Page 9 of Swamp Princess

“Here is your class, the teacher's name is Mr. Brooks.” Haven sighs and I see a wistful look. “He’s not like the other teachers, in fact he’s the kindest.” Shaking her head, realizing she said that out loud, she opens the door and I follow her. She walks right to the desk and my body snaps to attention, realizing I am the last person, so the entire classroom is full and I nearly die.

“Haven, who do we have here?” I force my eyes on the teacher and am surprised by his appearance. He is young, and his face remains boyish. He has an auburn and chocolate tint to his hair and a light stubble on his chin. His eyes are a bright hazel. I can see why Haven is crushing. He’s still a prep, so not my type.

“Mr. Brooks, this is the new student, Brinley Venice.” His eyes move to mine and he smiles.

“Nice to have you, Brinley. If you want to take a seat.” He motions to the two person desks and the only one that is left open is next to a boy who from here, I can tell is tense. “Well, you will have to sit next to Remington. Here is a notebook with a fine point pen, take it to your desk.” He dismisses me and I make my way back, trying to ignore the sudden whispers again and the hateful looks.

Once I get to the seat, I decide to try to be polite and I turn to my new desk mate. “Hello, I’m Brinley.” I smile and hope it seems warm. My nerves are starting to get the better of me. His face whips to mine and the sneer on his face is something that I wasn’t expecting.

“Don’t fucking talk to me, swamp slut.” My face shuts down and I gasp. I was not expecting that from him.

Fighting the urge to punch him in the face, I angrily look down at my book and get even more pissed to find that I have to fight tears from slipping to the book underneath my face.

“Now that everyone is here, let’s begin,” Mr. Brooks says. “This year, we will be focusing on the cynosure of essay writing along with short stories. I will pass out your laptops. The notebook is what I like to call a book bible where you will list the topic that I give you and then jaunt down your ideas, that book will also be a part of your final grade so do not take it lightly.”

He leans down and pulls out laptops and starts passing them out. Once I get mine, I marvel at it. I’ve never been able to afford one of these and now I get one for free.

“Don’t steal it, swampy. It has a tracker in it.” The venomous whisper comes from my desk mate.

“What the fuck is your problem?” I spat at him, trying to keep my voice lowered.

His eyes turn to slits, and he moves closer to me. I look at the teacher who is currently writing on the board, oblivious toward the confrontation. His mouth gets so close to mine I can smell the coffee and the mint he had this morning. “You. You are my problem, and I don’t like you.” He sits back as the teacher turns around.

“The first prompt will be to write a two-page, one lined spaced paper about who you think you were in a past life and why.”

I sit back. I was not expecting that, but I get to work, putting my asshole desk mate out of my mind.

Chapter Five

The day has been long and exhausting. I have my full syllabus and I plan to spend the night in my room or the library catching up and getting ahead. Haven met me at the end of the day and showed me to my room. She cringed a little, opening the door expecting me to disapprove of the small room.

I couldn’t have been happier. My own room. One queen bed. A small dresser and a closet. A standing mirror behind the door. It was everything and so different from my room in the trailer that I almost cried. As I headed back to the dining hall, I got a message from Blaise and a photo of Greasy B’ famous burgers. I smiled and sent him a text letting him know I was on my way.

He had my bags and food. I was so happy he drove all the way back over. Granted it was only a thirty-minute drive across the tracks, but he didn’t have to, and yet, he did and also brought me food. Soon I won’t be able to hide how I feel for him and am going to have to tell him.

I leave my room and head downstairs, smiling at my phone when I crash into a wall. Lifting my head, I realize it wasn’t a wall at all. In fact, it is a man. A gorgeous male. My eyes trace his face and strong jaw. He looks to be on his way out. He is dressed in designer jeans and a pressed white t-shirt over a sky-blue shirt.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” I say, getting ready to move around him when he puts his hand out to stop me.

“You should watch where you’re going, swamp trash.” His tone is laced with venom, and I have no idea why.

Sighing, I look up at his face and can see how much my presence is bothering him. “Well, I’m sure you saw me looking at my phone and could have moved around me, too.”

“I don’t move out of the way of trash. It moves.” Again, with the trash.

“Dude, fuck off, I have somewhere to be.” I try again to step around him when my exciting desk mate steps forward along with another male I saw in my class.

“Watch your fucking mouth or we will have you kicked out,” Remington says.

“Fuck you. How about that? You don’t hold that much power,” I say, putting my hands on my hips, needing to leave so I can meet Blaise.

“Oh, you don’t think?” The one in front says, stepping closer to me. It takes everything in me not to sniff him. “Our fathers fathers founded the school, and our fathers stepped in.”

I blanch. I wasn’t expecting that. It must show on my face because they all laugh at me. Not wanting to start anything more, I grumble out an apology and again try to step around the now mass wall of male. My attempt is again blocked.

“Where are you going? It’s not like anyone here would want to hang out with you.” The other one who hasn’t spoken says. I take him in now that he is closer. Blond hair and blue eyes. Clean shaven with a strong jaw. His eyes are steel when they meet mine.

“I don’t think that is any of your business.” Tired of the shit, I push past them forcefully. I don’t look back, but I can hear them following me and I speed up a little, thankful that they don’t speed up as well. What the hell were they doing there anyway? This was the girl’s side of the dorm. Again, I shake my head when I think about it, they were probably getting laid. Or headed to get laid. They may reek of money, but they are still gorgeous. I take off the moment I get to the front doors. I haven’t changed out of my uniform because I am hoping for a little more with Blaise tonight.

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