Page 75 of Cruel Prep (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 1)

“Wow, it sure is fun listening to your theories, but I already told you, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Let me help you, Finn,” he says.

“No, let me help you,” I growl. “Youhave been handing over evidence locker drugs to teenagers for over a year. Do you think I’m stupid enough not to have proof?”

Officer Ingram goes still, his eyes beady, his skin yellowed in the alleyway lights. “What are you talking about?”

I snort out a humorless laugh. “Oh, just stealing and providing drugs to a minor. If you think I’m the one in need of help, then you are way behind.”

I spin away from him and walk back to the car, my hand pausing on the handle. “Great to see you as always. Let’s do this again sometime.”

Ingram lifts a flat hand in a cold wave. I watch in the rear-view mirror as he slouches away, head down.

“What was that about?” Lily asks, looking over her shoulder when I get back in the vehicle.

I wave her away and start up the car, pulling away before Ingram can. “Nothing important,” I tell her. “No one we need to worry about.”

30

Lily

Finn said no one at school would know what the collar meant.

But I’m not so sure that’s true.

From the start, lots of people seem to think I don’t belong at Ravenlake. There’s Cora and her cronies, of course, but plenty of other people have made their feelings clear. Bumped shoulders in the hallway, snide comments as they pass by, snickers whenever I enter a room.

I tried to just ignore it.

Now, however, it hasn’t just stopped. It’s flipped completely on its head.

People stay out of my way. They step aside as I walk down the hallway. They stop whispering when I pass like they are afraid of what will happen if I overhear them.

A few have even gone out of their way to be purposefully nice. Holding doors open, stepping aside to let me pass. Just little stuff like that.

It’s odd, but not unwelcome. And after the first few weeks I’ve had at Ravenlake Prep, I’m willing to accept any friendly gesture, no matter how awkward or strange.

I’m almost ashamed to admit that I’ve started wearing clothes to emphasize the locket. Lower-cut tops with my hair twisted back into buns and braids. I walk with my shoulders back and my chin up for the first time in weeks. Months, even.

It isn’t that I’m proud to be the person Finn has chosen for … whatever the hell he wants with me. I’d prefer to fly under the radar and go unnoticed.

But since that isn’t an option, and I’m going to attract attention regardless, I’d rather attract attention as the girl no one but Finn is brave enough to fuck with.

At least being “Finn’s girl” means people leave me the hell alone.

I’m walking down the center of the hallway, the locket bouncing against my collarbone, when I see Cora walking towards me.

We have gym together, but she and her cheerleading minions have been pointedly giving me a wide berth. I suspect it has something to do with the graffiti on the wall and the meeting my mom had with Cora’s parents.

Now, however, she is walking straight towards me, green eyes narrowed into slits.

I want to turn on my heel and run in the other direction. I want to put my head down and disappear. I want to do anything other than have another altercation with her in the hallway.

Mom will not be cool if I get another detention. I can’t stand disappointing her. She’s been through enough.

But I won’t be afraid of Cora.

Not anymore.

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