Empire High Betrayal

“Well, it’s gone now,” Kennedy said and handed me the napkin to wipe off the lipstick from my fingers. “So whoever did it can stop laughing,” she said a little louder so that the students around us would get the hint and stop laughing too.

“Thanks,” I said as I scrubbed my fingers. “Can we just talk about something else?” I looked back over at Isabella’s table. The Caldwells should have been there. And if not them, the Hunters should have claimed it as their own. But Isabella? She wasn’t untouchable. She was just an asshole.

Isabella’s evil grin spread over her face again when she saw me staring.

I turned away. God, what the hell was she looking at me like that for? She was about to do something awful, right? That was the only explanation.

“How has the rest of your day been, minus the whole bullseye thing?” Matt asked.

Horrible. Isabella keeps watching me. It feels like my heart is going to beat out of my chest. I swallowed down the lump in my throat. “It’s been okay.” I started bouncing my leg up and down. Maybe I should just leave. Isabella was always the freaking worst at lunch.

Matt put his hand on my knee to stop it from bouncing. “You heard what your bodyguards said. If she’s bothering you, all you have to do is text them.”

“She hasn’t actually spoken a word to me. She just keeps…smiling.” That wasn’t exactly an incriminating offense. And technically it probably wasn’t her who left the note. Or the one that had written on my forehead. But who the hell else could it be? I hated Cupcake, but he didn’t hate me.

“Well, she also did that thing,” Kennedy said and pulled her fingers across her throat. She lolled her head to the side and stuck her tongue out.

“She did what?” Matt asked, looking more upset by the second.

I took a deep breath. “It’s fine. She hasn’t even come near me. I’m not scared of her.” I tried to sit up a little straighter. But I wasn’t feeling brave at all. Because I was freaking terrified. Shh. Or else.

“Oh my God,” Kennedy said. She was staring over at Isabella’s table.

I turned to follow her gaze, just in time to see Isabella plant a kiss on Cupcake’s lips. What the fuck? Cupcake plopped down in the seat next to Isabella. He was smiling too, but it didn’t look evil. Just cocky and idiotic…the same way he always looked.

“Is she serious?” Kennedy said. “It’s not enough that she steals the Untouchables’ table, she has to make me look like an idiot too?”

“Ignore her,” I said. But that was easier said than done. Because Isabella was getting exactly what she wanted. Tons of attention. She’d taken the most prestigious table. She’d stolen Kennedy’s boyfriend. She was on an insane power trip. And now she had a new minion to do her bidding. A minion who wasn’t scared of drugging people. Fucking Cupcake.

I watched Isabella stand up and walk over toward us.

Shit. What was she doing?

“And now she has to rub it in?” Kennedy groaned.

I cringed as the sound of Isabella’s heels clicking drew closer and closer.

“Hello, Matthew,” she said in her fake sugary voice as she put her claws on Matt’s shoulders.

He turned to look up at her. “Isabella, you have five seconds to get your hands the fuck off of me.”

“Or what? I thought you loved when I touched you.” She trailed her fingers down his bicep.

I was going to be sick.

Matt caught her hand and pushed it off. “You’re insane. If you haven’t heard the rumors, which I’m sure you have, I’m with Brooklyn. You’re done controlling my life. And contrary to whatever lies you want to tell, you and I were never a thing, Wizzy.”

“Oh snap,” Kennedy said.

Isabella laughed. “Yes, I’ve heard the rumors. You know Brooklyn slept with James, right? And then he even proposed.” She tilted her head to the side. “Wow, she has a ring and everything. She must be so excited to be Mrs. James Hunter one day.” She glared at me.

Matt stood up. “Let’s make one thing very clear. You’re not allowed to talk to my girl. Ever again. I won’t allow it, and it’s against your dad’s rules too. Brooklyn, text your security.”

“I’m not talking to her,” Isabella said. “I’m talking to you, Matthew. I haven’t broken any of Daddy’s rules. I’m absolutely certain of it. Talking to you isn’t talking to the trash. Oh, but I’m also talking to the trash’s friend.” She turned her attention to Kennedy. “Hey, girl. I heard you slept well this weekend.” She laughed.

“Since when has drugging people been funny?” Matt said. “Wait. Don’t answer that. Just…don’t talk to Kennedy either. Did you really not get the hint when we ditched our usual table? We’re done. With you. And the Hunters. And anyone else who messes with our family.”

“Your family?” Isabella scoffed. “That trash goblin isn’t your family. You’re a Caldwell for goodness sake.”

“You should watch your tongue,” Mason said. He tilted his neck to the side, cracking it. “From here on out, Brooklyn is untouchable. She has your dad’s security now. And she has us. So you better run along back to your minions and go mess with someone else.”

Matt and Mason both had my back. And they were right. I had the safety promised to the Pruitts and the Caldwells. I was the untouchable one. And Isabella was just…a demon person.

I wanted to tell her that. I wanted to say something. Anything. But it was like my lips were frozen shut. Shh. Or else.

“Wanna bet?” Isabella said. “Because I have a feeling that she won’t be with us for much longer. The poor girl literally had a target on her forehead when she walked into the cafeteria. I think her time is running out. Or maybe someone else’s is.”

God. What the hell did she mean by that? I knew she was planning on cutting my head off. I got the message loud and clear. But someone else’s too?

Isabella looked down at her watch like something terrible was about to happen any second.

I was definitely going to be sick.

There was static on the speaker system and all of us looked up.

“Brooklyn Sanders, please come to the principal’s office immediately.”

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