Backing down, Eden takes a lunch bag out of her backpack. The hummus and veggies aren’t nearly as fancy as Bryce’s sushi but seem fitting enough for her personality, bland and adequately healthy.
“What?” she asks me.
I didn’t realize I was staring, but I guess I am. “Nothing. It looks good… and healthy.” I take a bite of my apple to fill my mouth.
She pulls apart the baggie of celery and carrots. “Listen, you could have a lot going for you. You’re the type to fit in with the mean girls and Venom if you want to.”
She could have told me I was the biggest piece of shit she ever laid eyes on and that would have been better than what she just verbally threw at me. My face must say as much because she tries to defend herself.
“What I mean is, you’re beautiful, you have a chip on your shoulder, and you’ve managed to gain the attention of everyoneand their cousin at this school in less time than it takes me to put on my makeup.”
“You don’t wear makeup,” Bryce pipes up.
“Exactly,” Eden growls. Focusing her attention back on me, she asks. “Why are you choosing to get on their bad side on your first day?”
I swallow the mushed mess in my mouth. “First of all, that’s not me. In case you haven’t noticed, I don’t want to fit in with the rest of the assholes around here. That’s not who I am. I just want to be left alone, get through this year, and get my rev—” I cut myself off.Revenge.Shit! I almost blew my cover. Hopefully, I haven’t let too much spill. I’m letting my pride override my need for revenge, and I need to back off. Reeling from my hostility, I ask, “Why does this feel like high school all over again? Didn’t these people grow up?”
They’re quiet for a long beat. Eden is the one who answers. “To them, it’s all the same. Same friends, same hierarchy, same family money. The only thing that’s changed is the campus?—”
“Yeah, now we’re on the west side. Monarch Prep is on the east, just over there.” Bryce points over his shoulder with his thumb.
“Well, that makes things a little bit clearer.” I reach over my head to stretch out the tension building in every muscle in my back. It would probably help me to gain access to Venom and their whores inner circle more quickly. Then I can put all this to rest. But like I told Eden, that’s not who I am. Plus, I have no idea who or what I’m dealing with exactly. All I know is that Venom is here, and this is where I need to be.
“You’re not like the other girls at Monarch. Tattoos and face piercings are out of the norm here.”
I’ve never been like other girls anywhere. “Nope. It’s too exhausting to try to measure up. Besides, this is college. Aren’t we supposed to figure out who we are?”
Eden shakes her head. “No, not here. Not at Monarch. We fall into place, just like we’re meant to. We’ve known our places since grade school.”
“Can’t do it,” I say as I roll up my sleeve to reveal the ink. “This is who I am. I like them, and I’m owning it. So if anyone has a problem with it, they can f—” I shut my mouth before I finish. Whether or not I like it, I’ve done enough damage today with my words. I don’t need to say anything I’ll regret.
“Well, I, for one, love it!” Bryce’s voice is filled with rebellion.
I can tell Eden wants to say more. “What now?”
She dips another carrot into her hummus. “Listen, I know you’re having a rough first day and all, and I hate to be the one to tell you, but I saw strength training on your schedule, and Venom is in your class—all of them.”
I purse my lips and nod. “Of course they are.”
Any rest for the wicked? Not a chance.
6
KINSLEY
Dammit!I forgot to ask Eden how to get to the gym. A girl near the window is still packing up, so I decide to test my luck. “Hey, can you tell me how to get to the gym?”
Just then, Brielle, Peyton, and Mikayla come into the room. “If you tell her, Marissa, then consider yourself an outcast added to my list,” Brielle warns as she gestures to write on an invisible paper.
Marissa looks ashamed as her gaze falls away from me and lands on the book on her desk. Without a word, she picks it up and then takes off out of the room. Brielle’s smug face of triumph nauseates me.
“I’ll find it on my own,” I say and start toward the door.
“Not so fast, new girl.”
I release an aggravated breath. It would take all of ten seconds to slay the three of them, but I can’t, and it’s frustrating as hell. Lashes—Mikayla steps in front of me. With a dazed expression, Peyton snaps a bubble. I swear the girl’s head is full of helium. I imagine grabbing the wad of pink goo and smearing it in her hair. Instead, I scrunch my nose in response to theflowery scent wafting off her and move to the side to go around her. She steps out again. My hip bumps into the desk.
Brielle takes a step closer to me. “Listen up, I have one piece of advice for you. Stay away from me, and stay away from Venom. Keep to your little corner of nobodies, and all will be right in the world again.” Her fake fiery-red smile is perfectly in place. I got to hand that to her. She’s mastered that small feat.
