“Remi, get in the damn car,” Conner yells as they cruise beside me. Mom had told me they were picking me up, so I’d left early.
I didn’t need them to hold my hand and babysit me.
I didn’t need any of them.
“Go away, Conner,” I shout back. Cars honk their horns as they overtake the twins’ rust bucket.
“Motherfucker,” he groans as I quicken my pace. Right up ahead is the point where the path splits, sending foot traffic one way and cars the other.
“It’s cute, this game you’re playing, but you’re not fooling anyone, Remi.”
At least he heeded my words not to call me ‘Princess’ anymore. I’m almost free of them when the brakes screech and Cole flies out of the passenger side and jogs across the road.
“What the—’
“Let’s go,” he snaps, grabbing my arm.
“Get the hell off me.” I try to shake him off, but he’s strong. Almost as strong as his big brother.
Conner winks as he pulls me toward the car, and I flip him off, not appreciating being manhandled. Cole releases me and yanks open the back door.
“If you’re doing this for Ace—’
“We told your mom we’d look out for you, so let us do our fucking job. Now get in the damn car.”
We’re locked in a stare-down. His eyes are dark and stormy, his jaw clenched impossibly tight.
“We’re almost there.” Conner’s voice startles me and I blink first. “You might as well let us take you the rest of the way.”
“Fine.” I climb inside. “But that’s it. Once we get to school, I don’t want—’
“Yeah, yeah, we got the memo. You want to do this alone.”
I stare out of the window, watching the scenery roll by. I don’t want to be here, I don’t want to ever step foot in Sterling Prep again, but what choice do I have? It’s senior year, if I want to graduate and ever make it out of this town, I have to put on a smile and finish my classes.
I have to stay the course.
By the time the school appears in the distance, my stomach is awash with nerves.
“You good?” Conner asks me as I catch his eye in the rear-view mirror.
“What do you think?”
“I think you need to walk in there with your head held high.”
“Con,” Cole snaps.
The splutter of their car alerts everyone to our arrival, and my body begins to tremble.
“You can do this,” I whisper to myself.
Conner and Cole make no rush to leave the car and, despite my annoyance at being railroaded by them, I can’t deny I’m relieved to have them both here.
“Okay, Remi, you know we’re going to have to get out eventually, right?” That’s Conner.
“I know.”
“Cool,” he says. “Just wanted to check.”
Without a word, Cole gets out of the car. Part of me thinks he got bored waiting for me, but then my door is yanked open and his hand appears. Gingerly, I take it, letting him help me out.
“When shit gets too much for me, I just go inside myself where it’s quiet,” he says before stalking off toward the building. I stare after him, but something catches my eye.
Ace is standing over by a big tree, watching me. My body tingles, as if it hasn’t yet gotten the memo that we hate him. He takes a step forward as if he’s about to descend on me, and it jolts me into action. I take off in the direction of Hadley.
“I’m so happy to see you,” she says, but I wave her off, grabbing her hand and pulling her inside the building.
Kids stare and some even point from behind their books, but to my surprise, no one comments. As we reach my locker, I’m half-expecting it to be tagged with words like ‘slut’ or ‘whore.’ But it’s exactly as I last left it.
“Okay,” I say, letting out an exasperated breath. “What is going on?”
“Your mom and James told you they’d talked to Vager, right?”
“Yeah, but we both know the kids at school usually give zero fucks what Vager has to say about anything. He’s a mouthpiece. A puppet.” My brows bunch as I whip around and glance down the hall. Sure enough, kids are lingering, pretending not to watch. But one by one, as I make eye contact with them, they all scurry off or avert their gazes.
It’s the total opposite of what I expected to happen.
“If it isn’t Vager, then who—”
A rumble of whispers grows up and down the hall, the source of their interest moving toward me in long, sure strides. My heart ratchets, beating wildly in my chest as Ace reaches us.
“Hey,” he says, uncertainty flickering in his frosty blue gaze.
“I’ll see you in class.” Hadley makes herself scarce.
Ace runs a hand over his head and down his neck. I’ve never seen him look so vulnerable as in this moment.
It’s disarming, tugging at the thread I still feel twisting between us.
“You okay?” he breathes. “Fuck, Remi, I—”
“Don’t.”
