Page 4 of Ace of Spades
“Thanks.” I look down to Ruby’s badge—dark blue—pinned proudly to her chest. “You too.”
She gives me a toothy, empty smile, her green eyes wide as she says, “Thank you, Chi.”
I raise an eyebrow. Usually there’s more from Ruby, a subtle jab that seems harmless to most but that I know isn’t.
“I mean, it’s such a shame they don’t always give certain titles to the people whodeservethem… But, you’ll look great in the prefect photograph at the end of the year, Chi.”
There it is.
I smile again as we walk through the hallway, heading toward my locker. “I know I will. I’m so glad you’ll finally be in the photograph with me. It only took, what—three years?”
Ruby’s teeth are still bared as she nods. “That’s right, three years.”
Ava clears her throat. “What did you guys think of the new headmaster?” she asks as we get to my locker, clearly wanting to defuse the tension and stop the weird power play Ruby has been trying with me since last year.
Some days it’s like Ruby is praying for my downfall; other days she seems satisfied with where she stands at school. Then again, that’s Ruby. The catty, spoiled daughter of a senator. Even though I’ve known her since middle school, we only started speaking in high school, when I became someone worth speaking to, I guess. Anyway, she’s always been a bitch, but maybe that’s why we gravitated toward each other. Girls like us, unafraid to speak our minds, tend to do well together.
I met Ava in sophomore year, when she transferred to Niveusfrom some posh private school in England. She’s this pretty, blond bombshell who everyone immediately took a liking to, with her British accent and her straightforward persona. I actually don’t mind hanging around her that much. Unlike Ruby, she’s nice and honest—most of the time.
“The new head is kind of scary. Where’s he even from?” I ask, shoving my purse into my locker, glad to not have to continue playing this exhausting game with Ruby so early in the morning. I can’t wait to go to class and get away from her snide remarks.
Most people think the three of us are friends, since we’re almost always seen together.
But we’re not friends.
Our relationship is a transaction. I need a close, attractive circle. Small, because the smaller your group, the less people know about you—and the more they want to know. And, in return, Ava and Ruby like how powerful the three of us are together.
Ruby perks up, the way she always does whenever she has information that I don’t. Her fiery curls light up as she beams, leaning in. “I hear he’s from England, used to be the headmaster at some strict private boarding school.”
“I didn’t even know Headmaster Collins was stepping down,” I say, annoyed that I have to restart all the work I’ve put in over the past three years with him. Especially given Headmaster Ward’s unwelcoming, icy demeanor. I grab some ChapStick from my pocket just as someone taps my shoulder. I turn to face a familiar bright-eyed sophomore carrying a cup holder with two drinks.
“Morning, Chi. I got you a soy latte and a cinnamon latte on my way to school. Wasn’t sure which you’d prefer… I remembered from last year that you liked them both, but if you change yourmind, I can bring you something else tomorrow,” she says, cheeks flushed as she rambles. I take the cinnamon one, relief spreading across her face.
“Thank you, Rachel,” I say, taking a sip of the coffee and turning back to Ruby and Ava.
“Actually, it’s Moll—”
“He seemed fine before summer,” I continue.
“I heard Collins had some kind of nervous breakdown,” Ava chimes in, and I shoot her a look that makes her shrink back a little. I understand Ruby knowing things I don’t; she always has her claws in other people’s business. But Ava too? I’ve clearly been slacking over the summer.
Before I can pry further, my vision goes dark, hands clamped over my eyes. I don’t have to see to know it’s Jamie.
“Guess who,” he says in a low voice. A part of me hopes the people in the hallway are watching. I can almost hear their thoughts…Did Chiamaka and Jamie get together over the summer? They’d make the perfect couple. I’d kill to be Chiamaka…All of them, drowning in envy. I smile at the possibility.
“Hmm… Tall, dark, handsome, and missing billions of brain cells?” I say.
The hands slip away and I can see again; Ruby’s face is unsurprised and Ava gives a sly smile.
“Correct,” he says, before kissing my head and ruffling my hair like I’m his dog or his little sister. I hope no one sawthat.I smooth my hair, avoiding Ruby’s and Ava’s gazes.
“We should probably head to class,” Ruby says, and I can hear the delight in her voice. She loves any moment of weakness she can find, and I guess my only weak spot, despite all the hard work I’veput into being perfect, is the fact that Jamie is still my best friend and not my boyfriend.
For now, anyway.
I force a smile. “Ruby’s right. Don’t want to make a bad impression on the new headmaster, especially now that I’ve been made Senior Head Prefect—not that that was a surprise.”
Jamie laughs, shaking his head. “You’re too cocky. What made you so sure you were gonna get it this year?”
