I couldn’t figure out who it was.
“What... is going on?” I asked, looking around the room completely puzzled. I marched forward and dropped my backpack on my familiar chair. I hunted for Teony, who remained at the front of the room, her eyes cast toward the floor. “Teony?”
“She really is a fucking whore,” someone else muttered — probably Katlyn. “Didn’t you see her at Bluff’s Edge?”
I turned quickly, trying to catch her in the act. But Katlyn didn’t look back; instead, she turned her attention to Tommy beside her. Tommy’s eyes seemed perpetually drawn to Katlyn’s tits.
“Everyone else got naked, too. Don’t tell me that’s not what you wanted,” I said to no one in particular.
“Kennedy,” Teony said, her voice flat. “Can I please speak with you in the next room.”
There was no question to her voice. She turned on her heel and stomped out of the room. I followed her, feeling like a guilty child. What the hell had I done? Teony cut into the tiny office, which she used as her own, as editor or whatever. She didn’t sit in her normal leather seat. Rather, she tossed her phone onto the oak desk.
“Do you want to tell me what you were doing yesterday?” she demanded as she leaned against the desk.
“What are you talking about?” I asked. “I was interviewing Dante like I told you I was going to.”
Teony smirked. It was a horrible thing to see since it seemed just as evil as Hailey’s expression—but it coming from a face I had thought was my friend’s made my heart skip a beat. It hurt. She flicked her phone on with her delicate hand. My eyes dove toward it and what I saw made my heart sink into my stomach.
In the video, I was stretched out on the bed at Dante’s house. Dante was fondling my tits while I asked him questions about his work with the director. Seconds later, Caleb entered, ripping open my skirt and reaching inside.
Every single thing had been recorded.
“Stop—stop, stop!” I screeched, reaching up and pausing the video, right when it focused in on my wide-open, gaping mouth. My face twisted in pure ecstasy.
Who the fuck recorded this? My mind whirled at every possible explanation. The video looked like it had been filmed from above, outside the window, but how was that possible? Had Dante set something up, knowing that he would lead me in there?
Had he and Caleb actually arranged for this to happen—wanting to destroy me, to tear me down in front of the school? To them, I was just a Ridgewood whore. I was scum who didn’t belong.
Teony just blinked at me, waiting for an explanation.
“You don’t understand. I didn’t know. I just— I had no idea that anyone was recording that...” I spluttered and both my hands clutched the sides of my head. I felt dizzy like I was about to faint.
“Crestwood Academy is an incredibly strict school, Kennedy,” Teony hissed and it was clear she was completely disgusted with the video. “It’s a school that upholds artistry and journalist integrity above all things. You would know that if you had grown up here, but it’s clear that you’re just cut from a different sort of cloth, isn’t it?”
“Really, Teony? This isn’t about journalistic integrity...” I argued. “Dante didn’t even want to tell me anything because of his damn client and lawyer agreement... The interview wasn’t going anywhere. And we just started to...”
“What? Have a threesome? While you were there as a journalist?” Teony demanded as she pushed off the desk.
I was talking to a fucking brick wall.
“I’m going to have to take this up with Headmaster Blair,” Teony told me and shook her head like that was the end of our discussion. Her eyes were glassy and cold. “I don’t know why I ever thought you would be a good fit for the Chronicle. But I’ll let Headmaster Blair come up with a proper punishment for you.”
She snapped a little pad of paper from her back pocket and wrote me up—like she was a teacher or something. She dropped the little paper into my outstretched palm and pointed toward the door, saying a final, “Go. Immediately. Grab your things.”
“Wow. Thanks for giving me the fucking benefit of the doubt!” I snapped at her. I couldn’t help but ball my fists at either side of me. I wanted to tell her she was being overdramatic. I wanted to say a lot of things, but my heart thudded in my throat, knowing I had been the victim of some of the worst bullying I had ever experienced. Who the hell recorded me hooking up with Dante and Caleb, without me knowing?
Who would have the balls to do something like that?