I can’t do this.
I can’t stand here listening to his excuses and apologies.
Not if I want to survive the day.
“But I need to—”
A couple of kids stare as they pass us, catching my attention. I lift my chin, staring back, daring them to say anything. Indignation burns in my veins.
When I finally give Ace my attention again, he’s frowning. “This, you and me,” I hiss. “It’s done. I trusted you.” My body trembles. “I trusted you with my secrets and you betrayed me.”
I go to move around him, but Ace grabs my arm. My eyes snap to where he’s holding me and he immediately releases me, guilt washing over his expression. “Come on, Princess. We need to—”
“We don’t need to do anything. Stay away from me, Ace.” I take off down the hall and don’t look back. I can’t. Because despite all his mistakes, my heart still thinks we can trust him. It wants him to pull me into his arms and tell me everything is going to be okay.
Maybe the accident damaged that, too.
Because Ace isn’t the hero here.
He’s the villain.
And everyone knows the villain never saves the day.
“Are you sure this is a good idea?” Hadley asks as we approach the cafeteria. Usually I stay as far away as possible from this place, but not today.
Today, I’m going to walk in there with my head held high, order my lunch, and show this goddamn school that Remi Tanner refuses to hide anymore.
Morning classes were surprisingly bearable. My teachers welcomed me back with the enthusiasm and compassion you might expect for someone who spent two weeks in a coma after having starred in her first sex tape. But by the third period, I knew something was wrong.
Sure, my name lingered on the lips of kids as I found an empty desk, but no one laughed or pointed. A couple of girls even asked if I was feeling better.
It was unnerving.
As if everyone was waiting for the signal to make my life a living hell.
And there’s only one person with enough power to give it.
Michaela has been pretty scarce all morning, but as we walk in the cafeteria, I find her straight away, holding court at her usual table. She’s surrounded by a sea of blue and white; football players and cheerleaders.
I step inside and they all look.
Every last one of them.
Something simmers in her eyes as she glares at me. It’s messed-up, but I almost feel a sense of relief at the shade she’s throwing my way. It’s the most familiar, normal thing I’ve felt all day.
I break our stare and start moving. “You don’t have to do this with me,” I say to Hadley as I make my way to the service counter.
But things just keep getting stranger.
Hayden appears, smiling at Hadley. “What’s looking good?”
“I don’t trust cafeteria food,” she says, grabbing a sub from the refrigerator. “I stick with pre-packaged things only.”
“It’s good to see you back.” He turns his attention to me.
I glance behind me. “I’m sorry, are you talking to me?”
Hayden lets out a quiet chuckle. “We’re not all the shallow douchebags you make us out to be.”
My brow rises. “Last year you helped Michaela break into my locker and steal my gym kit.” I’d found pieces of it hanging in various places around school. “Or how about the time—”
“Okay.” His hands shoot up. “I’ve made some less than stellar choices in the past. But it doesn’t change the fact I’m happy to see you.”
“You’re not happy to see me.” Bitterness drips from my words. “You’re trying to get into Hadley’s panties and want to score brownie points.”
“Remi.” She sucks in a harsh breath.
“I…” Hayden chokes out. “That’s not what this is.”
“Yeah, whatever.” I leave them and go check out what’s on the menu. I’m not hungry, but it beats listening to any more of his bullshit.
With my tray in hand, I weave across the cafeteria, my sights set on only one person. Michaela stands when she sees me, her lip twisting with contempt.
“Sister,” she sing-songs for the entire cafeteria to hear. “You’re looking better than the last time I saw you.”
This is it, I think. This is the moment the entire morning has been building to.
Adrenaline shoots through my veins, my body vibrating. “Well, go on then,” I say.
Confusion clouds her eyes. “Go on what?”
“Whatever you’ve got planned, I’m right here. Let’s get it over with.”
Her face pales, throwing me for a loop. “Remi, I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
Oh, she’s good.
She almost sounds convincing.
“Sure you do. The sex tape? The accident? Ringing any bells?”
“I wasn’t planning anything…” Her eyes dart around me as she forces a smile.
My eyes narrow. What the hell is her game? I’m standing right here, giving her a free pass, and she’s acting like I’m the one making a scene.
