by Ruby Vincent
“Do not let that principal intimidate you.”
“I won’t.”
“You’ve done nothing wrong, and he needs to do a better job of policing his school,” she continued. “Be careful around your classmates, but pay attention too.”
“Yes, Mom.”
“Also, when will you be participating in this tournament I heard about?”
“Yes, M—” My automatic response died on my lips. I turned away from the window to stare at her. “What?”
“You being in the F Class is a travesty that should have never been allowed to happen, let alone go on for as long as it has. Mrs. Argyle informed me the only way for you to move up is for you to do a tournament, so when will that be happening?”
“It’s not that simple, Mom. I’d have to wait till the end of the year and whoever I beat would have to take my place in the F Class.”
She looked away from the road. “That is unfortunate, Zela, but I will not stand for you to receive a subpar education. If you do not get into the proper classes, I will transfer you to another school and this experiment will be at an end.”
What? My lips trembled as I tried to make sense of what she was saying to me. She would pull me out after everything I’ve done, and what I still have left to do? She can’t!
“You can’t!”
Mom’s mouth pursed into a thin line and I quickly amended my tone.
“I mean... I don’t want to leave, Mom. I’ve made friends here, and I’ve been doing a lot of self-study. I’d never let myself fall behind.”
She nodded sharply. “That is because I raised a proactive young woman who isn’t afraid to take on challenges, but in this case, that should not be necessary. I did not send you to school for you to teach yourself. I’m proud of the fact that being Zeke has opened your mind and set you on a path of self-improvement, but I expect you to advance, Zela, and I am immovable on this. Am I understood?”
I bit hard on my lip to contain another outburst. When I trusted myself, I said what I always did.
“Yes, Mom.”
Twenty minutes later, our car pulled into the academy parking lot. Mom helped me bring my bags to my old dorm and kissed me goodbye on the front steps. I waited until I saw the tiny blue spot that was her car disappear before going inside. I set my course for the dorm building, but my destination wasn’t my room.
It was early. Not many people had arrived, not even Adam, but if this year was like the last, they would be here.
Derek opened his door on the second knock. A wave of steam and citrusy sweetness wafted out of his room, signaling he was fresh from a shower.
“Zee? What are you doing up here?”
“I need a room number,” I said. “The Elite move in early for dinners and parties and basking in their greatness so I know he’s here. I need to speak to Cameron.”
He gave me a crazy look. “Cameron? What for?”
“There is something that I need to say to him and it’s going to be face to face.” Jordan’s words tugged at my mind until the rest was pulled free. “Afterward, there is something I need to say to you.”
Derek crooked a brow. “Damn. Am I in trouble?”
I laughed. “Often, I suspect, but this time, not with me.”
A smile tugged at his lips. “In that case, Cameron’s room is 623. Want backup?”
“No. He won’t do anything. I’ve realized by now that he lets others handle his dirty work.”
“If you say so.”
I nodded and moved away, heading for Cameron’s room. It loomed in front of me, beckoning me forward as every scenario of how this could play out went through my mind. I said he wouldn’t do anything, but I didn’t know that. Just because Cameron had to go through others before, didn’t mean he wouldn’t happily come at me directly if I gave him the chance.
By the time I lifted my hand and knocked, anxiety chased away the last shreds of my confidence. I’d be lying if I said it didn’t make me feel better to see Derek leaning against the doorframe, watching me.
“Who is it?”
“It’s me.”
I didn’t say more, and the person on the other side of the door did not ask me to clarify.
I jumped when the door swung open. Cameron looked me up and down like he was making sure I was real. I gave him the same scrutiny.
He wasn’t in uniform yet. Cameron wore a tight, but expensive sweater, a pair of dark jeans that hugged his body, and simple white socks on his bare feet. His hair hung in soft waves around his ears, the result of a recent change to growing it long. He was gorgeous, immaculate, perfect— until his pink lips twisted into a snarl.
“What the fuck are you doing here?”
My expression remained neutral. “Do you mean outside your door, or in this school?”
“Both!”
“Are you mad your plan to get me expelled didn’t work?” I smiled, but it held no trace of mirth. “That was smart planting those stickers on me. The whole thing was a long game and I didn’t see it until it was almost too late.”
Cameron’s expression gave away nothing but his dislike.
“The battles,” I continued. “The changes to the system, winning, losing, and the posters. I should have seen you were the common denominator when everything started going down with the pranks and attacks, but I was stuck on one thing... the fact that you have no good reason to be mad at me and should have grown up and moved on a long time ago.”
His grimace disappeared. “What did you just say?”
“It was my fault for believing that you did,” I plowed on. “What did I do to you that you didn’t bring on yourself? A measly two months detention for your twisted trick with Derek was nothing compared to what it cost me and Adam. You never had a right to be mad at me, Cameron. Never!”
My heart picked up speed to match the rise in my voice. My chest rose and fell, straining against my bindings as anger boiled my blood.
Cameron stepped back. “Get in here.”
“What? Why?”
“You want to do this? Let’s do it. But I’m not talking to you in the fucking hallway. Get in.”