I walked toward Headmaster Blair’s office, marveling at the weight of what had just happened. What kind of drama would I have to deal with next? Would I be kicked out of school? Told that I didn’t have the right attitude to hack it? Fuck! I would probably point out that the entire reason I had gotten into Crestwood was that I was fucking opinionated, so it wasn’t like they could kick me out for it.
I mean, they could. They could do whatever the hell they wanted. They had been doing that for centuries.
I rounded the corner and stood at the entrance to Headmaster Blair’s office. I remembered the last time I’d been in that room—when Eric and I had snuck in. I shivered, remembering that massive wall of paintings, all that wealth and those ominous, super-rich twisted smiles. I wanted nothing more but to burn the entire room to the ground.
Except for the books, of course. No matter who they belonged to, books were sacred.
Mrs. Crooks yanked opened the door after I knocked, blinking at me with glassy eyes. “The headmaster will see you,” she instructed, after looking at my note. “He’s been expecting you.”
Great. Of course, he had.
Mrs. Crooks sauntered out of the office, shutting the door quietly behind her. I stood in front of Headmaster Blair’s desk, feeling completely exposed, almost reckless because of what was about to happen—like an animal that had been let out of a cage. As far as I knew, the entire school had seen me orgasm on camera. That probably meant Headmaster Blair had, too.
Jesus Christ!
Headmaster Blair looked older than the last time I had seen him, although that had only been a few weeks ago at this point. His hands wrapped around each other at his chin, and he leaned in against them, as though his face might smash forward against the desk if he didn’t hold himself up.
“Kennedy Harper,” he said, his voice scratchy. “It’s good to see you again. Although I must admit, I expected that it wouldn’t be after so little time and on different circumstances.”
I smoothed my hands down my skirt as I stood there. “I wouldn’t have come unless I was forced to.”
I was surprised at my raucous attitude, I guess, but also grateful for it. If I was going to get kicked out of this school then I wanted to do it kicking and screaming. For whatever reason, I thought of my grandmother, probably up against similar people, being turned away at the door after—after whatever had happened.
“Please, sit down,” Headmaster Blair said, gesturing toward the empty chair.
I did as I was told, albeit begrudgingly. Crossing my arms over my chest and tapped my foot on the hardwood impatiently, as though I had somewhere else to be.
“I’ve heard a few rumors circling about you, Kennedy,” the headmaster said.
“Oh? I wonder what those could be about,” I scoffed.
“That sense of humor,” Headmaster Blair said. “I wonder if it runs in your family.”
I snorted. “What the hell would you know about my family? You Crestwood elites would never rub noses with us in Ridgewood.”
“And yet, here you are. Rubbing noses with us in Crestwood,” Headmaster Blair returned.
My cheeks burned. I resented what he said, but I also couldn’t argue with it. “Just tell me what my punishment is, although I should state that I didn’t know that—that I was being recorded. Isn’t that, like a breach of my privacy? I was in someone’s home. I never thought...”
To his credit, Headmaster Blair never once looked away or became uncomfortable abo
ut the topic. He looked at me contemplatively, seeming to consider everything I said. After I paused, breathless, he said, “It isn’t clear what sort of punishment I should pass out for something like this. Of course, Teony states it is a breach in journalistic integrity and wishes for you to be removed from the Chronicle.”
“Bitch,” I murmured under my breath. I had thought Teony was my only friend at Crestwood. Why had she turned on me so quickly? “Are all rich people so fickle?” I asked, tilting my head slightly.
Headmaster Blair chuckled. “As I get older, I have to admit; I wonder the same thing.”
“What?” I asked, startled. I peered at him curiously, noting the wrinkles that wedged themselves beneath his eyes, sweeping toward his nose. Was he smiling at me? What the hell.
“And why aren’t you calling my mom about this?” I asked then, genuinely curious. “I mean, if I’m in so much trouble that I’m sent to the headmaster’s office, shouldn’t my mom be notified? I don’t know how things operate at Crestwood, but...”
