We all came together when we were fourteen. Eli and I knew each other from middle school, and Theo and Liam joined us from a neighboring private school. Actually, they transferred from Lion’s Head. I imagine that’s where Theo’s hatred started.
Anyway, all of us were angry in one way or another, and it was natural that we gravitated toward each other. We all made the lacrosse team, and even as freshmen, we were good. Good enough to start. By sophomore year, we were kings.
We walked through the halls worshipped by the other students. It helped that our families are made of money. Theo’s dad donated to the athletic department. Liam’s parents bought a fucking building. And me? Well, the school board knows to fear my last name.
They know what we’d do to them.
The sport made us not only untouchable—but loved. I’m not deaf. I’ve heard the whispers about the golden boys of Emery-Rose Elite. If people knew the truth behind our masks, they would shy away from us.
Eli comes back into the kitchen, followed by… Savannah.
I watch her, letting my mask slide back into place. It’s one thing to use her—it’s another thing entirely for her to come calling on me.
Her face is a mess of puffy eyelids and streaked mascara. Her chin is wobbling.
I don’t give a fuck.
“What are you doing here?” I ask.
She stiffens, then throws her arms around my waist. I raise my hands away from her body. I don’t want to touch her more than I have to—and why would I want to, if Margo isn’t here to witness it?
That’s not part of the plan.
I don’t like anyone’s hands on me. Except Margo.
“Amelie is coming back,” she sniffs. “Two months early!”
“And that’s a… bad thing?”
Best I can recall, she and Amelie have been good friends since day one. Margo used to be in their mix, too. The fact that Savannah openly turned on Margo has been nothing short of delicious to watch unfold. Poor girl carried a torch for Margo for about a year, until the bullies beat her down. Eleven-year-olds are ruthless.
It’s hard being the friend of a coke-whore’s daughter.
“No,” Savannah cries, using my shirt as a face-wipe. She nuzzles her head into my chest. “It’s great, it’s just, she’s coming back early, and—”
My lip curls.
And in their friend group, Amelie is in charge. The captain of the cheerleading squad. The queen bee. She’s been gone this semester, studying abroad. And in her absence, Savannah has stepped into her role almost too flawlessly.
I don’t think she needs me to remind her that there are consequences for every action.
“So you’re just upset that she’s going to knock you off the top of the pyramid?”
She pulls back, staring up at my face. She nods emphatically. “Yes, yes, that’s it. But I thought if… maybe you and I…”
I push her off of me. Enough is enough. “You came here to proposition me. To use me against your best friend?”
Devious little devil.
My friends have left the room.
“Well…”
I glower at her, and she cowers. I don’t usually let anyone but Margo and my friends see the demons under my skin, but I let them out for her. She needs to know to be afraid of me. “Bad idea, Sav.”
“We—”
I stalk forward. Satisfaction spreads through me when she takes a quick step backward, then another one. “We, what? We fucked once? You spread rumors about us dating, that I squashed inside of a week?” I sneer. “Tell me. How did that work out for you?”
She turns pale. “I’m sorry—”
“Get off your high horse,” I snap. “Amelie is coming back, and you’ll go back to being second…” I lift my eyebrow. “Well, now third best.”
She gasps. “What?”
“Amelie and Margo were friends, too. And while she didn’t defend Margo… she doesn’t hate her as much as you do.” Probably because we only bullied you about being friends with her. Of the two of them, Amelie is the traitorous snitch.
But I don’t say that.
Savannah lets out a ragged breath. “I’m such an idiot,” she moans. She turns and runs, slamming the front door closed behind her.
I wonder how Margo will react to the news that her ex-friend is back. If there will be fireworks when the two collide… Especially since Amelie still thinks we’re dating.
Part of me hopes the little sheep will drop the act and draw first blood. My dick stiffens at the thought of Margo going after Amelie. Wild fantasy. I doubt either girl would play fair in that fight.
Amelie is a means to an end… Margo is the end.
Theo wanders back in, his eyebrow raised. “Dude. What the fuck is it with you and crazy chicks?”
I laugh. “I wish I knew.”
Unfortunately, there’s only one crazy girl for me. And I only need to keep her long enough to watch her burn.
15
I avoid everyone except for Riley for a week. Caleb doesn’t come looking for me. He doesn’t even watch me from afar. The bullies return, climbing out of the woodwork. They hit my shoulder with theirs in the hall, kick my bookbag, mutter mean things.
It’s all very hit-and-run.
Riley corners me after school, telling a quick lie to Robert about having plans with me. “You’re being weird,” she snaps. “What happened?”
I can’t tell her.
Instead, I ask, “What happened with you and Eli? He seems back to hating you.”
It’s a good distraction, because Riley’s face falls. She hooks her arm in mine and leads me to her car. “Honestly, I don’t even know. He’s… weird.” She brightens. “On the plus side, I heard that Caleb is allowed to go back to attending the football games.”
I twitch. “How is that a good thing?”
“Because that means we can go… No?”
“No.”
“Did he not carry you out of a party in front of half the school? In front of me?”
“Yeah, and now he’s being a dick. So. No parties and no games and definitely no golden boys.”
She snorts, unlocking her car. “I’ll agree with you about the golden boys. Pfft. Who needs them?”
We go to her house. It’s not a mansion like Caleb’s, but it’s nice. She has a huge room with a walk-in closet and four-poster bed. I perch on the end of it as she rummages for a change of clothes.