I wasn’t a fan of his tone, or his sneer. Neither made me feel like walking into an empty room alone with him was a smart move, but with one last look at Derek, I stepped over the threshold and went inside. He closed and locked the door behind me with an audible click.
Hot breath ghosted over my ear. “You think you have it all figured out.”
“I know you orchestrated getting your hands on my things so you could—”
Hands grabbed me from behind.
“Hey!”
“Relax.” Cameron yanked my phone out of my pocket. “I’m just making sure.”
Satisfied there was no recording, he gave it up without a fight when I snatched it back. I watched through narrowed eyes as he moved around and planted himself in front of me.
“No recorder,” I said. “That means there’s nothing stopping you from telling the truth.”
“You want to hear it? Yes.” He adopted the same stance, arms folded, eyes slits. “I made sure you kept losing your stuff until I got my hands on something I could use. Did you like my use of the math symbol? I thought it fit you well.”
“Why, Cameron?” The question burned on my tongue. “Why do all of that? You hurt Landon? Drugged Michael? What kind of sick person does that?”
“I finished what you all started!”
I reeled back. “What we started? What are you talking about?”
“You don’t get it,” he hissed. He leaned in, putting his face in mine until I was forced to back away. The door pressed against my back, halting my retreat, and penning me in with Cameron. “You think it’s as simple as you running to Argyle and getting me detention? It didn’t stop at detention, you idiot. Coach put me on probation. My dad went apeshit and dropped my summer internship at the company.”
I folded shaky arms and looked him dead in the eye. “You deserved it for what you did.”
&nbs
p; “But it didn’t stop there,” he hissed. His brown eyes appeared almost black with the glittering rage that shone within its depths. “It’s not just me, Manning. There are people above me. People I answer to. It was decided that you and Moon needed to be taught a lesson so you’d never get it into your head to go blabbing about the Network.
“I was fine with getting back at Moon. I never liked that fake, nice guy, let’s-all-be-friends bullshit when he was hustling just as hard as the rest of us to get what we were owed. Melody was a hot piece of ass and I was happy to play with her for a bit.”
My stomach churned. How could anyone be this vile? “She isn’t a hot piece of ass. She’s a person. A good one. And she was never a part of this.”
“Moon made her a part of it.” Not a flicker of remorse appeared in his eyes. “I came up with something for him and something for you, and I was happy to let it end after the bleachers collapsed. Moon loses his girl. You get shown up for the stupid homeschooled loser you are and then get caught as the prankster and end up with two months detention of your own. It was supposed to stop there. I wanted to go back to my life and forget you were ever in it.”
My fingers dug painfully into my forearms. It was everything I could do to keep my tone even as I replied, “Then why didn’t you?”
“Because you didn’t let it end there!” Spittle fell on my cheek. “You challenged me to that fucking battle and humiliated me in front of the entire school. Coach knocked me down to co-captain and the Network came after me for losing to an underclassman F. I lost my position as a leader.”
A flare of anger surged through me. “Because I won fair and square to a battle you agreed to, you went after Landon, Cole, Michael, and the entire Elite Class just so you could turn them against me?! What is wrong with you?!”
“I went after them because they turned on me!” Air whizzed against my cheek as Cameron punched the door. “I went to confront you the day after the battle and found you wrestling with Landon. He was training you, coaching you, and I realized you fuckers had been plotting against me the whole time!”
“It wasn’t like that,” I cried. “I asked them to help me get better at sports, so I could stop the battles and fights. Not to humiliate you.”
The harsh lines of his face deepened as he scowled. “Like I believe that. They’re brothers and they turned on me to help you.” He peered around. “But where are they now? I bet they’ll think twice next time before betraying the Network, and as for you, they’ve left you in F Class where you belong.”
They did so much more than that.
Visions flooded my mind. Screaming for help as the Elite boys pummeled me. Trying to crawl away and Zach catching me and ripping off my wetsuit. That punishment did not fit the crime of embarrassing him and losing a stupid position.
“You went too far, Cameron.” My grip on my arms was becoming painful, yet I ignored the piercing sting of my nails. “You really hurt Landon and Michael, and by now, the administration knows I was set up.”
He laughed. It was a sharp, humorless sound. “You think they’re going to find out it was me and I’ll be expelled? You can’t be stupid enough to believe I put my hands anywhere near the solution or the water bottle.”
“I’m not stupid. I told Whittaker it was you from day one—”
His grin twitched.
“—but if he hasn’t expelled you already, then he hasn’t found anything or he isn’t looking. Either way, I’d need proof to go to him and I have none.”
“That’s right. This little conversation won’t help you either because I’ll deny everything.”
I picked myself off the door. “I know you will. I didn’t come here to get something to take to Whittaker. I came because I needed to make a decision and you helped make it.”
His brows snapped together. “What does that mean?”
“It means I’m leaving.” I took a step, pushing him back, and reached for the doorknob. “Remember one thing, it didn’t have to be this way. You brought it all on yourself.”
Cameron’s face smoothed out until the furrowed brow, twisted lips, and narrowed eyes were gone. He was the picture of serene perfection once more. “No, Manning. You did.”
I said no more as I walked out the door. Derek was standing exactly where I left him.