“I don’t see why it would be necessary to worry her,” Headmaster Blair explained, letting out a rather confused sigh. “And I don’t think you should be completely removed from the Chronicle.”
“What?” I asked again, feeling like a broken record. But really, none of this made any fucking sense. If this had happened in Ridgewood, I would be suspended for at least a week.
“You’ll take another art period while we work with Ms. Teony on what to do next,” Headmaster Blair continued. He turned his eyes toward his hands, stretching out his palms. Again, he looked like he was thinking of a million different things at once, yet couldn’t decide what to say next.
“Is that all?” I asked my voice soft.
“No,” Headmaster Blair said. “Actually, I need to warn you about something.”
This was getting weirder by the day. I chewed at my bottom lip, feeling like a much younger child who didn’t understand the rules of the game.
“There are people in Crestwood—rather cunning people—who really don’t wish you to be here,” Headmaster Blair continued.
Why did everyone keep saying that to me?
“Yes. I’m well aware,” I said as I studied his face.
Headmaster Blair’s eyes cut up toward me, burning into my soul. They felt like knives. “What you’ve heard is nothing compared to what the truth is,” his eyes narrowed. “Just be aware of your surroundings. And don’t do anything—anything rash. Like, allow yourself to be videotaped for all the school to see. Do you understand, Kennedy?”
“As if I could—“
“Just promise me,” Headmaster Blair said. “I took a real chance on you coming to this school. Don’t disappoint me.”
I nodded in agreement and left Headmaster Blair’s office more confused than ever. Why did it matter so much to him that I stayed in this school, that he had put himself out on the line for me? He was top dog in Crestwood. None of this made any sense. And what did it mean that his very bloodline—his granddaughter—had it out to destroy me?
But I didn’t have long to think about this shit because as soon as I rounded the corner, I nearly toppled into none other than the three kings of Crestwood themselves; Kieran, Caleb, and Dante.
Immediately, I seethed with anger. They had ruined me in the span of a few hours. I tore toward them, my fists flailing. One of my fists connected with Caleb’s cheek, while another flipped against Kieran’s eye. Kieran growled, while Dante reached up with a firm hand and latched it across my shoulder, shoving me against a locker. The locker rang out, shaking behind me. I hardly heard it. I was too pissed.
“What the fuck, Kennedy?” Kieran exploded with anger.
I felt like a champion. If they were going to expose me to the entire school, then I wanted to hurt even a little bit.
“Fuck you. Fuck you all,” I spat as my hands balled into fists at my sides.
Dante and Caleb exchanged a strange look. I remembered how last night, Caleb had drawn his lips against my pussy, rubbing at my clit with the tip, while Dante had kissed me, his tongue sweeping over mine. Now, all that was over and we were just statues in another time.
“Kennedy, if you think we’re the ones who filmed that video, you’re dead wrong,” Caleb stated and I looked at Kieran, who ran a hand down his face in frustration.
“We’re just as pissed as you are,” Dante affirmed, pacing back and forth.
“Yeah, right,” I shot back, not trusting these assholes for a second.
“Come on,” Caleb pleaded.
“Then who did it?” I asked in a hostile voice.
Caleb and Dante glanced toward Kieran, who shifted his weight. When he crossed his arms over his chest, the muscles in his biceps bulged.
“Kieran heard Hailey talking about it this morning,” Caleb muttered.
“What? How could she have?” I sputtered. “She wasn’t there and that video— it was shot from outside above the window.”
“I asked my maid,” Dante said. “and asked her if Hailey had been around. We grew up together, you know? She just thought that Hailey was coming over to do homework like she said. There’s another room just above mine. The attic. Kieran and Hailey used to go up there a few years back after school, too—you know.”
“She must have set up a camera. Hell, maybe she was there the whole time,” Caleb said. “And we traced back the video posted on the forum. Sure as hell, it’s the same user name she used to use when she was sexting Kieran.”
“Jesus, guys,” Kieran said, rolling his eyes. He was running thin on patience.
“We used to read every dirty thing she sent,” Dante scoffed, his eyes narrowed. “She can’t spell for shit.”
