by Jenna Moreci
“Oh,Idon’t.Ihaveaninterviewwiththemedschoolboardsomewherein
thisbuilding.I’mapplyingforearlyadmissiontothemedicalprogram.”
“Planningonskippinganothergrade,huh?”Shechuckled.“Goodforyou.”
“Yeah,well,it’ssupercompetitive.”Beadsofsweatbegantoformonhis
forehead,andhetookadeepbreath.“Wishmeluck?”
“Luckisforidiots.”Shewinked.“You’rethesmartestguyIknow.Youdon’t
needluck.”
Armaangrinnedandwipedhishot,stickyfacewithhisgiantsleeve.Butas hiseyesmadetheirwayfromEvetothehallwaybehindher,hischildlikesmile
disappeared,replacedwithaperplexedscowl.
“Armaan,youokay?”
“Thosegirlsoverthere.”Hepaused,pointingbehindheratwhoeverhad
capturedhisattention.“They’restaringatyou.”
“Everyonestaresatme,Armaan.”
“Notlikethis.”
AterribletinglecrawledupEve’sspine,andhershouldersbecamerigid.
Shecouldalmostfeelthembehindher,lurkinglikeawfulshadows.Therewas
nodoubtinhermind—sheknewexactlywhomhewastalkingabout.
“Aretheyblond?”shegrumbled.“Isoneofthemespecially—”
“Hot?Enticing?Chesty?”
“Iwasgoingtosayangry,butthanksforthesuperlatives.And chesty?
Really?”
“They’reheadedthisway.”
“Godhelpus.”Shegrimaced.“Youshouldgetoutofhere.Icanhandle
them.”
Heignoredher,stillgawkingattheblondduo,whensuddenlyhis
expressionchangedyetagain,thistimeintoashrewdsmirk.
“Lookslikeyouwon’thaveto.Yourknightinshiningarmorisheretosave
theday.”
“Knightinshiningarmor?”
Evefinallyturned,daringtoseewholoomedbehindher.Madisonand
Haydenwereonlyafewyardsaway,buttheyremainedstill,theirbodies
frozen,theirmouthshangingopeninsurprise—itwasJasonwhonowwalked
towardher.Heworeacrispwhiteshirtandblacktie—astarkcontrastfromhis
usualt-shirtandloungepants—andashemadehiswaydownthehall,Eve
could’veswornthatthesunglimmeredthroughthewindowsalittlebit
brighter.
“Helooksawfullyhappytoseeyou.”
EvesluggedArmaaninthearmbeforehescurriedaway,leavinghertotalk
withJasonalone—orasaloneastheycouldbeinacrowdedcorridor.
“Hey,”hesaid,shovinghishandsintohispocketsalmostbashfully.
Shesmiled.“Youlook—”
“Stuffy?Boring?”
“Iwasgoingtosaygreat.Debonair,even.”Shepickedathercuticles.“So,
you’refinallyfree.Howdoesitfeel?”
“Itfeelsweird,honestly.Peoplekeepstaringatme.Somewhisper,some
lookscared.”
Iknowthefeeling,shethoughttoherself.
“Wheredidyougothismorning?”heasked.
She glanced nervously behind him. Madison and Hayden were still watching them,andsheprayedtoGodthattheywereoutofearshot.
“Ioverslept.Missedmyfirsttwoclasses,leftinahurry.”
“Oh,sorryaboutthat.Kindofmyfault,Iguess.”
Shehesitated.“I’mnot,”shefinallymanagedtosay.“Sorry,thatis.”
Jasongrinnedandrelaxedhisshoulders.“Iwashopingyou’dsaythat.”He
fiddledwithhispocket.“Hey,Ihaveaquestionforyou.”Hepulledoutaslipof paperandpresentedittoher.“Whatisthis?”
Eve’sheartstopped.Itwasherflyer—herinfamous ChimeraBitchphoto.
ShecouldhearMadison’svictoriouslaughinthedistancebutignoredit.There
wasnothingforhertosay,soshejuststaredattheflyer,hereyesemptyand
herlipssilent.
“What’sgoingon,Eve?Arepeoplegivingyouahardtime?”
“Ithoughtthosewouldbegonebynow.”
“Isthiswhyyou’vebeensostressedlately?”
Awaveofdreadflowedthroughher,festeringinherstomachuntilshe
could’veswornshewasgoingtobesick.Shelookedapprehensivelyintohis
eyes.
