Page 14 of Wicked Prince

AMELIA

My first day at Bainbridge turns out to be less disastrous than I feared, aside from the whole Lorenzo thing. Logistics is the only class we have together, and while I noticed a few people whispering about me between classes, no one has been outright hostile. Besides, I'm sure my encounter with Kayleigh has already made the rounds, and that explains the occasional odd glance well enough.

I'm not sure why I'm surprised Dad hasn't texted me to ask how my first day went. And I should be relieved, since the less he knows about what I'm doing, the better. My head and heart really need to get on the same page.

That goes double for Lorenzo Rossi. Although I wouldn't say it's myheart's response to him that's the issue so much as it is my libido's.

By the end of the day, I'm wiped out, but I don't want to completely yield to my hermit tendencies, so I head to the café. It feels a little less intimidating than the cafeteria, and certainly less crowded.

Once I order my blueberry scone and cappuccino, I go over to sit down at an unoccupied booth where I can people-watch without looking too suspicious. My first impression that everyone seems to have already formed their cliques proves correct. It's not like high school, though, where it was easy to visibly separate the jocks from the preps from the goths, and so on. Everyone dresses the same, and for the most part, they act the same. At least on the surface.

The reality is probably more that the cliques are based on last names and family lines. I can't help but wonder, if anyone knew I was a Carillo, would that make my existence here easier? Or worse, like Dad suggested?

There's one guy who does stand out, though. He has bleached white hair, and he's wearing his uniform jacket inside-out so the golden brocade is on the outside. It’s been tailored so there's no sign of an interior seam. Nowthat'sa creative way of getting around the dress code.

He's passing out flyers to everyone in the cafeteria, but the people he's proselytizing at the moment don't seem too into it. I can't help but watch curiously until he catches my eye. I quickly look away.

Oops.

I go back to sipping my coffee and check my phone, even though I'm really not sure what for. When I notice a shadow looming over me and look up, I jolt at the sight of the white-haired guy right in front of my table and choke on my drink.

"Didn't mean to startle you," he says, flashing me a grin as white as his hair that makes it clear he's not really sorry at all. "But youwerestaring."

It's not an accusation so much as a comment with a hint of teasing, but it makes me blush all the same. "Sorry. Must've been spacing out."

"Don't be. I don't dress like this to blend in," he says as he drops into the booth across from me. Only then does he ask, "Mind if I sit?"

"Knock yourself out." I raise an eyebrow. "I'm Amelia."

"Anthony Moreau," he says, tipping an imaginary hat. It's the kind of gesture only someone who looks like he does could get away with. "You're not from around here, are you?"

"What makes you say that?"

He gives me a knowing look. "For one thing, you didn't introduce yourself by your last name."

I sigh. "Yeah, well, there's nothing notable about it. It’s Donovan."

"It's nice to meet you, Amelia 'Nothing Notable' Donovan," he says dryly. He picks up one of the flyers he was passing out and offers it to me. "I guess I get to be the welcoming committee and invite you to your first on-campus party."

I decide not to admit that he's the first person who's welcomed me in any capacity and take a look at the flyer. There are about fifty different fonts and it looks more like an advertisement for some indie band's concert than a college party, but it gets the point across. There’s an address and a date, which just so happens to be tonight at 9 PM.

"A party after the first day of school?" I ask doubtfully.

"I know it's a little late, but throwing a party before school starts presents some logistical hurdles," he says, leaning back with an arm draped over the back of the booth.

I can't help but laugh. I also can't believe I'm actually thinking about going to this thing, and it's not just because Anthony is the first seemingly nice person I've met on campus.

If I'm stuck here for now, it probably wouldn't kill me to get out a little. My high school days were consumed with trying to keep up with my classes between my job and doctors' appointments, so I’m way behind on the whole partying and debauchery scene.

"So is the whole school going to be there?"

He pauses to consider it. "No, just the people I found interesting enough to invite."

I blink in surprise at his response. "And you findmeinteresting?"

His grin widens. "I do. And I'm never wrong about these things."

I tilt my head. "If I didn't know better, I'd think you were hitting on me."

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