Page 115 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

“Excuse me.” J.C. taps the guy standing up on the shoulder and waves him away.

The guy raises a bleached eyebrow. “It’s a bit too early in the weekend for a threesome.”

“It’s a bit too early in the weekend for you to even be here. Move!”

The couple walk away hand-in-hand, headed for the stairs, and J.C. continues setup.

By the time we have the beer unloaded and half of the alcohol rolling around in the back of J.C.’s truck, the cabin is full.

Cars are parked all over the grass in the front and around the sides, and people are stumbling in, half-dressed and drunk and looking for a good time.

“Where are the naked girls?!” one guy yells.

J.C. grimaces. “Does he think we just hired naked girls to walk around?” He leans through the kitchen door and shouts back. “You have to convince one of them to let you get them naked, idiot!”

The guy yells something back, but it’s lost in a chorus of cheers and toasts, and J.C. rolls his eyes.

I lay a hand on his shoulder. “Dude. Relax. It’s fine.”

“I didn’t realize this would be so stressful.”

“Have a drink.” I hand him my flask. It’s already half-empty, and my head is fuzzy.

He narrows his eyes at me as he tips back the flask. “Are you drunk?”

“Yep.”

“I figured,” he says. “You’re never this nice to me.”

35

Noah

After J.C. has a few drinks in him, he loosens up.

As Master of Ceremonies, he stands up with a blow horn every time a new event is starting, but they still seem to blend into one another.

The gist is the same no matter what: drink, get naked, drink some more.

Senior girls, including Penny’s Dreadfuls, stand on a long bar and dance as buckets are poured over their hands

J.C. joins them, and despite being surrounded by a crowd of very visible breasts, he gets the loudest cheer.

He beams, and I’m happy for him.

Then, I look for Penny.

It seems that’s all I’m capable of now.

Wet t-shirt contest?Look for Penny.

Strip poker?Look for Penny.

Body shots?Look for Penny.

I stand against the kitchen door and watch as my classmates have the time of their lives.

And all I can think about is why Penny isn’t here.

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