I allowed myself a moment of pleasure. Why would they lie to me about something like this? Now, I realized just how evil Hailey was going out of her way to set up a camera to spy on me. She had probably seen me with Caleb at the party and known that something might happen with the boys.
I cleared my throat, unable to look at them anymore. Now that the truth was revealed, I felt weirdly exposed. The entire school had seen my sex life, on every single one of their smartphones. There was no taking it back.
“That bitch! What now?” I asked and looked at each of them for a response.
The boys didn’t seem to give a shit. They shrugged. The bell rang, indicating another period was beginning.
“Nothing at all,” Kieran smirked, as though that was the answer to everything.
That wasn’t the answer I was hoping for. Either way, Hailey was going to feel my wrath. I had done nothing to her to deserve this. Two can play this game.
Chapter Fifteen
Everything did kind of go-to shit after the video leaked. I was forced out of the Chronicle, for the time being, meaning that I had to take another painting course with Mrs. Randall. I didn’t mind this at all, as it gave me more time to work toward the first competition. I painted like a crazy person, experimenting with new colors and textures in a way that Mrs. Randall called ‘inspired’ and ‘different.’ I shrugged at these compliments, not seeing them as special. They just poured from my head.
A few more weeks went by and we dripped into November, all of us together. Hailey, of course, made it her mission to make my life a living hell as best as she could, at least when the boys weren’t around. One particularly beautiful Monday morning, I found my locker littered with a doll hanging from her neck and slut inked in red lipstick across her shirt. Hailey stole my computer and deleted all the content on it, making me late for a few assignments. My grades fell a bit after that, but since I was on an art scholarship, it wasn’t anything I couldn’t deal with. I just pointed to the work I had done with Mrs. Randall when I talked with my advisor, and everyone gave me a second chance. “But if this happens again, Ms. Harper, know that we’re taking it up with Headmaster Blair—and he won’t be so kind,” the advisor said. Mrs. Crooks lurked behind her, scowling at me.
The boys didn’t make it their mission to make m
e comfortable at school, though. Without Teony, I was still very much alone, sitting at my own private lunch table staring at various types of healthy food that sat in front of me, wondering what the hell to do with myself. I remembered the French fries Wren and I used to split back at Ridgewood High, and my stomach craved greasy food.
I still saw Eric and Wren on the weekends now and then. Now that Eric and I no longer had our garbage pick-up duties, it was becoming less and less. They talked to me about school gossip and asked boring questions about life at Crestwood. I couldn’t tell them everything that had happened since I wanted it to seem like I was thriving. After all, I had leaped at the idea of becoming something else, something bigger than any of us in Ridgewood could have dreamed of. If I told them how dark my reality was, I felt it would crush them. They were so fucking happy for me.
Mid-way through November was the Crestwood Gala—a horse racing and post-race ballroom event, held for the ritzy parents of Crestwood. The goal was to raise shit-tons of cash for whatever reason. In my mind, the actual goal was to go and wear your fanciest clothes and build up new gossip to whisper about over the next six months. That just seemed to be the Crestwood way.
Students were expected to volunteer at the horse racing event, but this didn’t mean that students didn’t go all-out with their clothing. I had very little in terms of nice things, but I did buy an enormous, used hat at a second-hand store on Crestwood’s main square one afternoon. I popped it on my head just before heading to Crestwood that Saturday afternoon. Before I left, Mom called out from the kitchen, saying, “Hey! Are you going to the Kentucky Derby?”
I paused, glancing over at her. Since she had started dating Jeff, or whatever the hell his name was, I had seen very little of her. She looked impossibly beautiful, her skin glowing in the California sunlight. No matter how many Crestwood mansions I went to, I still felt like our little house had the best light to it.
“It’s this fundraising thing,” I said. “I have to volunteer.” I stuck out my tongue, trying to masquerade as the happier, funnier girl Mom used to know.
Wicked Blue Bloods: A Highschool Bully Romance - Crestwood Academy Book 1 Page 11
