I couldn’t believe my eyes when I saw the array of expensive vehicles sitting in the school parking lot. The kids at Weybridge drove cars that probably cost more than my mom made in a year, and Anna’s car fit right in among the others. It was sporty and luxurious with a dashboard that looked like something out of a spaceship. She drove like a bit of a maniac, but I could understand why. She owned a car that accelerated like it was on a racetrack, so I wasn’t surprised she enjoyed putting her foot down as we made our way to a property on the other side of town.
The party was at Luther’s house. Cress had explained his parents bought the place so they had somewhere to stay when they visited him at school. Apparently though, they never came, so the home sat empty for most of the year. My father seemed to have done the same thing, and I suspected his ridiculous mansion would remain just as empty. It was such a waste and made me a little angry when I thought of how hard my mom worked to keep a roof over our heads. Rich people didn’t seem to care about that kind of excess though.
Like the school, Luther’s house was hidden away in the woods out of town. It didn’t feel all that remote though when his driveway was lined with flashy cars. Everyone from school seemed to be arriving at the same time, and Anna had to park a short walk from the house.
We got out of her car and started up the driveway, trailing a steady stream of students who were headed to the party. Luther’s house was a gorgeous old villa that looked like it belonged in Italy or Spain. No one seemed to be going inside the house though. Instead, everyone was following a path around the side of the building, which led into the woods bordering the property.
A narrow trail cut its way through the trees, lit up by the warm glow of lanterns that lined the edges of the path. It was enough light to guide us but not enough to stop me from stumbling every so often over the divots in the ground. I felt glad I was wearing wedges when I saw a girl in stilettos walking in the group ahead of us. She was constantly lurching forward and clutched desperately on to the arm of a friend for support. I was scared she wasn’t going to make it.
I knew we were getting close to the party when the soft sound of music started to drift through the trees. Before long, it had filled the air and seemed to shake the leaves with its deep thrumming base. We soon approached a large clearing that butted up against a sharp cliff face. Fairy lights were draped through the trees that bordered the clearing, and colored lights flashed from a DJ booth at the foot of the cliff.
There were several bonfires crackling at the edges of the party, and given the slight chill in the air, I had a feeling I was going to spend most of my time huddling close to one of them.
The party was well and truly underway as we joined the crowd of students. Some were hanging out by the fires while others were loitering by tables covered with food and alcohol. Most people seemed to have gathered in front of the large DJ booth to dance. The music sounded like it was coming from everywhere, and I found myself scanning the trees around me to see if someone had somehow hooked up speakers to the branches high above.
Cress smiled when she caught my amazed expression. “Luther sure knows how to throw a party, huh?”
“Yeah, this sure is something.”
“How does it compare to parties at your old school?”
“Uh…” I fumbled as I tried to come up with an answer. I didn’t think it was even slightly comparable to the parties back home, and I breathed a silent sigh of relief as Anna saved me from answering. She’d been concentrating on the party and must not have heard Cress questioning me.
“Let’s get drinks,” she said, practically bouncing up and down like she couldn’t wait to throw herself into the action.
“Yes!” Cress agreed. “Lead the way.”
Anna flashed us both a wide grin before she thrust herself into the crowd.
“So, does Luther throw parties like this often?” I asked Cress as we followed after Anna.
“Not too often. Normally, everyone parties at the school’s old boathouse on the weekends.”
Anna glanced over her shoulder and shook her head at Cress. “By everyone, she means those who are cool enough to warrant an invite from Noah, Luther, or Kaden. Those three boys pretty much rule our school, and when it comes to their more exclusive parties, most kids don’t make the cut.”
I swallowed and glanced between the two girls. “Do you guys make the cut?”
“Let’s just say we’re lucky Cress is Noah’s cousin, or I doubt we’d even know the old boathouse existed.”
Cress rolled her eyes. “It’s not like that.”
“It definitely is,” Anna muttered.
The three of us came to a stop as we reached the drinks table. Bottles of spirits were lined up on the tabletop, and large buckets containing other bottles on ice were on the ground beside it.
“Oh, I see Luther’s got someone making cocktails tonight,” Cress said, nodding to a girl who was vigorously shaking a cocktail shaker at the other end of the table. “You guys want one?”
“Nah, I’m good,” Anna said.
“Me too,” I quickly agreed. I wasn’t really sure what went into cocktails. I hadn’t drunk much before, and I didn’t think tonight was the best time to experiment.
“Okay.” Cress shrugged. “I’ll be back in a sec.”
“Mmm, Cristal, this will do me,” Anna said, plucking a bottle from one of the buckets. She popped the cork and giggled as the champagne fizzed over the lip of the bottle.
