The music hit harder, lights flared white-hot, and for a moment, Leo was everything he was raised to be—the golden boy, the prince, the untouchable King of Royal Oaks.
And I was just one girl in the stands, trying to remember that queens don’t bow.
The gym smelled like smoke and sugar—burnt sparklers, body spray, and whatever overly sweet energy drink they’d passed out with the school logo on it. The lights finally dimmed, the crowd still buzzing, and somewhere behind the bleachers a few freshman girls were crying from excitement like this was Coachella.
Shani bumped my shoulder. “Tell me he didn’t looksofine out there.”
I didn’t answer. I was too busy pretending I hadn’t just watched Leo’s highlight reel three times like my heart didn’t hiccup every time the screen flashed his name.
I was already seated—front row, center. The gym lights dimmed around us, blue and gold spotlights strobing across the floor while smoke hissed from the machines near the bleachers. The pep rally was moments away from starting, and the gym buzzed with electricity.
That’s whentheyshowed up.
Four of them. Still walking like they owned the place, all hips, sneers, and designer perfume. No one had been expelled yet. Everything was "under investigation" and "pending review," which apparently meant “don’t touch them unless your daddy’s more powerful than theirs.”
One of them—Tiana—eyed me like I was a stain on velvet. The others hovered behind her like over-glossed backup dancers.
“You’re in our seats,” she said, all saccharine and bite.
I didn’t even blink. “Don’t think so.”
She gave a little scoff. “These have been our spots since sophomore year.”
I leaned back in the seat, crossed my legs, and looked up at her slowly. “Didn’t you getservedyesterday?” My voice dropped, sharp as glass. “I have a restraining order against at least three of you. A protective order as well.”
That did it.
Shani didn’t miss a beat. Her phone was already out.Click.
“Smile,” she said sweetly. “This one’s going to the lawyers, the lead investigator, and the school board.”
They didn’t move at first.
So I stood.
My whole body straightened, spine locked tight as steel. “Move,” I said, louder this time. “You’re in violation. And I’m done playing nice.”
They rolled their eyes like they were bored, like I wasn’t worth the effort. But one by one, they turned and left—fake yawns, fake laughs, flipping their hair like the sound of their heels meant something.
It didn’t.
They were noise.
And I was done being quiet.
I sat back down. Shani bumped her shoulder into mine. Hayden offered a sour straw. The lights dimmed further, music roared to life, and the pep rally began.
But even with sparklers flaring and a sea of students rising to cheer... it felt like I’d already won.
“Nice,” a warm voice said from behind me, amused and impressed. “Queen Jade holding court.”
I turned to see Kannon Kavanaugh grinning as he slid into the seat beside me, forcing Mindy to move over—followed by a couple of his teammates—tall, broad-shouldered boys who smelled faintly of cologne and fresh sweat. The crowd made room like they always did when Royal Oaks royalty came through.
Kannon was the crown jewel of our baseball program. Cannon for an arm. Already flirting with the MLB draft and stacked with D1 offers. Unlike most of the attention-seekers around here, he actually earned his clout—throughearly-morning workouts, late-night film sessions, and a killer curveball. And he was smiling atme.
“You sure you want to be seen with me?” I asked, quirking an eyebrow. “Word is, I’m radioactive.”
He laughed, head tipped back, easy and unbothered. “Absolutely. I only sit with royalty.”
