“What’s going on? You called and didn’t answer when I tried to call you back?” Scar says with a hurt tone in her voice.
Peyton grunts. “Same here. Not going to lie, I felt guilty because I thought something might have happened to you. I called Scar and we both came back early on Saturday to look for you.”
I cover my mouth with my hand. Are these the kinds of reactions from people that would sign a petition to have me thrown out? But it doesn’t stop me from asking. “So you didn’t sign the petition to get me expelled?”
Scar looks at me as if I have a third head. “Girl. Everything okay up here?” She taps the side of her head with her index finger.
“I checked the petition and you and Peyton have the last two signatures.”
Peyton frowns. “No fucking way.” He pulls out his phone and after a few minutes he exclaims, “What the fuck!”
“Is she correct, Pey?”
“Yeah. What the fuck is going on? I’m changing my fucking password, dude. You should do the same.”
Scarlett pulls out her phone and moves her fingers over it. When she’s done, she reaches across the table and grabs my hand. “Mer, have more faith in us please? You and Peyton are both my best friends. I would never betray you.” The truth shines in her eyes as she says it and I breathe a sigh of relief. Out of everyone, it hurt the most to know that her and Peyton were the ones that put me over. The first two people I met after Heath. They’ve become so important to me in such a short amount of time. I’m glad I don’t have to be without them.
I watch three chairs at the other end of the table get pulled out and sat in by Gemma, Ashlynn, and Luella. Luella waves shyly while Ashlynn nods. They have full plates of breakfast food in front of them.
Gemma pulls her glasses off and cleans them with her shirt before pushing them back on her face. “Mera! Did you have a good break? I saw they didn’t expel you. I’m sure everyone has seen by now. That was a shitty petition that Callan made, by the way.”
“I did. I’m glad I’m not going anywhere. Hey, since we’re on the subject, did Collette make you sign it?”
Gemma blinks quickly. “No. I refused to. So did Luella and Ashlynn. Right, guys?” she asks turning to them.
They nod and Luella speaks softly, “You’re innocent until proven guilty.”
“You might be a spoiled party girl, but you’re no killer, Mera,” Ashlynn says with a chuckle, shoving a piece of toast in her mouth. “You? Kill somebody? No. I know the type and it isn’t you.”
Now wait a fucking minute. Just how many of those signatures on that petition are actually real? I’ll probably never know. It doesn’t matter right now. Like a load has been lifted off my shoulders, I take a deep calming breath. All of the tension and stress I built up thinking about this is gone.
“Thanks you guys.”
They all start eating and I look at the empty spot in front of me. God, I’m starving. What I wouldn’t give for Callan’s bacon and pancakes? Or even the sausage and hash browns he made Thanksgiving day.
A plate of ham, eggs, and waffles slides in front of me. My eyes widening, I turn around, but there’s no one behind me. I hear the telltale sound of the chair next to me scraping against the floor as it’s pulled out. I can’t help the small smile that forms on my face when Callan’s eyes meet mine. I’ve grown so accustomed to their coldness, that they don’t make me balk now. They’re a part of him.
“Thanks,” I whisper.
“Callan, if I’d known you were bringing plates I would’ve put my order in too,” Ashlynn comments, glancing at my plate.
And then, something happens that makes the atmosphere shift. An arm slowly goes around my shoulders and I freeze in place as everyone’s eyes widen at the movement of that arm. “Sorry Ash, I only get breakfast for Wil and Wil only. Capice?”
Ash looks between us. From my flushed face to his and smirks. “So you guys did fuck, huh? Callan wasn’t lying on Halloween.”
Scar shrieks. “Girl! I thought you said it was nothing.”
“It was!” I exclaim.
Callan leans down to my ear and whispers, “When have I ever been nothing, princess?”
The combination of his breath hitting my ear and his words make me want to crawl away from embarrassment. But a princess doesn’t crawl, she smiles, and holds her head up high.
They all give me knowing looks as if they can easily guess the kind of thing that Callan whispered to me, except Gemma who just looks confused.