“Aren’t you driving?” I frowned as I watched Anna eagerly waiting for her champagne to stop spilling out of the bottle.
“You should see your face.” Anna laughed. “I might be reckless, but I’m not stupid. We’ll get an Uber back to school, and I’ll have someone pick up my car in the morning.” She lifted the champagne bottle to her lips and took a quick swig before offering it to me. “Want some?”
“Uh…” I quickly scanned the other available options and grabbed a beer instead. “I’m more of a beer girl.” At least, I had been at the one party I’d drunk at last year.
“A girl after my own heart.”
I turned toward the deep voice and found a guy standing behind me sporting a playful grin. He was handsome with white-blond hair and bright blue eyes. He looked a little like a bulked-up version of Draco Malfoy, and given Anna’s weakness for the Slytherin villain, I imagined he was exactly the kind of guy she’d go for. He was far too preppy to be my type though.
“It’s my job to welcome all the prettiest girls to the party,” he said. “And you two definitely fit the criteria. Who’s your friend, Anna?” This guy was just a little full of himself, and there was a cheeky glint in his eyes I didn’t trust.
Anna pulled the champagne bottle from her lips and shook her head at him. “Someone far too smart to be lured in by your charm.” She turned to me. “It’s best to avoid this one. I’d introduce you, but I don’t want to give the cretin an opening.”
“Maybe she happens to like cretins,” the guy said, giving me a smile. “I’m Luther.”
So, this was the host of the party.
“Isobel,” I said, introducing myself. “And if Anna thinks I should avoid you, I’ll have to trust her on that one.”
He should have been annoyed by my rebuff, but instead, Luther only looked more intrigued.
“Yeah, buzz off, Luther,” Anna said. “We don’t need a welcoming committee.”
His eyes grew big as he turned to Anna. “You’re breaking my heart here.”
“We both know you don’t have a heart.”
“Then what’s this thing I feel shattering into a million pieces in my chest?”
Anna rolled her eyes while Luther turned back to focus on me once more. “Try not to let her turn you against me,” he said. “Despite what she says, I’m all heart and a hell of a lot of fun.”
I lifted an eyebrow. Judging by the party he’d thrown, it was hard to argue with him. He probably was a lot of fun, but I was certainly wary about getting too caught up in it.
“Luther, why don’t you run along and get into mischief somewhere else,” Anna said.
Luther placed a hand against his chest in mock surprise. “Mischief? Me?”
“You know you’re trouble. It’s practically your middle name,” Anna fired back.
“Perhaps,” he replied. “But who said trouble was a bad thing. Don’t you want to get into trouble with me, London?”
“I’m good, thanks.” She scoffed. “And you know that’s not my name. I’m not even from London. There are other places in England.”
Luther was definitely flirting with her, and despite Anna’s protests, I got the impression she didn’t totally hate it.
He reached out and pulled the bottle of champagne from her hands, taking a swig before passing it back. “Well, I’ll be around all night if you change your mind.” He winked before he turned and disappeared into the crowd as Anna scowled after him.
“God, he’s annoying,” she said. “I can’t believe I nearly kissed him last year.”
“I’m kind of surprised you haven’t,” I said. “He looks a lot like a certain Slytherin you dream about.”
Her eyes widened as she glanced in Luther’s direction. “Oh my God, he really does. I’d never noticed before.” She took a long drink of her champagne. “Damn, that’s terrifying.”
She genuinely looked disturbed by the idea, and I laughed. “How did you guys nearly kiss?”
“Well, there was a Christmas party, too much champagne, and some mistletoe,” she said before shaking her head. “Luckily, I remembered it was Luther, and I slapped his face instead.”
“It was brilliant,” Cress said, joining us once more. She was holding a martini glass filled with a bright pink liquid. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen Luther look so shocked. Not many girls turn him down.”
“Yeah, they somehow find his annoying ways attractive,” Anna said. “Clearly they’re all deluded.”
She was protesting a little too much, which only made me wonder again if she liked the guy more than she let on.
“Anyway, we should go dance,” Anna said.
“Yes!” Cress cheered. She gulped down the rest of her drink before grabbing my hand and dragging me toward the makeshift dance floor. I stumbled after her, caught off guard, and Anna followed behind as the three of us made our way into the middle of the dancing crowd.
I didn’t dance much, other than on the rare occasion when I had the apartment to myself back home. I usually sung along to the radio while I cooked dinner, probably looking like a complete idiot as I spun my spatula around the room. The kids here seemed to have none of my reservations though, and they were all bumping and grinding like they were auditioning for a rap video. I, however, felt like a total klutz as I shifted from side to side.
