a second year here.”
A blush creeps up her neck and stains her cheeks and she stammers. “Y-Yeah, I know him. He lives in our building?” Her voice goes up an octave as she lets out a tiny squeak of surprise.
Hmm. In the brief time I’ve known Ava, she’s seemed so sure of herself, so confident. Yet, she’s blushing and averting her gaze away from me. Looks like crushes make us all do funny things.
I try to hide my smile. “How do you know him?” I ask, unable to help myself.
“My parents know his parents and he’s a year behind my brother here.” She bites her lip and looks past me like he might come bounding down the stairs at the mere mention of his name.
“Obviously you’ve called dibs. I won’t go with him tonight. He was just nice to me when I was trying to get my suitcase upstairs. That’s all. I don’t want to step on any toes.”
Ava gives me a small smile and quietly says, “Thanks. But it’s okay. He doesn’t even know I exist.” She gives a heavy sigh and her shoulders drop. “I’ve always been Zander’s younger sister, and not worthy of his time.”
I stop dead in my tracks as she moves on without me. How many Zanders could possibly be in this school? There’s only about one hundred students per year, so that’s four hundred total. Zander isn’t an overly common name. I swallow harshly; the hairs standing on the back of my neck again and I look around for signs of the three being close by, only to come up empty. “Did you say Zander?” I whisper. Shit shit, what was the last name that girl said at check in? I was so overwhelmed that I hardly remember. I think it started with an F.
She stops walking when she notices I’m no longer next to her and she turns, tilting her head as she furrows her brow. “Yeah. He’s a third-year student. I’m sure you’ll see him lurking around here somewhere. He didn’t want me to come to Pointebreak. He’s always trying to protect me, but I made a compelling argument that my parents couldn’t turn down.”
Ignoring her explanation, I continue wearily. “Ava, what does your brother look like? I, um, I might have met him already.”
Her eyes light up. “Oh! I have a picture on my phone. Hang on.” She pulls her phone out of her pocket, swipes a few times and shows me her screen. My heart beats wildly in my chest when I look at the same handsome man with dark hair who was staring at me earlier today, and yesterday, at the diner. I instinctively step away from her, my pulse pounding, when she smiles brightly and waves at someone behind me. Spinning on my heel, I come face to chest with a hard as stone body blockingmy view. Drawing my eyes up to see the devil himself, Julien Azarian, and his crew of cronies.
“Hey Zan, I was just telling my new friend about you.” Ava pulls me back to her side and I willingly go. Any way to get away from him. My arms break out in a new set of goosebumps and I can hardly hear anything over the blood rushing through my ears. My body begs me to flee like my life depends on it, because maybe it does, but Ava’s grip is punishment and protection all at once. I’m trapped. “Hi Julien, Hi Wesley,” she waves at them, but they never take their eyes off me.
The three continue to glare without saying a word.
Tension, meet knife.
Does Ava not feel it? How could she not? It’s suffocating. We are in a silent standoff, and I don’t know the reason. For fuck’s sake, this is ridiculous. I have done nothing to them. I literally showed up on campus, against my will, mind you, and somehow got locked into a staring contest with these brooding brutes. Pushing a heavy sign past my lips, I decide now is as good a time as any to make new friends.
I wipe my clammy hands on my shorts and straighten my spine, sticking my hand out to shake theirs. “Hi, I’m Riley Whittier.”
Julien looks down at my hand, and his lips turn up in a grimace. Like my touch is something filthy. Like I’ve crossed some invisible line I was too stupid to see. The anger rolling off him is palpable. He’s a feral animal waiting for any sign of weakness to strike. And it looks like I’m his unwilling prey. I will my breathing to stay steady as a panic attack looms close by. I will not show weakness to this asshole.
“You shouldn't be here.” He replies gruffly.
I know it shouldn’t, but his gravelly voice draws me in. My body sways a little as I keep myself from leaning in toward him. The sound of someone's voice has never been so intoxicatingbefore. It’s deep, gruff, and holds the promise of darkness. My tongue darts out to lick my dry lips, his eyes zeroing in on the movement. There is something so familiar about him, but I can’t place it. Maybe I’ve seen him before in passing, and my neurons are firing to place him. When it’s obvious Julien, or the others, aren’t going to shake it, I pull my hand back, placing it on my hip with a small, defiant pop, jutting it out a little. “If I had a choice, I wouldn’t be here, but thanks for the warm welcome.” I plaster a saccharine smile to my face.
He quirks an eyebrow in surprise, and I catch Wesley and Zander smirking beside him. Ah, so they’re not made of stone after all.
“Don’t be rude to my friend, Zan. She’s nice, and she doesn’t know the ropes around here. Knows nothing about Pointebreak, actually.”
I stare at Ava with wide eyes and give a barely noticeable shake of my head, needing her to shut up. Nobody else needs to know that I have no clue what I’ve gotten myself into.Thanks for nothing, dad.Julien rubs his index and middle finger slowly along his bottom lip and inspects me like I’m an animal on display again. He cocks his head to the side, studying me from different angles. I glance at Wesley. His hands are on his hips as he stares me down, but at least there’s a smile on his face, even if it isn’t all too friendly looking. Then I focus on Zander. He has his arms crossed over his broad chest, his lips pulled down in a frown. It takes everything in me not to scream in frustration.
But no, I can’t. That’s what they want, whathewants. Julien wants me to show my hand—my weakness—to use in whatever sick game he’s playing. Julien takes a step closer, and the others move in tandem with him. He plants his feet shoulder-width apart, arms crossed over his wide chest, his muscular forearms bulging beneath his black shirt. It’s an intimidation tactic, but I won’t tuck my tail. I plant my feet firmly on the ground and wait.
He bends at the waist and puts his face directly in front of mine.
Green.
