My grin disappears.
“Yeah, it’s some rich California brat,” the of the girls says. “Chad told us she’s not worth the effort.”
There’s that stupid B word again. And who on earth is this Chad guy deciding to judge me for no reason? I see red. I want to walk out and give them a piece of my mind, but I don’t.
“You can tell she thinks she’s better than everyone, and I’m like,really? Your parents are corrupt hedge fund managers. Ugh.”
“People like that make me sick.”
“Everyone on Knight Watch has made a pact to ignore the stuck-up princess.”
I don’t know who is saying what now, and I’m too scared to peek out from the bushes in case they see me. My heart aches. My pulse races in my ears. I can’t believe the things I’m hearing.
“Why did she have to be hot?” A guy says. “People like that should be ugly. It’s only fair.”
A girl snorts. “I don’t think she’s that pretty. She’s pathetic.”
The music gets louder as the doors open, and then everything goes quiet again. I don’t step out of the shadows. I don’t want to risk seeing anyone else on the sidewalk, so I turn the opposite direction and slip into the gardens. It’s like a labyrinth in here, but at least there are plenty of places to hide if I hear anyone else.
My cheeks are cold and wet, and it takes a second to realize I’m crying. I don’t even know when the tears started, but now that I’m aware of it, I can’t stop. I can’t believe I’m crying. I don’t cry. I am strong. And important. And loved back home. At least… that’s what I tell myself. Do the people at home really love me? Or am I just some rich connection they use to get into parties and go on free vacations?
I tuck into a little alcove in the gardens, one so dark I can barely see the white concrete bench as I sit down on it, covering my face with my hands as I let out more sobs.
How did I go from popular, lovable, and cool in one day to pathetic outcast in the next? And why are they hating on my parents? I mean, my parents aren’t exactly the best people ever, and I don’t know what exactly hedge funds are, but they aren’t me. I shouldn’t be hated because someone hates what my parents do for a living. They shouldn’t publish me without even meeting me just because of my family.
I don’t know how much time passes while I sit on this bench feeling sorry for myself, but I do know that I am freezing cold, and absolutely sick of crying. I don’t know how my life went from perfect to miserable so fast.
I take out my phone and stare at my home screen. Viv hasn’t texted me at all. No one else has, either. I check my social media. All my friends are posting about their epic parties and perfect lives, and no one seems to miss me. It only makes me want to cry again, so I shove the stupid phone back in my clutch.
I look up at the sky, which is dark and dotted with sparkling stars.
Maybe Belle has it all figured out. Maybe it is easier to sit in our dorm room all day. I get up, wipe my cheeks, and start walking back to the staff dorms.
Only… it’s not so easy because it’s dark out here in the gardens. I think I came from this way, but as I turn around a corner, I feel completely lost. So, I turn back and retrace my steps. Then I go the opposite way. Large shrubs form walls that are just about as tall as I am, and the paths that are beautiful in the day become scary at night. I meander through some shadowy pathways trying not to freak out.
Finally, I turn and recognize a concrete statue of a little girl. I saw that statue when I entered the gardens, so I must be close to the way out of here.
I make a sharp turn and smack straight into a tall boy that smells amazing. Like freshly laundered clothes and summer days and—oh crap.
“You,” I say, taking a step backward.
The moonlight glints off his necklace, and the intricate silver pendant catches my attention for a moment. It looks like some kind of Celtic circle or something.
“Lost?” Declan says, a bit of amusement in his voice.
“No,” I say.
He folds his arms over his chest. He’s handsome in his school uniform, but right now he’s wearing dark jeans and a black T-shirt and he looks even better than usual. I grit my teeth and shove out the thought.
“Sure you’re not lost?”
“I know exactly where I am,” I snap.
“Is that why you’ve walked this path three times in the last ten minutes?”
My cheeks flush. “Seriously?”
He chuckles. “I’ll show you the way out.”