Anna and Cress threw themselves into the music, and I couldn’t help but feel a twinge of jealousy at how easy they made it look. Anna’s style was more seductive while Cress danced with the kind of energy and enthusiasm that couldn’t be faked. I already felt out of place at Weybridge Academy, but the feeling was nothing compared to how odd I felt on the dance floor.
I stayed with them for two songs before I quickly made an excuse to leave. “I’m going to grab a drink of water.”
“Aw, but we only just started dancing,” Cress replied.
I shook my head. “I’ll be quick. You keep dancing, and I’ll come back to find you.”
Cress nodded and smiled. “Don’t be too long!”
With a relieved breath, I made my way off the dance floor. I didn’t head for the drinks table. Instead, I walked over to one of the bonfires and sat down for a breather on a nearby log. A girl was sitting just a few feet from me, but her head was buried in her phone, and I felt pretty much alone.
It was strange sitting here, watching the party. It was far more extravagant than any party I’d ever been to back home, but really it wasn’t all that different. There were still couples making out and kids who’d already gotten too drunk being tended to by their friends. There were people like Cress and Anna who were intent on dancing the night away and those like me who’d rather hang on the periphery.
As my gaze drifted across the party, I noticed one area where the crowd thinned out. The ground was higher there, and a small group of kids sat on a large rock that protruded from the base of the cliff face. It reminded me a little of pride rock from The Lion King as it jutted out, overlooking the clearing. When I caught sight of who was sitting on it, I had to smother a snort.
Of course, Noah was up there, surveying the party like a ruler on his throne. There were others with him, sure, but none had mastered Noah’s kingly expression. He was watching the party with the aloof expression of someone who truly believed he was better than everyone around him. In that moment, he reminded me so much of Levi, and I couldn’t for the life of me understand how I’d ever found my ex-boyfriend appealing. How did I date someone so self-obsessed for nearly a year?
I watched as Veronica, the redhead the girls had pointed out to me earlier, sauntered over to Noah. She lowered herself onto his lap, gazing up at him with adoring eyes. He barely glanced at her and didn’t react as she ran her hand across his chest. It was probably all part of his self-inflated belief that he was too good to be here.
I almost felt sorry for her as she continued to try to get his attention. It was hard to believe everyone thought they were destined to be together, as Anna and Cress had explained. Noah clearly hadn’t gotten that memo. I wondered what it must be like for Veronica to be with a guy who so clearly wasn’t interested in her. Levi wasn’t the best boyfriend, but at least he used to talk to me and knew how to crack a smile.
Eventually, Veronica seemed to give up, and she reluctantly left Noah’s lap to go talk with her friends. I couldn’t seem to pull my eyes away from him though. What was it about this guy that made my father so wary? And why was everyone so enamored by him? He seemed thoroughly bored by the whole party, and I didn’t understand how he could just sit there, surrounded by so many people but still appear so untouchable. So detached. I was trying to work it out; did he really think he was better than everyone here?
“HEY, you’re the new girl, right?” The girl who was sitting near me was no longer concentrating on her phone. Instead, she was looking up at me and smiling. She had short curly hair and big hazel eyes that were emphasized by her dark-rimmed glasses. The oversized knit cardigan she was wearing made her look ready for a night curled up by the fireplace rather than a party in the woods. She had the kind of sweet expression that just couldn’t be faked though, and I warmed to her immediately.
“Isobel,” I said, returning her somewhat nervous smile.
“I’m Lillian,” she replied. “But everyone calls me Lily. Well, everyone but my mom that is. It’s nice to finally meet the girl everyone’s been talking about.”
Her words tumbled out in rapid succession, and it took me a moment to process them. When I did, the smile slipped from my lips. “Everyone’s talking about me?”
“Oh, crap, I didn’t mean it like that.” Lily’s big brown eyes widened with concern when she saw my reaction. “Sorry, I have a habit of putting my foot in my mouth,” she continued. “I just meant that we’ve all heard there’s a new girl joining us. No one’s gossiping or anything. I also tend to ramble a bit, so feel free to shut me up at any time.”
“It’s fine.” I laughed. “I hear you guys aren’t used to getting new recruits.”
“No, we aren’t.” She let out a long breath and relaxed. “So, are you enjoying your first Weybridge party?”
I shrugged and glanced back at the crowd. “Parties aren’t really my thing.” As I thought about it, I wondered if maybe they could become my thing, I’d just never really enjoyed them back home. Levi had always ended up getting too drunk, and I usually spent most of the night watching girls throw themselves at him. It didn’t help that the music was always too loud, and there was far too much dancing for my liking. Perhaps a smaller party would be more my style.