And I certainly don’t protest when she changes the subject.
My phone sounds off in my pocket. My dad is calling?
I hit answer and hold the phone up to my ear. “Mera, how are you doing honey?”
“I’m...okay,” I answer in a low tone.
I’m still angry they refused to let me come home for this holiday. Though, I wouldn’t have had this week with Callan if I had gone home.
“We’re sorry we didn’t fly you home for the holiday. How about we make it up to you by letting you come home for Christmas? You can even bring a few friends if you’d like.”
That means I wouldn’t miss the annual Christmas Eve ball.
“Yes!” I blurt.
And I get to go home.
My dad sighs with relief. “Good. We’re looking forward to seeing you. We love you Mera.”
“Love you guys too.”
I hang up to find questioning faces.
“Something happen, Wil?” Callan asks, glancing at the phone in my hand.
I nod excitedly. “How would you guys like to spend Christmas in Kardenia?”
Chapter Sixteen
Callan
It’s cold and rainy when we get dropped off in front of ZDB. If it wasn’t for the rain we would’ve walked over here, but it’s been pouring since yesterday afternoon. It’s 2:15 AM and we’re set to leave in Mera’s plane at six.
“I can’t believe you talked her into letting us come,” Vincent says with a yawn.
“No. What I can’t believe is that he got an invitation first!” Noel yells irritably, glaring over his shoulder at Silverstone.
He smirks. “Isn’t it obvious? Mera and I are friends. She barely knows you guys. Besides, why would I ever turn down going to a place as beautiful as Kardenia?” He glances in my direction and I glare at his arrogant smile. “Besides, if my friend offers, it’d be rude to turn her down.”
“Just shut up,” I mutter. It’s too early in the morning for this shit. Tyrell, Emerson, and Brett stay quiet as we all spread out underneath the overhang on the concrete porch to get out of the rain. We’re actually on time, unlike the limo and the girls.
The black Escalade limo pulls up before the girls come out, so we pile in. Everyone else goes through the Gull Wing door while I enter through the regular one in the back. I start to close the door behind me when something stops it in place. I glance back to find Silverstone’s hand at the top of the door. “The captain’s chair is reserved.”
He shrugs. “Fine with me.”
He moves past me and I close the door quickly. He sits in the very backseat, behind the other captain’s chair.
“Morning gentleman,” the older limo driver says through the limo divider.
I let everyone else respond, relaxing back into the seat.
Last night’s game was a hard win. We went into double overtime but managed to squeak it out. We needed this win so I pushed myself hard. I’m fucking exhausted.
I rest my eyes, opening them quickly when I hear the sound of the Gull Wing door opening. Brandie and Jamie slide in first, sitting in the empty spots on one side next to Brett and Emerson, respectively on the shorter side. Gemma, Luella, and Ashlynn slide in on the longer side and stay close to the door, putting a good amount of room between them and Noel, Tyrell, and Vincent. In a flash, the irritable look on Noel’s face is gone. He closes that distance by sliding closer to Gemma, but before he can stop next to her, she puts her suitcase on the seat with an annoyed look.
“Morning, Gem.”
She doesn’t respond, completely ignoring him, as Red and Tall Boy slide in next to Ashlynn. I roll down the window quickly to see Mera about to go in through the Gull Wing door. “Back here,” I call out, and roll the window up.
The door opens a few seconds later and she smiles, not looking anywhere near as tired as I thought she’d look. She gets in, going around my suitcase, and sits in the other captain’s chair. She’s about to throw her suitcase behind her when I mutter, “There’s someone in the back.”
Her eyes widen and she turns. “Kane! Why didn’t you say anything? It’s so dark back here.”
In the darkness you can see his pearly white teeth when he smiles widely at her. “I much prefer sitting in the back.”
Mera opens her mouth to respond, when I turn and ask, “Think we can get a move on? If we’re any later we might miss our flight.”
