Page 1 of Blurred Lines

Chapter 1

Weariness tugs at me as I step off the bus, dragging my suitcase behind me. As I pass through the gates to Pacific Prep, I realize that this is the last time I’ll be doing this—coming back to campus after a holiday.

It's the final semester of senior year. The last four years have both flown by, and dragged on like a never-ending nightmare. However, everything has been different this last year, since Hadley arrived. Sure, I had friends before, and I wasdefinitelycaught up in less drama, but I had no one I could really confide in, no one that I knew without a doubt that they had my back. I hadn’t even realized how much I wanted a best friend until Hadley stumbled into my life, looking like a fish out of water—one that’s covered in razor-sharp spines that she wouldn’t hesitate to stab you with if you pissed her off.

I trudge the rest of the way to my room, tossing my suitcase on the bed before pulling out my tablet and messaging Hadley, letting her know I’m back and asking if she’s free.

While I wait for her to respond, I unpack and jump into the shower, feeling so much better as I climb into my bunny rabbit pajamas. I don’t know what it is, but they make me feelsogood. It’s like, as soon as I put them on, all the stress from the day just disappears and I’m suddenly in relaxation mode. It’s the perfect end to a long day of traveling.

Hadley still hasn’t messaged me back, so I decide to hop across the hall and knock on her door, seeing if she’s in. She’s such a dunce when it comes to technology, so no doubt her tablet is on silent, shoved in her bag somewhere from when she last used it in class before the break.

I knock and listen to see if I can hear her moving around inside her room, but all seems quiet.I guess she’s with the guys then.Deciding I’ll spend the rest of my evening relaxing with a book and cup of tea, I fire her a message to see if she wants to grab a coffee before breakfast in the morning, and snuggle down in my duvet, getting comfortable for the night.

When my phone alarm goes off the next morning, I look at the screen, frowning when I still don’t have a message from her, but I shrug it off, knowing I’ll see her at breakfast anyway and can just talk to her then.

Glancing at the time, my eyes bug out of my head.Fuck!I forgot to change my alarm last night for an earlier wake-up time, and now I’ve got five minutes to get to the dining hall before breakfast finishes.

Scurrying out of bed, I rush through my morning routine, and by the time I throw open the door to the dining hall, I’m in a pissy mood. Stomping across the room, I glance toward the top table, frowning when I find it completely empty. Today should start a new round of the girl of the month nonsense, which explains the abundance of pathetic girls dolling themselves up and pushing out their tits in preparation for the Princes, but it doesn’t explain why neither Hadley nor any of the guys aren’t here yet. Sure, they like to leave it to the last minute, but the bell is going to ring any second now.

I grab a yogurt and a banana before heading over to my usual table. “Where is everyone?” I ask Wilder, dropping into an empty chair opposite him. He takes his time, swirling his spoon in his bowl of milk and cereal dregs before he lifts his head to meet my gaze.

I gasp as I take in the horrible purpley-blue shiner he’s sporting. “What the hell happened to you?”

He just shakes his head. “Doesn’t matter.”

Well alright then. Wilder is a very private person. He’s more than happy to shove his nose in other people’s business, but hehatesit if you pry into his. So, naturally, I don’t even bother trying. Instead, I leave him alone as he drops his head once again, continuing to absently stir the milk around his bowl.

When the bell rings a couple of minutes later, I grab my tablet out of my bag and fire off another message to Hadley, telling her to get her ass to class before she’s late.

“Come on.” I nudge Wilder’s foot with my toe since he doesn’t seem to have even heard the bell ringing. “We’ve gotta get to class.”

Looking like he’s carrying the weight of the world on his shoulders, he slowly rises to his feet and trudges out of the hall with me.

Jesus help me, I do not have the patience to deal with a grumpy man-child today!

Wilder, weirdly, walks me to my classroom before mumbling a goodbye and heading to his own class. I take my usual seat in English and pull out my tablet, loading today's lesson while I wait for Hadley.

When Mr. Greer clears his throat in a subtle indication for us to settle down so he can begin, I frown and open the messenger app on the tablet to see if Hadley read my message earlier. It still says it’s unread so I send her another one, asking her where the hell she is.

She doesn’t show for the rest of the class, and as the morning drones on, I repeatedly check my messages to see if she’s responded. Nothing. Not even a blue tick to indicate she’s read my texts.

As soon as my class before lunch ends, I bolt out of the room, immediately dialing Hadley’s number, but it goes straight to voicemail. The feeling that something isn’t right has been gnawing at me all morning, getting progressively louder, until it’s become a constant ringing in my ears, and when I rush into the dining hall for lunch, finding it once again absent of Hadley and the guys, I lose the sliver of control I had.

“What the hell is going on?” I snap irritably at Wilder. I know he probably doesn’t know, but I’m getting frustrated, not to mention, worried. Hadley has never ghosted me like this, and I know I haven’t done anything to upset her. Even if I had, Hadley isn’t the type to hide away and avoid it, she would confront me about whatever it was. So that only leaves one option...that something bad has happened. “Have you spoken to any of the guys?”

“Not in the last couple of days.” He shrugs, deliberately not meeting my eye, and I narrow my gaze at him. The asshat continues to ignore me, picking at the fries in front of him, even though I know he can feel my intense stare drilling into the side of his head.

I am seriously fucking pissed off now. Something is going on, and he knows more than he’s letting on. I slap my hand down on the table, but he doesn’t so much as jump, even as I hold back my wince at the sting in my palm.

“What the fuck is going on!” It’s not a question this time, and when he comes out with some vague excuse, I spin on my heel and leave the dining hall, more frustrated than when I entered. Whatever is wrong, I know exactly who the fuck to harrass for answers. A year ago, I’d have peed my pants at the thought of going near them, but right now, concern for my friend drowns any anxiety I have about standing up to the Princes.

Adrenaline fuels my movements, and before I know it, I’m standing at their door, banging on it. It’s only when the door flies open and I’m standing face to face with a scowling Hawk that I realize the absolute insanity of what I’m about to do. For a second, I cower in front of him, before remembering I put on my big girl panties and straighten my spine.

“Where’s Hadley?”

He crosses his arms over his chest and uses every inch of his six and a half feet to try and intimidate me. Any glimpse of emotion is wiped from his features and he cocks a brow. “What are you talking about?”

His blatant denial only infuriates me more. He knows god-damn-well what I’m talking about.

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