Blaise is sitting there surrounded by people he’s probably known his whole life, and yet none of them understand how badly he needs his music. None of them have looked past his handsome face and his bank balance to see the real guy underneath it all. I’m not stupid, I know he isn’t just his musical talent, but I’m certain that I know more about him than this Annabelle girl does. She’s vapid, shallow, and hungry for the immense wealth that being with Blaise would give her access to. “You could be the smartest girl on Earth, and you’ll still never be someone worth our time.” She laughs and looks around at the others they’re sitting with to make sure they’re laughing too.
I do not need the trouble opening my mouth will bring me. But I do it anyway. My temper is going to get me killed someday; Matteo says it to me all the time. I should really listen to him. He’s killed people for dishing out less honesty than I am. “I’d rather be poor and smart than rich and brainless. You can’t even tell how pissed off you’ve made Morrison.”
I don’t look away from my breakfast, but I can see her eyes narrow at me from the corner of my eye. Blaise doesn’t say a word, and I wonder again if she’s his girlfriend. She lets him go and turns on me, but I snort at her derisively and tuck back into my breakfast. “Well, that just shows you’re a stalker and he should start sleeping with one eye open at night. I did hear you’re obsessed with him. Don’t you sleep in one of his band tees?”
I try not to blush, but I fail. Avery fucking Beaumont and that damned photo she took of me in my pajamas. Of course she’s shared it around. I glue my eyes to Annabelle so my traitorous eyes can’t flit over to Blaise. “Actually, it shows I like his music, and not his reputation or his face. But what am I saying? At this school, all the girls just like how much money a guy has.”
She rolls her eyes at me, and I clench my fists at her. “Sure you don’t. It doesn’t matter anyway; he would never fuck trash. No guy with any self-respect at this school would.”
I know I need to work on my poker face now that I’m not channeling the Wolf every day, but I manage to stare the little bitch down as I clear up my breakfast. I accidentally glance toward Blaise and see the look he’s giving me, like I’ve just shocked the shit out of him. I pick up my tray and leave the dining hall without looking back. I tell myself I’m not going to hate Annabelle just because she’s sleeping with two of the hottest guys in our grade, but I’ve never been good at lying to myself.
* * *
I’m still feeling hot and irritable with embarrassment when I take a seat at the assembly.
Blaise is sitting two rows in front of me, and Harley is with him. They’re both laughing and nudging each other boisterously. The twins are nowhere in sight.
I look around to find Annabelle sitting among Avery’s flunkies. She's gazing at the two boys with appreciative and possessive eyes. She could be sleeping with them both and hiding it. They could be sharing her.I wish they'd share me,I think, and then I shut that part of my brain down tight. I am Mounty trash to them. I need to get over my little crushes. They will never want someone like me, and the sooner I accept that, the better.
Mr. Trevelen stands on the small stage, and the chatter around me ceases. The twins still haven't appeared, and Harley looks around, concern clear on his face. Blaise joins in and he looks back at me. I feel a jolt of lightning in my blood as his eyes meet mine, and I look away quickly. I hate that I have somehow gained his attention, and I definitely shouldn’t have come to his defense in the dining hall. He didn’t need my help with anything but his studies. He certainly didn’t thank me for interfering.
As the principal’s speech starts and he drones on, I watch as Harley becomes more and more agitated. He’s practically vibrating in his chair, his leg bouncing so hard I can feel it two rows back, and his hand keeps running through the hair at the back on his head until it’s all mussed up. His concern worries me. I glance around and I see Joey isn’t here either. Harlow and that idiot Devon are both present. I pick out all of Joey’s cronies. Not a good sign. I have a sinking feeling that the violence Joey unleashes on his siblings is kept behind closed doors.
No wonder Harley and Blaise are antsy.
Harley makes as if to stand, and Blaise shoots out an arm to keep him seated. I can’t hear what they’re whispering, but they’re getting more and more heated. The other students around them are starting to take notice.
“Trouble in paradise?” Lauren murmurs. She’s been getting braver about talking to me outside of our choir class. I give her a sidelong look and grin, and she wiggles her eyebrows in response. I don’t question myself before I ask, “Hey, do you know anything about that Annabelle girl? The brunette over there?”
Lauren doesn’t have to look to where I gesture.
“Yeah. Her family are old money, but not like the Beaumonts. Her great-grandfather was loaded, something to do with oil, but then her grandfather made a lot of bad business moves. They nearly lost it all. Her father married her mom to pay back debts, and now they’re stable enough. She struts around like she’s royalty, when really her father is constantly skating on ice to keep them millionaires.”
Huh. Calling me inferior when she’s pretending her family isn’t struggling? What an idiot. Especially if it’s common knowledge. I guess that’s what they call fake it ’til you make it.
“She’s obsessed with Avery’s boys. She drapes herself over them at every opportunity. Avery only allows it because she’s discreet about whether she’s actually banging them.”
My eyebrows shoot up. “Them? As in…”
Lauren nods and eyes the back of Blaise’s head with pure lust. “She’s totally doing them all. Her room is next to mine, and her roommate is constantly getting kicked out because one of them shows up.”
Yep. I hate her. I think I might even hate her as much as I hate Joey. Damn my hormones. This must all show on my face, because Lauren grins at me again and nods, her own jealousy clear to see.
Mr. Trevelen starts handing out awards, and I try to focus again. I know I’m going to get one of the academic trophies, and I’m sure Harley will too. As students begin to take the stage and accept their framed accolades, I see Harley slip away. Blaise doesn’t move, and when my name is finally called, I catch a glimpse of his face as I walk past.
He’s livid.
His eyes are glowing green orbs and his jaw is clenched so tight, I’m worried his teeth will crack.
I take my award and stand on the stage to have my photo taken. Harley’s name is called out, and when he doesn’t come up, Mr. Trevelen grumbles into the microphone. I look down at Blaise again and I feel the dread start to take hold in my stomach.
I look around to see Harlow smirking at me. I’m not afraid of her summoning me to face Joey at all. I’m only really worried about what he’s doing to the twins. I’m clearly crazy, because Avery is trying her best to get me out of the school and Ash insults me every opportunity he has.
Yet I’m still having trouble breathing.
* * *
When I arrived at the abandoned warehouse to complete the last round of the Game, I had been faced with the remaining members of the Twelve. There were only eleven men present, plus myself and the two other contenders for the spot. The Coyote and the Fox both looked at me like I was a raw piece of meat. It didn’t rattle me; I’d spent weeks being put to the test, and I had gotten used to being the untried liability of the group. Only the Jackal looked at me like I was someone worth backing.