Her mouth thins and she sighs. “Actually, we’re just waiting on one more person. And not by choice. I only found out an hour ago that she was coming along.”
The door next to me opens and I’m face to face with my sister. “Morning, dear brother.”
“Coll?” I blurt.
I thought she was going to spend Christmas alone with our parents like Thanksgiving.
“So you were just going to run off without me with her?” She leans in, turning her head to the right to look at everybody else. “Everyone was just going to run off without me.”
“Um, excuse me, Miss Ballerina,” Red inserts. “This is Mera’s home we’re going to. We have no say.”
She scoffs. “That’s a load of shit. She invited them,” motioning to Noel, Vincent, and Tyrell.
Noel gasps in an exaggerated way. “Uh, Mera’s our best friend. Your fault if you didn’t fucking notice Coll.”
She glares. “Well, luckily, Ashlynn isn’t exactly quiet when she talks on the phone and I heard her whole conversation with her parents.”
Ashlynn crosses her arms. “You’re not exactly quiet yourself.”
“So you better have room for me on that plane,” Coll says adamantly.
I roll my eyes and glance at Wil. “Is there room?”
She nods, but she doesn’t look happy about it. Coll smiles. “See. No harm done.”
Coll steps in between the suitcases and moves in between the captain’s chairs to the back.
“Oh my God,” she squeals. “Why didn’t you say something you creeper?”
Silverstone responds to her in a low tone I can’t quite make out, but whatever. I slam the door shut. “Someone tell the driver he can leave.”
Eventually, we make it on the plane ten minutes before six.
It’s pretty large. Larger than the one that my father uses for his business trips.
Wil and I stay in the back right corner.
“I’m so glad to be going home,” she murmurs, leaning against my shoulder. She looks like she’s ready to drift off at any second and I feel the exact same way.
I’m glad for a different reason. Spending Thanksgiving away from my family was a lot less stressful. Now two holidays back to back I won’t have to deal with my dad’s attitude and watch my mom automatically agree with every word he says.
And I won’t have to look at Heath’s empty chair. Heath…
Clenching my jaw, I lean into the headrest and turn my head away from Wil’s peaceful face.
When we get back, I have to keep searching for answers.
Her sprawling castle up the hills are a sight to behold. The closer we get, the more her face lights up. Brighter than I’ve seen it before, and it’s a good sight to see. Her parents sent several SUVs to get us from the airport.
Once we enter the gates, Wil is out, running full speed toward the castle steps. Wil says the central Kardenia castle is the largest and she wasn't lying. Five times the size of my family’s mansion, the castle is humongous, perched atop of a large hill surrounded by trees and a huge lake in the distance. The moon is partially hidden behind the dark overcast sky, but every ornate design of the castle reeks of magnificence and care. I can see why Wil loves it so much, but a strange wave of deja vu washes over me looking at the many towers and windows. I’ve never even seen pictures so it makes no sense.
The rest of us get out of the cars, grabbing our luggage with us. I grab Wil’s hot pink suitcase for her.
Despite it being the middle of the night, most of us are wide awake after sleeping on and off during the plane ride.
“Hey Mera,” Noel calls. “Can I live here instead? You can stay in California.”
“Absolutely not!” she yells.
It takes a few minutes for us to get up the many steps as the cold wind hits us. Should’ve worn some fucking gloves. But when we finally get up there, Wil is underneath an alcove facing away from us and the grand doors are wide open with three people on each side of the doors in maid and butler costumes.
“Welcome to Kardenia,” they all exclaim at once, way too cheerily for people who are used to this timezone.
Wil turns her head back and motions us forward. “Come on, I’ll show you guys to your rooms.”
It’s a long trek, down hall after hall and past room after room. We finally reach the East Wing on the second floor. She gives us each our own rooms, right next to each other. I flip the light switch to find the one she graces me with is pretty damn nice and clean. Everyone else closes their doors, wanting to rest until breakfast time. I leave mine wide open.