“TheyknowI’machimera.”
“Who?”
“Everyone.”
Heglancedaroundatthepassersbyasifsearchingforanswers.“Isthis because”—hepaused,hisfacedroppinginstantly—“isthisbecauseof me?
Becauseyouweretutoringme?”
“Jason,it’snotyourfault.”
“God,ifyouhadn’tmetme,thiswould’veneverhappened.”
“That’snottrue.Heatherknewsincedayone.Itwasinevitable.”
“Andtheflyers?Whowasbehindthat?WasitMadison?”
“Icanonlyassume.”
“Yousureeveryoneknows?”
“Positive.I’mthejuiciestpieceofgossipthiscampushastooffer.”
Jason took in a long, deep breath, still eyeing the passing students as he anxiouslyranhisfingersthroughhishair.Finally,hecrumpledthepaperinhis
handandleanedintowardEve,loweringhisvoicetoasoftwhisper.
“Whydidn’tyoutellme?”
Asharppangofguiltpiercedherribs,butshetriedtoremainfirm.“Jason,I
wastryingtoprotectyou.Youhadenoughtodealwith—”
“Eve,”heinterrupted,clenchinghisjaw,“Ilikeyou.Ilikeyou alot.Ithought lastnightprovedthat.”Heleanedinevenclosertoher,hisoncekind
eyesnowsternandfocused.“Iwantyoutobehonestwithme.I want tobethere foryou.”
“I’mabiggirl,Jason.Icantakecareofmyself.”
“Iknowthat,Eve.Butyoushouldn’thavetodoitalone.”
Evebitherbottomlipandpickedathercuticles,hermindrackedwith frustration.Shetoldherselfthathewaswrong—thathewasbeing
unreasonableanddemanding—butitwasanunconvincinglie.Hecaredfor
her,andregardlessofhowforeignitwasforhertofeelthisway,sheknewthat
shecaredforhim,too.
Jasonsmiledslightly,sensingherinnerconflict.“Iwanttoseeyoutonight.”
“Wow,youdon’twasteanytime,doyou?”
Helaughed.“Fridaynightispokernightwiththeboys.Weallgettogether,
haveafewbeers,shoottheshit.Iwantyoutocome.”
“To guys’night?”
“Iwantyoutomeetmyfriends.Whatdoyousay?”
Hisvoicewassteady,butshecouldseeinhiseyesthathewasnervous.The
situation felt surreal, like an excerpt from someone else’s life—anyone’s but Eve’s.
Sheraisedhereyebrowsassuredly.“Preparetoloseallyourmoney.”
“Preparetoeatyourwords,”helaughed.Hissmilewasarelieftosee,and
for a second, Eve felt as if nothing had changed—as if they were still in the isolation wing, just the two of them. He reached out and wrapped his hand aroundhers,caressingherpalmwithhisfingers,andjustasshewasaboutto
relishinthemoment,shestoppedherself.BehindJason’sshoulderonlyafew
yardsawaystoodMadisonandHayden—still.Theywereunapologeticintheir
gaping, their faces dripping with hatred and rage, and suddenly she realized thatthingswerevery, verydifferent.JasonandEvewereondisplayforallto
see.
“Issomethingwrong?”
Evenoddedatthetwogirls.“They’rewatchingus.”
Heglancedoverhisshoulderatthetwosome,whointurnquicklylooked
away.Aconfidentsmirkgracedhisface;hetookEve’shandandbroughtitto
hislips,kissingitsoftlyashestaredintohereyes.
“Letthemwatch.”
Eve’sheartthumpedloudlyinherchest,beatingsoforcefullythatshefeltas
if it could move her entire body. She heard the girls gasp aloud, but she ignoredit,feelingalmostentertainedbytheirreaction.Withonelastnod,she
turnedfromJasonandheadedforhernextclass,passingMadisonandHayden
alongthewayandgigglingattheirexpressionsofuncontainedshock.Before
shehadmadeittoofardownthehall,shestoppedandturnedtowardJasonone
lasttime.
“Jason,”shecalled.“Yousaidthere’llbebeertonight?”
“Yeah,why?”
“Youdoknowchimerascan’tgetdrunk,right?”
Hehesitatedmomentarilyandthenchuckledtohimself.
“No,Ididn’t…butthatexplainsalot.”
***
Evepulledherblouseoverherheadandtriedtofluffherhairintoplace.As
shestaredatherselfinthemirror,applyingthelastbitofblushtohercheeks,
shecouldn’thelpbutnoticeanuglyscowlinthecornerofthereflection.
