Page 92 of Cruel Academy (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 2)

I sound desperate, but I don’t care. I tap my foot nervously in the grass, waiting for her response.

Now? I’m at the park across from the nail salon we used to go to.

I glance up from the screen and laugh at my luck. I can see the nail salon from where I’m standing. It’s in a beige strip mall along with a laundromat, a pizza place, and a pawnshop. Directly across the street is the entrance to the park.

For the last few weeks, I’ve been running to the park and then making two loops around the running trail before jogging back home. Even if Estefania hadn’t texted me, I’d have run into her at the park.

I’m literally just down the block. I’ll be there in three minutes.

I clutch my phone in my hand and kick my run into a near-sprint, eager to see my best friend.

Nerves twist my stomach, which I find ridiculous. I’ve never been nervous to see Estefania before. Why should I be?

She was there the time I got diarrhea at the movie theater and the time I thought a tiny perfume bottle at the mall was a free sample and set off the security alarms.

She has witnessed or heard about every embarrassing thing I’ve ever done, so I shouldn’t be scared of her now.

But I am.

The sidewalk branches off to the left, and I follow it between two stone pillars and into the park. It’s a long, narrow strip of land surrounded by trees on three sides.

The main trail has tributaries that go into the trees, winding and curving through the woods, before meeting back up with the main trail again, but I expect Estefania to be in the main part of the park.

I scan the picnic tables and the benches but don’t see her amongst the late afternoon crowds of moms and kids swinging on playground equipment.

Just as I’m about to text to see where she is, she texts me.

In the meadow.

I look to the tree line at my right, expecting to be able to see Estefania through the trees. The “meadow” is a cleared circle of space with dense trees. It’s shaded and secluded, and as kids, we would hide away in there and pretend we were forest fairies and wood elves.

The location gives me hope. If Estefania is waiting for me in what is essentially our childhood clubhouse, she can’t be moments away from ending our friendship for good.

Clearly, she remembers our past fondly, as I do, and everything will be fine.

With that hope giving me some extra pep in my step, I jog across the grass and walk into the trees.

The shade dampens the Texas heat, but my sweat is still cooling in a sticky layer across my skin. I tighten my ponytail and smooth down the curly flyaways that are no doubt sticking up around my face.

I see the opening to the meadow up ahead. The entrance is overgrown but obvious, and I push through a thin covering of leaves to step inside.

The meadow is shaded and covered in a thick carpet of grass. It still feels just as magical as it did when I was a kid.

I’m so distracted by memories that it takes me a second to realize I’m alone.

Estefania isn’t here.

I frown and am about to pull my phone from my armband to text her again when I hear footsteps behind me.

A smile splits my face wide, and I spin around to face my friend.

Except, it isn’t Estefania.

It’s Levi

His face is discolored and bruised from the beating he took on Saturday night. Paired with his deep scowl, he looks menacing.

Chills rock through my body, and I freeze. I don’t scream or run. I stand perfectly still, eyes wide as Levi moves towards me.

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