Complicit in His Chaos Book 1: Tempted

by Keilan Shea

  TV makes everyone look better, or so I hear. That’s not true for Theo Earnshaw. His eyes are as striking and pure blue in real life as they are on the screen. A glance at the other students reveals Theo and Lucas are exceptions among even Gildeds, so my plain brown eyes aren’t technically alone. Common eye colors or not, Gildeds have this intensity about them. Maybe they raise their chins higher than the average person.

  Beyond Theo, I recognize a few other faces, but I can’t place most of them, including the brunette standing so near to him that they’re almost touching. “You heard him,” she says and flips her little purse. “Ritsuki is on his way, so stop your unseemly sniveling.”

  I check the time. It’s five past noon. The distraught students are mostly quiet now as they wait, perhaps simmering with impatience. One boy’s face is turning red like a cartoon character about to blow steam out of its ears. No one seems too interested in me, at least. Lucas must have only noticed me because I accidentally ran into him. Heat consumes my chest as I recall my blunder and then the competence Lucas displayed while straightening my tie. I pinch the fabric between my fingers, almost wrinkling his work.

  Someone’s bound to notice I’m not a freshman eventually. I peek at people from underneath my dark eyelashes, attempting discretion. All the girls are equipped with handbags and are wearing makeup. Some could pass as older than me. Funny how accessories and makeup can do that. Is that what gives me away? I’m not the fattest person here.

  “This isn’t like Ricky,” Theo murmurs almost too quietly for me to hear.

  “It’ll be all right,” the brunette assures him. Then her sharp eyes find me, assessing. I spoke too soon. I am drawing attention, and while I haven’t gotten much closer to anyone, they’ve been slowly drifting farther away from me. They’ve formed a crescent as if I’m trapped inside some invisible force-field bubble that repels them. I love seeing those depicted in movies. They make it easy to picture when I read about them because I’ve seen them before.

  I stare at my phone and sift through the information on my tour group. Ritsuki Uchiyama. He’s supposed to be our guide. I’ve heard and seen that name before. Uchiyama Tech, specifically. It’s a floating watermark always visible on the bottom left corner of my student account. Russel’s new desktop computer is also an Uchiyama creation. He bought it in a bundle with the “ultimate VR set” for gaming. I wore the headset for ten seconds when he stepped away to use the bathroom once and regretted that decision. He was playing some zombie horror game, and after I resumed the game from the pause menu, cardiac arrest was nigh.

  Squeezing my arms, I stave off a bone-rattling shiver. The Gildeds aren’t going to attack me like a flood of zombies. I’m a nobody, easily forgettable or written off as a shadow. I reflect that. It doesn’t matter if I recognize people here, I don’t know them. They have nothing to do with me. I’m used to being a lone wolf at school, so the distancing doesn’t bother me. Neither does the whispering.

  “She must be the scholarship student. You heard that rumor, didn’t you?”

  “She’s kind of fat.”

  “She’d look like a pig if that uniform wasn’t tailored to bring out her good qualities.”

  “What good qualities?”

  This uniform does fit well and is surprisingly comfortable even though it isn’t oversized. My large breasts are often a problem for every kind of shirt ever, but they’re happy here and so is my waist. I realize that doesn’t mean that I look good, but I’m not complaining.

  When the brunette joins in the scathing remarks, Theo says, “Stop it.”

  “Did you just tell Olive to shut up?” the squirrelly boy with them asks. “When did you get so ballsy?”

  “Do you know her?” a blonde asks.

  “Theo is compassionate. It’s part of his charm,” Olive says. “We’re above bullying. But that doesn’t mean we have to be friends with her.”

  Theo’s eyebrows turn down slightly, following the small frown marring his pretty face. Maybe the Earnshaw graciousness portrayed on TV is real too.

  I search for somewhere to sit, but all the benches are taken. Sitting somewhere on the oval rim of the fountain is an option, but then I would be in the crowd. And what if it's wet? I’m wearing a white skirt and pink panties. That could be embarrassing.

