Page 17 of Ruthless Legacy

I clench my fists. Itching to smack her in her perfectly done-up face. But it’s my first day at school and I don’t want to piss off my new legal guardian by getting excluded.

“I’ll give you one warning, George, and then I won’t be responsible for my actions. You’re right, I’m not like the rest of you. I grew up in a working-class town and I know how to fight. Now, if you don’t want that little ski-slope nose of yours bent and broken, I suggest you keep out of my personal space.”

Georgie bristles but holds my gaze. The girls has guts, I’ll give her that much. “Just stay away from the Aces and we won’t have a problem.” She spins on her heels, her vanilla scented hair whipping me in the face as she glides down the corridor. “And my name is Georgie!”

Verity sighs. “Come on, we’ll be late.”

My next class is biology. I hate science subjects. They bore the pants off me. I have no plans to be a chemist or biologist, so why I have to take these boring classes is beyond me. Apparently, my grandfather has chosen my A-level classes. It looks like I get no say in the matter.

When I head to my next class, I’m shoulder checked, and droves of girls call me a slut under their breath. Water off a duck’s back, ladies. It really is laughable that Savage thinks a few bitchy comments are going to have me running for the hills.

Verity finds me at my locker as I’m putting my things away. I can’t wait to get home and just veg out and watch mindless television for a couple of hours. Today has been a drain.

“Well, you survived your first day,” she says, smiling at me. “So, I was thinking, do you want to get burgers? There’s a great little café a couple of minutes from here.”

“Sure,” I reply. I’m still confused why she wants to hang out with me. “Why are you being nice to me?”

She looks surprised by my question. “Because I like you, Eliza. You’re a breath of fresh air in this place, and lord knows this Bay is so predictable.”

“So, it’s not because you fancy me?” I ask her, grinning, and she giggles at my question.

“See what I mean? No one would dare speak like that to me.” She links her arm through mine. “You’re beautiful, but not my type.” She waggles her eyebrows and winks at me.

“Well, with the arseholes in this place on offer, I can see why you like girls.”

Verity chuckles. “Ah, you’re as straight as they come. I see the way you look at Archer. Like you don’t know whether to climb him like a tree and strip him naked or wrap your hands around his neck and throttle him.”

“Trust me,” I snort, “I do not want Archer Savage.”

I spot Calvin parked up, leaning against the Merc, and I head over to him. “Hey, Calvin. My friend,” I gesture over my shoulder to where Verity hovers, “has invited me for burgers.”

Calvin waves at Verity. “That’s okay, Miss. I’ll wait for Kit and tell my mum you’re dining out. Do you want me to collect you after you’ve eaten?’

“I can drop her home,” Verity announces, dangling her car keys from her finger.

When we arrive at the café, it’s already busy with other kids from our school. As we enter, I spot a table over in the far corner and head that way, but Verity stops me in my tracks, tugging on my arm.

“You don’t want to sit there,” she tells me. She gestures with her head to another table near the door, but it’s cold and there will be a draft every time someone enters.

“Sure, we can. The table is empty.” I frown at her in confusion as I continue towards the empty booth.

“That’s their table,” she informs me.

I grin. “Perfect.” I throw my bag down on the seat beside me and pick up the menu. A second later, Verity takes a seat opposite me.

“You really do have a death wish, don’t you?”

I shrug my shoulders as I peruse the menu. “How much?” I say as I clock the prices. “Are their burgers covered in gold leaf?”

Verity looks at me like I’ve grown two heads. “What?”

“Nothing,” I say with a shake of my head. Where I’m from a burger would cost a quarter of the price on this menu. Another reminder of the world I’m living in.

The waitress comes and takes our orders and returns a few minutes later with a Vanilla Frappe for me and a banana milkshake for Verity.

“Okay.” I drum my hands on the table. “What is there to do for fun round here?”

“Oh, well there’s usually a house party most weekends. Or there’s the country club. When the weather’s warm, we often all party on the beach.”

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