Page 118 of Cruel Elite (Princes of Ravenlake Academy 3)

At the same moment the words come out of his mouth, I finally look at the paper in his hands.

It’s a picture.

Thepicture.

The one Penny texted me that day from the bathroom.

J.C. has placed some tasteful emojis over her nipples, but he has also photoshopped her face from another picture she sent onto the topless one, making it all too clear who it is in the photo.

I have no idea how he got ahold of the pictures or how exactly I’m going to remove his head from his body for doing this.

But I can’t think about any of that right now.

All I can think about is how pale Penny looks standing up there on the bar, a wave of guys yelling and cheering and calling “dibs” on her like she’s an amusement ride rather than a person.

Then, she looks at me.

And my heart breaks.

Her green eyes go glassy with tears, her cheeks flame red, and she grabs the picture from J.C.

J.C. looks startled, and I know why.

In his mind, Penny volunteered.

That’s what I told him, after all, that day in pre-calc. I told him the picture was Penny’s application.

For the Spring Fling,”I told him. For The Sacrifice. It’s an audition. An application.

He has no idea she didn’t actually want this.

No one knows.

They all think Penny signed up to be passed around like a cheap blunt.

She rips the picture in half, dropping the pieces like confetti over the crowd, and then jumps down and sprints from the room.

A few guys try to stop her, blocking her path and grabbing at her, too drunk to realize she wants to leave.

But she makes it through.

By the time I make it to the front door, all I see is a white blur disappearing into the tree line on the edge of the property.

I lower my head and run full-speed after her.

I have to fix this.

36

Penny

Humiliation fills me, heavy and shameful. It weighs me down, making it hard to keep moving, but I do.

I have to get away.

Far away.

For days, I’ve wanted to see Noah. I’ve wanted to talk to him, figure out what’s going on between us.

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