Page 15 of Wicked Dreams (Fallen Royals 1)

The students’ attention slowly drifts back to the teacher, and the rest of the morning speeds by. I only see Caleb or his friends twice more, and I finally run into Riley in the hallway before lunch. She grabs my arms, hopping up and down.

“I’m so sorry I missed this morning,” she cries. “I overslept, and then my brother wanted a ride, and I had to have my mom call and get permission for me to come in at second period. Are you mad?”

I blink at her. “Mad? Why?”

She leans in. “For leaving you to fend for yourself.” She makes a face, her lips twisting. “Never mind. Your dad—er, Robert brought you in?”

“Per usual,” I say. “We switched around my schedule a bit. I’m taking a painting class of his now.”

She hums. “I don’t know anyone in that class. Maybe you’ll meet a cute, emotional artistic boy who will take you out for coffee with paint on his fingers. His idea of romance will be asking if he can paint you—”

“Fat chance of that.” I snort. “Have you noticed no one will talk to me? No one even looks at me unless Caleb is point me out.”

The fact is, my newfound invisibility doesn’t bother me. I’d guess he’s trying to ice me out, make me feel like he’s the only one in the world who would pay attention to me, but… I don’t care. I hate it when he sees me.

“I did.” She glances around. “Ah, well, it could be worse.”

“How’s that?”

“We could have to eat lunch in the cafeteria.”

I chuckle. “What am I going to do if you’re ever out sick?”

“Oh my god, you’re right. I should introduce you to Amy, the librarian.”

“You’re on a first-name basis with the librarian?” I ask.

She hustles me toward the library. “Amy is the best. She sometimes steals extra desserts and shares. Or if there’s ever cake in the teacher’s lounge…”

I stand by the door, fidgeting. She unlocks it and gestures for me to enter.

“Oh, I should mention,” Riley says, lifting a shoulder, “Amy is my cousin.”

“That’s how you got a key.”

“Yeah. Yo, Amy! You saw my friend Margo, right? Margo, Amy. Amy, Margo. If I’m ever not here, it’s cool that she still chills here for lunch, right?”

Her cousin stands from her desk and comes over, shaking my hand. “Nice to meet you. Yes, Riley, of course she can. Just knock, okay, Margo?”

“Yeah,” I murmur. “Thanks.”

We take our lunch to our chairs, spreading out our options. We’ve gotten used to trading items, because Riley’s mom likes her to be healthy, and Robert hasn’t figured out my favorites yet.

Lenora and I went grocery shopping on Sunday, which was an adventure in and of itself. I don’t think I’ve ever been in a fancy grocery store until that moment. Organic was the name of the game, even if I couldn’t figure out why. Lenora didn’t give the best explanation, either. She let me pick whatever I would want to have in the house: breakfast and snacks to school, lunch and dinner options.

It was just another piece that made me feel better about settling in.

“Salt and vinegar chips?” I ask.

“Yum.”

“Gross.” I laugh.

“Trade you for… the carrots?”

“Deal.”

We eat in silence, her crunching through the bag of chips and me snapping the baby carrots. After we eat, there should be enough time for me to pick out a new book.

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