Page 19 of Kings of Westbrook High

“Wren, right?”

“Lucky guess.” He jokes, adding a shit load of sugar to his coffee.

I laugh lightly, glancing around the penthouse to check for the others. “Where's everyone else?”

“What day is it?” He shrugs, and I can't help but notice the hint of sadness in his tone.

“Saturday..” I draw out, fighting a frown.

“Damon and Kai are in the gym.” He says, blindly flicking his wrist towards the hall off the kitchen. “Katherine's probably getting her nails done at the salon downstairs and my Dad's probably off working somewhere.”

I roll my lips, suddenly wondering if there's more to these boys than meets the eye. I didn't miss the way Wren's shoulders fell a fraction of an inch last night when Elijah ignored him. Looking at him now, I recognize that look in his eyes, relate to it, even. It's minuscule and barely there but I see it buried beneath that bad boy exterior. He and I might come from entirely different worlds but pain is pain and the evil little bitch doesn't discriminate.

Seems he and I deal with ours the same way.

“Fuck me, that ass is fine.” Wren says, laughing lightly when he reads one of the several messages beneath the video on my phone. “Stoner loser slut.” He reads another, grinning. “Ouch.”

“Fuck off.”

He laughs for real now and I shake my head, closing the stupid group chat before sliding my phone back in my pocket.

“Rachel didn't tell you about Derek, did she?” He asks, eyeing me over his coffee.

“Why would she?”

“Because you're our.. whatever you are.. and she should fuckin’ know better than to take you there.”

“She doesn't.”

He frowns, confused. “What?”

“She doesn't know.”

He raises a brow at that, giving me a clear I call bullshit look. “You really tryna tell me she picked you up downstairs last night and didn't bother to ask why you're living at the Palace?”

“She picked me up from the coffee shop down the street.”

He licks his lips, leaning his hip on the counter to face me fully. “Why don't you want anyone knowing who you are?”

I blow my coffee and take a sip, hesitating but deciding I might as well level with him. “You saw how your people acted after that first day in the hall, right? If they found out who I really am and how much you boys hate me for it, it'd only get worse and I'd end up losing my shit and causing even more trouble for myself, and trust me, no one wants that.”

He cocks his head, eyeing me. “You think we hate you?”

“The so called daughter of the chick who married your Dad for his money and moved me into your big ass house like I have some right to be here?” I raise a brow, shrugging. “I'd probably hate me if I were you.”

He shakes his head at me but he doesn't bother to deny it. “Still doesn't explain why you didn't tell your only friend here.”

“She's got a big fuckin' mouth, that's why.”

“You don't trust her?”

“I don't trust anyone.”

He searches my face with those gorgeous baby blue eyes of his, clearly trying to read me, so I roll mine and turn to leave.

“Stay away from Derek, Callie.”

I freeze mid step, spinning back to face him. “Are you for real right now?”

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