Page 109 of The Ruthless Boys (Adamson All-Boys Academy 2)
As soon as he sees me, he grins, and I have to curl my hands in my blazer to keep calm.
“Hey Chuck-let,” he says, leaning in and brushing his lips to mine. One of the passing students catcalls, and Spencer flips them off. His turquoise glare swings down the hall, softening slightly as Church and Ranger come around the corner. The former is smiling, but the latter has that thundercloud look in his eyes. We’re going to have to get past what happened in LA, and move on, one way or another.
“Good morning, future Student Council members,” Church says, pulling a large tube out from underneath his arm. He unscrews the top and removes a rolled up bunch of posters, passing them out to the rest of us. They’re campaign posters, and not just for him, for all the guys. “It’s never too early to start advertising. Elections are in three weeks.”
“Why do we even bother campaigning?” Spencer asks as several other seniors walk by and give him knowing little waves. He nods his chin in response and turns back to his president. “We win every year. Hell, I’m the only person on this campus that sells weed. These idiots wouldn’t dare vote against us.”
“Have a little pride in your work, why don’t you?” Church says, and then he takes off, attaching a poster of his face to one of the stone columns. I follow the boys around until we run out of posters, hit the cafeteria for breakfast, and then fumble my way through my new schedule. I’ll admit, I piled on the classes. And I picked some hard ones, too. The old Charlotte had always intended on going light in the academic arena during her senior year, but during the past few weeks, while I was waiting for school to start, I filled out my college applications.
They scared me a little, I won’t lie.
It’ll be a miracle if I get in at all, and keeping good grades and challenging classes during senior year can only help.
After school, I report right back to Dad’s place, as per his request, and pack my things.
I don’t expect anything weird to happen at the hot springs.
And that mistake, that’s on me.The hot springs place is so pretty it takes my breath away, this towering three story building with a blue-gray roof, shoji screen doors, and wrap-around wood porches that you only see in anime and manga. It’s totally worth the ten hour bus ride it took to get here.
“This place is insane,” I murmur as the other Adamson students move around us, like we're rocks in a river. They don't jostle or bother us, no way, not their illustrious Student Council. I almost roll my eyes, but I'm too blown away by the scenery: there's a gorgeous Japanese garden with scattered ponds, bamboo, and stone statues. Even with the privacy fence that surrounds most of the property, I can see the steam from the hot springs rising up into the dusky sky, and I shiver. “It seriously feels like we crossed the ocean and ended up in Japan.”
“Pretty spectacular, right?” Tobias asks, draping himself over one of my shoulders. Micah does the same on the other side, and even though I'm sagging a bit from the weight, I like them touching me, so I don't complain. Spencer watches the three of us, but doesn't say anything, turning back to look at the Oiishi Onsen Lodge and Tearoom.
“Since I have you boys here,” Mr. Murphy begins, licking his finger and sliding a piece of paper off the top of his stack. “I may as well give you your room assignments.” He passes the first page over to Tobias who takes it with a dull, uninterested sort of look on his face.
“Oh, we're rooming together. How surprising,” the twins say in unison.
“And for you, Mr. Carson.” I take the next sheet and stare down at a photocopied map of the place with an arrow drawn in red Sharpie, guiding me to my room. Room 2B, I read, and then my eyes scan over to my roommate.
Church Montague.
I cock a brow as Ranger takes the next page and then exchanges a look with Spencer.
“Why am I not with Chuck?” Spencer snaps, and Mr. Murphy startles. Really, the nice guy teacher act is starting to get old. He blinks big, blue innocent eyes at us, and hikes his leather knapsack a little higher on his shoulder. I still have my list, and he’s still at the very top of it. Everyone’s a fucking suspect.
“Mr. Hargrove, it wouldn’t be appropriate for me to put you two together considering your relationship is fairly well-known in the school. I assure you, your rooms are close together, and you’ll have plenty of—”
“Whatever.” Spencer grabs my hand and pulls me away, dismissing Mr. Murphy without even a backwards glance. “That guy is so guilty, I can smell it,” he murmurs, scowling as we approach the main building. All the students are staying in the main lodge, straight ahead, while the teachers have their own quarters on either side of the garden. Having Dad as far away from me as possible doesn’t sound like a bad idea for either us. Same with the other chaperones—like Mr. Dave for example. I seriously don’t even get why he’s here. Since when does the school librarian go on a trip for students and teachers?