Something catches her eye over my shoulder, prompting me to turn around. Conner and Cole are at a table in the back, their heads low and expressions hard. I notice kids have given them a wide berth, leaving the couple of tables near them empty. It’s as if everyone is scared of the Jagger twins… scared they might—
I grumble underneath my breath as the truth hits me and take off in their direction, dumping my lunch in the trash on the way.
“Fancy seeing you here.” Conner grins up at me.
“Tell me this isn’t what I think it is.” I grimace.
“You could’ve given that to me.” He eyes the trash can behind me.
“Conner… what is going on? Are you… babysitting me?” I’d be flattered if I wasn’t so pissed.
“Babysitting? Don’t you usually get paid for that?” He looks at Cole, who is as expressionless as ever.
“Relax, Prin… Remi. We’ve got your back.”
“So, you what? Issued a school-wide threat that if anyone says something to me, you’ll hurt them?”
He shrugs. “Knowledge is power, baby.” His brows waggle. “And these flashy fuckers have all got a weak spot. You just need to know where to look.”
“What does that—”
“Remi?” Bexley’s voice makes my eyes shutter.
I turn slowly to see him approaching. Everyone is watching, their eyes darting between me, the twins, and their quarterback.
“You look good.” He stops a couple of feet away.
“Yeah, no thanks to you.”
The blood drains from his face. “Shit, Rem, I didn’t…”
“Mean it? It’s a little late for that.” This isn’t like me; I don’t seek out confrontation. But something’s changed inside me. It’s like I woke up in that hospital bed a different girl. Broken and bitter. Anger and resentment swarm in my chest like a storm showing no signs of letting up.
“Come on, I sent flowers. I tried to see you.” He reaches for me. “I really am sorry.”
Conner and Cole are out of their seats in a second, flanking me.
“Relax, I’m not going to hurt her.” Bexley’s shoulders sag. “She’s my friend.”
“Friend?” Cole grits out. “You sure have a strange way of treating your friends.” The air crackles between them as they share a silent look.
“Cole,” I say, tugging the hem of his t-shirt. But he’s rigid, his dark gaze burning into Bexley’s face.
Ace is scary when he’s angry, but the darkness rolling off Cole right now is a whole other level.
“I’m sorry,” Bexley says. “That’s all I wanted to say. You were never supposed to get hurt. That wasn’t the—” He stops himself, and my brows furrow.
Something catches my eye beyond the door. “I’ve got to go,” I say, rushing out of there. But when I spill into the hall, it’s empty. Except I hear a door swing shut. I move down the hall, frantically searching for the right door. When I reach the boys’ bathroom, I don’t hesitate.
I’m not even sure I know what I’m doing as I step inside, but I’m no longer in control. The emotional whirlwind inside me spurs me on.
“You,” I spit at Ace. “Did you tell them to do that?”
Guilt glitters in his eyes. “It would seem I’m not the only one who has taken a shine to you.”
“Don’t do that.” I hold my hand up. “Don’t pretend you care.”
“I do care.” He steps toward me, and I dart back.
“You don’t care. You’re incapable of caring,” I yell, tears burning my throat. “You hurt everyone and everything around you. You’re like poison. But you’re worse than Michaela. So much worse.” The words heave from my chest. “Because I didn’t see it coming. I let you in. I let you take everything from me and you broke my fucking heart.”
Tears stream down my face as all of the frustration and anger pour out of me. “You broke it,” I whisper, folding my arms around my waist, trying to hold myself together.
It was a mistake, thinking I could see him again and act normal.
Ace is my weakness.
He’ll always be my weakness.
Because I so desperately wanted him to be my savior.
“Remi, baby,” he says, inching toward me again. “I fucked up. I made a huge fucking mistake. I was blinded by hatred for my uncle and then that dinner happened and I just cracked. But I shouldn’t have taken it out on you. I shouldn’t have—”
“But you did.” My hand flies out. If he touches me, I’ll break.
“Tell me how to fix this,” he pleads.
I shake my head, swallowing down a fresh wave of tears. “You can’t.” The words sound ominous.
He can’t give me back my first time.
He can’t give me back my dignity.
Ace can’t take back his cruel words after he loved me with his body.
It’s all there, a vast crater between us. And right there, in the center, is me.