  Ignoring my tired legs, I once again look at my phone. It’s too easy to fall back on when I have to hold it in my hand or risk offending Gildeds by unbuttoning my shirt and shoving it inside my bra. If we don’t do a tour, at least I have this handy map. I doubt the tour includes the insides of any buildings, anyway. I wonder if there are more maps. I use my fingers to zoom into the campus map, and sure enough, if I tap on a building, it opens up another map. That’s intuitive.

  “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

  The announcement startles me, and a boy I don’t recognize infiltrates the pocket of Gildeds. He’s tall and lanky like a scarecrow. The dark circles under his eyes give him an almost raccoon-like appearance. He must want a beard, but only thin strands of hair stick out from his chin.

  “Ritsuki is our guide,” Theo says. “What are you doing here, Jet?”

  The lanky boy rubs his eyes. “Such hostility for a neophyte.”

  “I’m not a neophyte.”

  “You don’t know the Crown, so you are. Stories, even Blake’s, don’t equal experience.”

  An eerie silence settles over the group as if no one dares to interrupt or add commentary to this conversation.

  “Where’s Ritsuki?” Theo asks.

  Jet paces with a hunched-over swagger through the parting crowd to reach Theo and talk more civilly, perhaps, instead of almost-shouting at each other from opposite ends of the fountain. I strain my ears to hear and find myself creeping a little closer. Everyone is paralyzed for some reason, so they don’t mind me or move—not even the boy I accidentally bump shoulders with.

  “He’s indisposed and asked me to replace him,” Jet replies.

  “He wouldn’t do that,” Theo says.

  “Why not? I’m a member of the Crown Council.”

  “You’re a Caesar supporter even though Blake won the election.” Theo lifts his collar and taps a little round pin hidden underneath. It’s gold with a blue rim and has the letters BE etched into it.

  Jet flashes his own badge. It’s also round and gold, but it’s outlined in red and has the letters CB. “You’re right. Ritsuki is preoccupied with something urgent, so the Vice Crown President sent me. What would we do without him? He deserves my support, unlike our mighty Crown President—who isn’t here. Maybe you can tell us where he is.”

  Theo purses his lips. His friends tense as he says, “He’s coming.”

  “Not like him to be late, is it?”

  Theo doesn’t respond.

  “Not as good at this as your brother, are you? That means you don’t have a satisfying explanation and can’t come up with a convincing lie.”

  “Blake is coming.”

  Jet shrugs. “In the meantime, Caesar is in charge.” He glances at his phone and drawls, “Roll call time. Theo Earnshaw, you present?”

  Theo’s pursed lips disappear as he tightens them, chasing off their natural soft-pink color in place of a stark white.

  Jet calls another name and is answered with a belated “Here.” His eyes rove over everyone as he continues with last names in alphabetical order. Lucas Ignacio is the first person not to reply, excluding Theo. Lucas is my age. Is this his first year attending Gilded Academy?

  Jet lets loose an exasperated sigh. “That’s a shame.” Several students exchange questioning glances, but they remain silent.

  I wonder where Lucas went. He should have arrived the same time I did, but he got distracted by that … rabbit. Why was there a rabbit outside anyway? It can’t live freely on campus or the lawns and gardens would be a mess.

  When Jet gets to my name, I speak at the volume everyone else did. “Here.”

  Jet’s lips slide into a half-snarl/half-smile. “S
o this is our scholarship student, our would-be second senior among the freshmen. This should be an interesting year. It’s already rife with firsts.”

  He exaggerates his swagger as he approaches me. He doesn’t stop even when he’s two inches from touching me. I take a step back and my spine turns brittle as I tuck my chin. His eyes are wide as if he’s starved and staring down a juicy steak, and they remind me too much of the muddied memories of the men Faith Turner would bring home. I know these thoughts are ridiculous, that I’m overreacting, but they’re difficult to tamp down when I’m so intimidated.

  “You must be pretty smart,” Jet says, “according to Santa Monica High School. The curriculum here isn’t so plebeian.”

  “I can do challenging.” I take a step backward.

  Mercifully, Jet allows it—though he’s still too far inside my personal space. “You’re spunky, huh? I wouldn’t have guessed. You don’t look it.”

  I’m not trying to be spunky; I was just stating the truth.

  “We’re already late,” Theo interjects. “Stop wasting our time.”

