Page 16 of Poison Touch


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Peyton chimes in. “Yeah, she does.”

“Shut up, Peyton,” Brielle snarls.

Continuing to draw the effed-up sketch of myself, I listen to their conversation. I can’t deny Edge is hotter than any guy I’ve ever seen, with his intense storm-cloud eyes and perfect mouth. But even with the little I know about him, I’m more than happy to let her have his dick all to herself.

Ten minutes before class ends, the art professor tells everyone to clean up and put away the supplies. The past hour dragged out into eternity, leaving me completely convinced of the relativity of time.

Still wondering what I did to deserve the past hour of hell, I fold the horrible drawing in half, already planning its funeral inthe garbage can near the door. I toss my pencil into my backpack and move out of the way to avoid the herd coming my way to put their paintings into the storage closet. Next time, I need to find a better place to sit.

Gunner catches sight of the paper and unfolds it to reveal my pathetic attempts at drawing. “Hey, little Ninja, not really the artist, are you?” He winces, then drops it back onto my desk. Leaning down, he says, “I bet you make up for that in other ways,” and then the fucker winks.

Silently agreeing with him, I don’t bother with a response as class ends. Balling up my paper, I throw it in the garbage on my way out of class. Miraculously, I find my way to my next class with only a few wrong turns. Eden is next to the professor’s desk in the back of the room.

I walk down the center aisle toward them. “Hey, Eden.”

“Hi.” She doesn’t sound thrilled to see me, but she also doesn’t ignore me—so there’s that.

The biology professor glances at me and then arranges a few random papers on her desk into a neat pile. “Welcome, Ms. West.”

“Thanks.” It’s so weird that the professors know my name just by looking at me. It proves how elite and small this institution is.

I follow Eden up the left side of the room, stopping at a lab table near the front.

“You can sit there,” Eden says. She takes out her notebook and then hangs her backpack on a peg nailed to the table. I follow suit. “So, how was art?”

I scoff. “Interesting. Along with Gunner, Brielle, and Peyton are also in my class.”

She winces. “I forgot to mention them. I think our—your encounter with Edge threw me a bit.”

Shrugging, I sit on the stool in biology. “No worries. She’s just another bitch who thinks she’s entitled to the world.”

Eden gasps. “You didn’t say that to her face, did you?”

“No, not in so many words.”

Eden scoots a little farther to the edge of her side of the table. “You are going to go down in flames, and you haven’t even been here a day yet.”

She doesn’t say anything to me for the rest of class. We sit in silence, taking notes until Professor Lennon releases us.

Eden shoves her notebook into her messenger bag. “Listen, but I’m not looking for trouble. I keep to myself and stay out of the way. So, if you can try to stay invisible, why don’t you join Bryce and me for lunch? We sit in the courtyard near the big oak. We’re usually there from noon until one.” Without waiting for a reply, she grabs her bag and darts out of class.

I’m not sure what to make of that. “Thanks for the invite,” I mutter.

But it’s bullshit if she expects me to back down from a possible murderer and a bully bitch just to have someone to hang out with. I’d rather be on my own.

Before leaving class, I ask the professor where the library is. She says it’s the building that looks like a castle in the center of campus, then gives me directions. How hard can that be to find? As I reach the massive structure, I realize the libraryisin the center of everything. All the other buildings fan out from it.

During the short walk, I dodge a lot of whispers and stares. Nothing I haven’t seen or heard before, but this time, they’re all directed at me. At my other school, I wasn’t a complete bitch, but I had my moments of sizing up the new student, deciding whether I would give them the time of day or not… usually not. My decision wasn’t based on looks or financial status. It was based on how time-consuming they would be and how much maintenance and patience I would have to put forth. But thatwas high school. I thought college would be different, easier. But not Monarch. Learning how these people stick together, and still bow down to the bullies, I’d make no effort to be my friend—too much rebellion, not enough conformity. So, I understand Eden’s attitude toward me.

The library is sparse with students. I have my pick of tables, so I choose one near the back, near the first aisle of books. I take out my laptop to start my biology homework. Being already behind sucks. For the next hour, no one bothers me or says a word in my direction. Maybe I’ve mastered this whole invisible thing.

Just as I’m ready to pack up, I dig in the front pocket of my backpack and touch cool metal. Sliding it out, I cradle the bracelet in my palm. My dad gave it to me the last time he came home from one of his business trips. The rose quartz heart stone is set in the center of a thin silver chain. I drape it over my left wrist, and with only a little trouble, I clasp it.

Soon, Dad. Soon.

I have a break until my next class. I almost decide to stay here, but for the sake of the cause, I pack up my things and follow a small crowd into the courtyard. It’s easy to guess where the cafeteria is, as most people funnel into the building. I meet Bryce and Eden under the oak instead of trying to battle my way into the lunchroom. And after having two confrontations with the most popular people on campus, I think I’ll stay clear of welcoming any more drama today.

“Kinsley!” Bryce sits under the big oak, just like Eden said. She’s not there yet. I’m not sure how I feel about that. However, Bryce was friendlier than she was. I make my way over to him. “Hey, girl. How’s your first day going so far?”