Madison was lying on her bed, idly flipping through the digital pages of her scratchpadmagazine,buthereyeswerefocusedonEve,glaringresentfully.
Eveignoredher,continuingtoplaywithherthicklocksandattemptingtostifle
heruncharacteristicexcitement.
Anabruptknockatthedoorstartledbothgirls.ItwasJason,hiseyesbright
andhishandclaspedaroundaneconomy-sizebagofchips.HesmiledatEve,
hardlynoticingMadison’shorrifiedfaceinthebackground.
“Hey,”hesaid,softly.Hepeeredoverhershoulderintoherroom.“Needa
minute?Icanwait—”
“No,”Eveblurted.SheglancedbackatMadison,whowasnowangrily
grumblingunderherbreath.“Let’sjustgetoutofhere.”
Assheclosedthedoorbehindher,EvethoughtshecouldhearMadison
mutter “bitch” underherbreath.Itdidn’tmatter—shehadanightofpokerand ineffective beer ahead of her. Jason glided his hand down her wrist, tightly wrappinghisfingersaroundhers,andinthatmomentsheforgotabout
Madisoncompletely.
Theytooktheelevatordowntothelobbyandwaltzedoutintothecourtyard.
It was late into the evening, and aside from the light of the streetlamps, the entireuniversitywascoveredindarkness.Asenseofcalmlingeredinthecool,
autumnair—theprotestorswerenowheretobefound,andmoststudentswere
tuckedawayintheirdormrooms—andEvetookinadeepbreath,relishingthe
rare moment of peace. Jason pressed his free hand against the small of her
back,guidingherastheyroundedthestudentunionandshuffledacross campus.
“Whereareweheaded?”Eveasked.
“Thelawandethicsbuilding.”
“So,we’reabouttogamble—inthelawand ethicsbuilding.Tellmeyousee theironyinthis.”
Jasonlaughed.“Theplacehasbeenunderrenovationsforoverayearnow.
They’readdingawingorsomething,Idon’tknow.”
“It’sempty?”
Henodded.“Nofaculty,nopatrolmen—justabunchofdumbguyslosing
theirparents’money.“
Soon,thebuildingwasonlyafewyardsaheadofthem.Itscourtyardwas
littered with rows of scaffolding and piles of dirt, and Eve could see the unfinishedskeletonoftheadditionalwingjuttingfromthebuilding’sside.
“Youcouldloseyourparents’moneyinyourdormroom,youknow,”she
teased,followingJasontothebackofthebuilding.
“Notenoughspaceforeveryone.Besides,they’reallprettyrowdy,and loud
—noneofusaretryingtogetbustedfordrinkingandgambling.”
“Butbreakingintoschoolpropertyistotallyfine,”Evequipped.
Jason stopped in front of a grey door labeled “Staff Only” and jiggled its handle.Thedoorpromptlycreakedopen,andheturnedtoEveandwinked.
“I’dhardlycallthis breakingin.”
Evechuckled,takingonelastlookacrossthecampusbeforequickly duckingthroughtheentrancewithJason.Thedoorclosedbehindthem,and
immediatelytheyweresurroundedinathickveilofblack.Evecouldhearthe
slightrustlingofJason’sclothesasheretrievedhisphonefromhispocketand
thenilluminatedthespaceaheadofthemwithitsscreen.Finallyshecouldsee
wheretheywere:thebackofahallway,itswallscoveredinlooseplastictarps,
thefloorcoatedwithdustandlinedwithbucketsandequipment.
“Thisiskindof—”
“Creepy?”Jasoninterrupted.
Evesmiled.“Dynamic.”
Theyheadeddownthehall,laughingchildishlyastheyclumsilymaneuvered
around the debris in their path. Rows of doors sat along either side of them, eachonemarkedwithanemptynameplate,andEveassumedtheywereinthe
office wing of the building. Soon she noticed a door, slightly ajar, with a streamoflightpouringfromtheopening.Jasoncockedhisheadinits
direction.
“So,it’skindofabiggroup.Theycanbeobnoxiousattimes—alittlesnarky
andsarcastic—”
“Jason,doyourealizewhoyou’retalkingto?”
“Ijustdon’twantyoutofeeluncomfortable.”
“God, you make it sound like there’s a horde of barbarians in there,” she scoffed.“Comeon,theycan’tbe thatbad.”