It doesn’t have that dusty smell to it. The walls are a light shade of gray and the bed is made with at least six pillows stacked on top.
“I’ll let you rest then,” she says, glancing inside and then to me.
I drop everything on the nice marble tile and cross over to her. “I don’t need to rest.” I grab her in my arms and inhale her scent off of her hair. Even after a long plane ride, she still smells like heaven. “Unless you rest with me.”
She pushes a soft hand against my chest. “My parents will kill me if they discover me in bed with you.”
“There’s so many rooms, Wil. How will they know to check this one?” I murmur.
She starts to falter and I take that chance to pick her up in one arm, she emits a shocked gasp as she wraps her arms around my shoulder. I flip the light switch off and shut the door quickly and carry her into the darkness. By the wide smile on her face I know I made the right decision.
I drop her in the middle of the bed and move toward the left side. “Who needs so many fucking pillows?” I shove them off the bed and she crawls to the right, shoving hers off and laying her head on the remaining one. She lays on her side looking at me.
I reach forward to grab her hip but she slides away from me upon seeing my hand move.
“Don’t.”
Her word draws my anger forth and I lay my hand back on my side. “Why?” I bark. “We’ve hardly seen each other this past month. With the charity work and basketball, and fucking finals.”
Her mouth turns downward. “Stop. I don’t want any part of this vacation ruined. Let’s just rest for now, okay?”
Because I want her to have a good time while she’s home, I keep my trap shut, clenching the hand underneath myself into a fist as she closes her eyes. She moves her hands under her face, pressing them together and snuggling into the luxurious bed beneath us.
I only know she’s truly asleep when she starts to snore.
What the hell does she want from me?
While she’s asleep, I carefully move back, easing off the bed and watching for any change in her face.
When I’m off, I go to the window and pull back the curtains. The moonlight barely shines in, but it’s enough for me to see her face from the chair in the corner. I go in my bag, pushing the clothes aside and grabbing my drawing tablet and a pencil. When I finally get in the chair, I set to work, drawing every inch of her face as she sleeps with her hands underneath it. The moment I’m finished, something flashes in my mind.
A girl with wild b
right pink hair looking out from a treehouse.
A treehouse?
I peel back my drawing of Wil and start fresh on a new page.
Suddenly, I can see it so clearly. The ladder going up, the treehouse wrapping around the trunk of the tree several feet up. The bird's nest perched at the top on the roof of the treehouse.
A rainy day…and…
A sharp pain inside my skull hits me out of nowhere and I grimace, holding my head.
Maybe that’s my cue to stop.
I close my drawing pad quickly and set it on the small side table next to the chair.
Quietly, I go back to her and stare at her face until I feel myself drift off too.
The knock on the door jolts me out of a deep sleep. I sit up quickly, rubbing at my eyes. The sun is shining in through the window and hitting the wall near the door.
“Is Princess Mera in there?” a voice calls out.
“Oh fuck,” I mutter, and shake the still-sleeping Wil.
She’s on her stomach now with her hands underneath the pillow under her head.
“Wil,” I say quietly, shaking her side.
She groans and pops one eye open. “What?”
The knock sounds again and a look of horror hits her face. She mouths ‘shit’ and jumps out of the bed and hides in the corner parallel to the door. I can’t help but chuckle at her scared expression. She glares angrily at me as I open the door.
The young maid at the door smiles and glances around me, speaking loudly. “His and her majesty would like their daughter and her friends for breakfast in the dining area. No one can currently find Princess Mera, but if you see her, please let her know that they still expect her to be prompt.”
“Got it,” I respond, in a gravelly voice.
With a nod, she leaves and I close the door quickly.
Wil moves herself off the floor, hands over her face and groans. “Martha totally knew I was in here.”
“And?” I ask with a laugh. “We weren’t actually doing anything.”
She flattens her hair on her head. “It means she’s going to go and tattle to my parents. And then they’re going to question you. Not to mention my sister.”
The Princess and the Bully (Goldsworthy University Book 1) Page 20