“Me neither,” she agreed. “I’ve been reading a book on my phone all night. The only reason I’m here is because my roommate was already drunk before she left our room, and I wanted to watch out for her.”
“You must be a good roommate.”
She blushed and averted her eyes. “Anyone else would do the same. Who are you rooming with this year?”
“Cress. Do you know her?”
“I think you’ll find everyone knows everyone here.” Lily laughed. “And Cress is great. She gets along with everyone. Not that anyone would ever dare dislike her given who her cousin is…”
“Noah,” I murmured.
“Yeah, Noah Hastings pretty much only has one soft spot, and that’s Cress. No one would ever do anything to hurt her because it would mean dealing with him.” She gave a nervous glance in his direction.
“You’re not a fan of Noah?” I guessed.
“He’s okay.”
I got the impression Lily had much stronger feelings about him that she was keeping to herself. “You really don’t like him, do you?”
She laughed and shook her head. “No, he’s fine. I just don’t know him, and I’m not obsessed with him like so many other people here. I get that he’s good-looking and his grandfather’s a billionaire, but I’m really not into the whole dark and brooding thing. He never says much, and I don’t understand how girls can fall at a guy’s feet when he’s never said more than two words to them.”
I didn’t get it either. It didn’t stop me from being curious about him though. “My father warned me to stay away from him this year.”
“Oh, really?” Lily looked like she was about to question me, but then she paused. “Actually, I’m not really surprised,” she continued. “Noah has a terrible reputation with girls. Most of the parents here run in similar circles, and they love to gossip. I’m not surprised your dad is worried.”
I slowly nodded with understanding. That probably explained Matthew’s warning, but I was surprised he cared enough to bother. Maybe he was concerned this boy might distract his new daughter from doing well in school and upholding his precious reputation. I didn’t feel any responsibility to follow Matthew’s advice. I was more likely to jump off a cliff just because he told me not to. But as I looked back at Noah, sitting on his makeshift stone throne, perched above us all, I got the feeling Matthew might have been right to warn me.
“So, do you have a boyfriend?” Lily asked.
“Not anymore. We broke up at the—”
“Oh no.” Lily shot to her feet. Her eyes were on the dance floor, and it wasn’t hard to see who she was looking at. A girl had stumbled into a drinks table and sent glasses and bottles flying. There was already a crowd of people forming to clean up the broken glass. “That’s Amber, my roommate.” Lily gasped. “I better go help her.”
“Do you need a hand?”
Lily was already making her way from the bonfire. “It’s okay. I think I’ll manage.” She waved a hand over her shoulder before jogging across the clearing to where her roommate was climbing to her feet. I didn’t envy her one bit. At least my roommate was more interested in dancing than drinking.
I watched as Lily reached Amber. A couple of boys were helping to steady her, as she was barely able to stay standing. I imagined she would be in a world of pain tomorrow. Being hungover on the first day of school couldn’t be a fun way to start the year.
The party was back in full swing moments later. A shocked silence had descended over the dance floor when the glasses smashed on the ground, but that seemed to be forgotten very quickly.
I considered returning to Cress and Anna but was reluctant to go. It was far more peaceful sitting by the fire, watching the party from the periphery.
Without Lily distracting me, my gaze seemed to naturally drift back to Noah. His expression had barely changed since I last looked at him, and not even the two girls who were now fawning over him in Veronica’s absence seemed to capture his attention. He still seemed to be observing the party like he was above it all, but I was continually fascinated by him.
Levi had become the king of our school through his sporting prowess and his ability to charm anyone, but how did someone like Noah, who clearly didn’t care for the affection of the masses, command their respect? Surely, there was more to his influence than the fact he filled out a shirt nicely and had a gorgeous face. Lily had mentioned his grandfather was a billionaire, but was that all there was to it? Were the people here really so blinded by money? This was one of the most prestigious schools in the country. Surely Noah wasn’t the only kid here who came from that kind of wealth.
Noah pushed a hand through his tousled hair and then suddenly looked in my direction, as if he sensed me watching him. I expected to find the same disinterest in his eyes that I’d observed all night, but there was something about his gaze that made me feel like he was lost.
He was a king at this school, but perhaps he found the weight of his crown a little too much to bear? Either way, it shouldn’t matter to me. I’d been stupid enough to get lured in by the appeal of our school’s resident royal back home. It didn’t matter how intriguing Noah Hastings was. I wouldn’t be falling into that trap again.