  Jet cackles. “Touché. It’s very important to Vice Crown President Biggs that you all excel. Remember that. Remember that he arrived days before anyone else to ensure your transition runs smoothly while your president is inexplicably absent.”

  The politics at this academy are intense. The tension is palpable. I never involved myself in political debates at Samohi, or in anything outside of my 4.0 and student librarian duties. But I did my research and participated in politics to the degree expected of me. I learned about the possible candidates and voted based on who represented what I believe in the most. After that, it was out of my hands, so I didn’t spare it another thought. If Blake doesn’t show up, though, Caesar Biggs will take over. Which is obviously what this is about. I wonder what’s going on. Biggs is a familiar name, but I can’t quite place it. I think I’ve seen it tied to an art gallery, but that’s not important. I’m not surprised Blake Earnshaw, Jeffery’s firstborn son, is the Crown President, but him not being here and without an explanation is strange.

  Jet finishes calling roll. Everyone but Lucas is present, and the Crown Tour begins. If only I could pay any attention to it. Jet keeps looking at me. I dart behind someone and he somehow manages to get me in his line of sight again while continuing his guide duties. I’m a shadow. Okay, maybe not anymore since being a scholarship student shines a spotlight on me, but I’m forgettable. I’ve never garnered this much attention in my life. It’s as if these Gilded are a pack of wolves anticipating a kill, arranging and rearranging their formation to attack. Jet is their alpha, and I’m their scared rabbit prey.

  Rabbits. Stop thinking about white rabbits with those beady red eyes.

  When we reach the library, I get this skin-crawling sensation under control. Because my curiosity overpowers my unease.

  “This is Lancaster Library,” Jet announces. “It’s smaller than the Ashton Library in the Embers, but you’ll only need to branch out if you’re searching for some ancient tome. Step inside and use your student ID as your library card if paper is your preference, otherwise you can borrow almost anything digitally and download it straight to your phone from your student account. Remember, this education is just the beginning. Hone the skill to teach yourself and fight for what you want because that combination will decide your future.”

  Those are wise words.

  I glance longingly at the rooftop garden. It’s not easy to see from here, but the vines creeping between the gaps in the railing lining the flat roof are a luscious green among arid sandstone. And there’s a moving figure. A human being sidles along the edge, outside of where he should be, the railing at his back. His mussed dark hair whips around in a sudden gust and his bronze skin absorbs sunlight. I squint and adjust my glasses, almost positive that’s Lucas. He’s six-stories high!

  “Oh my God,” Olive says. “Who’s that?”

  All faces turn skyward, toward her pointed finger. At the same moment, Lucas ventures onto a ledge. He balances with arms outstretched on the back of a gargoyle-reminiscent gold phoenix, one of several protruding from a few feet below the railing. One foot in front of the other, he crosses the phoenix’s body for its skinny neck. My breath catches and I silently pray another breeze doesn’t pass by to knock him off balance.

  Someone screams. Theo slaps his hand over the culprit’s mouth and says, “Quiet. If you distract him, he could fall.” He takes his hand away after the girl shakily nods her head. “I’m going inside to get help.”

  “Damn.” Jet doesn’t stop Theo from rushing up the steps and through the front doors. He takes out his phone. “I figured this bastard would be a wreck, but it turns out he’s completely insane.”

  CHAPTER 4

  Lucas tilts his face downward and notices us. He waves his hand as if this is an everyday occurrence. It’s as casual as if he were passing someone while taking a stroll. Then he steps backward. One foot at a time. I wring my hands, twisting my fingers until they hurt. A stifled gasp stems from the crowd when he slips on the gold phoenix’s sloping wing. Suddenly he’s on one foot, windmilling his arms to regain his balance. My heart pounds so hard that my chest throbs and my ears twinge with the rising volume.

  “Holy fuck.” Jet huffs. “All right. Show’s over. I’m going inside, too. No one moves or makes a sound, got it?”

  I can’t tear my eyes off Lucas. I only remember how to breathe after he’s somehow stable and reaches the railing without another close call. Don’t grab a vine, I think as he pulls himself up and over onto the flat roof. Thank God. The tension in my body dissipates. I think my bones have turned into jelly. My knees wobble, doing their best to hold my weight. Everyone else must feel similarly. The group lets out a collective sigh and whispers break out; they’re as much gossip as they are desperate demands for someone to explain the madness.

