“No one’s going to care that you’ve been in jail. But if you want me to keep it a secret, I will.” He gives a short pause. “Although, I’m curious why you were in there.”
“Why? Because I look like someone who’s never been arrested?” I reply, my voice oozing sarcasm.
He chuckles. “Yeah, there’s no way I’m going to answer that question. It’s like walking straight into a trap.” He scratches his wrist. He’s wearing a watch that looks like it costs five times as much as everything I own, if not more. “I’m honestly just curious as to why you were there.”
We reach the top of the stairs, and I dig out my phone to open the map I downloaded of the school. “Why wereyouthere?” I challenge, flicking a glance in his direction.
His smile is all Cheshire cat. “I’ll show mine if you show me yours.”
“Hard pass.” I direct my attention to my phone and the map on the screen. It’s overwhelming to look at, with all the paths of sidewalks, the roads, the hallways, the corridors.
“I can show you around, if you need me to,” Finn offers then extends his hand toward me. “I’m Finn, by the way.”
I don’t take his offered hand. “I know.”
A crease forms between his brows. “How do you know?”
“I heard your brother call you that while you guys were in the jail cell.” I chew on my bottom lip, considering his offer.
Letting him show me around wouldn’t be too awful, right? Except, it would. I don’t want him to think he could use me as a mistress or knock me up and bail. Not that I think all of them are that way, but I’m not about to risk it. Plus, I have this rule where I avoid guys in general. The last thing I want is to end up like my mother—pregnant at eighteen and dropping out of school.
“Thanks, but I’m good.” Adjusting the handle of one of my bags higher onto my shoulder, I hurry forward down the sidewalk and toward the entrance. Thankfully, he takes the hint and doesn’t follow me.
People continue to gawk as I climb higher, finally reaching the set of double doors. I pull one open, and hell, it’s heavy. Like, what are they expecting to happen here? A tornado to blaze through? We’re so in the wrong kind of area for that.
It swings shut with a loudthudas I step inside, and the noise carries down the spacious hallway and bounces against the domed, cathedral-like ceiling. A handful of people turn to look at me, their eyes sweeping up and down my outfit. I offer them a sugary-sweet smile, and one of the girls blasts with a nasty look, flips her long, auburn hair off her shoulder, and turns her nose into the air.
I’m getting someMean Girlsvibes here, but every school has them. My old school had a Mean Guys group, and they were the worst.
Turning away from the group, I make my way down the hallway until I reach the main office. It’s probably the plainest of entrances, but that doesn’t mean it’s plain. It is a wide, archedbrick doorway and above it, engraved in the brick is, “The Main Office of the Royal Academy,” and just above that is a golden crown carved of sparkling metal—the school crest.
Sucking in a breath, I enter through the doorway and step into the room. A handful of tables are close by, with chairs surrounding them. A few are occupied with students doing something on computers. The sounds of clicking keyboards flit through the air, but other than that, the air is silent. It’s kind of unnerving and something I’m not used to since my old school was always filled with shouting, slamming, and other noises that indicated yet another fight.
Everyone appears content, though, and extremely focused?—
“Can I help you?” A voice cuts through my thoughts.
When I glance at the front of the room, where a long counter is, an older woman with dark brown hair and glasses is looking at me with a curious expression.
“Um … Hey.” I hurry up to the counter. “I think I’m supposed to check in here and get a key to my dorm room. I was a late enrollment.”
Again, her curiosity is evident as she glances me over, but she doesn’t sound rude as she turns to the computer and asks, “What’s your name, dear?”
“Maddison Averly.” I set one of my bags down, my shoulder aching from the weight.
“Ah, yes, you’re the scholarship student,” she replies as she clicks the keys. “This is the first year the academy is allowing that, and it’s a much-needed change.” She offers me a smile. “I’m sure you’re going to love it here, and while it might seem intimidating, don’t let some of the more”—she wavers as she reaches for a booklet—“intense students scare you off. There’s some nice ones here, as well.”
I nod, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. “Thanks for the advice.”
She’s nicer than I expected, and I’m glad. Hopefully, what she said is true. I’d like to think so, but I’m wary, considering everyone has been staring at me since I stepped out of that cab. Although, that Finn guy seemed nice enough. Flirty, but not a total asshat.
“You’re welcome. I’m sure you’ll be fine.” She offers me a smile that makes me believe she doesn’t quite believe that. Then she sets a pamphlet down. “This has a QR code that you can use to access all the information about the school that’s not already online. It also has a map in case you want to go old-school. And you should now be able to access the scan code to your dorm room from your school account.” She adjusts her glasses. “You do have a roommate, but the bedrooms are separated by a sitting area, and you also have your own bathroom attached to the bedroom.”
I blink at her. “How big are these rooms?”
“Pretty big,” she tells me then leans forward and whispers, “I grew up on the northside, too, so fair warning: everything here will seem way bigger and way more extravagant than you’re used to. And you probably won’t ever get used to it, but it can be a good thing. It keeps you level-headed.”
I nod in agreement then collect the pamphlet. “Thanks.”
