The skirt was pretty short, falling to mid-thigh, and I tucked the blouse in. Sitting on the bed, I pulled on the knee-high socks and then gingerly slipped my feet into the shoes. They fit so well. Like, my toes weren’t pinched and nothing rubbed even though they were new.
I wondered if they’d feel this good eight hours from now.
The last piece of the uniform was the jacket, and I slipped into the custom made number, surprised that it slid easily over my cast. Before I could stop myself, I turned to check myself out in a nearby mirror. The floor to ceiling piece, with a wide gilded frame around it, reflected back a stranger.
I’d left my unruly waves out, because it was easier than trying to manhandle it into a bun. My skin looked pale against all the dark colors in the uniform. The shoes made my legs look long, and considering I was just a bit above average height at 5’9, that was a nice change. But everything else about this made me uncomfortable.
Picking up my phone, I snapped a pic and sent it straight to Dante with the caption “I look ridiculous, shoot me now.”
His reply was almost instant.
Dante: Riles…
I wasn’t sure what to make of that, so I didn’t reply, just threw my phone into the pocket of my blazer, and took a few wobbly steps across the room. Stewart had told me that the books on my desk were my home books, for study outside of school—yeah, okay—and that when I got my welcome pack at the school, it would have my school copies.
So I didn’t have to break a nail carrying my books home with me.
My phone buzzed again, and I pulled it out of my pocket.
Dante: You’re going to get me killed. That skirt…
Me: I’m wearing fucking heels. Forget about the skirt, it’s not going to get anyone killed. The heels though…
Dante: Riles, watch this school. I’ve been warned about those guys from the race. They’re bad news. Really bad news. You need to keep me updated. I’ll be around.
Me: If I can deal with Debitch, I can deal with some punk ass wannabe rich gangstas.
It took him another minute to reply, and I knew he would be running his hands over his shaved head right now, face screwed up in annoyance.
Dante: Have you actually dealt with her yet?
Bastard. No need to poke holes in my brilliant plan so quickly.
Dante: Don’t argue with me. Keep your head down, don’t go searching for trouble. I got your back.
Since I trusted him with my life, I had no doubts of those words. Still, I was getting pretty sick of being dictated to so much. Ever since I was thrust into this world, I felt like everything about me was out of control.
I was losing myself.
None of my friends back home would even recognize me now, not that I had many outside of Dante. But I had plenty of acquaintances, if that counted, and not one of those would know who the hell I was if I rocked up like this.
I wobbled out of the room again, but thankfully got a handle on the heels pretty quickly. Lucky for me they weren’t six inches … more like four. I briefly considered switching the shoes out for converse, but a dark part of me enjoyed theCluelesslook I was rocking. No harm in looking good for my new school, right?
There was no sign of anyone as I stumbled down the stairs and crossed to the door. Eddy had texted me a minute ago and said she was on her way, which meant I’d have to figure out how to get to the gates.
“Miss Riley?”
I turned to find Stewart in the doorway that I was pretty sure led into a massive kitchen. I wouldn’t know because I was not allowed such privileges as walking outside of my room. In his hand he had two things, one was an expensive looking leather satchel, and the other some keys.
“This is for you to take the golf cart to meet your friend,” he said, jingling the set. “Mistress approves of your friendship with Eddy, so she has no issue with this arrangement.”
I blinked at Stewart a couple of times. “How doesMistressknow about Eddy?” I demanded, cringing at the fact that we sounded like house elves waiting to be gifted socks.
Stewart just gave me adon’t-be-so-denselook.
Eddy was lucky she was so awesome, because knowing Debitch approved of her, almost had me regretting our new found friendship.
“And the bag?”
