Page 74 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

She’s a pretty girl. The kind of pretty that will only get more refined as she ages, but isn’t always appreciated in the teenage years.

“Absolutely, why not?”

Punk girl snorts. “Because of ‘The Sacrifice.’”

Andrea frowns. “I don’t know what that is.”

“I think it’s a myth.”

That’s what I heard, anyway. Every year, people spread rumors about Spring Fling, and they’ve gotten wilder every year I’ve been at Ravenlake.

The guys came back talking about all the wild sex they had, and the stories snowballed into tales of a “Sacrifice,” a senior girl who volunteered to have sex with anyone who wanted her.

“If it is a myth, it won’t be for long,” bangs girl says. “Do you know Ciarra Klemson?”

“The girl with the bar in her nose and the chest tat?”

Punk girl nods. “She is volunteering as the Sacrifice this year.”

My mouth falls open. “Willingly? She wants to do it?”

“I’d hope she wanted to,” Andrea remarks. “If she didn’t, it would be a horror story.”

“Still.” I wrinkle my nose. “It sounds like a horror story regardless. Who would want to do that? Have you seen some of the cretins who go to this school?”

“Have you seen some of the hot guys who go here, too?” Andrea asks. She shrugs apologetically when we both look at her. “I’m just saying, maybe Ciarra is thinking she’ll suffer through a few duds to get with someone like Noah.”

“Noah Boone?” Bangs girl waves a dismissive hand.

“What’s wrong with him?” I ask before I can stop myself.

“Boring white dude. So last season.” She looks at me and tips her head to the side, intrigued. “Do you disagree?”

I imagine a flashing neon sign is hanging above my head, broadcasting the dirty deed I committed less than two hours ago for all to see.

“I mean, I think he’s cute.”

Cuteis a hilarious understatement. Andrea calls me out on it.

“Puppies are cute. Noah Boone is a god.”

“Keep it in your pants, Andy.” Bangs girl elbows Andrea’s arm, who covers her face with both hands.

“If either of you tell anyone what I said, I’ll die.”

“He probably doesn’t even know who you are. But don’t look at me, my lips are sealed. Penny is the one with the direct line to the Golden Boys.”

I do a double take. “What? Me?”

“Me?”she mocks. “Yes, you. Out of the three of us, you’re the only one who has actually spoken to Noah Boone. Didn’t you two even hang out for a while?”

To put it mildly.

Noah and I were in love, regardless of what he may claim now, but we didn’t really tell anyone.

We kept it quiet because it wasn’t anyone else’s business.

The trouble with that, I’m realizing now, is that no one but me will ever know or remember the whole story.

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