“What happened?” he asked.
“Can we go inside?”
He stepped aside to let me in and I went straight for his desk. I pushed it to the side of the bed and plopped down as had become my habit. “He admitted he was behind it all. He pushed it that far because I beat him in the battle and cost him a position in the Network. Did you know about that?”
“Yes.” Derek stretched himself out on the bed. “He was already in deep for letting two recruits get to Argyle and almost spill our secret. You guys kept your mouth shut, but it would have been bad if you came clean and she believed you. Losing a battle to you on top of that showed he wasn’t fit to lead the new brothers and now he’s been replaced.”
“By who?”
He shifted away, looking up at the ceiling. “I’m not telling you that.”
“Why not?”
“Why would I?”
I sighed. “Fine. I’m not here to talk about that anyway.”
“Then why are you here?”
I reached out and closed my hand over his arm. He shifted around and looked at me curiously. “You offered to get back at them for what they did to me, but I said no because I’m going to do that myself.” My grip on him tightened. “I’m going after them with everything I’ve got and nothing will stop me. If some kind of brother/loyalty crap is going to be a problem for you, let me know now.”
He shook me off as he sat up. “No brother crap. I keep Network business to myself, but if you want my loyalty, you have to earn it, and none of them have. I’m not going to stop you, Zela.”
The use of my name struck me. It was such an odd feeling hearing him say it.
“But why are you telling me this?” he continued.
I leaned back in the chair, feeling the cool leather against my neck. I was coming down after my faceoff with Cameron. “Because if I want you to be honest with me, I have to be honest with you.”
He frowned. “What do you want me to be honest about?”
I shrugged. “Nothing. I’m just saying.”
“Okay,” he said, but he didn’t stop studying me as he leaned back onto the sheets.
I shifted and pointed at the pile of books on his nightstand. “You’ve got the next book in the series. Wanna read?”
He was quiet for a moment, then he nodded. I took that as permission to climb up next to him and settle on the sheets. We passed the night in silence except for when Derek finished his book and asked me to give him the other. It was the perfect way to spend my last night before school began. The calm before the storm.
“I UNDERSTAND NOW WHY you wake up early.”
I blinked at Adam as I dropped my shower stuff on the bed. “What?”
Groaning, he pushed himself up and the covers fell to his waist, exposing his chest. Finding out I’m a girl hadn’t made him feel any less comfortable going around without a shirt on. “You’re trying to make sure you’re in and out before the boys come in,” he said. “I’ll have your back if you need me. I’ll be lookout. Chase people away saying the toilets exploded or something.”
I giggled. “Even the thought of that is horrific, but thanks. I appreciate it.”
Adam left to get ready. I waited for him like I always did, and we headed for breakfast together, but as we neared the dining room, I slowed down.
“Go in without me,” I said when the doors loomed in front of us. “There’s something I need to do.”
Adam didn’t argue with me and went on ahead. I stepped out of the path and found a spot further down the hall to stand and wait.
I scanned the faces of the boys and girls as they streamed inside, looking for one in particular.
Where is he? I couldn’t be so l
ucky that he would have transferred to another school—
I stood up straight. There he is.
Zachary Fields rounded the corner. I looked him up and down as he strode through the hall, buttoned-up in his pressed uniform with a bold, embroidered E on the chest. I stepped out as he neared the cafeteria doors, and as though he felt my eyes on him, he turned and our gaze connected.
I didn’t speak or close the distance between us. One move. I lifted my hand and crooked a finger. Zach peeled away from the pack without breaking his stride.
I traced the lines of his face as he approached me. I couldn’t tell what he was thinking. But then, I never could. That was how he was able to surprise me with his cruelty again and again.
Zach planted himself two feet in front of me. “What?”
Taking a slow, imperceptible breath, I hooked my fingers behind my back. I didn’t want him to see they were shaking.
“You,” I said clearly. “You’re not going to tell anyone about me.”
His brows shot up his forehead. “Excuse me?”
“You heard me.” I took a step, then two, closing the distance between us. “You’re not going to tell anyone what you found out in the locker room, Fields, and if you already have, you’re going to tell them you made it up.”
Zach’s backpack hung on his finger over his shoulder. It fell with a crash as he folded his arms. My eyes followed the movement, recalling those filthy hands grabbing and tearing at me, his fingers digging into my thigh as he exposed my body for everyone to see.
My stomach heaved.
“What makes you think that, Zekina, or whatever the hell your name is?” He advanced on me. “I can’t believe you were stupid enough to come back. You don’t belong here and none of that shit would have happened if you hadn’t come for us first. You’re out of your mind if you think I’m not talking to Argyle and getting you kicked out.”
I stayed silent as he made his speech. “You done?” I asked. “Good. Now, I can tell you what is actually going to happen. You’re going to keep your mouth shut so that you’re not the one who gets kicked out of school. You assaulted a girl in the locker room. You beat me up and ripped off my clothes and if you think that just because I didn’t report you, I don’t have pictures and a promise from Derek to back me up, then you’re the one who is out of your mind. No one is going to care that you thought I was a guy. All they will hear is that you beat on innocent women.”