  As my racing heart resumes its natural pace, I continue to wait as we were instructed to. The seconds tick by slowly, though, and I grow impatient. My compromised legs coil, my muscles steady and my bones once again a substantial frame. I need to run inside and all the way up to the roof to see what’s happening.

  Self-consciously, I stuff my phone inside my bra, duck, and scurry forward. No one tries to stop me, so I guess it’s unnecessary, but I proceed as though I’m being pursued. I push the large wooden doors, fingers slipping across an intricately carved and gilded sunrise, and join their plaintive groan. Why are they so heavy? And someone needs to oil their hinges.

  With a final grunt, I enter a spacious grand lobby. My shoes clack against the granite tile floor; the sound is deeper and doesn’t echo as much as it does in Selenite Hall. Two cavernous corridors lined with rows of towering bookcases open far to my left and right. Between them, and straight ahead, is an open spiral staircase and a tube-like glass elevator at its center. Severe voices draw my attention to the reference desk tucked in a corner. The words are garbled because I’m too far from them, but I can see the people involved: Lucas, Theo, Jet, and a very tall woman.

  I inch forward, cautious not to disturb the heated conversation. When I get close enough to read the badge on the woman’s blouse, I see Chief Librarian Hannah Zale. She’s the furthest thing from a stereotypical librarian. She could be a basketball superstar—or something. Then again, this library does contain colossal bookcases.

  “I already told you. I was answering the rabbit alert and returning Mabel to her hutch. How did a rabbit escape the roof all by herself, anyway?” Lucas uses his hands as much as his words to speak for him. “And yeah, then I did try a little balancing act on the back of a phoenix. You would have done it, too. Come on. How often do you get the opportunity?”

  Everyone is quiet. He must be kidding, but what does it mean when I honestly can’t tell? Nothing about this is funny.

  “This isn’t a laughing matter,” Ms. Zale says.

  “Am I laughing?” Lucas remarks. “I wasn’t aware.”

  Theo’s alr
eady pale white skin takes on a ghostly pallor. Jet folds his arms. Ms. Zale’s lips twitch upward, but she maintains the stoic expression that must be required of all Gilded Academy staff. “Your dangerous and reckless behavior must be addressed, Mr. Ignacio, and your flippancy isn’t helping.”

  The chief librarian says more, something about the principal and a counselor, but I don’t catch the specifics because Lucas’s eyes find me. They glisten like actual emeralds as the beams of sunlight pouring in through a high window shine on them. He’s actively suppressing a grin, but his perfect white teeth are bared. My cheeks flare in response and my stomach twists up tight. My gaze darts to my white Mary Janes. I’ve already scuffed the toes. Typical.

  Ms. Zale finishes with “Jet, you’re to escort Mr. Ignacio to the Crown Principal once your tour is over. Do not let him out of your sight.”

  Jet straightens his hunched shoulders. “Yes, ma’am.”

  “Wait a minute,” Lucas interjects. “I didn’t mean anything by it. I’m not suicidal. Is this necessary?”

  Ms. Zale raises a thick eyebrow.

  “If I had known everyone would get so bent out of shape, I wouldn’t have done it.” Lucas spreads his fingers and lifts a hand to let it drift down from his forehead. Once his hand sweeps past his chin, his expression is subdued. Solemn. “Transformation into dull responsible student complete.” Even his voice changes from its usual animated highs and lows to monotone.

  Again, the chief librarian’s lips twitch. She clears her throat as if to cover up a cough. “I like your spirit.”

  “Aw, thank you.” Lucas’s serious facade disappears as quickly as it came on. “I like your spirit, too … in a not weird way. At what age did you become a giant?”

  A strained whimper squeaks out of Theo’s mouth an instant before he places his hands on Lucas’s back. Lucas is taller and broader than the freshman, but he allows Theo to push him toward the doors. “Hold that thought. I’ll ask again when I’m not in time-out.”

  “I hope you do and that your first day attending classes here at Gilded Academy goes smoothly. Don’t wear those boots. They aren’t part of your uniform.”