Jasonopenedthedoor,onlytorevealanearlyemptyroom.Threeboys—
onesmallandscrawny,anothertallandslim,andthelastroundandportly—sat
ontheoppositesideofamakeshiftplywood-board-turned-poker-table,sipping
beersintotalsilence.
Evescannedtheroom,hernosewrinkledwithconfusion.“Thisisyour‘big
group’?”
Jasonwasevenmoreperplexedthanshewas.“Whereiseverybody?”
Thesmallestonehesitated,hisfacevisiblyapprehensive.“They…couldn’t
makeit?”
“Comeon,we’realladultshere,”thetallonechimedin,rollinghiseyes.
“Theyweren’texactly feelingthewholechimerathing.”
Jasonpaused.“Oh.”
“Ithinkoneevendroppedtheabbrev,”thetallonecontinued.“Calledyoua
chime.”
Jasonshruggedhisshoulders.“Ohwell,”hemumbled,pullingaseatoutfor
Eveandtakingonebesideher.“Screw’em.”
“Amentothat.”
Eveglancedathersurroundingsoncemore.Shecouldtelltheboyshadbeen
usingtheroomforquitesometime—theentirespacewasdimlylitwith
portablelamps,andalloftheremainingloosetoolshadbeencarelessly
pushedtowardthewalls—andthenshenoticedthelineofextrafoldingchairs
neatlystackedinthecorner.SheturnedtoJason,whoofferedherareassuring smile.
“Eve,thisismybandofbastards.Everyone,thisis—”
“EvelynKingston,”thetallonecutin.“We’veseentheflyers.”
Evegrimacedandsanklowerinherchair.
“Relax.”Theboytookaswigfromhisbeerbeforehecontinued.“Atleastit
wasagoodphoto—nevermindbeingvilifiedacrosscampus.”
“ThisisPercyLaFleur,”Jasonexplained.“We’veknowneachothersincewe
wereindiapers.”
“Yeah—samenanny.Samesilverspoon.”
EvetookagoodlookatPercy:hewaslongandleanwithchiseledfeatures,
sharpcheekbones,andahandsomeface.Hiseyeswereadeepbrown,
practicallyblack,whichmatchedhisblackfittedthermalanddarkdesigner
jeans.Hisentirelookwasoneofimmaculategrooming:hisskinwasflawless
andsmooth,andhisjet-blackhairwasstyledintoaperfectlycoiffed
pompadour.Theonlyhintofdisorderinhisappearancewasthemessofsteel
rodsthathungfromhisheavilypiercedears.
“Wegrewuptogether,”Jasonadded.“Myfolksarefriendswithhis
grandparents.”
“Friendswithbenefits—moneyandpower,thatis.Nottheotherkindof
benefits.”Percywinked.“MygrandparentsfoundedLaFleurFusionPower,so
they’reallinthesamepretentiousNewYorksocialcircle.”
“LaFleur…”Evemurmured.“Isn’tyourmomprettyfamous?”
Jasonchuckledunderhisbreath.“That’sanunderstatement.She’s—”
“AliciaLaFleur:heiress.Socialite.Single-handedlykeptthetabloidindustry
afloat with her drunken party girl antics for sixteen years.” Percy casually shovedafistfulofchipsintohismouthandspokebetweenloudcrunches.“But
don’tgetmewrong,Ilovemymom.She’slikethebabysisterIneverhad.”
JasongrabbedabeerforhimselfandslidonetoEve.“Heardofhisdad?
He’saPuertoRicantelenovelastar.”
“Whatdoesshecarewhomyparentsare?”Percyscoffed.“Idon’tevencare.
I’mboredalready.”HeturnedtoEveandflashedasmuggrin.“Look,allyou
needtoknowaboutmyfolksisthatI’mtheirincomparablyattractive,
exceptionallymagnetic,gayspawn.That’swhatreallymatters.”
“He’shumble,too,”Jasonsmirked.
“Honest.Thewordyou’relookingforishonest.”
Jasonpointedhisbeerbottleathissmallerfriend,whowasbusydistracting
himselfwithalighter,apparentlymesmerizedbythetiny,flickeringflame.
“ThisisMichaelSanchez.He’smyroommate.”
“EveryonecallsmeSancho,”theboyexplained,hisgazepartingfromthe
lighterforonlyasecond.
Evelikedhiminstantly;hewasashorter,skinnyboyofFilipinodescent,with
